Nice ANZAC moment with the neighbours: we had lit candles and put them on our letterboxes, put a radio out there and we listened to the whole thing – together alone.
Was beautiful here too,we heard a bugler, a moment of silence, then someone fired measured shots on a gun and the sky turned crimson.
A respectful silence in the crisp morning air, even the animals kept the noise down, a vibrant sunrise reflected in the ocean enhanced by a sprinkling of mist levitating over the paddock. It was pretty special TBH.
Lucky you, our neighbour destroyed the peace very early by jumping on his tractor and mulching up his pruned off avocado branches in his avocado orchard. You really can,t get a noise more loud and horrible than that. I was so angry I texted the family that it was ANZAC day and educated them on what that means and what we expect in NZ on ANZAC day. They are immigrants who have been here long enough to know better but…..
For Australia-watchers out t here, this pithy little set from the Lowy Institute is worth a read. It covers forecasts on the world after Covid-19's effects for:
– The United States
– China
– South-East Asia
– The Pacific
– Developing Nations
– Globalisation,
and some more. Just a few hundred words each, nice and concise.
I don't condone threats or bullying in any form from anyone, but the second one looks more like a commentary on Simon's propensity to make a dick of himself, than a threat to his life.
Now, I'm not crying “Battleship Potempkin” here, but if the US Defence Secretary really does reinstate Captain Brett Crozier to re-command the USS Theodore Roosevelt, President Trump is going to have a PR nightmare on his hands throughout the entire military.
This is the Captain who specifically asked for help for his sailors, went public with it (perhaps too public), and was summarily dismissed.
Trump as Commander in Chief has overruled specific military disciplinary actions before, but not one associated with Covid-19.
Trump can either agree with the recommendation – in which case his armed forces can see that his chain of command failed to act on Covid-19 and endangered many military lives.
Or Trump can over-rule the recommendation – and ensure that at least the crew of that ship burn with hatred against him.
Neither will be good for President Trump's support within the military.
Having successfully silenced Julian Assange, the UK government is now trying to do the same to Craig Murray. If you feel strongly about supporting his voice then click this link.
Yeah, because someone who publishes the names of rape and sexual assault accusers, against a court order, deserves our support as an outstanding, upright citizen.
Court ordered name suppression for sexual assault and rape accusers. If you think breaching those orders is okay, based on your political opinion, put your wank ideology on the line and name the killer of grace Millane on your blog or tweet it,
The point is obviously how some people can ride roughshod over court ordered name suppression, especially those concerning rape and sexual assault accusers, but not having the conviction to do it themselves. The example I gave, which in hindsight was ill advised and one you should probably delete on my behalf, was the only one I could think of before I watched Bill Maher.
Interesting, and very ironic, is how Morrisey, through his support of Murray's actions, is posting in solidarity with the likes of Cameron Slater, who also breached orders for political purposes.
Fortunately for me, then, I wouldn't be so stupid to suggest Morrisey put his money where his mouth is and post against an illegal suppression order on this site, just as I'm sure he hasn't the cajones to back up his slanted rhetoric from here and do it on his own site either.
Fair-weather capitalists who privatise profits and socialise losses. They hold up their hand for government assistance and call for bailout. In fact, they demand it because they need the assistance to save jobs, not for personal gain or preservation.
Indeed. I don't mind having a social contract which includes the government as social insurer, but if that's the new normal, I expect better terms for the workers in this contract.
The leader of the most prominent group in the US peddling potentially lethal industrial bleach as a “miracle cure” for coronavirus wrote to Donald Trump at the White House this week.
In his letter, Mark Grenon told Trump that chlorine dioxide – a powerful bleach used in industrial processes such as textile manufacturing that can have fatal side-effects when drunk – is “a wonderful detox that can kill 99% of the pathogens in the body”. He added that it “can rid the body of Covid-19”.
A few days after Grenon dispatched his letter, Trump went on national TV at his daily coronavirus briefing at the White House on Thursday and promoted the idea that disinfectant could be used as a treatment for the virus. To the astonishment of medical experts, the US president said that disinfectant “knocks it out in a minute. One minute!”
I am pretty sure the pictures are from a holiday from 2 or so years ago. Yes, Barack Obama did go on holiday on the island. As a former president he is going to be invited to places that you and I can only imagine.
He could have done the same thing on his holidays in Hawaii, and probably does. You could also criticise him for playing golf at Kauri Cliffs in The North a couple of years ago. Although neither of these things are in the Branson league.
None of that makes him an enemy of the poor, any more than Jacinda and Clark enjoying fishing while at the family bach from Clark's boat (which from what I have seen of it on TV is well north of $100,000).
I personally think that one of the things that torpedoed CGT was the realisation it would hit things like family baches. There are apparently 250,000 of them in New Zealand, so at least 10% of New Zealand families own a bach. And they are used by many more people than the owners, either by being invited by friends who own them or by renting. Maybe 60 to 70% of New Zealanders at one time or another have had a bach experience. Of course a CGT could have exempted bachs, but then where do you stop with the exemptions?
the CGT only kicks in when the crib is sold, so I think the issue is more about the massive cultural push to use property investment to create retirement income.
Indeed. The sharemarket crash of 1987 and finance companies' collapses in the GFC rather put paid to a lot of savings for a lot of people though, so I can't blame people for going for property.
I seem to remember the government actively encouraged it because of the idea that we couldn't afford to support the Boomer generation when they retired. It was a neoliberal solution and is a big part of the reason we have a housing crisis. People kept voting in neoliberal governments, so I think holding them responsible is reasonable.
It should have been mentioned that CGT would have only hit the "family bach" if/when it left the family, was sold.
It would have slowed the beach McMansions bought as "investments". And made the "retirement beach houses" more affordable for most of us. The ones that are currently beyound our reach.
Of course it didn't suit the opponents of CGT, who wanted people to think it was Mum and Dad's modest retirement crib, that would get hit.
Some people should have two places earning more in appreciation than most do in a year. And some should have their lives dependent on the character of their landlord.
The family baches I've had experience at either stayed in the family or cost on book-a-bach. Not sure why a capital gains tax would worry anyone in either of those situations.
Lets run Wayne's story again:
A: oh no I'm living in a car or a mouldy overpriced rental.
B: oh no, I may have to pay some tax on the goldmine bach I finally conned nana into agreeing to sell.
Not much of a tricky moral dilemma for most of us.
Blame the PM and "her tricky moral dilemma". She was the one who canned CGT. I was simply speculating on one of the reasons that she did. Incidentally I don’t own a holiday home.
" I wouldn't be surprised if it was a National Government that eventually does it."
AKA Nixon to China …
Eventually a party will announce that while they certainly do not want a CGT, because that's BAD, they are however prepared to consider a "land transfer levy" or "property purchase adjustment" or whatever else they can find in the dictionary.
Thinking on Anzac Day that we need a new name for it now that Australia does not view us as an equal ally but a doormat with Welcome on it. I wonder what name we should give this day of remembrance in the 20th century? WANZ Day for World and New Zealand Day?
And can we extend that to mean being kindly connected to the world, instead of wielding war on it as hapless tools of nations behaving viciously because they can. Bring in a better Colombo Plan, first started in 1951. However not sufficient to prevent a dreadful civil war in Sri Lanka 1983-2009. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo_Plan
Let's hear more about the VSA – NZ Volunteer Service Abroad getting national media coverage not secondary to the latest school shooting in the USA. https://vsa.org.nz/volunteer/
Ad's perfectly correct. Not only does NZ freeload off the Aussies, we drift along in the wake of wider global US security blanket as well. And even that's sliding off the bed as we speak.
At most NZ talks up a commitment to multi-lateralism (Helen Clark's favourite word) but with the UN coming apart at the seams it's not clear what exact value lies in that direction.
