That storm was part of a six-day outbreak of an estimated 180 tornadoes that caused 177 deaths, including 157 in Joplin, Missouri. Total losses across 15 states were greater than $7 billion, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“The year 2011 has already established itself in the record books as a historic year for weather-related disasters, and it is not over — in fact, hurricane season is just getting under way,” NOAA Deputy Administrator Kathryn D. Sullivan told the Senate Appropriations Committee in late July.
“Catastrophic drought occurred once every five years in the 1950s and once every two years in the 1990s. But in the past 10 years it’s been almost every year,” Li Maosong, director of the Agricultural Information Office at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), told China Daily.
Tang Huajun, deputy dean of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), said a 5 to 10 percent crop loss is foreseeable by 2030 if climate change continues.
‘The impact of climate change, coupled with arable land loss and water shortages, will cause a bigger grain production fluctuation and pose a threat to reaching output targets,’ Tang told China Daily.
According to statistics from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the average annual crop losses due to drought in China were 75.7 billion yuan ($11.1 billion) from 1988 to 2004, while annual losses due to flood were 51.1 billion yuan.
‘Drought has become the greatest disaster facing China’s agriculture,’ said Lin Erda, a professor with CAAS.
Russia has enough grain to cover its domestic needs after harvesting this year 38% less than the previous crop, a senior official said Monday. However markets believe Russia could be forced to import several million tons to ensure grain reserves until the following 2011 harvest
Having helped out with a Whitcoulls stock take and observed deeply the full range of bullsh*t they stock it comes as no surprise they’d stock what is the “how-to” of child abuse the fundie Christian way in order to make a profit.
And ironically enough even Family First is against it, despite their framing of the Section 59 repeal as only being about light smacks, instead of closing the loop hole that allowed for the level of abuse To Train Up A Child teaches to be dealt with properly.
Tonight, CNN’s 360 with Anderson Cooper picked up with Gary Tuchman’s report on Michael and Debi Pearl, best-selling authors of religiously themed books. The Pearls’ methods are controversial, particularly in light of a case involving Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz of Paradise, California, jailed for spanking their two adoptive daughters so severely that one died. The surviving adopted child, as well as their biological children who were also victims of severe punishment, are in foster care.
District attorney Michael Ramsey says there is no doubt in his mind that the Pearls’ advice influenced the Schatzes and that they share some responsibility for the abuses and death. A copy of their book, To Train Up a Child, was found in the Schatz home, marked and underscored. His office decided not to prosecute the Pearls because they had a “First Amendment right to say awful things.”
Should NZ booksellers be allowed to sell a book advocating smacking children?
Which totally misrepresents what the book is about. It isn’t about ‘smacking’, but rather seriously violent ways of discipling children, apparently including using a ‘rod’, thumping and hair pulling. FFS.
The U.S. Department of State seems likely to approve a huge pipeline to carry tar sands oil (about 830,000 barrels per day) to Texas refineries unless sufficient objections are raised. The scientific community needs to get involved in this fray now. If this project gains approval, it will become exceedingly difficult to control the tar sands monster…
I see that our beloved leader, Dear John, has jumped onto the international bandwagon to recognise the new regime in Lybia. Why does he also offer millions from our meagre overseas aid budget for the rebuilding of infrastructure when there is going to be billions of Gaddifi’s frozen funds in America now released to the new government? Surely we should be using our aid budget in the Pacific and let the rich Muslim countries assist the rebuild of Lybia?
No-one put me right on a statement I made on police detention of the young Asperger’s sufferer in Christchurch. I thought that diversion was one possibility but hear police saying that it is only available for them to use with someone who admits guilt. It is not suited then to a case where they are dealing with someone who has a different, particular, altered view of society because of different brain function. Something else is needed. There must be some fairer way of treating such offenders, perhaps under a mental health act. Does anyone know?
Also the light bulbs theft was played up but apparently also, he was inside the forbidden zone which was being zealously guarded by authority. To keep us safe from harm. Also to prevent this sort of mindless looting so I guess any reasoned response would have long ago snuck out the door and down the steps.
My recollection is that he was prepared to plead guilty on the condition that diversion was granted. This sort of negotiation is fairly standard practice as far as i am aware and often but not always results in a satisfactory outcome for both the accused and the police.
In this case the police refused diversion because they wanted to make an example of him and justify their use of force and so it went to defended hearing.
I am not a lawyer however so someone else may be able to shed a bit more light on the particulars of this case and the protocols around the use of diversion.
If you see someone on the bridge about to jump, do you assume them guilty or
bas jumping? The police need distance from the events to act with integrity.
So my question is why was diversion denied, could it be because the
prosecution lawyers decided, as you say there is a certain amount of
negiotiations, were the Police the only people involved in the decision?
Doctors do not just call people names, label them, for fun. Asbergers
is an affliction.
After Daniel Domscheit-Berg was suspended in August 2010, he went about destroying leaked documents held by the well known whistle-blower site Wikileaks…
well well well
thought i should put three holes in the ground ready to be filled with more JK BS
Hands up if you too thought the Asset sales were to pay off Debt. Joyce has said repeatedly that Transmission Gully and the other roads for multi-freight incorporated had budgets already put aside for them, So what does this little statement actually mean ? Apart from the fact these feckers believe the public to be complete morons i mean, which sadly the majority, according to the polls, appear to be.
The above article claims that news reports from Libya are being doctored, and that the rebels have not been nearly as successful as has been made out. The claim by at least one reporter that she has been threatened, by some parts of the MSM, for telling the truth, seems almost more shocking than the war itself.
I don’t know whether the Al Jazeera report was doctored, I do understand that there is plenty of spin, bias and outright lies in the MSM. But there are also plenty of reports that show this ‘globalresearch’ article is not reflecting reality.
This will do more to curtail tax avoidance than National has pretended to be doing in the last couple of years.
I only wonder why it took the IRD until 2008 to file this case against the pair who had been rorting the system since 2000. Surely they could’ve gotten onto them in 2003-04ish?
