consider.
i am a business owner. As a business owner under the current system I am not incentivized to make a profit. if I do make a profit I have to pay tax. (the reality is no-one likes to pay tax) Instead what i am incentivized to do is to consume. to buy more and more goods and services. Goods and services that come into existence through the extraction and use of resources.
Consider that this is true for every business.
Consider this in the context of climate change and the state of our planet.
How are we supposed to fix our world when the very way in which the system is designed incentivizes consumption and the never-ending use of resources.
Something needs to change.
(the notoriously conservative american food and drug administration came out the other day with the edict/confirmation that a vegan diet is the best for the planet…)
..so if your question is not just an exercise in hand-wringing – and you are really looking for ‘change’..
..you could get the basics sorted first – before looking outward/elsewhere..
I have been Vegan. I am not at the moment but when I have the time to shift my thinking around food and to come up with healthy tasty meal plans then I would look at it again. Unfortunately at the moment life keeps getting in the way. At the moment it is the odd vegetarian meal and everything else free range.
Aside from that, being vegan won’t help much when the very nature of the system in the way that it works and is structured actively works against helping the environment.
Also, all the money that government collects in taxes gets spent.
The difference is what it gets spent on, whether it goes on goods and services that people choose as individuals, or on goods & services that we choose collectively through a political process.
I could make a profit in my business but instead I am incentivised to go out and buy more things, to consume, to use more ansd more resources. This is whether I need to or not.
The point is that in terms of saving the planet the structure of the system actively works against this when you look at things in the context of Incentives and how the system by its very nature and structure incentivises certain behaviors.
Another example is that Eco friendly products often cost more. You pay a premium for them. In other words there is a disincentive to make a choice to help the planet.
If this was a goal of society (helping the planet rather than aiding its destruction) and for everyone in it. Then the system should be structured to incentivise the desired behaviour. At the moment it does the opposite.
Another (unrelated to climate change) example of where the system incentivises behaviour opposite to what logic dictates we should have is with the family unit.
Consider that a couple are incentivised to spend more time apart than together with the way the system is currently structured. i.e. the more you work theoretically the more you make the better your chance of getting ahead. Is that healthy for a relationship?
Add a child or two into the equation and parents are incentivised to spend less time together as a family unit and to instead put their children into day care so that they can both work in order to get ahead. Is this healthy for a family? Is this what we want in society?
When you start to look at how the system incentivises behaviour by its very structure a lot of problems become glaringly obvious and often fly in the face of logic and reason. They fly in the face of what most people would want.
What is the purpose of the system?
Who is it supposed to be for?
I could make a profit in my business but instead I am incentivised to go out and buy more things, to consume, to use more ansd more resources. This is whether I need to or not.
That’s because the system is designed around ever increasing GDP which means ever increasing resource use. What you seem to be asking for is Steady State Economy but that also precludes profit.
Another example is that Eco friendly products often cost more. You pay a premium for them. In other words there is a disincentive to make a choice to help the planet.
And all the survey’s that I’ve been involved with on such subjects are always about how much more people are willing to pay for ‘green’ products. In other words, the corporations are looking to maximise profits rather than doing what’s best for the environment.
When you start to look at how the system incentivises behaviour by its very structure a lot of problems become glaringly obvious and often fly in the face of logic and reason. They fly in the face of what most people would want.
yes, the system is broken.
What is the purpose of the system?
Who is it supposed to be for?
ATM it’s purpose is to make a few people rich at everyone else’s expense and it’s solely for those rich people. This is why we have poverty and the system destroys the environment rather than protecting it.
“With the population of 7 billion people living on planet Earth – and that number could increase tenfold in the coming decades – the dwindling resources of our world become a major concern, for the poor as well as the rich nations. Scientists warn of incoming famine of unprecedented proportions; water is the next gold and resource to be fighting for. Humanity demands more and more, but will mankind be able to survive at time when resources we grew used to come to an end? We discuss these perils with prominent environmental analyst, founder and president of Earth Policy Institute. Lester Brown is on Sophie&Co today.”
We could feed 10x the worlds population (pure speculation with the 10x admittedly) through the use of technology such as verticle farming.
This won’t happen under Capitalism though as it just isn’t possible to justify the cost of building a Corporate high rise to grow and sell lettuces for $2.
Yet the resources to do it exist. The knowledge of how to do it exists. What stops us is something that we invented originally to help resolve problems of scarcity, portability and as a mechanism for exchange. Two of those 3 no longer exist in todays society. Yet in many areas of society money or a lack of it is what stops us solving some of the biggest problems in society. These include big ticket items like poverty and war.
Weirdly, when the corporate tax rate goes down, the argument seems to be it will “encourage investment” in businesses. That seems backwards to me. If companies were paying 33% tax for retained earnings (profits), they’d get 67% of that money out of the company, meaning they have a 33% incentive to instead invest that money in the growth of the company – new employees, new plant and machinery etc. But when the tax rate drops to 28%, there is suddenly only a 28% incentive to invest in the business – ie more incentive to take profit out of the company.
I’m a business owner and I don’t get your argument.
The incentive to consume is only if you look at it from a personal perspective, but if you do take more money out of the company for your own personal use, you will pay tax on it anyway.
If you decide to take some of your profit and invest in the growth of the company, then you will not be paying tax on that money, you will grow the company and do good with your employees.
If after everything you still have a profit then I don’t see a problem with paying tax. I enjoy what my tax payments are giving me (even if I don’t agree with all that they are spent on, but that’s a different argument) and have no problem paying tax. Maybe you should change the way you feel about paying tax.
I personally have no issue paying tax but do think that because of the way the system is structured and how it passively incentivises people that we are missing opportunities for better system structure that gears incentives toward the outcomes that we want in society.
example:
If you went out into a business (do it with your one) and said would you given the choice ideally want to work
more than you do now
less than you do now
or the same as you do now
With no loss in standard of living what would you prefer?
my pick is that the overwhwelming majority would choose to work less.