Other than our FTA with China and various other bilateral trade deals there isn't much else on the table that's obvious. Essentially NZ seems to be relying on a combination of remoteness and relative obscurity to fly below everyone's radar. But all modern maps have NZ clearly mapped nowadays and it's a lazy policy that one day may well bite us in the arse.
Ad is correct, is he? But he didn't actually provide any evidence—although judging by your comments, National Party talking points are good enough, and no further debate is necessary.
there isn't much evidence of NZ having a comprehensive and visionary foreign policy.
????
Perhaps you've heard of our principled refusal to allow nuclear ships into our waters? Perhaps you've heard of our sending ships with cabinet members on board to prevent a rogue state detonating nuclear bombs in the South Pacific? Perhaps you've heard of our government leading a U.N. resolution against another rogue state in 2016?
Perhaps you've heard of our principled refusal to allow nuclear ships into our waters?
Yes it seemed a good idea at the time. The ban on nuclear power was always just virtue signalling. The ban on nuclear weapons however simply irked the nation on whom we ultimately depended on for security. The only reason why we got away with it was because the idea never looked like spreading elsewhere and ultimately the USA didn't care about us that much.
In my view NZ has from a security perspective has freeloaded on our remoteness and the fact that any potential hostile nations all have other more pressing priorities than us, for decades. But push come to shove, we're utterly helpless on our own, but we obdurately refuse to own a fact that isn't lost on either Australia nor the USA.
The ban on nuclear power was always just virtue signalling.
Enough already with the National Party talking points.
… irked the nation on whom we ultimately depended on for security.
????? You obviously don't know, but when we depended on other nations to help us counter the French regime, first in 1973, then in 1985, the United States went out of its way to side with France, and not us.
However, despite the hostility and obstructiveness of the U.S., and the uselessness of its Australian vassal, we did fine, tracking down and trying the terrorists responsible for the attack on the Rainbow Warrior.
A dated [Sept 2006], well-researched article on differences (and commonalities) between NZ and Australia. ‘Freeloading‘ gets a mention, “virtue-signalling” not so much.
From the Pacific: A New Zealand perspective on Australia's strategic role
"It is inconceivable Australia would risk rupture with the United States as New Zealand did. It was inconceivable that New Zealand could have joined the Iraq invasion without severe political ructions."
"One the commonest complaints in Canberra through that decade [the 1990s] was that New Zealand was freeloading on Australia."
"One the commonest complaints in Canberra through that decade [the 1990s] was that New Zealand was freeloading on Australia."
Drowsy, that highly partisan and dodgy statement was written by Colin James, who was notorious as a government stenographer.
That claim that Australia regarded NZ as a "freeloader" was also made, about the same time as James's article, on television by the Canterbury University academic Therese Arseneau. The host of the show, Paul Holmes, then said this: "You know, I talked to the chief of the Australian Defence Force just this week, and I put that to him. He said that nobody in the Australian top brass has ever said that. It's a myth." Arseneau, stopped in her tracks, nearly dried up with mortification.
You're probably correct, KJT. As shown all too plainly by the less than thorough investigation into the actions of NZ troops in Afghanistan, New Zealand military chiefs are not noted for their honesty.
Morrissey, to be fair to James, he was writing (in 2006) about 'Canberra complaints' made in the 1990s, a period some 10 – 20 years prior to that April 2009 Q+A panel discussion between Holmes, Arseneau, Bob Harvey and Ron Mark.
"You know, I talked to the chief of the Australian Defence Force just this week, and I put that to him. He said that nobody in the Australian top brass has ever said that."
Have you got a link for your quote (above), because this is all I could find – not quite the same, and hardly surprising
PAUL "Actually you know [NZ] Air Vice Marshal Bruce Fergusson when he stepped aside – he said it's nonsense that we've taken the bludgers option he said no Defence personnel from Canada the United States Britain or Australia have ever said anything like that to him." https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0904/S00242.htm
Thanks so much, Drowsy! I've been looking for that episode and never tracked it down! It appears my memory was faulty—it was a New Zealand military man cited by Paul Holmes, and not an Australian one as I thought. Sadly, the transcript doesn't capture Therese Arseneau's embarrassment.
Wars waged basically by adventurous youth, are supposed to be winners under the command of competent Generals and Senior Officers. Complete with maps and routes and Good Artillery.
But the ANZAC youth didn't have any idea of that. They did not know even which steep hills to clamber. Which ridges.
And so our ANZAC Youth scrambled this way and that way, and got slaughtered up and down Gallipolli. So Sickening.
All because the enemy turned out to be a sloppy British Military Mob. Who knew nothing.
Whilst the clean cut Turks Military Command with its Extensive regional knowledge carried out their deadly efficient Duties. Hundreds of Kiwis Slaughtered. Many injured.
Sometimes I wonder about the English. The Great Imperial Britain had everything. It still Struts and puffs. It slops around about Brexit. It doesn't worry about its' numerous Poor. It's Health is under Funded.
Britain should try harder. It has done nothing for all its Colonies. And very little for the Common man.
I'm also not inclined to click through without an introduction. I suspect you were trying to post a youtube vid but your URL got caught in FB's outgoing link mess. You're welcome to try again, but even youtubes that display some content in a post are better with an explanation of why they're a must watch.
Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido offers a grim lesson in the next phase of the battle against COVID-19. It acted quickly and contained an early outbreak of the coronavirus with a 3-week lockdown. But, when the governor lifted restrictions, a second wave of infections hit even harder. Twenty-six days later, the island was forced back into lockdown.
A doctor who helped coordinate the government response says he wishes they’d done things differently. “Now I regret it, we should not have lifted the first state of emergency,” Dr. Kiyoshi Nagase, chairman of the Hokkaido Medical Association, tells TIME.
Hokkaido’s story is a sobering reality check for leaders across the world as they consider easing coronavirus lockdowns: Experts say restrictions were lifted too quickly and too soon because of pressure from local businesses, coupled with a false sense of security in its declining infection rate.
Testing and contact tracing aside…we're told that asymptomatic people can infect others.
But is that term being used to denote a person who hasn't yet exhibited symptoms, or a person who will not exhibit symptoms?
Or are there pre-symptomatic carriers of infection as well as asymptomatic carriers of infection?
If there are asymptomatic carriers of infection, are we looking at anything along the lines of herpes that can flare up in an infected person years from now? Given that a person with a herpes outbreak obviously exhibits symptoms and is only contagious while symptoms persist….
But maybe 'asymptomatic' is just a lax use of terminology where pre-symptomatic would be more accurate?
There is indeed distinction between asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic.
Fears of asymptomatic carriers transmitting the disease appear to be receding.
There are few reports of laboratory-confirmed cases who are truly asymptomatic, and to date, there has been no documented asymptomatic transmission. This does not exclude the possibility that it may occur. Asymptomatic cases have been reported as part of contact tracing efforts in some countries.
However, pre-symptomatic transmission appears to have happened in a significant number of cases.
In a small number of case reports and studies, pre-symptomatic transmission has been documented through contact tracing efforts and enhanced investigation of clusters of confirmed cases.12-17 This is supported by datasuggestingthat some people can test positive for COVID-19 from 1-3 days before they develop symptoms. (from WHO link above)
It's unclear how many asymptomatic are in fact presymptomatic. There's the study linked below saying many of those initially classed as asymptomatic in a rest home study were actually presymptomatic. I've got tickling in the back of my head that I read something similar for the sailors aboard the USS Roosevelt
There's also the question of those testing positive for the virus some time after they have nominally recovered. It's unclear whether those test results indicate the presence of live virus that could still re-infect and/or transmit to someone else, or if the test is just detecting the remains of virus corpses that have been dealt to by the immune system.