I liked the $25,000 fee imposed by the learned judges to compensate IRD for having to defend the appeal.
Hundreds or thousands of rorters will be likewise at risk similar to these two pillocks of the community. I’d like to see a grace period for similar rorters to ‘fess and pay up, or incur a nice $25,000 for making the IRD do the work. Abuser pays!
Hmmm. You wonder? Flippin’ heck, you must be dense. You clearly didnt read the article. The case was lost by the commissioner in the High Court, went to the Court of Appeal, and was then appealed to the Supreme Court. On top of that, there would have been the initial investigation by the IRD, the issuing of NOPA’s and the correspondence that surrounds that.
Secondly, the article makes it look like the two surgeons were only paying tax on their salaries, which is not correct as the difference would either be taxed in (a) the trust or (b) the beneficiaries of the trust hands if a distribution to them was made.
Thirdly, the article doesnt say that the Court of Appeal decision was 2 -1 for the Commissioner. Clearly, the case was complex and there must have been some evidence that the arrangement wasnt tax avoidance to convince one judge to dissent. In fact, the dissenting judgment makes the observation that it would seem unusual that tax avoidance arises where a taxpayer consistently pays a lower than market salary of a certain amount and they save on tax merely because tax
rates change.
There are plenty of statutory controls on tax avoidance in this country, and they work just fine. Its just that numbnuts like you, and your ilk, don’t (a) understand what tax avoidance is (b)understand them and (c) dont want to understand them since it would ruin your half baked theories.
Why don’t you post a few links to beneficiaries “rorting” the system? I’m sure you’d be able to easily find a few if you really wanted to try.
I have no idea why you are whining like this. It seems to have touched a nerve. It comes down to this: There has just been a decision by the highest court in New Zealand that you cannot structure your affairs for the sole purpose of avoiding paying your fair share of tax.
Any idiot reading the article will know that the trust/business still has to pay tax, but it will be at a lower rate than their personal income tax rate, and this has been found by the court to be tax avoidance. Whether or not the decision was unanimous at all stages, it has been upheld by the highest court of NZ. On that basis, it will serve as a precedent for future cases. Indeed, this case is part of the ‘statutory controls on tax avoidance’ – the IRD will obviously need to defend itself against any decisions it makes if challenged in court, and the court has come out on the side of the IRD.
Nice one wtl. Dont have any arguments as to what you say at all other than I’m not sure where you get whining from. I was in fact responding to Lanth who couldnt understand why the IRD hadnt gotten onto these chaps sooner. The fact that the High Court ruled in favour of the taxpayer and the CofA decision had a dissenter means that the issue wasnt as clear cut as it seemed. Ergo it took longer.
And yes, it may set a precedent. But then Duke of Westminster v IRD was a precedent. They can be ignored. And I’d point out that this decision was very tightly aligned to the facts in this case. In fact, there are situations where this sort of arrangement would be perfectly ok.
You are quite wrong when you say “any idiot” There are many on this site who would believe these guys were paying no tax on the balance. Just read what some have to say.
As a matter of interest, what do you consider a fair share of tax? What rates are fair and which thresholds? Who do you consider to be rich and at what point does one become rich to fall into the top marginal tax rate? I read and hear a lot of rhetoric about “paying you fair share” here and from the Labour Party, but no one ever puts a line in the sand, do they?
In Vino, “There are many on this site who would believe these guys were paying no tax on the balance. Just read what some have to say.”
Whereabouts? On this post Lanth, wtl, you and I have commented on the decision. And we four are not ‘many on this site’. And I don’t see us making any comment on not paying tax on the balance.
1) You seemed to be whining based on a your long and somewhat insulting response to Lanth. It certainly seems to have taken some time for the case to have been filed and you have outlined some possible reasons for this, so fair enough.
2) I am hardly an expert, but it seems that tax accountants are taking noted of this decision and that IRD may issue some guidelines as a result of this decision. As such, it would appear that this case is, in fact, an important precedent.
3) Indeed some people mistakenly think that they paid no tax but it is impossible to write a report explicitly stating every single point. In my view that report was written well and was quite clear, unlike some other stuff that comes out of the NZ media. I still believe that most people reading that article would have understood what happened, including many of those here.
4) ‘Fair share’ in the above comment referred to what is set in the law, i.e. what other NZers are paying. These people tried to avoid paying what they were supposed to be structuring their affairs in a certain way and I’m glad they have been caught. I am not willing to go into an argument with you about tax rates at this time but I will state that I strongly support a complete overhaul of the system, such as that proposed by Gareth Morgan.
When farmers and other self employed can organise their affairs so that their children can qualify for Student Allowance and sit in lecture theatres next to children of families on moderate combined incomes (exceeding $70000 combined) who do not therefore qualify for Student Allowance, there is something fundamentally wrong with the tax system.
Farmers and the self employed can also put everything down to the company so that they can claim the GST back, fill the family SUV tanks with diesel, claim clothing allowances and many more and generally live a charmed life. Don’t start talking about the few benefit abusers.
And it would seem that the grafting that might go on on the shop floor increases 10 fold the further up the chain you go…
And therefore logie97, a beneficiary, who pays no, or little tax, and who’s children get a student allowance, should also be berated?
Farming is a business. Certain expenses in business are tax deductible, as they are incurred in generating taxable income, and there are anti-avoidance provsions in the Income Tax act to prevent abuse.
and there are anti-avoidance provsions in the Income Tax act to prevent abuse.
And are they enforced fairly and evenly across industries?
What if accountants structure affairs so that income is minimised – legal avoidance?
And therefore logie97, a beneficiary, who pays no, or little tax, and who’s children get a student allowance, should also be berated?
This example shows you don’t get it. In the case of a social welfare beneficiary, the social welfare beneficiary will often be in control of very little income and assets.
logie97 is talking about farming beneficiaries. Who often have very significant revenue flows and assets under their direction.