Worldwide I imagine it will be the same. Yet in spite of this the system is geared to ensure that the opposite happens.
Automation has the ability to change this and to do so without any loss in the standard of living provided we change the way the system is structured.
That capital has already been taxed. You want to tax it again?
I am not here asking for the tax incentives to be changed. What I am saying (although to be fair I haven’t said it) is how about we determine the outcomes we want in society as individuals, as families, as society and ensure that the system is restructured to meet those goals.
The capital may not have been taxed at all. What if it came from property speculation?
The problem is not taxation. It’s the search for profits and growth, which is killing us.
yes that is the point I was looking for! Essentially the taxation is a disincentive toward profit and an incentive toward growth through spending. ie. a business is continuously incentivised to grow leading to an environment where more and more resources are used. Growth for growths sake and nothing else.
It is amusing to see Flavell complain about the state of rental properties, given that his party was the one that supported the sale of state houses, the changes to state house tenancies, and also insisted on staying in a coalition with with the party who has presided over all this.
Often the cry is made around NZ that ‘oh noes, we are nothing but a third world country’ …… with few believing it to be true.
But this is true. The housing conditions for many people in east Christchurch and central are third world. The facts show it.
What a terrible thing for a NZ government to let happen. There is no way it needed to happen. It has been either totally incompetent or totally evil – there is no middle here.
@millsy Agree entirely, but since Fox came on board (and maybe since Hone didn’t get back?) has there been a bit of a change of allegiance from the MP? A bit of a shift Leftwards? I notice Fox is criticising Key over his young woman/child ponytail fetish today.
What, if anything connects these two stories, I wonder? Story One
Every day, I serve food to some of the most powerful people on earth, including many of the senators who are running for president: I’m a cook for the federal contractor that runs the US Senate cafeteria. But today, they’ll have to get their meals from someone else’s hands, because I’m on strike.
I am walking off my job because I want the presidential hopefuls to know that I live in poverty. Many senators canvas the country giving speeches about creating “opportunity” for workers and helping our kids achieve the “American dream” – most don’t seem to notice or care that workers in their own building are struggling to survive.
I’m a single father and I only make $12 an hour; I had to take a second job at a grocery store to make ends meet. But even though I work seven days a week – putting in 70 hours between my two jobs – I can’t manage to pay the rent, buy school supplies for my kids or even put food on the table. I hate to admit it, but I have to use food stamps so that my kids don’t go to bed hungry.
”You’re making the point with me about job losses. I’m making the point to you about job opportunities,” he said.
Asked if the report considered the carbon miles involved in trucking meals and meal components to the South, he said it did not.
The plan includes trucking frozen meals on wheels from Auckland to Dunedin and Invercargill. Meals for patients would be assembled on site with pre-prepared components.
Mr Snedden, a former DHB chairman, said the southern board had serious financial issues and had to find savings.
Savings are projected to be $6.96 million or more over the 15 years of the contract, which could be about 0.05% of board income over that period, assuming flat funding.
I reckon it might be this lot… and it’s pretty obvious where the ‘savings’ will come from.
You’re not the only one who can see where Compass’ profits will be coming from:
The Service and Food Workers’ Union has warned the cash-strapped Southern District Health Board could find itself embroiled in costly legal action if it goes ahead with food service outsourcing.
National secretary John Ryall said the union would lodge the a similar case against Southern to the one it is fighting with the Auckland DHB over outsourcing…
Outsourcing is an issue for the Southern and Auckland boards, which directly employed their food workers.
Most boards opting into the national Compass contract had previously outsourced, making the process easier.
Mr Ryall urged scepticism about promised benefits of the food service ”experiment”, which he had seen before with a different company in the 1990s.
”What looks pretty nutritious at one time turns out to be a mouthful of crap at another time.
Crazy isn’t it? – and then when you look at the wealth gap tower (h/t Notices and Features) it’s obvious that, because of these types of contracts with companies such as Compass, a heap more workers join other 50% of the residents in half the ground floor.
I expect there will be Key protests at his creepy weirdo bully behaviour ……….
and I look forward to seeing all the protestors with ponytails attached…. hee hee Key would sink further into the quicksand. What a sight it would make
Has anyone noticed how all the excuses being put up for Key are falling flat?
The overriding wildly inappropriateness of Key’s behaviour is impossible to escape.
It is seared into EVERYONE’S mind and eyes. There is no other conclusion.
Mind you that hasn’t stopped his disciples following and even throwing themselves in front of their dear leader…..
This mornings anonymous Press editorial opinion (the only one read for many a long moon as I don’t rate them) spent the entire piece saying how stupid Key was, how inappropriate the behaviour was, how it was poor this and poor that……. yet at the end the anonymous opinion writer says something like “Key has learned his lesson and that should be enough”…
… ffs, talk about head in sand. Spend the entire piece saying how wrong it is and then dismiss with no reason provided and in one sentence at the end. No justification or reasoning for this.
Daily newpaper anonymous editorial opinions are pieces of shit due to the elevated position they are given relative to the very averageness of the anonymous writer in behind
Ah, but, It was all “political” according to some legal dick Henry had on his programme this morning. A trivial incident. It’s not sexual, it’s not this , it’s not that, blah blah blah. As usual “move along nothing to see. ” Not once was there any concern shown about the waitress, The whole fucking interview stank of how Key can get away with it.
Incidentally watching Prat Henry is not a habit I have, and I did have a shower soon after. I was up early as I have no books to read at the moment.
It’s interesting though that it’s all about damage limitation. No-one can pretend it’s acceptable, especially since it’s not the first or only time he couldn’t keep his hands off the hair of women and girls.
I think he’s an oddball and his years in the money markets certainly wouldn’t have helped socialise him into what is acceptable and what is not acceptable social behaviour.