I have yet to see any reports of someone that has been considered recovered, with several days symptom free and two or more negative tests, falling ill with COVID a second time.
edit: here’s a fairly recent piece from Siouxsie Wiles on the asymptomatic/presymptomatic question.
Thanks Andre. The USS Roosevelt stuff is mentioned in the Spinoff link.
From a further link running off the Spin-off piece, it seems NZ is testing for the virus but not anti-bodies…which just raises further questions vis a vis eventual total mapping of where the virus is and has been.
At least (as far as I can figure) testing for the virus rather than for anti-bodies should pick up all pre-symptomatic cases.
Sunshine and cigarettes are 'the go' apparently. (Vit D and nicotine 'they' say) I'm hoping for the tri-fecta, and so on the lookout for anything on the medicinal properties of top shelf alcohol so as to be passing me some purposefully lazy 'n hazy days 🙂
Yes, in NZ we are testing for the virus (strictly speaking we are testing for bits of viral RNA that are unique to SARS-CoV-2). That's because we're still in the mode of finding people who actually have the disease and might transmit it to others.
When it comes to antibody testing, that's useful to find people that have had it. Well, it would be if we could have confidence in the tests. At the moment, there seems to be a lot of doubt over whether any of the tests are any good. Questions have been raised whether the antibodies being detected by at least some tests are cold coronavirus antibodies, not COVID coronavirus antibodies. Antibody tests are not much good for detecting people who currently have the infection, early in the course of the disease you'll have a high viral load but bugger-all or zero detectable antibodies.
When it comes to the effects of alcohol on COVID, go ahead and choose who you want to believe. The World Health Organisation or Trump Golf?
At least (as far as I can figure) testing for the virus rather than for anti-bodies should pick up all pre-symptomatic cases.
Nope. Everyone kind of have to be pedantic about this type of stuff because otherwise you have boneheads like Trump getting gullible people pouring bleach down their throats, or fools smoking or drinking themselves to death based on probabilities that they can’t assess for risk.
It depends if the swab picks up viruses where the swab is, in the throat or nasal cavity. Generally what they’re after if the people who are shedding newly manufactured covid-19 viruses in the upper of lower respiratory tract.
There are multiple causes of false positive and negatives with that. I’ll ignore the false positives because most of them aren’t relevant.
It takes between 1 and about 5 days before people start shedding viruses after being infected. So tests would need to be repeated regularly to say definitively that someone wasn’t infected after possible exposure at the respiratory system.
People seem to be able to be infected in the digestive tract as well. This appears to be the cause of diarrhea symptoms. No one really seems to know what is happening with that. As far as I’m aware there is no evidence that this always results in a respiratory infection that could be picked up by a upper respiratory system swab.
There is some evidence that indicates people can get blood stream infections as well (evidenced by blot clots). As far as I’m aware there is no evidence that this always results in a respiratory infection that could be picked up by a upper respiratory system swab.
etc..
Generally biological infection systems are pretty hard to pin down to definites. Mostly you just have to define them with statistical probabilities of a particular type of event happening, and when you look at medical literature you’ll find the probabilistic and tight definitions are the norm. That is because probabilities are the basic way of all biological life and damn near everything else. Determinism is more of an artifact of people wanting simplifications than any kind of reality.
Finished of The Crucible of Time last night. Engaging and thoughtful, good read. I just couldn't make up my mind of the 'folk's' biology was derived from an insect or plant model … both seemed possible.
I still have to re-read it. The last memory was from well before I got rid of my paper books in 2012. But I brought it last night along with “The Sheep Look Up” and “The Jagged Orbit” in a set.
Fine. Limited by the test's efficacy. Quite unlike an antibody one that's looking for an indicator that won't necessarily be there at the time of testing.
Yup, the test result is limited by where and when the sample was taken, as explained by Lynne, and also how. Taking a sample takes a certain level of skill and experience, and then the sample is handled and transported, and processed. The actual PCR test is the final step in the process.
To detect past infections, which is important for understanding the development and spread of the virus, real time RT-PCR cannot be used as viruses are only present in the body for a specific window of time. Other methods are necessary to detect, track and study past infections, particularly those that may have developed and spread without symptoms.
That is because probabilities are the basic way of all biological life
Which is always problematic (almost surely) eg Monod.(chance and necessity)
“Among all the occurrences possible in the universe the a priori probability of any particular one of them verges upon zero. Yet the universe exists; particular events must take place in it, the probability of which (before the event) was infinitesimal. At the present time we have no legitimate grounds for either asserting or denying that life got off to but a single start on earth, and that, as a consequence, before it appeared its chances of occurring were next to nil. … Destiny is written concurrently with the event, not prior to it… The universe was not pregnant with life nor the biosphere with man. Our number came up in the Monte Carlo game. Is it surprising that, like the person who has just made a million at the casino, we should feel strange and a little unreal?”
“It necessarily follows that chance alone is at the source of every innovation, and of all creation in the biosphere. Pure chance, absolutely free but blind, at the very root of the stupendous edifice of evolution: this central concept of modern biology is no longer one among many other possible or even conceivable hypotheses. It is today the sole conceivable hypothesis, the only one that squares with observed and tested fact. And nothing warrants the supposition – or the hope – that on this score our position is ever likely to be revised. There is no scientific concept, in any of the sciences, more destructive of anthropocentrism than this one.”
Indeed. Of course there is the multiverse probabilities as well. Move the forces of physics a tweak and the universe doesn't suffer some of those outside probabilities like long-life stars, or chemical reactions.
In an article in sciencemag.org, frontline clinicians caring for the five per cent who become critically ill are forming a “fast-evolving” snapshot of how it attacks different organs in different coronavirus patients.
“(The disease) can attack almost anything in the body with devastating consequences,” Yale University cardiologist Harlan Krumholz told ScienceMag. “Its ferocity is breathtaking and humbling.”
Clinicians and pathologists are only just coming to grips with the damage coronavirus causes as it tears through the human body.
Although the lungs “are ground zero” doctors are realising the disease’s reach can extend to many organs including the brain, heart and blood vessels, kidneys and gut.
Understanding the rampage it wreaks will help doctors in COVID-19 wards treat the small number who become desperately ill and sometimes die.
On reading this I can't help but wonder if all those asymptomatic or trivial cases aren't being set up for a much more serious sequel episode some months or years down the track.
Yes the science seems to be all over the place, the virus a very cheeky little monkey. Once a respiratory ailment and now creating stroke inducing blood clots.
The storyteller in me wants to start a yarn that places the virus in the hands of the CCP 20 years ago and they've spent the last 2 decades creating an effective remedy.
Moving down from Level 4 to 3 should not be seen as the end of the effort to beat this bastard bug, but as a transition to the next phase in the fight.
Lockdown is not the most efficient tool in our arsenal, but it was the one that was immediately to hand when the crisis hit. It essentially bought us time to get a reliable test and trace capacity in place.
The only reason why National/ACT and their supporters oppose "helicopter cash" is because poor people would get it, and they would be able to pay their bills.
(Then they proceed to complain that their tenants dont pay their rent).
“We believe we should be moving as quickly as we safely can to open up the border,” Goldsmith told interest.co.nz; also criticising the Government for being too slow to close to the border in the first place.
Goldsmith pointed to the restrictiveness of Level 3, but wouldn’t explicitly say what alert level he believed the country should be at right now, or when the alert levels should change."
I despise and detest the National Party and its inept, immoral "leaders"—but I'll bet a large amount of money that they're in better shape than the disgusting, discredited, demoralized rabble that the British Labour Party has been reduced to.
The discussion was about a party in disarray. I pointed to an example of a party in even worse—far worse—disarray than National. I concede that the two parties are separated by 12,000 miles or so, but surely there are some parallels to be noted.