I would say of course they are enforced evenly and fairly Colonel. Why would you say it is not?
What if? What is the point of this question? Minimising your tax is a right give by the Courts in Westminster v IRD (and taken away to a degree by the Penny & Hooper decision). Are you asking what I think of legal avoidance?
I think I do get it Colonel. And I also understand farming quite well in fact. I’m also sure that you understand that “very significant revenue flows” dont always equate to lots of money in the bank. A beneficiary has revenue flows as well, and has choices as to what to do with it, however limited they may be. Assets are a different story to a point, agreed. However, assets don’t always have a direct correlation to cashflow unless they are disposed off. Then there’s the old hoary problem of debt – equity and interest to be sorted.
So, are you saying that a farmer, with no taxable income, but assets (or an indirect benefit from assets), should not be able to get assistance from the government for his child to attend unversity, whilst a beneficiary, who has no taxable income and has no assets should? If so, are you advocating, heaven forbid, asset testing?
I came across yet another stupid tweet by Tau Henare today, claiming that National had made more varsity places available. From past experience I know not to trust a single word the pathological liar says, so I went about doing a little research…
It is has been interesting (and depressing) keeping track of the Obama administration’s slow but sure capitulation to the Wall Street gnomes. Has anybody the US financial sector yet been charged over the frauds which triggered the 2008 crisis? Here’s the latest:
Last April, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a 650-page report on the financial crisis that provided a detailed factual account of banking fraud as well as the collusion of federal regulatory agencies and the credit rating firms. The report concluded with a list of federal securities statutes that it suggested had been violated by major Wall Street firms.
The Obama administration has ignored this report as part of its efforts to shield the financial elite from being held to account for its actions.
Now, having blocked any federal prosecution of senior bank officials, the administration is intervening to quash investigations at the state level. Nothing could more clearly demonstrate its role as a tool of the US financial oligarchy.
If I want to download and watch a film made in 1979 and seemingly not around in quantity am I able to do that? Or do I get sanctioned under new or old laws? And would it be safe to link to the site to get more information? I’m cautious about the internet not wanting to get caught up in the bad web of deceit that’s out there. Anyone who could steer me in the right direction?
IANAL but I think I would be illegal to download it without paying for the rights to view it. In practice, however, I doubt you would get into trouble for doing so (as long as you are simply downloading it) – that would require the rights holders to make an effort to determine that you have downloaded it and lodge a complaint. I doubt anyone would be bothered for an old movie which isn’t making any money.
Should you download it? That is probably more of a moral decision on your part so you have to make up your own mind.
Not sure what you mean by ‘safe to link’, but I don’t think lprent would want you to post a link to a site hosting movie downloads, so don’t do so (if that’s what you mean).
@wtl – Thanks for info. The movie wasn’t available on amazonuk so I feel ok to consider downloading it. I was wondering if even going to a site that was legally unsatisfactory might get me into trouble
As for links – I’ve heard stories about being careful as to what you link into to prevent trojan programs etc. We have a pretty good firewall here and operate through Linux and I think that makes a difference but I still am unsure when I think of linking. The bad web of deceit bit – just my reaction to the shysters who use the web for criminality and abuse of privacy.
As for links – I’ve heard stories about being careful as to what you link into to prevent trojan programs…
Yes you would want to be careful about what sites you visit. Sites that host illegal or quasi-legal material are more likely to be malicious than other sites. Obviously, don’t install or run any programs from any site you don’t trust. But if you just download a movie file (e.g. .avi), you should be able to play it in a movie player without any worries. Some sites may take advantage of security holes in your browser or operating system to install programs into your computer without your knowledge, but I think it is much more likely that they would infect your computer by ‘tricking’ you into installing something.
Would a Standardista like to build on and extend the analysis for this piece please?
“The temptation to look at food as another form of fuel to use for the energy crisis will exacerbate the food crisis … ”
“The food industry also opposes the new GM product because, although not inedible, it is unsuitable for use in the manufacture of food products that commonly use corn. Farmers growing corn for human consumption are also concerned about cross-contamination. …
“The same traits that make the modified corn so attractive to the ethanol industry – the swift breakdown of starches – would be a disaster for the food industry, turning corn chips into shapeless lumps, and stripping the thickening properties from corn starch.”
* Further questions to be raised – What does research, if any, reveal about the nutritional content of the new GM corn? What involvement,if any, does the alcohol industry have with this new GM corn?
The corn has been modified to contain amylase, which breaks down starch (glucose polymers) to glucose. Obviously, this is an advantage for the corn to be used as a feeder for bio-fuel, as the microorganisms used to generate ethanol are undoubtedly able to metabolise glucose more rapidly than starch.
Without any firsthand knowledge, my expectation is that nutrionally, the corn should still be ‘okay’ to eat – amylase is a naturally occuring enzyme in the body (in the saliva and intestine), as starch needs to be broken down to glucose to be absorbed and utilised. The corn may have a higher percentage of simple sugars than starch, due to the presence of amylase, but should still contain a similar number of calories. Obviously, the presence of the enzyme makes the corn unsuitable for use in certain recipes which demand the starch-like qualities of corn. In saying that, I expect that this corn will not be approved for human consumption as that would probably require additional testing that the company may not bother with.
I don’t think the alcohol industry would have anything to do with this corn, I don’t know of many alcohol products that are consumed use corn as a carbohydrate source. The brewing processes will also be optimised for the particular ingredients used, and I don’t think the break down of starch into glucose is a limiting factor, especially that the quantities of alcohol they produce are rather small (compared to that of biofuel).
Don’t want to go there, but I wonder what the sewer rats think of Slippery’s apples-for-refugees deal? Comments on Rebecca Wright’s bit on the TV3 site suggest this might be a flip-flop too far for some of wee Joky’s fan club…..
Call me a cynic but this looks like a strategy to ensure that NZ falls in behind the Aussie ‘shut the door on boat people’ policies that are being rolled out.