What I find oddest of all is that someone who made millions moving money around has been able to present himself as “the bloke next door”. The bloke other blokes would have a beer with and invite over to help lay the driveway or do DIY on the house or build a shed.
Every now and then we get a glimpse of how NOT like the bloke next door he is. Like the dude can’t hammer a nail – even I can do that, and I’m fairly hopeless with DIY.
And we get some weird behaviour, like the swishing he put on that time he was on the catwalk. That was just unbelievable.
He is the nerdy kid who somehow got to be prime minister and is slowly getting found out.
Ultimately, however, I’m more interested in his politics. And, despite the efforts of some on the left to demonise him, the reality is he’s a fairly bland, middle-of-the-road politician. And people like that are as likely to be found atop the Labour Party as atop the National Party.
A number of us at Redline blog were involved at various times in the Marxist magazine revolution, which was produced between 1997 and 2006. A total of 26 issues were produced during that time. We’re slowly getting up on Redline features from the magazine that are still of relevance. Here we reproduce two closely-related pieces that appeared several years apart on wages, profits, crisis. https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/from-the-vaults-two-articles-on-wages-profits-lies-and-capitalist-crisis/
It is now the 24th of April over in Instanbul; marking the start of the centennial of the Aremenian Genocide. I doubt that there will be much coverage of this in the NZMSM as the genocide denying Turkish government has also scheduled their Gallipoli event for this day. Previously, Turkey has marked the day on the 18th, when the bombardment preceding the invasion began, with the ANZAC commemoration being on the 25th. The Guardian has been good at keeping this issue live:
On 24 April 1915, near the end of the Ottoman empire, more than 200 Armenian intellectuals in Istanbul, most of whom were in government custody, were killed. More than a million of their kin were killed in the following year as part of a national program designed to quite literally decimate the Armenian populace of the crumbling empire.
“designed to quite literally decimate the Armenian populace”
Grrr. I wish they wouldn’t do that. They had no intention of stopping after killing 10% of the Armenians. Turkey has never accepted responsibility for this crime against humanity.
Support for National has dropped to 45.5% (down 1%) and support for Prime Minister John Key’s Coalition partners the Maori Party has dropped to 1.5% (down 0.5%). Support for Key’s other two Coalition partners is unchanged: Act NZ 1% (unchanged) and United Future is still on 0% (unchanged).
Despite the rise in support for the Opposition Parties on the whole, Labour’s decision to advise Labour supporters to vote for NZ First Leader Winston Peters in the Northland by-election appears to have dented Labour support – now at 27.5% (down 3.5%). In contrast, support has increased strongly for both the Greens 13.5% (up 2.5%) and NZ First 8.5% (up 2.5%).
The final two paragraphs should have been in quotes.
They are directly out of the Roy Morgan release of the poll results and they are Morgan’s opinions, not conclusions Puckish Rogue has come to. (He may of course agree with them)
because there is a law in the pipeline which will put people in prison for up to two years for putting anything on line that causes people emotional harm.
The judge expressed skepticism about Pawluck’s claim on the identity issue, given her involvement as an activist during student demonstrations in 2012.
Lafreniere is the main voice of the police force during major events and was very visible on TV during the highly charged student protests, which featured numerous clashes between authorities and demonstrators….
A smirking Pawluck left the courthouse repeating “no comment” as a friend shielded her from cameras. Her lawyer, Valerie De Guise, also declined to speak.
Pawluck was charged under a summary offence, meaning the maximum sentence is six months in jail or a $5,000 fine. Sentencing arguments will take place May 14.
The fact that she was at a student demonstration in 2012 had been noted and formed part of the facts in Court. The policeman had been highly involved in the handling of the protests which involved clashes.
It is possible that this was a retaliatory, punitive reaction on his part against this student. She could be punished heavily. If a policeman actually shot a student, would he/she be facing prison or a $5000 fine or recompense to the person’s family?
Smirking. That’s a loaded adjective from the media. They could easily have labelled it a brave smile.
I originally wrote this article on the gay marriage referendum in the south of Ireland on April 7 and advertised it here then. But I’ve just updated it a bit, so people might like to take a/nother look:
@ Murray R
That certainly is chilling and horrific.
This paper from 1986 from an Oz Uni looks deeply at the threats of political violence to Australia and its response. Very good study I think. It comments wryly on the apparent wistfulness of Oz media that the country is regarded as a bit of a boring backwater where no exciting terrorism ever occurs. The media they think would enjoy having some good drama to report and boost circulation with. http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/previous%20series/vt/1-9/vt09.html#5
They break the violence into headings, and under terrorism they say there has been sporadic examples, but no trend. It seems that this sporadic nature will continue and while not ignoring it, there is no necessity to ramp up a major response.
And this: The final problem has to do with assumptions about the nature of terrorism and how to deal with it. Much of the discussion which follows predictions of an increased level of terrorism seems to be predicated on the assumption either that terrorism generally can be defeated (that is, reduced to a low enough level so as not to occasion great national or international concern) or that, given the will (manifested by adequate security measures), any country can reduce the probability of attack against it to a very low level.
In fact, neither of these assumptions is realistic. Worse, they are dangerously unrealistic. The danger is that accepting them can lead to an uncritical acceptance of security measures domestically, and military measures internationally, which may themselves be counterproductive, destabilising and contribute to further terrorism.
The reality that, whatever we do, terrorism will be a feature of the international landscape for the foreseeable future and that no country can prevent all acts of terrorism, must be accepted as a basis for rational threat assessments and discussions of counter-terrorist policy and machinery.