[The discussion was about a specific party, the National Party of NZ. If you wanted to draw parallels and play whataboutery, you should have started your own thread. When comparing apples with oranges, there are parallels too, so this is a red herring trying to divert from your diversion – Incognito]
How does NZ realign its financial market with the real economy (in a world that is intent on increasing the disconnect) without destroying its currency value….especially when it has lost (for the foreseeable) 20% of its export receipts and its other main foreign exchange source is at output capacity?
'some' drop in the dollar is inflationary, especially when your export receipt capacity has just been decimated and you had an already negative trade balance…it is a recipe for stagflation.
Granted there will be a deflationary impact from reduced demand worldwide but that reduced demand also impacts our exports…. and substitute industries dont appear overnight.
We need to realign asset values with the economy and that requires someone taking a hit….and a good proportion of those someones are offshore who may decide NZD is more trouble than its worth, especially when other players are bending over backwards (or more honestly, frontwards) to ensure they do not…that 'some' drop could easily become very large.
Ultimately its going to end very badly but we are almost trapped into playing along….unless we decide its better to take the hit now rather than later.
No it wont be pretty, either way…but there are added risks in rowing against the tide, at least in the short term….and short term thinking predominates.
Granted there will be a deflationary impact from reduced demand worldwide but that reduced demand also impacts our exports…. and substitute industries dont appear overnight.
In NZ companies are often small enough,with a mixed client base to be able to switch markets,they have better flexibility.
the larger processors also switched from supplying fast food to exporting supermarket product (in large quantities)
This was also seen in toilet paper demand with large monoculture commercial production lines in the US and europe being idled, whilst capacity constraints were observed in the retail market.
yes there can be advantages in being small and nimble….and we will need to be all of that regardless.
My main concern is we will make the same mistake as the US and bail out investors maintaining the disconnect. With the exception of Air NZ which the gov (we) currently own 52% of we havnt made that decision but the pressure to do so mounts daily.
I have no problem maintaining a strategic asset such as AirNZ especially as we are likely to increase our holding and its vital to maintain trade links, the same dosnt apply to all assets.
I agree,if we are required to bail out the investors,through wage substitution etc,we also should have a say on how that (nz taxpayers) money should be used.One example would be through the prohibition of dividends for a fixed period as the RBNZ has used with the Banks.
This would essentially maintain liquidity with companies,by increasing capital.Companies that were able such as COVID 19 proof organisations such as telecoms and utilities could use that to repay debt,or fund capital projects.
Yes the dividend halt a good move..as was requiring the underwritten loans being determined on the basis of viability (though courageous)…but as noted the pressure for more mounts.
Requiring the same for bailed out companies is reasonable but still needs to be on a basis of expected viability…no point in flogging a dead horse.
Then there is the property market…theyve been staunch to date but again the pressure mounts…the same possibly going to appear in the rural sector, especially if commodity prices come under extended pressure (as I expect they will)
I could foresee a substantial increase in HNZ stock
In New Haven, meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Vinetz, an infectious disease doctor at Yale School of Medicine, is seeking to launch a clinical study of the drug camostat mesylate, a generic medication approved in Japan to treat chronic pancreatitis that he hopes can be approved and marketed to treat COVID-19. If the trial succeeds, he said, this could be ”a total game changer.” But the process is proving fraught. Within hours of registering his trial on a National Institutes of Health website on April 20, he received an email from a large U.S. pharmaceutical company. “They are trying to take my project and engulf it for their proprietary [financial] gain,” Vinetz told me. “I take that email as a threat.”
It is going to take a lot of PR to polish the turd that is this current coalition. The kingmaker Peters about to be finally nailed by the Serious Fraud Squad,the greens out building electric railways and the minister of unemployment Willie Jackson and his mates Dr Clark and Tywford rattling on about things they know nothing about. Smell the roses guys . It will be the economy that wakes up NZ from their Stockholm syndrome from where I am sitting.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Good clip Bruce, Bill's talk left me with little argument against what he had to say. My animal intake continues to decline. My T-Bone derived pleasure is waning.
I watched Tiger King, they outlawed touring freak-shows, it's a human thing.
Jacinda is toast for the reasons you mention and Bridges is tarred with the same brush. The labour caucus does not have the talent to even help to fix the mess Ardern has inficted on NZ. She has fucked the economy and hasn't a clue on how to fix it.Fasten your seatbelt folks,the approaching turbulence will be tooth chattering.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Most of us were asking for an empathetic guiding leader that relied heavily on science. We got Cindy and Ash and an awful lot of us are very pleased we did.
The future, yep, it's unknown but given what's happened so far, I think most of us are happy to stick with this horse midstream.
I think Ashley B makes about 500k a year. At last, someone on mega bucks that's worth the spend.
…wonder what he spends it on? Nice house, yeah, but he's not a Ferrari kinda guy. I think he'd like a nice gourmet cheese and Florence. I guess Italy is going to be off the menu for a while. Come and see us up in Northland in the spring Dr B, we'll get you onto the snapper sweet-spots.
No relation to policts, but here is a Bluegrass cover of Thunderstruck by AC/DC. Steve'n'Seagulls are based in Finland. It's just a bit of fun, but they are clearly talented musicians with a sense of humour.
Where can I forward your fresh turds- to replace the ones you gobbled up last night and the night before ?
Do your children enjoy Turds too ? I guess you ram them down their young throats –
Just as you ram your pitiful obscenities down our five senses. Grow up !
[Grow up yourself! We don’t need this turd-slinging BS competition but you tend to take that one step further, crossing the line again, and make personal insults. I don’t know if Ian has any children but your comment about his children was unacceptable IMO. Take a week off – Incognito]
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
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With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
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“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
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Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
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Nice ANZAC moment with the neighbours: we had lit candles and put them on our letterboxes, put a radio out there and we listened to the whole thing – together alone.
Was beautiful here too,we heard a bugler, a moment of silence, then someone fired measured shots on a gun and the sky turned crimson.
A respectful silence in the crisp morning air, even the animals kept the noise down, a vibrant sunrise reflected in the ocean enhanced by a sprinkling of mist levitating over the paddock. It was pretty special TBH.
Least we forget
A different commemoration
https://twitter.com/Awa_1/status/1253821531659964416
Lucky you, our neighbour destroyed the peace very early by jumping on his tractor and mulching up his pruned off avocado branches in his avocado orchard. You really can,t get a noise more loud and horrible than that. I was so angry I texted the family that it was ANZAC day and educated them on what that means and what we expect in NZ on ANZAC day. They are immigrants who have been here long enough to know better but…..
For Australia-watchers out t here, this pithy little set from the Lowy Institute is worth a read. It covers forecasts on the world after Covid-19's effects for:
– The United States
– China
– South-East Asia
– The Pacific
– Developing Nations
– Globalisation,
and some more. Just a few hundred words each, nice and concise.
https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid19/
Simon, or Simon's friends are getting a bit thin skinned, a second arrest for making threats to the leader of the opposition in a couple of days.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/bullet-head-man-arrested-over-second-bridges-threat
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12327155
I don't condone threats or bullying in any form from anyone, but the second one looks more like a commentary on Simon's propensity to make a dick of himself, than a threat to his life.
Truth and realisation, is a threat to the National Party built on subterfuge, camouflage and bombast – and all those words sounding war-related!
Now, I'm not crying “Battleship Potempkin” here, but if the US Defence Secretary really does reinstate Captain Brett Crozier to re-command the USS Theodore Roosevelt, President Trump is going to have a PR nightmare on his hands throughout the entire military.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/24/politics/navy-recommend-reinstating-roosevelt-commander/index.html
This is the Captain who specifically asked for help for his sailors, went public with it (perhaps too public), and was summarily dismissed.