Old Shonkey didn’t have much luck whipping up xenophobic fear here last time refugees held up rather aspirational destination ‘news land’ signs – because boat people dont actually make it to NZ -however this is one way to to make Australia’s problem our problem as well.
Rufugees are going to become an increasing problem in our region, and NZ should take a compassionate stance as it always has, however our policies should be independent from that of Australia. Our neighbour has shown itself incapable of a reasonable discussion on this issue and it’s enforcement methods are likely to become ever more extreme as the situation escalates.
We cannot be an effective advocate for a humanitarian response if we allow the Australians to call the shots.
The NActs raised GST which is a regressive tax – it affects the poor moor than it does the rich. At the same time that they did that they cut taxes for the rich.
I have been reading that selling the SOE’s would make them more commercial and . Surely there are ways to make an organisation transparent without resorting to selling said organisation? My god, they do not need to use dog whistle politics, pork barrel or any of the other terms they use for politicking, our country has by and large lost 20 IQ points across the board in the last 3 years! Time to separate parliament into two sections, one house for legal/ constitutional bills as well as financial, and another house for social laws. Obviously there will be overlaps and conflict, but having a GG with actual power as well as two Speakers may straighten some of this out? I believe we should, as voters choose all three positions via our ballot papers, I believe with how things are heading at the moment something needs to change before my generation are handed a country thats well and truly poked.
@Dave A split house along law categories. That’s an interesting concept. Maybe we could get action on some of the things that drag on – like whether it is legal for councils to build speed checking ramps in city streets etc. The politicians couldn’t agree on whether they should have scented toilet paper or not in their loos.
Yeah, me and my mate were discussing this yesterday and the idea would be that the legal house would operate slower and with more process however the ‘lower’ house would almost be in a state of constant urgency, in a way, but both houses clear each others decisions. Or something along those lines, all I know, from my own perspective is that the party politics is what is slowly eroding democracy in our country. Both major parties are competing on roughly the same policies as they know that swing voters are easy to uh, swing (no pun intended) so something needs to change, for the betterment of all. Or Sue Kedgley is right, we will have riots here one day, and that isn’t a threat or her trying to cause panic, its just a fact of life. And yes, I agree, the only time you have genuine consensus and progress in the house is generally when pay review comes around.
@Dave Yes I see your points. I too feel democracy is being eroded and though our political system has a lot going for it and we have fine-tuned it by adding MMP, we need to have a mission statement for what we want from government and look at how we can achieve this without huge changes from our present democracy. Some would like referendums but I don’t trust my neighbour’s knee jerk responses to problems, or some of those on this blog, to be better than the politicians who can actually achieve good public policy when they aren’t gaming each other and the populace.
More and longer consideration of the basic policies with no possibility of announcing emergency and rushing stuff through without select committee or even cross-party discussion and agreement would definitely be better and the daily organisation could be left to another level. This would be more like a controlling body for local council and policies for everyday organisational matters. Also policies could be trialled by it, with the important ones going to the full government – matters of ethical, human rights, big spending, anything major.
Past election analysis has shown that under our present system, government can be very uninterested in what all the ‘people’ think. What they do is to rely on compliance and automatic voting from their own supporters, discount the opposition votes, and shape their message and policies to the small say 10% swinging voter group. And the practice of seeking the names and addresses of those possibly pliable voters and then setting PR promotional dogs onto them turns democracy into a game to win for one’s own benefit not to serve the country’s needs and interests. We need something better and should be discussing this throughout the country as soon as 2012, after the election is over.
This article gives some idea as to our future that has been brought about by massive over-population and the capitalist free-market. At some point, our great-great-great grandchildren may get around to forgiving us – if mankind survives the catastrophe that he has brought to this world.
Stephen King is hoping to “make some people a little bit angry” with a new, left-leaning morning talk show which will offer a counterbalance to the proliferation of conservative American radio hosts
……
To be hosted by Pat LaMarche, a Green party vice-presidential candidate in 2004, and former reporter Don Cookson, The Pulse Morning Show will air on the King-owned radio stations WZON 103.1 FM and 620 AM from 12 September on weekday mornings and online at zoneradio.com.
……
The show would be targeting politicians who bully Maine residents – in particular those struggling with the welfare system. “There’s an awful lot of bullying going on out there right now [and] nothing is more fun than standing up to a bully,” she said. “We want you to laugh all the time because if you don’t, you’ll cry.”
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The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...
2024 is now officially my best-ever year for short stories. My 1,850-word dark fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens, has been accepted for the upcoming solstice edition of Eternal Haunted Summer (https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/), thereby making that six published short stories for the calendar year. As always, see the Bibliography page for ...
Brooke van Velden has wasted six years of work from businesses, unions, and government by binning planned Holidays Act reforms, said Acting CTU President Rachel Mackintosh in response to today’s announcement from Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety. “The Minister has cynically kicked the can on Holiday Act reform even ...
Words, playing me deja vuLike a radio tune, I swear I've heard beforeChill, is it something real?Or the magic I'm feeding off your fingersWho do you need?Who do you love?When you come undoneSongwriters: John Taylor / Simon Le Bon / Nick Rhodes / Warren Cuccurullo.When this three-way coalition was being ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...
New Zealand has ratified the Upgrade to the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), Minister for Trade Todd McClay announced today. “ASEAN which is comprised of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, is New Zealand’s fourth largest trading partner in two-way trade – ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes.Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...
By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker.Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...
The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...
A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...
If something big is going to happen in Ferndale, it’s going to happen at Christmas. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year, it’s the annual Christmas cliffhanger. The final episode of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...
Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...
The government has confirmed its plan to break up Te Pūkenga / New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and re-establish independent polytechnics. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Whittle, Director, Data61 Ganjalex / Shutterstock I’m a computer scientist and a bad Christmas shopper. Over the weekend, I wondered whether AI systems might be able to help me out. Could I just prompt ChatGPT to pick a personalised ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Crosby, Professor of Economics, Monash University Michael Leslie/Shutterstock This week, the value of the Australian dollar fell to 62 US cents, its lowest level since October 2022. The acute cause? A revelation by the United States Federal Reserve that ...