Here are some other events that Australia managed to live through concerning Croatian and Yugoslav immigrants into the country and relationships with disgreements in their home country. where they were returning to fight. One organisation the Ustasha was connected with genocide camps 1941-45 and Serbo-Croat violence and Milosevic and Karadzic, notorious who have appeared before international tribunals were involved. Heavy stuff. Page 10 of The Age 17 July 1973
Murky situation concerning a bombing. http://members.iimetro.com.au/~hubbca/hilton_bombing.htm
“In fact, neither of these assumptions is realistic. Worse, they are dangerously unrealistic. The danger is that accepting them can lead to an uncritical acceptance of security measures domestically, and military measures internationally, which may themselves be counterproductive, destabilising and contribute to further terrorism.”
I agree 100% with this. Cracking down on the whole of society makes those with a grievance more desperate and dangerous, whether the grievance is imagined or not. I am appalled, but not overly surprised, that Labo(u)r goes down the same route.
In a meeting at work, I’d say we could still feel it wobbling for 20 seconds – we all knew it was a fairly big one far away from us (Christchurch). I pulled up geonet on the projector and waited for it to give us the location 🙂
In 2006, McCready was sentenced to 75 hours community service after he traded while bankrupt
In 2009, McCready was convicted on charges on charges of making false tax returns involving $183,155. He was sentenced to six months’ home detention.
In 2013, McCready was convicted of blackmailing a company director and sentenced to six months’ community detention.[13] He wrote in an apology to the victim that: “My conduct was criminal, unnecessary, and I am sure caused you some considerable distress.” Although he escaped jail time, the court costs bankrupted him.
I’m not sure whether this is a kosha question to ask, but I’ll do so anyway (after watching the ‘expert’ Bill Hodge on that abomination of a programme called Henry something or other on TV3/RadioLive this morning.
Does anyone else know Bill? (My brother did before he karked it).
The guy seems to have changed quite a bit …. not sure his expertise these days isn;t clouded by curmudgeonhood and a dribble of right wing sauce – shaken not stirred.
Just curious.
Phil U perhaps? (probably under the same circumstances my brother and the hodge came to become friends)
Rhinocrates perhaps?
If you do – have you noticed a change (and I mean in basic principles/honesty/ that sort of thing)
No big deal …… just curious
Probably like Rhino, I’m really beginning to despair at the quality of the tertiary that’s being slopped up these days. (There’s a Bryce we should prolly throw in there as well – and they seem to justify their cosy little pozzies and minimal effort brain fart comments in the MSM and elsewhere along the lines of “The world has changed”……)
Rhino: any thoughts – and U 2 @ PU
I know Bill. He was my employment law lecturer and indeed had some small role in awarding me the Simpson Grierson Employment Law Prize many years back *swells with pride*
He is marginally political, and nailed a slight RW-bent to his mast, but he is very circumspect and very honest about the effect of the pendulum of politics on Employment Law.
It always strikes me as a little odd that he is the resident expert on every area of law when the media come calling.
With that said, he is a thoroughly intelligent and affable chap, he runs marathons frequently, and he is literally brimming with jokes about bears (it was kinda his thing to start every lecture with a joke involving a bear…).
He also has friends on both the right and left. Among others, he brought in Simon Mitchell (prominent Auckland employment law barrister with good union client base, was also a nominee for Mt. Albert before mumblefuck was handed it) to lecture us, who is also a great left-wing thinker. So I wouldn’t say that Bill imposed RW thought on his students (most of whom are already arch-tory Kings/Dio/St Cuths students anyway).
I can’t disagree with all that you say .
I was kind of surprised at his bent on the Henry abomination this morning however.
And that “Mild RW” bent that’s now nailed (VERY FIRMLY) to his mast, never used to be present – which is what concerns me in terms of where he sees himself now and the quality of his media contributions (There was once a word we used to use – it was called BIAS)
Anyway ….. He’s elected to be in fine company and I’ll view his MSM contributions from now on with the view they deserve
Thankyou @pigman. Good to know your view and perception of things.
Thank you
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Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
Open access notablesImproving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society:To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
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consider.
i am a business owner. As a business owner under the current system I am not incentivized to make a profit. if I do make a profit I have to pay tax. (the reality is no-one likes to pay tax) Instead what i am incentivized to do is to consume. to buy more and more goods and services. Goods and services that come into existence through the extraction and use of resources.
Consider that this is true for every business.
Consider this in the context of climate change and the state of our planet.
How are we supposed to fix our world when the very way in which the system is designed incentivizes consumption and the never-ending use of resources.
Something needs to change.
the obvious/easy quick-fix is to go vegan…
(the notoriously conservative american food and drug administration came out the other day with the edict/confirmation that a vegan diet is the best for the planet…)
..so if your question is not just an exercise in hand-wringing – and you are really looking for ‘change’..
..you could get the basics sorted first – before looking outward/elsewhere..
..and start there..eh..?..
I have been Vegan. I am not at the moment but when I have the time to shift my thinking around food and to come up with healthy tasty meal plans then I would look at it again. Unfortunately at the moment life keeps getting in the way. At the moment it is the odd vegetarian meal and everything else free range.
Aside from that, being vegan won’t help much when the very nature of the system in the way that it works and is structured actively works against helping the environment.
@ c.c..
..some help with yr /meal-planning..
http://whoar.co.nz/?s=recipies
..and i agree that is not all that needs to be done…
..but as for making a personal difference/helping the planet..eating-right has a lot going for it..
..and is something any/everyone can do…
..need i add it is also empowering..?
..to know that in at least one way – you are doing what you can..
Thanks Phil that actually helps a lot. I have emailed it to my amazing wife.
Phillip – I saw this a while back, and thought of you.
A pretty smart kid rejecting meat
yeah – that’s cool..
Consider this, then.
Businesses are about doing stuff to make a profit. You only pay tax if you’ve made a profit.
I don’t understand why you think that’s a problem.
Also, all the money that government collects in taxes gets spent.
The difference is what it gets spent on, whether it goes on goods and services that people choose as individuals, or on goods & services that we choose collectively through a political process.
And before anyone points out that the govt doesn’t always spend money in the most effective or efficient way…
…have you not noticed the shit that individuals spend money on???