Trump as Commander in Chief has overruled specific military disciplinary actions before, but not one associated with Covid-19.
Trump can either agree with the recommendation – in which case his armed forces can see that his chain of command failed to act on Covid-19 and endangered many military lives.
Or Trump can over-rule the recommendation – and ensure that at least the crew of that ship burn with hatred against him.
Neither will be good for President Trump's support within the military.
Surely the navy have long been aware that the top brass are fuckwits.
He did what you would expect, contacted his superiors and also informed some fellow Captains, asking for their advice..
Pretty much what you would expect.
Having successfully silenced Julian Assange, the UK government is now trying to do the same to Craig Murray. If you feel strongly about supporting his voice then click this link.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/04/craig-murray-defence-fund-launched/
The Clinton rump is also trying to silence critics in the U.S…..
Krystal Ball: The woke Left tried to cancel me, that's why they keep losing
https://www.youtube.com/?gl=NZ
So they've cottoned on to the scam.
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article210775574.html
https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00639997
So Krystal Ball's a scam artist, is she? At least her enemies haven't called her an anti-Semite. Yet.
Yeah, because someone who publishes the names of rape and sexual assault accusers, against a court order, deserves our support as an outstanding, upright citizen.
False accusers. It was a political smear campaign, of the sort you have, notoriously, endorsed in the recent past.
Court ordered name suppression for sexual assault and rape accusers. If you think breaching those orders is okay, based on your political opinion, put your wank ideology on the line and name the killer of grace Millane on your blog or tweet it,
[Don’t even go there, thanks – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 8:38 PM.
The point is obviously how some people can ride roughshod over court ordered name suppression, especially those concerning rape and sexual assault accusers, but not having the conviction to do it themselves. The example I gave, which in hindsight was ill advised and one you should probably delete on my behalf, was the only one I could think of before I watched Bill Maher.
Interesting, and very ironic, is how Morrisey, through his support of Murray's actions, is posting in solidarity with the likes of Cameron Slater, who also breached orders for political purposes.
Indeed, it wasn’t smart to make that suggestion; another Moderator might have given you a (short?) ban for that. You received just a warning.
Court orders are there for a reason and anybody who breaches them here is out, for life.
As far as I’m concerned, Morrissey is in a world of his own. Maybe you guys could make it less personal, yes?
Fortunately for me, then, I wouldn't be so stupid to suggest Morrisey put his money where his mouth is and post against an illegal suppression order on this site, just as I'm sure he hasn't the cajones to back up his slanted rhetoric from here and do it on his own site either.
A short letter to the editor:
Fair-weather capitalists who privatise profits and socialise losses. They hold up their hand for government assistance and call for bailout. In fact, they demand it because they need the assistance to save jobs, not for personal gain or preservation.
The same people who, in many cases, didn't give a shit about the people losing jobs, in the 80's and 90's coup.
Or in the GFC.
Indeed. I don't mind having a social contract which includes the government as social insurer, but if that's the new normal, I expect better terms for the workers in this contract.
https://twitter.com/WesClarkjr/status/1253452544119988224
At least it won't be the coronavirus that kills them.
Apparently Trump was being sarcastic.
Yeh Right nek minute
US has 916k cases and 51k deaths.
And over 30k new cases today. (3? hours to go)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/121268246/trump-says-he-was-being-sarcastic-about-injecting-disinfectant-to-stop-coronavirus
Now over 35k new cases (In the last 30mins!!!)
Thats is a new record.
Of course he was.
/
The leader of the most prominent group in the US peddling potentially lethal industrial bleach as a “miracle cure” for coronavirus wrote to Donald Trump at the White House this week.
In his letter, Mark Grenon told Trump that chlorine dioxide – a powerful bleach used in industrial processes such as textile manufacturing that can have fatal side-effects when drunk – is “a wonderful detox that can kill 99% of the pathogens in the body”. He added that it “can rid the body of Covid-19”.
A few days after Grenon dispatched his letter, Trump went on national TV at his daily coronavirus briefing at the White House on Thursday and promoted the idea that disinfectant could be used as a treatment for the virus. To the astonishment of medical experts, the US president said that disinfectant “knocks it out in a minute. One minute!”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/revealed-leader-group-peddling-bleach-cure-lobbied-trump-coronavirus
Why is this fellow not in prison? Is poisoning a first amendment right.
Or is he being sarcastic now? Fake sark.
Hard to believe anything Trump says.
And new cases now over 37k today
"Covidians"
Here's a thought, let's bring back MAGA mass rallies again.
Shouldn't do that 'cause the hoax infection might spread.
They could hand out UV light dildo's to keep the MAGA crowd safe. 🧨
I think you can buy them on Goop together with the steam cleaner.
UVC, can Kill Covid, but also people. So. Don't try it at home.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200327-can-you-kill-coronavirus-with-uv-light.
Bugs can be killed with UV. It is routinely used for water treatment.
I suppose. If you can persuade people that “steaming out their vagina” is a good idea…….
Been there, done that.
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/05/dildos-wanted-jan-18-2016.html
Barack Obama, Friend of the Poor, Humble, and Honest
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2020/04/20/barack-obama-friend-of-the-poor-humble-and-honest/
I am pretty sure the pictures are from a holiday from 2 or so years ago. Yes, Barack Obama did go on holiday on the island. As a former president he is going to be invited to places that you and I can only imagine.
He could have done the same thing on his holidays in Hawaii, and probably does. You could also criticise him for playing golf at Kauri Cliffs in The North a couple of years ago. Although neither of these things are in the Branson league.
None of that makes him an enemy of the poor, any more than Jacinda and Clark enjoying fishing while at the family bach from Clark's boat (which from what I have seen of it on TV is well north of $100,000).
I personally think that one of the things that torpedoed CGT was the realisation it would hit things like family baches. There are apparently 250,000 of them in New Zealand, so at least 10% of New Zealand families own a bach. And they are used by many more people than the owners, either by being invited by friends who own them or by renting. Maybe 60 to 70% of New Zealanders at one time or another have had a bach experience. Of course a CGT could have exempted bachs, but then where do you stop with the exemptions?
the CGT only kicks in when the crib is sold, so I think the issue is more about the massive cultural push to use property investment to create retirement income.
Indeed. The sharemarket crash of 1987 and finance companies' collapses in the GFC rather put paid to a lot of savings for a lot of people though, so I can't blame people for going for property.
I seem to remember the government actively encouraged it because of the idea that we couldn't afford to support the Boomer generation when they retired. It was a neoliberal solution and is a big part of the reason we have a housing crisis. People kept voting in neoliberal governments, so I think holding them responsible is reasonable.
It should have been mentioned that CGT would have only hit the "family bach" if/when it left the family, was sold.
It would have slowed the beach McMansions bought as "investments". And made the "retirement beach houses" more affordable for most of us. The ones that are currently beyound our reach.
Of course it didn't suit the opponents of CGT, who wanted people to think it was Mum and Dad's modest retirement crib, that would get hit.
As a former president he is going to be invited to places that you and I can only imagine.
As a friend of Wall St bankers and people like Branson, yes, he gets invited to places that decent people would steer clear of.
Was going to write something similar, but you beat me to it…
yeh.
Some people should have two places earning more in appreciation than most do in a year. And some should have their lives dependent on the character of their landlord.
The family baches I've had experience at either stayed in the family or cost on book-a-bach. Not sure why a capital gains tax would worry anyone in either of those situations.
Lets run Wayne's story again:
A: oh no I'm living in a car or a mouldy overpriced rental.
B: oh no, I may have to pay some tax on the goldmine bach I finally conned nana into agreeing to sell.
Not much of a tricky moral dilemma for most of us.