A couple of weeks after Spotify Wrapped comes a much more comprehensive survey of New Zealand’s listening. Duncan Greive casts an eye over the official 2024 end of year music charts. Streaming has changed music listening, and what we know about it, forever. Where once our charts were sales driven, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suneha Seetahul, Senior Research Fellow, Applied Microeconomics, University of Sydney Kara Math/ShutterstockOne in two people in the Pacific Islands is classified as overweight (with a body mass index of 25–29) or obese (a BMI 30 or above). This is a ...
2011: Year of billion-dollar disasters
That storm was part of a six-day outbreak of an estimated 180 tornadoes that caused 177 deaths, including 157 in Joplin, Missouri. Total losses across 15 states were greater than $7 billion, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“The year 2011 has already established itself in the record books as a historic year for weather-related disasters, and it is not over — in fact, hurricane season is just getting under way,” NOAA Deputy Administrator Kathryn D. Sullivan told the Senate Appropriations Committee in late July.
Drought ‘poses threat’ to grain security
“Catastrophic drought occurred once every five years in the 1950s and once every two years in the 1990s. But in the past 10 years it’s been almost every year,” Li Maosong, director of the Agricultural Information Office at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), told China Daily.
Climate Change ‘Takes Toll’ on Grain Harvest
Tang Huajun, deputy dean of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), said a 5 to 10 percent crop loss is foreseeable by 2030 if climate change continues.
‘The impact of climate change, coupled with arable land loss and water shortages, will cause a bigger grain production fluctuation and pose a threat to reaching output targets,’ Tang told China Daily.
According to statistics from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the average annual crop losses due to drought in China were 75.7 billion yuan ($11.1 billion) from 1988 to 2004, while annual losses due to flood were 51.1 billion yuan.
‘Drought has become the greatest disaster facing China’s agriculture,’ said Lin Erda, a professor with CAAS.
Russia admits crop loss of 38%; self sufficient in 2010 but no reserves for 2011
Russia has enough grain to cover its domestic needs after harvesting this year 38% less than the previous crop, a senior official said Monday. However markets believe Russia could be forced to import several million tons to ensure grain reserves until the following 2011 harvest
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/child-training-book-promotes-abuse-4363404
Having helped out with a Whitcoulls stock take and observed deeply the full range of bullsh*t they stock it comes as no surprise they’d stock what is the “how-to” of child abuse the fundie Christian way in order to make a profit.
And ironically enough even Family First is against it, despite their framing of the Section 59 repeal as only being about light smacks, instead of closing the loop hole that allowed for the level of abuse To Train Up A Child teaches to be dealt with properly.
Some beat their children to death…
Tonight, CNN’s 360 with Anderson Cooper picked up with Gary Tuchman’s report on Michael and Debi Pearl, best-selling authors of religiously themed books. The Pearls’ methods are controversial, particularly in light of a case involving Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz of Paradise, California, jailed for spanking their two adoptive daughters so severely that one died. The surviving adopted child, as well as their biological children who were also victims of severe punishment, are in foster care.
District attorney Michael Ramsey says there is no doubt in his mind that the Pearls’ advice influenced the Schatzes and that they share some responsibility for the abuses and death. A copy of their book, To Train Up a Child, was found in the Schatz home, marked and underscored. His office decided not to prosecute the Pearls because they had a “First Amendment right to say awful things.”
My giddy aunt! How insane can some people be?
There’s really nothing Christian about these ideas… and some “Christians” need to learn that.
Stuff is running the following poll:
Which totally misrepresents what the book is about. It isn’t about ‘smacking’, but rather seriously violent ways of discipling children, apparently including using a ‘rod’, thumping and hair pulling. FFS.
Silence is Deadly – Jim Hansen
The U.S. Department of State seems likely to approve a huge pipeline to carry tar sands oil (about 830,000 barrels per day) to Texas refineries unless sufficient objections are raised. The scientific community needs to get involved in this fray now. If this project gains approval, it will become exceedingly difficult to control the tar sands monster…
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/topics/tar_sands
I see that our beloved leader, Dear John, has jumped onto the international bandwagon to recognise the new regime in Lybia. Why does he also offer millions from our meagre overseas aid budget for the rebuilding of infrastructure when there is going to be billions of Gaddifi’s frozen funds in America now released to the new government? Surely we should be using our aid budget in the Pacific and let the rich Muslim countries assist the rebuild of Lybia?
Not to mention the devastated people of that forgotten earthquake in Haiti.
No-one put me right on a statement I made on police detention of the young Asperger’s sufferer in Christchurch. I thought that diversion was one possibility but hear police saying that it is only available for them to use with someone who admits guilt. It is not suited then to a case where they are dealing with someone who has a different, particular, altered view of society because of different brain function. Something else is needed. There must be some fairer way of treating such offenders, perhaps under a mental health act. Does anyone know?
Also the light bulbs theft was played up but apparently also, he was inside the forbidden zone which was being zealously guarded by authority. To keep us safe from harm. Also to prevent this sort of mindless looting so I guess any reasoned response would have long ago snuck out the door and down the steps.
My recollection is that he was prepared to plead guilty on the condition that diversion was granted. This sort of negotiation is fairly standard practice as far as i am aware and often but not always results in a satisfactory outcome for both the accused and the police.
In this case the police refused diversion because they wanted to make an example of him and justify their use of force and so it went to defended hearing.
I am not a lawyer however so someone else may be able to shed a bit more light on the particulars of this case and the protocols around the use of diversion.
@CL Thanks for that
If you see someone on the bridge about to jump, do you assume them guilty or
bas jumping? The police need distance from the events to act with integrity.
So my question is why was diversion denied, could it be because the
prosecution lawyers decided, as you say there is a certain amount of
negiotiations, were the Police the only people involved in the decision?