I could make a profit in my business but instead I am incentivised to go out and buy more things, to consume, to use more ansd more resources. This is whether I need to or not.
The point is that in terms of saving the planet the structure of the system actively works against this when you look at things in the context of Incentives and how the system by its very nature and structure incentivises certain behaviors.
Another example is that Eco friendly products often cost more. You pay a premium for them. In other words there is a disincentive to make a choice to help the planet.
If this was a goal of society (helping the planet rather than aiding its destruction) and for everyone in it. Then the system should be structured to incentivise the desired behaviour. At the moment it does the opposite.
Another (unrelated to climate change) example of where the system incentivises behaviour opposite to what logic dictates we should have is with the family unit.
Consider that a couple are incentivised to spend more time apart than together with the way the system is currently structured. i.e. the more you work theoretically the more you make the better your chance of getting ahead. Is that healthy for a relationship?
Add a child or two into the equation and parents are incentivised to spend less time together as a family unit and to instead put their children into day care so that they can both work in order to get ahead. Is this healthy for a family? Is this what we want in society?
When you start to look at how the system incentivises behaviour by its very structure a lot of problems become glaringly obvious and often fly in the face of logic and reason. They fly in the face of what most people would want.
What is the purpose of the system?
Who is it supposed to be for?
That’s because the system is designed around ever increasing GDP which means ever increasing resource use. What you seem to be asking for is Steady State Economy but that also precludes profit.
And all the survey’s that I’ve been involved with on such subjects are always about how much more people are willing to pay for ‘green’ products. In other words, the corporations are looking to maximise profits rather than doing what’s best for the environment.
yes, the system is broken.
ATM it’s purpose is to make a few people rich at everyone else’s expense and it’s solely for those rich people. This is why we have poverty and the system destroys the environment rather than protecting it.
re food production and overpopulation and climate change and the state of the planet….this is interesting
‘Crop yields can’t be increased anymore: world hunger imminent’ – eco-analyst’
http://rt.com/shows/sophieco/248501-resources-earth-policy-warn/
“With the population of 7 billion people living on planet Earth – and that number could increase tenfold in the coming decades – the dwindling resources of our world become a major concern, for the poor as well as the rich nations. Scientists warn of incoming famine of unprecedented proportions; water is the next gold and resource to be fighting for. Humanity demands more and more, but will mankind be able to survive at time when resources we grew used to come to an end? We discuss these perils with prominent environmental analyst, founder and president of Earth Policy Institute. Lester Brown is on Sophie&Co today.”
We could feed 10x the worlds population (pure speculation with the 10x admittedly) through the use of technology such as verticle farming.
This won’t happen under Capitalism though as it just isn’t possible to justify the cost of building a Corporate high rise to grow and sell lettuces for $2.
Yet the resources to do it exist. The knowledge of how to do it exists. What stops us is something that we invented originally to help resolve problems of scarcity, portability and as a mechanism for exchange. Two of those 3 no longer exist in todays society. Yet in many areas of society money or a lack of it is what stops us solving some of the biggest problems in society. These include big ticket items like poverty and war.
Like these?
http://permaculturenews.org/2014/07/25/vertical-farming-singapores-solution-feed-local-urban-population/
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/11/06/164428031/sky-high-vegetables-vertical-farming-sprouts-in-singapore
yes just like those . Great to know that this is already happening. I wasn’t aware it was so that is great to see.
Weirdly, when the corporate tax rate goes down, the argument seems to be it will “encourage investment” in businesses. That seems backwards to me. If companies were paying 33% tax for retained earnings (profits), they’d get 67% of that money out of the company, meaning they have a 33% incentive to instead invest that money in the growth of the company – new employees, new plant and machinery etc. But when the tax rate drops to 28%, there is suddenly only a 28% incentive to invest in the business – ie more incentive to take profit out of the company.
Investment is usually capital which means it is depreciated over time and can’t be instantly written off at the corporate tax rate.
Ahhh, good point.
I’m a business owner and I don’t get your argument.
The incentive to consume is only if you look at it from a personal perspective, but if you do take more money out of the company for your own personal use, you will pay tax on it anyway.
If you decide to take some of your profit and invest in the growth of the company, then you will not be paying tax on that money, you will grow the company and do good with your employees.
If after everything you still have a profit then I don’t see a problem with paying tax. I enjoy what my tax payments are giving me (even if I don’t agree with all that they are spent on, but that’s a different argument) and have no problem paying tax. Maybe you should change the way you feel about paying tax.
I personally have no issue paying tax but do think that because of the way the system is structured and how it passively incentivises people that we are missing opportunities for better system structure that gears incentives toward the outcomes that we want in society.
example:
If you went out into a business (do it with your one) and said would you given the choice ideally want to work
more than you do now
less than you do now
or the same as you do now
With no loss in standard of living what would you prefer?
my pick is that the overwhwelming majority would choose to work less.
Worldwide I imagine it will be the same. Yet in spite of this the system is geared to ensure that the opposite happens.
Automation has the ability to change this and to do so without any loss in the standard of living provided we change the way the system is structured.
Maybe we should tax you on capital invested instead, irrespective of whether you make a profit or not? Would that solve the problem?
That capital has already been taxed. You want to tax it again?
I am not here asking for the tax incentives to be changed. What I am saying (although to be fair I haven’t said it) is how about we determine the outcomes we want in society as individuals, as families, as society and ensure that the system is restructured to meet those goals.
The capital may not have been taxed at all. What if it came from property speculation?
The problem is not taxation. It’s the search for profits and growth, which is killing us.
yes that is the point I was looking for! Essentially the taxation is a disincentive toward profit and an incentive toward growth through spending. ie. a business is continuously incentivised to grow leading to an environment where more and more resources are used. Growth for growths sake and nothing else.