Blame the PM and "her tricky moral dilemma". She was the one who canned CGT. I was simply speculating on one of the reasons that she did. Incidentally I don’t own a holiday home.
Not sure what finally got to her, on that one, but the unrelenting BS, about it, probably figured.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was a National Government that eventually does it.
With Bill English talking about too narrow a tax base.
" I wouldn't be surprised if it was a National Government that eventually does it."
AKA Nixon to China …
Eventually a party will announce that while they certainly do not want a CGT, because that's BAD, they are however prepared to consider a "land transfer levy" or "property purchase adjustment" or whatever else they can find in the dictionary.
Bright line test.
That's a first for the Corona Task Force Press Briefing….
Short and sweet, no questions allowed.
trump and co just walked out…. this is important because his pressers have been very long and he always, always does Q+A.
Thinking on Anzac Day that we need a new name for it now that Australia does not view us as an equal ally but a doormat with Welcome on it. I wonder what name we should give this day of remembrance in the 20th century? WANZ Day for World and New Zealand Day?
And can we extend that to mean being kindly connected to the world, instead of wielding war on it as hapless tools of nations behaving viciously because they can. Bring in a better Colombo Plan, first started in 1951. However not sufficient to prevent a dreadful civil war in Sri Lanka 1983-2009. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo_Plan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_the_Sri_Lankan_civil_war
2001 – https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0111/S00468/the-colombo-plan-at-50-a-new-zealand-perspective.htm
The USA Peace Corps for humanitarian reasons not strategic anti-communist ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Corps
Let's hear more about the VSA – NZ Volunteer Service Abroad getting national media coverage not secondary to the latest school shooting in the USA.
https://vsa.org.nz/volunteer/
The Lackey Country says that New Zealand is a doormat? Really?
If New Zealand has a cohesive foreign policy, no-one knows what it is.
We've been freeloading off Australia for decades.
Could you explain exactly how we "freeload" off the Lackey Country? Simply repeating a National Party talking point is not evidence.
Ad's perfectly correct. Not only does NZ freeload off the Aussies, we drift along in the wake of wider global US security blanket as well. And even that's sliding off the bed as we speak.
At most NZ talks up a commitment to multi-lateralism (Helen Clark's favourite word) but with the UN coming apart at the seams it's not clear what exact value lies in that direction.
Other than our FTA with China and various other bilateral trade deals there isn't much else on the table that's obvious. Essentially NZ seems to be relying on a combination of remoteness and relative obscurity to fly below everyone's radar. But all modern maps have NZ clearly mapped nowadays and it's a lazy policy that one day may well bite us in the arse.
Ad is correct, is he? But he didn't actually provide any evidence—although judging by your comments, National Party talking points are good enough, and no further debate is necessary.
Ad's point is just that … there isn't much evidence of NZ having a comprehensive and visionary foreign policy.
there isn't much evidence of NZ having a comprehensive and visionary foreign policy.
????
Perhaps you've heard of our principled refusal to allow nuclear ships into our waters? Perhaps you've heard of our sending ships with cabinet members on board to prevent a rogue state detonating nuclear bombs in the South Pacific? Perhaps you've heard of our government leading a U.N. resolution against another rogue state in 2016?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11780250
Perhaps—-oh, you'd rather quote National Party talking points, obviously.
Perhaps you've heard of our principled refusal to allow nuclear ships into our waters?
Yes it seemed a good idea at the time. The ban on nuclear power was always just virtue signalling. The ban on nuclear weapons however simply irked the nation on whom we ultimately depended on for security. The only reason why we got away with it was because the idea never looked like spreading elsewhere and ultimately the USA didn't care about us that much.
In my view NZ has from a security perspective has freeloaded on our remoteness and the fact that any potential hostile nations all have other more pressing priorities than us, for decades. But push come to shove, we're utterly helpless on our own, but we obdurately refuse to own a fact that isn't lost on either Australia nor the USA.
The ban on nuclear power was always just virtue signalling.
Enough already with the National Party talking points.
… irked the nation on whom we ultimately depended on for security.
????? You obviously don't know, but when we depended on other nations to help us counter the French regime, first in 1973, then in 1985, the United States went out of its way to side with France, and not us.
However, despite the hostility and obstructiveness of the U.S., and the uselessness of its Australian vassal, we did fine, tracking down and trying the terrorists responsible for the attack on the Rainbow Warrior.
A dated [Sept 2006], well-researched article on differences (and commonalities) between NZ and Australia. ‘Freeloading‘ gets a mention, “virtue-signalling” not so much.
"One the commonest complaints in Canberra through that decade [the 1990s] was that New Zealand was freeloading on Australia."
Drowsy, that highly partisan and dodgy statement was written by Colin James, who was notorious as a government stenographer.
That claim that Australia regarded NZ as a "freeloader" was also made, about the same time as James's article, on television by the Canterbury University academic Therese Arseneau. The host of the show, Paul Holmes, then said this: "You know, I talked to the chief of the Australian Defence Force just this week, and I put that to him. He said that nobody in the Australian top brass has ever said that. It's a myth." Arseneau, stopped in her tracks, nearly dried up with mortification.
If I remember rightly, "freeloading" was a meme from New Zealand military Chiefs, wanting more funding.
You're probably correct, KJT. As shown all too plainly by the less than thorough investigation into the actions of NZ troops in Afghanistan, New Zealand military chiefs are not noted for their honesty.
Morrissey, to be fair to James, he was writing (in 2006) about 'Canberra complaints' made in the 1990s, a period some 10 – 20 years prior to that April 2009 Q+A panel discussion between Holmes, Arseneau, Bob Harvey and Ron Mark.
Have you got a link for your quote (above), because this is all I could find – not quite the same, and hardly surprising
Thanks so much, Drowsy! I've been looking for that episode and never tracked it down! It appears my memory was faulty—it was a New Zealand military man cited by Paul Holmes, and not an Australian one as I thought. Sadly, the transcript doesn't capture Therese Arseneau's embarrassment.
Partially…
Wars waged basically by adventurous youth, are supposed to be winners under the command of competent Generals and Senior Officers. Complete with maps and routes and Good Artillery.
But the ANZAC youth didn't have any idea of that. They did not know even which steep hills to clamber. Which ridges.
And so our ANZAC Youth scrambled this way and that way, and got slaughtered up and down Gallipolli. So Sickening.
All because the enemy turned out to be a sloppy British Military Mob. Who knew nothing.
Whilst the clean cut Turks Military Command with its Extensive regional knowledge carried out their deadly efficient Duties. Hundreds of Kiwis Slaughtered. Many injured.
Sometimes I wonder about the English. The Great Imperial Britain had everything. It still Struts and puffs. It slops around about Brexit. It doesn't worry about its' numerous Poor. It's Health is under Funded.
Britain should try harder. It has done nothing for all its Colonies. And very little for the Common man.
Despite the Extensive Use of Capital Letters, Turkish Casualties in the Gallipoli Campaign were Apallingly Heavy.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FTkVF4UXPx9E%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2jxizz_Gc9zEtpsjD9qENyOz4Vd1utHvVvmBRUSJ4eqeVkNZhZU9KnreA&h=AT1BJbmdlN0yPhZLG3C8w1hY9GJuoEaT7ERo_6zKCD1tQpmGrNeB6I37_8tjqJxyktWFUIcHn-XHcDc3T5hxgjMYXJH5SjjPfw8JwtFYF9u30HOn4YOJhqcDLDIHB6BmCCMJdg
This is a must watch.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Damned if I’m going to click on a non-descriptive FB link without knowing why it is so compelling.
https://twitter.com/JaneyGodley/status/1253670118095310850
I'm also not inclined to click through without an introduction. I suspect you were trying to post a youtube vid but your URL got caught in FB's outgoing link mess. You're welcome to try again, but even youtubes that display some content in a post are better with an explanation of why they're a must watch.