Doctors do not just call people names, label them, for fun. Asbergers
is an affliction.
Wikileaks Traitor – Daniel Domscheit-Berg
After Daniel Domscheit-Berg was suspended in August 2010, he went about destroying leaked documents held by the well known whistle-blower site Wikileaks…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5495890/Asset-sales-may-prop-up-cost-of-expressway
well well well
thought i should put three holes in the ground ready to be filled with more JK BS
Hands up if you too thought the Asset sales were to pay off Debt. Joyce has said repeatedly that Transmission Gully and the other roads for multi-freight incorporated had budgets already put aside for them, So what does this little statement actually mean ? Apart from the fact these feckers believe the public to be complete morons i mean, which sadly the majority, according to the polls, appear to be.
Eddie has put up a post on this
http://thestandard.org.nz/wanna-trade-solid-energy-for-the-kapiti-expressway/
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26155
The above article claims that news reports from Libya are being doctored, and that the rebels have not been nearly as successful as has been made out. The claim by at least one reporter that she has been threatened, by some parts of the MSM, for telling the truth, seems almost more shocking than the war itself.
Hardly surprising when doctoring the news and repressing journalism appears to be par for the course in the Arab world.
I don’t know whether the Al Jazeera report was doctored, I do understand that there is plenty of spin, bias and outright lies in the MSM. But there are also plenty of reports that show this ‘globalresearch’ article is not reflecting reality.
when all of what we are today
is dim dim distant past
a racial memory mostly myth
known to the shaman caste
http://thepeakoilpoet.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-our-sons-and-daughters-too.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/5498103/IRD-wins-landmark-tax-case
This will do more to curtail tax avoidance than National has pretended to be doing in the last couple of years.
I only wonder why it took the IRD until 2008 to file this case against the pair who had been rorting the system since 2000. Surely they could’ve gotten onto them in 2003-04ish?
I liked the $25,000 fee imposed by the learned judges to compensate IRD for having to defend the appeal.
Hundreds or thousands of rorters will be likewise at risk similar to these two pillocks of the community. I’d like to see a grace period for similar rorters to ‘fess and pay up, or incur a nice $25,000 for making the IRD do the work. Abuser pays!
Hmmm. You wonder? Flippin’ heck, you must be dense. You clearly didnt read the article. The case was lost by the commissioner in the High Court, went to the Court of Appeal, and was then appealed to the Supreme Court. On top of that, there would have been the initial investigation by the IRD, the issuing of NOPA’s and the correspondence that surrounds that.
Secondly, the article makes it look like the two surgeons were only paying tax on their salaries, which is not correct as the difference would either be taxed in (a) the trust or (b) the beneficiaries of the trust hands if a distribution to them was made.
Thirdly, the article doesnt say that the Court of Appeal decision was 2 -1 for the Commissioner. Clearly, the case was complex and there must have been some evidence that the arrangement wasnt tax avoidance to convince one judge to dissent. In fact, the dissenting judgment makes the observation that it would seem unusual that tax avoidance arises where a taxpayer consistently pays a lower than market salary of a certain amount and they save on tax merely because tax
rates change.
There are plenty of statutory controls on tax avoidance in this country, and they work just fine. Its just that numbnuts like you, and your ilk, don’t (a) understand what tax avoidance is (b)understand them and (c) dont want to understand them since it would ruin your half baked theories.
Why don’t you post a few links to beneficiaries “rorting” the system? I’m sure you’d be able to easily find a few if you really wanted to try.
I have no idea why you are whining like this. It seems to have touched a nerve. It comes down to this: There has just been a decision by the highest court in New Zealand that you cannot structure your affairs for the sole purpose of avoiding paying your fair share of tax.
Any idiot reading the article will know that the trust/business still has to pay tax, but it will be at a lower rate than their personal income tax rate, and this has been found by the court to be tax avoidance. Whether or not the decision was unanimous at all stages, it has been upheld by the highest court of NZ. On that basis, it will serve as a precedent for future cases. Indeed, this case is part of the ‘statutory controls on tax avoidance’ – the IRD will obviously need to defend itself against any decisions it makes if challenged in court, and the court has come out on the side of the IRD.
Nice one wtl. Dont have any arguments as to what you say at all other than I’m not sure where you get whining from. I was in fact responding to Lanth who couldnt understand why the IRD hadnt gotten onto these chaps sooner. The fact that the High Court ruled in favour of the taxpayer and the CofA decision had a dissenter means that the issue wasnt as clear cut as it seemed. Ergo it took longer.
And yes, it may set a precedent. But then Duke of Westminster v IRD was a precedent. They can be ignored. And I’d point out that this decision was very tightly aligned to the facts in this case. In fact, there are situations where this sort of arrangement would be perfectly ok.
You are quite wrong when you say “any idiot” There are many on this site who would believe these guys were paying no tax on the balance. Just read what some have to say.
As a matter of interest, what do you consider a fair share of tax? What rates are fair and which thresholds? Who do you consider to be rich and at what point does one become rich to fall into the top marginal tax rate? I read and hear a lot of rhetoric about “paying you fair share” here and from the Labour Party, but no one ever puts a line in the sand, do they?
In Vino, “There are many on this site who would believe these guys were paying no tax on the balance. Just read what some have to say.”
Whereabouts? On this post Lanth, wtl, you and I have commented on the decision. And we four are not ‘many on this site’. And I don’t see us making any comment on not paying tax on the balance.
Ubi veritas?
1) You seemed to be whining based on a your long and somewhat insulting response to Lanth. It certainly seems to have taken some time for the case to have been filed and you have outlined some possible reasons for this, so fair enough.
2) I am hardly an expert, but it seems that tax accountants are taking noted of this decision and that IRD may issue some guidelines as a result of this decision. As such, it would appear that this case is, in fact, an important precedent.