It is amusing to see Flavell complain about the state of rental properties, given that his party was the one that supported the sale of state houses, the changes to state house tenancies, and also insisted on staying in a coalition with with the party who has presided over all this.
Agreed.
Often the cry is made around NZ that ‘oh noes, we are nothing but a third world country’ …… with few believing it to be true.
But this is true. The housing conditions for many people in east Christchurch and central are third world. The facts show it.
What a terrible thing for a NZ government to let happen. There is no way it needed to happen. It has been either totally incompetent or totally evil – there is no middle here.
@millsy Agree entirely, but since Fox came on board (and maybe since Hone didn’t get back?) has there been a bit of a change of allegiance from the MP? A bit of a shift Leftwards? I notice Fox is criticising Key over his young woman/child ponytail fetish today.
Mr. Little will be taking note.
What, if anything connects these two stories, I wonder?
Story One
Story Two
I reckon it might be this lot… and it’s pretty obvious where the ‘savings’ will come from.
miravox
You’re not the only one who can see where Compass’ profits will be coming from:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/340039/union-warns-sdhb-legal-action
Crazy isn’t it? – and then when you look at the wealth gap tower (h/t Notices and Features) it’s obvious that, because of these types of contracts with companies such as Compass, a heap more workers join other 50% of the residents in half the ground floor.
I expect there will be Key protests at his creepy weirdo bully behaviour ……….
and I look forward to seeing all the protestors with ponytails attached…. hee hee Key would sink further into the quicksand. What a sight it would make
And Kiwiri has already done the work to source cheap ponytails!
http://thestandard.org.nz/dear-john-updated/#comment-1004444
Has anyone noticed how all the excuses being put up for Key are falling flat?
The overriding wildly inappropriateness of Key’s behaviour is impossible to escape.
It is seared into EVERYONE’S mind and eyes. There is no other conclusion.
Mind you that hasn’t stopped his disciples following and even throwing themselves in front of their dear leader…..
This mornings anonymous Press editorial opinion (the only one read for many a long moon as I don’t rate them) spent the entire piece saying how stupid Key was, how inappropriate the behaviour was, how it was poor this and poor that……. yet at the end the anonymous opinion writer says something like “Key has learned his lesson and that should be enough”…
… ffs, talk about head in sand. Spend the entire piece saying how wrong it is and then dismiss with no reason provided and in one sentence at the end. No justification or reasoning for this.
Daily newpaper anonymous editorial opinions are pieces of shit due to the elevated position they are given relative to the very averageness of the anonymous writer in behind
Proved again
Ah, but, It was all “political” according to some legal dick Henry had on his programme this morning. A trivial incident. It’s not sexual, it’s not this , it’s not that, blah blah blah. As usual “move along nothing to see. ” Not once was there any concern shown about the waitress, The whole fucking interview stank of how Key can get away with it.
Incidentally watching Prat Henry is not a habit I have, and I did have a shower soon after. I was up early as I have no books to read at the moment.
It’s interesting though that it’s all about damage limitation. No-one can pretend it’s acceptable, especially since it’s not the first or only time he couldn’t keep his hands off the hair of women and girls.
I think he’s an oddball and his years in the money markets certainly wouldn’t have helped socialise him into what is acceptable and what is not acceptable social behaviour.
What I find oddest of all is that someone who made millions moving money around has been able to present himself as “the bloke next door”. The bloke other blokes would have a beer with and invite over to help lay the driveway or do DIY on the house or build a shed.
Every now and then we get a glimpse of how NOT like the bloke next door he is. Like the dude can’t hammer a nail – even I can do that, and I’m fairly hopeless with DIY.
And we get some weird behaviour, like the swishing he put on that time he was on the catwalk. That was just unbelievable.
He is the nerdy kid who somehow got to be prime minister and is slowly getting found out.
Ultimately, however, I’m more interested in his politics. And, despite the efforts of some on the left to demonise him, the reality is he’s a fairly bland, middle-of-the-road politician. And people like that are as likely to be found atop the Labour Party as atop the National Party.
Phil
Key thinks he is a rock-star politician and all women around him are groupies.
All the Tory women around him probably are his groupies.
@Murray .. pse read #17 if you haven’t already .. thx
A number of us at Redline blog were involved at various times in the Marxist magazine revolution, which was produced between 1997 and 2006. A total of 26 issues were produced during that time. We’re slowly getting up on Redline features from the magazine that are still of relevance. Here we reproduce two closely-related pieces that appeared several years apart on wages, profits, crisis.
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/from-the-vaults-two-articles-on-wages-profits-lies-and-capitalist-crisis/
And lastly,
. . . as we approach Anzac Day. . .
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/12/as-we-approach-anzac-day/
“Bugger the constitution, there’s a quid in this…”
This is just too wonderful for words.
Mr Clarke and Mr Dawe
That’s cheered my day up Adam.
brilliant, thx for the links. my day is a little brighter now !
It is now the 24th of April over in Instanbul; marking the start of the centennial of the Aremenian Genocide. I doubt that there will be much coverage of this in the NZMSM as the genocide denying Turkish government has also scheduled their Gallipoli event for this day. Previously, Turkey has marked the day on the 18th, when the bombardment preceding the invasion began, with the ANZAC commemoration being on the 25th. The Guardian has been good at keeping this issue live:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/23/obama-armenian-genocide-end-the-charade
Just before reading your comment, I was reading Andrea Vance’s Twitter feed and the Armenian centennial came up on one thread, here.
https://twitter.com/avancenz/status/591174635883900928
Hopefully, Andrea will follow through on this on either her twitter feed, or in an article on Stuff.
Andrea is currently studying in the UK until July, but is doing coverage for Fairfax at the Gallipoli commemorations.
“designed to quite literally decimate the Armenian populace”
Grrr. I wish they wouldn’t do that. They had no intention of stopping after killing 10% of the Armenians. Turkey has never accepted responsibility for this crime against humanity.