Sorry will remember Weka-Joe90 has posted it above anyway.
Be careful what you wish for.
Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido offers a grim lesson in the next phase of the battle against COVID-19. It acted quickly and contained an early outbreak of the coronavirus with a 3-week lockdown. But, when the governor lifted restrictions, a second wave of infections hit even harder. Twenty-six days later, the island was forced back into lockdown.
A doctor who helped coordinate the government response says he wishes they’d done things differently. “Now I regret it, we should not have lifted the first state of emergency,” Dr. Kiyoshi Nagase, chairman of the Hokkaido Medical Association, tells TIME.
Hokkaido’s story is a sobering reality check for leaders across the world as they consider easing coronavirus lockdowns: Experts say restrictions were lifted too quickly and too soon because of pressure from local businesses, coupled with a false sense of security in its declining infection rate.
https://time.com/5826918/hokkaido-coronavirus-lockdown/
Testing and contact tracing aside…we're told that asymptomatic people can infect others.
But is that term being used to denote a person who hasn't yet exhibited symptoms, or a person who will not exhibit symptoms?
Or are there pre-symptomatic carriers of infection as well as asymptomatic carriers of infection?
If there are asymptomatic carriers of infection, are we looking at anything along the lines of herpes that can flare up in an infected person years from now? Given that a person with a herpes outbreak obviously exhibits symptoms and is only contagious while symptoms persist….
But maybe 'asymptomatic' is just a lax use of terminology where pre-symptomatic would be more accurate?
There is indeed distinction between asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic.
Fears of asymptomatic carriers transmitting the disease appear to be receding.
However, pre-symptomatic transmission appears to have happened in a significant number of cases.
It's unclear how many asymptomatic are in fact presymptomatic. There's the study linked below saying many of those initially classed as asymptomatic in a rest home study were actually presymptomatic. I've got tickling in the back of my head that I read something similar for the sailors aboard the USS Roosevelt
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2008457
There's also the question of those testing positive for the virus some time after they have nominally recovered. It's unclear whether those test results indicate the presence of live virus that could still re-infect and/or transmit to someone else, or if the test is just detecting the remains of virus corpses that have been dealt to by the immune system.
I have yet to see any reports of someone that has been considered recovered, with several days symptom free and two or more negative tests, falling ill with COVID a second time.
edit: here’s a fairly recent piece from Siouxsie Wiles on the asymptomatic/presymptomatic question.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/21-04-2020/siouxsie-wiles-just-how-widespread-is-covid-19-in-people-who-get-no-symptoms/
Thanks Andre. The USS Roosevelt stuff is mentioned in the Spinoff link.
From a further link running off the Spin-off piece, it seems NZ is testing for the virus but not anti-bodies…which just raises further questions vis a vis eventual total mapping of where the virus is and has been.
At least (as far as I can figure) testing for the virus rather than for anti-bodies should pick up all pre-symptomatic cases.
Sunshine and cigarettes are 'the go' apparently. (Vit D and nicotine 'they' say) I'm hoping for the tri-fecta, and so on the lookout for anything on the medicinal properties of top shelf alcohol so as to be passing me some purposefully lazy 'n hazy days 🙂
Yes, in NZ we are testing for the virus (strictly speaking we are testing for bits of viral RNA that are unique to SARS-CoV-2). That's because we're still in the mode of finding people who actually have the disease and might transmit it to others.
When it comes to antibody testing, that's useful to find people that have had it. Well, it would be if we could have confidence in the tests. At the moment, there seems to be a lot of doubt over whether any of the tests are any good. Questions have been raised whether the antibodies being detected by at least some tests are cold coronavirus antibodies, not COVID coronavirus antibodies. Antibody tests are not much good for detecting people who currently have the infection, early in the course of the disease you'll have a high viral load but bugger-all or zero detectable antibodies.
When it comes to the effects of alcohol on COVID, go ahead and choose who you want to believe. The World Health Organisation or Trump Golf?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/21/trump-golf-company-retweets-video-of-john-daly-recommending-vodka-as-covid-19-cure.
When it comes to the effects of alcohol on COVID, go ahead and choose who you want to believe. The World Health Organisation or Trump Golf?
You do realise I was being 'somewhat' less than serious, yes?
Nope. Everyone kind of have to be pedantic about this type of stuff because otherwise you have boneheads like Trump getting gullible people pouring bleach down their throats, or fools smoking or drinking themselves to death based on probabilities that they can’t assess for risk.
It depends if the swab picks up viruses where the swab is, in the throat or nasal cavity. Generally what they’re after if the people who are shedding newly manufactured covid-19 viruses in the upper of lower respiratory tract.
There are multiple causes of false positive and negatives with that. I’ll ignore the false positives because most of them aren’t relevant.
etc..
Generally biological infection systems are pretty hard to pin down to definites. Mostly you just have to define them with statistical probabilities of a particular type of event happening, and when you look at medical literature you’ll find the probabilistic and tight definitions are the norm. That is because probabilities are the basic way of all biological life and damn near everything else. Determinism is more of an artifact of people wanting simplifications than any kind of reality.
Finished of The Crucible of Time last night. Engaging and thoughtful, good read. I just couldn't make up my mind of the 'folk's' biology was derived from an insect or plant model … both seemed possible.
And rife with biological indeterminism 🙂
Thanks.
I still have to re-read it. The last memory was from well before I got rid of my paper books in 2012. But I brought it last night along with “The Sheep Look Up” and “The Jagged Orbit” in a set.
Certainly do, even when some people really don't like to hear it.
Jesus fucking wept. So I might have said 'could' rather than 'should' – is that your point? 🙄
Nope, “can’t”.
Fine. Limited by the test's efficacy. Quite unlike an antibody one that's looking for an indicator that won't necessarily be there at the time of testing.
So in terms of finding asymptomatic peeps….
Yup, the test result is limited by where and when the sample was taken, as explained by Lynne, and also how. Taking a sample takes a certain level of skill and experience, and then the sample is handled and transported, and processed. The actual PCR test is the final step in the process.
Asymptomatic peeps are a pain in the proverbial …
PCR is sensitive also.
Yes, PCR is sensitive, assuming you do mean analytical sensitivity. It won’t be able to pick up the virus ‘footprint’.
I thought the problem was of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carriers being able to infect others without knowing it.
That is because probabilities are the basic way of all biological life
Which is always problematic (almost surely) eg Monod.(chance and necessity)
Indeed. Of course there is the multiverse probabilities as well. Move the forces of physics a tweak and the universe doesn't suffer some of those outside probabilities like long-life stars, or chemical reactions.
As Lynn was saying yesterday, these novel zoonotic bugs do things we haven't seen before:
COVID-19 kills “in a ferocious rampage through the body from brain to toes” doctors have explained, saying the virus “acts like no pathogen humanity has ever seen”.
On reading this I can't help but wonder if all those asymptomatic or trivial cases aren't being set up for a much more serious sequel episode some months or years down the track.
Yes the science seems to be all over the place, the virus a very cheeky little monkey. Once a respiratory ailment and now creating stroke inducing blood clots.
The storyteller in me wants to start a yarn that places the virus in the hands of the CCP 20 years ago and they've spent the last 2 decades creating an effective remedy.
Very good link and a cautionary experience.
Moving down from Level 4 to 3 should not be seen as the end of the effort to beat this bastard bug, but as a transition to the next phase in the fight.
Lockdown is not the most efficient tool in our arsenal, but it was the one that was immediately to hand when the crisis hit. It essentially bought us time to get a reliable test and trace capacity in place.
Letting our guard down is not an option.