3) Indeed some people mistakenly think that they paid no tax but it is impossible to write a report explicitly stating every single point. In my view that report was written well and was quite clear, unlike some other stuff that comes out of the NZ media. I still believe that most people reading that article would have understood what happened, including many of those here.
4) ‘Fair share’ in the above comment referred to what is set in the law, i.e. what other NZers are paying. These people tried to avoid paying what they were supposed to be structuring their affairs in a certain way and I’m glad they have been caught. I am not willing to go into an argument with you about tax rates at this time but I will state that I strongly support a complete overhaul of the system, such as that proposed by Gareth Morgan.
a read of Gareth Morgan in the Herald might answer some questions here…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10746808
When farmers and other self employed can organise their affairs so that their children can qualify for Student Allowance and sit in lecture theatres next to children of families on moderate combined incomes (exceeding $70000 combined) who do not therefore qualify for Student Allowance, there is something fundamentally wrong with the tax system.
Farmers and the self employed can also put everything down to the company so that they can claim the GST back, fill the family SUV tanks with diesel, claim clothing allowances and many more and generally live a charmed life. Don’t start talking about the few benefit abusers.
And it would seem that the grafting that might go on on the shop floor increases 10 fold the further up the chain you go…
And therefore logie97, a beneficiary, who pays no, or little tax, and who’s children get a student allowance, should also be berated?
Farming is a business. Certain expenses in business are tax deductible, as they are incurred in generating taxable income, and there are anti-avoidance provsions in the Income Tax act to prevent abuse.
And are they enforced fairly and evenly across industries?
What if accountants structure affairs so that income is minimised – legal avoidance?
This example shows you don’t get it. In the case of a social welfare beneficiary, the social welfare beneficiary will often be in control of very little income and assets.
logie97 is talking about farming beneficiaries. Who often have very significant revenue flows and assets under their direction.
I would say of course they are enforced evenly and fairly Colonel. Why would you say it is not?
What if? What is the point of this question? Minimising your tax is a right give by the Courts in Westminster v IRD (and taken away to a degree by the Penny & Hooper decision). Are you asking what I think of legal avoidance?
I think I do get it Colonel. And I also understand farming quite well in fact. I’m also sure that you understand that “very significant revenue flows” dont always equate to lots of money in the bank. A beneficiary has revenue flows as well, and has choices as to what to do with it, however limited they may be. Assets are a different story to a point, agreed. However, assets don’t always have a direct correlation to cashflow unless they are disposed off. Then there’s the old hoary problem of debt – equity and interest to be sorted.
So, are you saying that a farmer, with no taxable income, but assets (or an indirect benefit from assets), should not be able to get assistance from the government for his child to attend unversity, whilst a beneficiary, who has no taxable income and has no assets should? If so, are you advocating, heaven forbid, asset testing?
National Guts Education
I came across yet another stupid tweet by Tau Henare today, claiming that National had made more varsity places available. From past experience I know not to trust a single word the pathological liar says, so I went about doing a little research…
It is has been interesting (and depressing) keeping track of the Obama administration’s slow but sure capitulation to the Wall Street gnomes. Has anybody the US financial sector yet been charged over the frauds which triggered the 2008 crisis? Here’s the latest:
Obama administration moves to quash state investigations of Wall Street banks
If I want to download and watch a film made in 1979 and seemingly not around in quantity am I able to do that? Or do I get sanctioned under new or old laws? And would it be safe to link to the site to get more information? I’m cautious about the internet not wanting to get caught up in the bad web of deceit that’s out there. Anyone who could steer me in the right direction?
IANAL but I think I would be illegal to download it without paying for the rights to view it. In practice, however, I doubt you would get into trouble for doing so (as long as you are simply downloading it) – that would require the rights holders to make an effort to determine that you have downloaded it and lodge a complaint. I doubt anyone would be bothered for an old movie which isn’t making any money.
Should you download it? That is probably more of a moral decision on your part so you have to make up your own mind.
Not sure what you mean by ‘safe to link’, but I don’t think lprent would want you to post a link to a site hosting movie downloads, so don’t do so (if that’s what you mean).
What exactly is the “bad web of deceit”?
@wtl – Thanks for info. The movie wasn’t available on amazonuk so I feel ok to consider downloading it. I was wondering if even going to a site that was legally unsatisfactory might get me into trouble
As for links – I’ve heard stories about being careful as to what you link into to prevent trojan programs etc. We have a pretty good firewall here and operate through Linux and I think that makes a difference but I still am unsure when I think of linking. The bad web of deceit bit – just my reaction to the shysters who use the web for criminality and abuse of privacy.
this site has some good information regarding the new copyright law http://3strikes.net.nz/
Yes you would want to be careful about what sites you visit. Sites that host illegal or quasi-legal material are more likely to be malicious than other sites. Obviously, don’t install or run any programs from any site you don’t trust. But if you just download a movie file (e.g. .avi), you should be able to play it in a movie player without any worries. Some sites may take advantage of security holes in your browser or operating system to install programs into your computer without your knowledge, but I think it is much more likely that they would infect your computer by ‘tricking’ you into installing something.
Would a Standardista like to build on and extend the analysis for this piece please?
“The temptation to look at food as another form of fuel to use for the energy crisis will exacerbate the food crisis … ”
“The food industry also opposes the new GM product because, although not inedible, it is unsuitable for use in the manufacture of food products that commonly use corn. Farmers growing corn for human consumption are also concerned about cross-contamination. …
“The same traits that make the modified corn so attractive to the ethanol industry – the swift breakdown of starches – would be a disaster for the food industry, turning corn chips into shapeless lumps, and stripping the thickening properties from corn starch.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/15/gm-corn-development-food-fuel
* Further questions to be raised – What does research, if any, reveal about the nutritional content of the new GM corn? What involvement,if any, does the alcohol industry have with this new GM corn?