Robert Fisk on Armenian genocide
‘Armenian genocide: To continue to deny the truth of this mass human cruelty is close to a criminal lie’
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/armenian-genocide-to-continue-to-deny-the-truth-of-this-mass-human-cruelty-is-close-to-a-criminal-lie-10188119.html
“I dug the bones and skulls of massacred Armenians out of the Syrian desert with my own hands in 1992…
That NZ flag jacket Paul Henry was wearing this morning….. sickening, and almost creepy on the eve of Anzac Day.
and so poorly-made/ill-fitting..
(‘world’ ran it up for him apparently..clearly not their finest hour..)
agreed. Would even have been ok at a summer kiwiana garden party, but not as worn.
I don’t know if anyones interested in the latest Roy Morgan Poll:
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6187-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-april-2015-201504230106
Support for National has dropped to 45.5% (down 1%) and support for Prime Minister John Key’s Coalition partners the Maori Party has dropped to 1.5% (down 0.5%). Support for Key’s other two Coalition partners is unchanged: Act NZ 1% (unchanged) and United Future is still on 0% (unchanged).
Despite the rise in support for the Opposition Parties on the whole, Labour’s decision to advise Labour supporters to vote for NZ First Leader Winston Peters in the Northland by-election appears to have dented Labour support – now at 27.5% (down 3.5%). In contrast, support has increased strongly for both the Greens 13.5% (up 2.5%) and NZ First 8.5% (up 2.5%).
what information did Roy Morgan issue which led you to conclude that Labours drop was anything to do with Northland?
The final two paragraphs should have been in quotes.
They are directly out of the Roy Morgan release of the poll results and they are Morgan’s opinions, not conclusions Puckish Rogue has come to. (He may of course agree with them)
Not my writing, thats Roy Morgans conclusion however its not a good result for Little…still plenty of time until the next election
Michelle Boag on Radiolive right now.
She says wherever Key goes, people want to touch him.
And then she said it’s not unusual for MPs to hug constiotuents.
She also lied and said it all happened over a year ago, and lied again saying the waitress never complained to anyone until now.
This type of thing will be coming to New Zealand soon;
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/montreal-woman-convicted-of-posting-anti-police-graffiti-on-instagram-1.2341840
because there is a law in the pipeline which will put people in prison for up to two years for putting anything on line that causes people emotional harm.
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/national-wants-to-jail-people-who.html
@ esoteric
Some more things about the Canadaian case.
The judge expressed skepticism about Pawluck’s claim on the identity issue, given her involvement as an activist during student demonstrations in 2012.
Lafreniere is the main voice of the police force during major events and was very visible on TV during the highly charged student protests, which featured numerous clashes between authorities and demonstrators….
A smirking Pawluck left the courthouse repeating “no comment” as a friend shielded her from cameras. Her lawyer, Valerie De Guise, also declined to speak.
Pawluck was charged under a summary offence, meaning the maximum sentence is six months in jail or a $5,000 fine. Sentencing arguments will take place May 14.
The fact that she was at a student demonstration in 2012 had been noted and formed part of the facts in Court. The policeman had been highly involved in the handling of the protests which involved clashes.
It is possible that this was a retaliatory, punitive reaction on his part against this student. She could be punished heavily. If a policeman actually shot a student, would he/she be facing prison or a $5000 fine or recompense to the person’s family?
Smirking. That’s a loaded adjective from the media. They could easily have labelled it a brave smile.
I originally wrote this article on the gay marriage referendum in the south of Ireland on April 7 and advertised it here then. But I’ve just updated it a bit, so people might like to take a/nother look:
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/irish-society-and-politics-and-the-referendum-on-gay-marriage/
Phil
Anyone know what’s happened to Karol ?
I keep going over to her site @ Edge Times but there have been no recent postings.
She was a star whilst commenting at TS.
Hope someone knows .. her star is missed here.
Seconded.
Labor loves spying on us as much as Labour does. Die, sellout social democracy, die. You are already a smelly and useless zombie.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/a-chilling-step-closer-to-australian-secret-police-20150421-1mpgdk.html
@ Murray R
That certainly is chilling and horrific.
This paper from 1986 from an Oz Uni looks deeply at the threats of political violence to Australia and its response. Very good study I think. It comments wryly on the apparent wistfulness of Oz media that the country is regarded as a bit of a boring backwater where no exciting terrorism ever occurs. The media they think would enjoy having some good drama to report and boost circulation with.
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/previous%20series/vt/1-9/vt09.html#5
They break the violence into headings, and under terrorism they say there has been sporadic examples, but no trend. It seems that this sporadic nature will continue and while not ignoring it, there is no necessity to ramp up a major response.
And this:
The final problem has to do with assumptions about the nature of terrorism and how to deal with it. Much of the discussion which follows predictions of an increased level of terrorism seems to be predicated on the assumption either that terrorism generally can be defeated (that is, reduced to a low enough level so as not to occasion great national or international concern) or that, given the will (manifested by adequate security measures), any country can reduce the probability of attack against it to a very low level.
In fact, neither of these assumptions is realistic. Worse, they are dangerously unrealistic. The danger is that accepting them can lead to an uncritical acceptance of security measures domestically, and military measures internationally, which may themselves be counterproductive, destabilising and contribute to further terrorism.
The reality that, whatever we do, terrorism will be a feature of the international landscape for the foreseeable future and that no country can prevent all acts of terrorism, must be accepted as a basis for rational threat assessments and discussions of counter-terrorist policy and machinery.
Here are some other events that Australia managed to live through concerning Croatian and Yugoslav immigrants into the country and relationships with disgreements in their home country. where they were returning to fight. One organisation the Ustasha was connected with genocide camps 1941-45 and Serbo-Croat violence and Milosevic and Karadzic, notorious who have appeared before international tribunals were involved. Heavy stuff.
Page 10 of The Age 17 July 1973
Murky situation concerning a bombing.
http://members.iimetro.com.au/~hubbca/hilton_bombing.htm
“In fact, neither of these assumptions is realistic. Worse, they are dangerously unrealistic. The danger is that accepting them can lead to an uncritical acceptance of security measures domestically, and military measures internationally, which may themselves be counterproductive, destabilising and contribute to further terrorism.”
I agree 100% with this. Cracking down on the whole of society makes those with a grievance more desperate and dangerous, whether the grievance is imagined or not. I am appalled, but not overly surprised, that Labo(u)r goes down the same route.
This is posted as a comment yesterday on Blubber’s home ..
“Has anything been said about Rawshark being arrested yesterday? Was he? Haven’t heard anything from the msm. Any information about this?
If so, a big coincidence that it occurred on the same day as the ponytail saga!”
Omg I hope it’s not true ..
I hope it’s bullshit. FJK should be arrested, not Rawshark. Hoskings can be his cellmate and all his dreams would come true.
Hw would we know I wonder ? He would let us know somehow, surely ? Or Nicky H would ?
Hosking would have to grow a pony tail!
Latest Guardian article on Key’s difficulties. Includes a rather damning video.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/23/woman-whose-ponytail-was-pulled-by-pm-identified-by-new-zealand-herald
fuck me that earthquake was big here in Golden Bay
It rocked and rolled here in Whanganui too.
I spose they’ll call it the Wellington quake then
In a meeting at work, I’d say we could still feel it wobbling for 20 seconds – we all knew it was a fairly big one far away from us (Christchurch). I pulled up geonet on the projector and waited for it to give us the location 🙂
Good that you guys didn’t have to have another over 6er
please stay safe .. is this another on top of yesterday’s Seddon quake ? Not nice. Sending brandy !
Felt here in Blenheim for about 17 seconds. OK though.
Tim Leadbeater looks at three New Zealand writers – Robin Hyde, Ormond Burton and Alexander Aitken – on the absurdity and obscenity of Gallipoli:
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/the-absurdity-and-obscenity-of-gallipoli-three-new-zealand-writers-accounts/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68000611/graham-mccready-lays-complaint-about-police-inaction-over-pms-ponytail-pulling
McReady laying compliant with IPAC over lack of response … good on him. Can we send him money somehow ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_McCready
In 2006, McCready was sentenced to 75 hours community service after he traded while bankrupt
In 2009, McCready was convicted on charges on charges of making false tax returns involving $183,155. He was sentenced to six months’ home detention.
In 2013, McCready was convicted of blackmailing a company director and sentenced to six months’ community detention.[13] He wrote in an apology to the victim that: “My conduct was criminal, unnecessary, and I am sure caused you some considerable distress.” Although he escaped jail time, the court costs bankrupted him.
Yep thats what this guys needs, encouragement
What he did against Banks was honourable. What he is doing now is honourable. Can’t speak for then. Thanks for info, but maybe he has paid his dues ?
I am in the present day and admire what he is doing, and am very grateful about it.
Puckish Rogue
Do you supply any information you can Garner on us to the NACTs too? Have you got a little list? They never will be missed etc. G&S
Herald reporting that Sparks all networks is down Wellington and south .. hope they are all safe from that big 6.2 rolling and long quake.
I’m not sure whether this is a kosha question to ask, but I’ll do so anyway (after watching the ‘expert’ Bill Hodge on that abomination of a programme called Henry something or other on TV3/RadioLive this morning.
Does anyone else know Bill? (My brother did before he karked it).
The guy seems to have changed quite a bit …. not sure his expertise these days isn;t clouded by curmudgeonhood and a dribble of right wing sauce – shaken not stirred.
Just curious.
Phil U perhaps? (probably under the same circumstances my brother and the hodge came to become friends)
Rhinocrates perhaps?
If you do – have you noticed a change (and I mean in basic principles/honesty/ that sort of thing)
No big deal …… just curious
Probably like Rhino, I’m really beginning to despair at the quality of the tertiary that’s being slopped up these days. (There’s a Bryce we should prolly throw in there as well – and they seem to justify their cosy little pozzies and minimal effort brain fart comments in the MSM and elsewhere along the lines of “The world has changed”……)
Rhino: any thoughts – and U 2 @ PU
I know Bill. He was my employment law lecturer and indeed had some small role in awarding me the Simpson Grierson Employment Law Prize many years back *swells with pride*
He is marginally political, and nailed a slight RW-bent to his mast, but he is very circumspect and very honest about the effect of the pendulum of politics on Employment Law.
It always strikes me as a little odd that he is the resident expert on every area of law when the media come calling.
With that said, he is a thoroughly intelligent and affable chap, he runs marathons frequently, and he is literally brimming with jokes about bears (it was kinda his thing to start every lecture with a joke involving a bear…).
He also has friends on both the right and left. Among others, he brought in Simon Mitchell (prominent Auckland employment law barrister with good union client base, was also a nominee for Mt. Albert before mumblefuck was handed it) to lecture us, who is also a great left-wing thinker. So I wouldn’t say that Bill imposed RW thought on his students (most of whom are already arch-tory Kings/Dio/St Cuths students anyway).
I can’t disagree with all that you say .
I was kind of surprised at his bent on the Henry abomination this morning however.
And that “Mild RW” bent that’s now nailed (VERY FIRMLY) to his mast, never used to be present – which is what concerns me in terms of where he sees himself now and the quality of his media contributions (There was once a word we used to use – it was called BIAS)
Anyway ….. He’s elected to be in fine company and I’ll view his MSM contributions from now on with the view they deserve
Thankyou @pigman. Good to know your view and perception of things.
Thank you
A bit late in the day for this, but I thought of Once was Tim when I read this:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/68016399/Its-wrong-to-tell-fat-women-they-look-fabulous
Totally with you on calling out the sugar merchants, by the way!