The corn has been modified to contain amylase, which breaks down starch (glucose polymers) to glucose. Obviously, this is an advantage for the corn to be used as a feeder for bio-fuel, as the microorganisms used to generate ethanol are undoubtedly able to metabolise glucose more rapidly than starch.
Without any firsthand knowledge, my expectation is that nutrionally, the corn should still be ‘okay’ to eat – amylase is a naturally occuring enzyme in the body (in the saliva and intestine), as starch needs to be broken down to glucose to be absorbed and utilised. The corn may have a higher percentage of simple sugars than starch, due to the presence of amylase, but should still contain a similar number of calories. Obviously, the presence of the enzyme makes the corn unsuitable for use in certain recipes which demand the starch-like qualities of corn. In saying that, I expect that this corn will not be approved for human consumption as that would probably require additional testing that the company may not bother with.
I don’t think the alcohol industry would have anything to do with this corn, I don’t know of many alcohol products that are consumed use corn as a carbohydrate source. The brewing processes will also be optimised for the particular ingredients used, and I don’t think the break down of starch into glucose is a limiting factor, especially that the quantities of alcohol they produce are rather small (compared to that of biofuel).
Don’t want to go there, but I wonder what the sewer rats think of Slippery’s apples-for-refugees deal? Comments on Rebecca Wright’s bit on the TV3 site suggest this might be a flip-flop too far for some of wee Joky’s fan club…..
The 12 comments from his fan club here perhaps ..
http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-NZ-may-take-refugees-from-Australia/tabid/419/articleID/223224/Default.aspx
Would be fantastic if NZ takes 750 refugees in exchange for sending shonkey into exile?
Call me a cynic but this looks like a strategy to ensure that NZ falls in behind the Aussie ‘shut the door on boat people’ policies that are being rolled out.
Old Shonkey didn’t have much luck whipping up xenophobic fear here last time refugees held up rather aspirational destination ‘news land’ signs – because boat people dont actually make it to NZ -however this is one way to to make Australia’s problem our problem as well.
Rufugees are going to become an increasing problem in our region, and NZ should take a compassionate stance as it always has, however our policies should be independent from that of Australia. Our neighbour has shown itself incapable of a reasonable discussion on this issue and it’s enforcement methods are likely to become ever more extreme as the situation escalates.
We cannot be an effective advocate for a humanitarian response if we allow the Australians to call the shots.
@ Campbell Larsen Good analysis. Couldn’t agree with you more.
SURPRISE! The Republicans finally want higher taxes now
On the poor that is.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/wonkbook-since-when-do-republicans-want-to-raise-taxes/2011/08/23/gIQAPwvaYJ_blog.html?hpid=z2
Wow! Don’t tell NActs who will be truly inspired and reckon that would be aspirational.
The NActs raised GST which is a regressive tax – it affects the poor moor than it does the rich. At the same time that they did that they cut taxes for the rich.
@Jim Nald – Even imspirational. 😀
I have been reading that selling the SOE’s would make them more commercial and . Surely there are ways to make an organisation transparent without resorting to selling said organisation? My god, they do not need to use dog whistle politics, pork barrel or any of the other terms they use for politicking, our country has by and large lost 20 IQ points across the board in the last 3 years! Time to separate parliament into two sections, one house for legal/ constitutional bills as well as financial, and another house for social laws. Obviously there will be overlaps and conflict, but having a GG with actual power as well as two Speakers may straighten some of this out? I believe we should, as voters choose all three positions via our ballot papers, I believe with how things are heading at the moment something needs to change before my generation are handed a country thats well and truly poked.
@Dave A split house along law categories. That’s an interesting concept. Maybe we could get action on some of the things that drag on – like whether it is legal for councils to build speed checking ramps in city streets etc. The politicians couldn’t agree on whether they should have scented toilet paper or not in their loos.
Yeah, me and my mate were discussing this yesterday and the idea would be that the legal house would operate slower and with more process however the ‘lower’ house would almost be in a state of constant urgency, in a way, but both houses clear each others decisions. Or something along those lines, all I know, from my own perspective is that the party politics is what is slowly eroding democracy in our country. Both major parties are competing on roughly the same policies as they know that swing voters are easy to uh, swing (no pun intended) so something needs to change, for the betterment of all. Or Sue Kedgley is right, we will have riots here one day, and that isn’t a threat or her trying to cause panic, its just a fact of life. And yes, I agree, the only time you have genuine consensus and progress in the house is generally when pay review comes around.
@Dave Yes I see your points. I too feel democracy is being eroded and though our political system has a lot going for it and we have fine-tuned it by adding MMP, we need to have a mission statement for what we want from government and look at how we can achieve this without huge changes from our present democracy. Some would like referendums but I don’t trust my neighbour’s knee jerk responses to problems, or some of those on this blog, to be better than the politicians who can actually achieve good public policy when they aren’t gaming each other and the populace.
More and longer consideration of the basic policies with no possibility of announcing emergency and rushing stuff through without select committee or even cross-party discussion and agreement would definitely be better and the daily organisation could be left to another level. This would be more like a controlling body for local council and policies for everyday organisational matters. Also policies could be trialled by it, with the important ones going to the full government – matters of ethical, human rights, big spending, anything major.
Past election analysis has shown that under our present system, government can be very uninterested in what all the ‘people’ think. What they do is to rely on compliance and automatic voting from their own supporters, discount the opposition votes, and shape their message and policies to the small say 10% swinging voter group. And the practice of seeking the names and addresses of those possibly pliable voters and then setting PR promotional dogs onto them turns democracy into a game to win for one’s own benefit not to serve the country’s needs and interests. We need something better and should be discussing this throughout the country as soon as 2012, after the election is over.
This article gives some idea as to our future that has been brought about by massive over-population and the capitalist free-market. At some point, our great-great-great grandchildren may get around to forgiving us – if mankind survives the catastrophe that he has brought to this world.
Mankind should be able to survive long term (a few millenia). But with no more than 1.5B population, probably less.
Could be interesting…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/aug/24/stephen-king-pulse-radio-show