This once great political party has been ruined
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/leaked-labour-report-should-have-been-explosive-scandal/
National Party in disarray.
https://www.twitter.com/nealejones/status/1253498523955286016
https://www.twitter.com/POLITIKwebsite/status/1253609584435974145
The only reason why National/ACT and their supporters oppose "helicopter cash" is because poor people would get it, and they would be able to pay their bills.
(Then they proceed to complain that their tenants dont pay their rent).
Disarray ?….or muddying the waters.
https://www.interest.co.nz/business/104705/nationals-paul-goldsmith-resolute-nz-needs-come-out-lockdown-faster-calls-targeted
“We believe we should be moving as quickly as we safely can to open up the border,” Goldsmith told interest.co.nz; also criticising the Government for being too slow to close to the border in the first place.
Goldsmith pointed to the restrictiveness of Level 3, but wouldn’t explicitly say what alert level he believed the country should be at right now, or when the alert levels should change."
Such a transparent slime-ball. Maybe he thinks he can sneak in when the Collins and Bennett camps knock each other out.
the state of that party.
I despise and detest the National Party and its inept, immoral "leaders"—but I'll bet a large amount of money that they're in better shape than the disgusting, discredited, demoralized rabble that the British Labour Party has been reduced to.
[Diverting much? – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 1:58 PM.
The discussion was about a party in disarray. I pointed to an example of a party in even worse—far worse—disarray than National. I concede that the two parties are separated by 12,000 miles or so, but surely there are some parallels to be noted.
[The discussion was about a specific party, the National Party of NZ. If you wanted to draw parallels and play whataboutery, you should have started your own thread. When comparing apples with oranges, there are parallels too, so this is a red herring trying to divert from your diversion – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 9:35 AM.
Bridges?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XggxeuFDaDU
A gnarly problem…
How does NZ realign its financial market with the real economy (in a world that is intent on increasing the disconnect) without destroying its currency value….especially when it has lost (for the foreseeable) 20% of its export receipts and its other main foreign exchange source is at output capacity?
I suspect, as with tourism, a lot more than we anticipate will, in reality, balance out.
Our net balance of trade, may not be much different.
Some drop in our dollar, will help.
'some' drop in the dollar is inflationary, especially when your export receipt capacity has just been decimated and you had an already negative trade balance…it is a recipe for stagflation.
Granted there will be a deflationary impact from reduced demand worldwide but that reduced demand also impacts our exports…. and substitute industries dont appear overnight.
We need to realign asset values with the economy and that requires someone taking a hit….and a good proportion of those someones are offshore who may decide NZD is more trouble than its worth, especially when other players are bending over backwards (or more honestly, frontwards) to ensure they do not…that 'some' drop could easily become very large.
Ultimately its going to end very badly but we are almost trapped into playing along….unless we decide its better to take the hit now rather than later.
I suspect too many will want to wait
Asset prices, especially land, have been misaligned with the possible business earnings, as an asset in a going concern, for a long time.
Reflected in farm land prices and commercial rents, in particular.
A correction has been avoided by bringing in lots of immigrants,and encouraging offshore speculation.
It is really long overdue.
But. It won't be pretty.
No it wont be pretty, either way…but there are added risks in rowing against the tide, at least in the short term….and short term thinking predominates.
Granted there will be a deflationary impact from reduced demand worldwide but that reduced demand also impacts our exports…. and substitute industries dont appear overnight.
In NZ companies are often small enough,with a mixed client base to be able to switch markets,they have better flexibility.
Very clear in the case of small fries.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/121126080/makikihi-fries-chips-away-at-nationwide-supermarkets
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-french-fries-analy/heres-why-you-cant-find-frozen-fries-while-u-s-farmers-are-sitting-on-tons-of-potatoes-idUSKCN2261AU
the larger processors also switched from supplying fast food to exporting supermarket product (in large quantities)
This was also seen in toilet paper demand with large monoculture commercial production lines in the US and europe being idled, whilst capacity constraints were observed in the retail market.
KPI and efficiency gains working against them.
yes there can be advantages in being small and nimble….and we will need to be all of that regardless.
My main concern is we will make the same mistake as the US and bail out investors maintaining the disconnect. With the exception of Air NZ which the gov (we) currently own 52% of we havnt made that decision but the pressure to do so mounts daily.
I have no problem maintaining a strategic asset such as AirNZ especially as we are likely to increase our holding and its vital to maintain trade links, the same dosnt apply to all assets.
I agree,if we are required to bail out the investors,through wage substitution etc,we also should have a say on how that (nz taxpayers) money should be used.One example would be through the prohibition of dividends for a fixed period as the RBNZ has used with the Banks.
This would essentially maintain liquidity with companies,by increasing capital.Companies that were able such as COVID 19 proof organisations such as telecoms and utilities could use that to repay debt,or fund capital projects.
Yes the dividend halt a good move..as was requiring the underwritten loans being determined on the basis of viability (though courageous)…but as noted the pressure for more mounts.
Requiring the same for bailed out companies is reasonable but still needs to be on a basis of expected viability…no point in flogging a dead horse.
Then there is the property market…theyve been staunch to date but again the pressure mounts…the same possibly going to appear in the rural sector, especially if commodity prices come under extended pressure (as I expect they will)
I could foresee a substantial increase in HNZ stock
Robertson threw the property market (commercial and industry) sectors a bone with the reintroduction of depreciation.
Its a risky business.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/118634990/clouds-on-the-horizon-for-commercial-property-real-estate-guru-warns
What a difference a few weeks can make
Can't believe I missed this when it came out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nZQRt4BXr8
Surprise, profiteers want to profiteer.
In New Haven, meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Vinetz, an infectious disease doctor at Yale School of Medicine, is seeking to launch a clinical study of the drug camostat mesylate, a generic medication approved in Japan to treat chronic pancreatitis that he hopes can be approved and marketed to treat COVID-19. If the trial succeeds, he said, this could be ”a total game changer.” But the process is proving fraught. Within hours of registering his trial on a National Institutes of Health website on April 20, he received an email from a large U.S. pharmaceutical company. “They are trying to take my project and engulf it for their proprietary [financial] gain,” Vinetz told me. “I take that email as a threat.”
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/big-pharma-meddling-in-race-for-covid-19-treatment
It is going to take a lot of PR to polish the turd that is this current coalition. The kingmaker Peters about to be finally nailed by the Serious Fraud Squad,the greens out building electric railways and the minister of unemployment Willie Jackson and his mates Dr Clark and Tywford rattling on about things they know nothing about. Smell the roses guys . It will be the economy that wakes up NZ from their Stockholm syndrome from where I am sitting.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Ha! Are you the guy that didn't sign up The Beatles?
https://www.facebook.com/62507427296/posts/10157429074242297/?d=null&vh=e
Bill Maher on covid, factory farms and why we are here.
Good clip Bruce, Bill's talk left me with little argument against what he had to say. My animal intake continues to decline. My T-Bone derived pleasure is waning.
I watched Tiger King, they outlawed touring freak-shows, it's a human thing.
I'm counting the days until we see a new float on Wall Street.
Trump PPE
Jacinda is toast for the reasons you mention and Bridges is tarred with the same brush. The labour caucus does not have the talent to even help to fix the mess Ardern has inficted on NZ. She has fucked the economy and hasn't a clue on how to fix it.Fasten your seatbelt folks,the approaching turbulence will be tooth chattering.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Ian, you will get what you ask for, we all do.
Most of us were asking for an empathetic guiding leader that relied heavily on science. We got Cindy and Ash and an awful lot of us are very pleased we did.
The future, yep, it's unknown but given what's happened so far, I think most of us are happy to stick with this horse midstream.
People like you have fucked the economy and the environment with your greed.
Our rivers are shitholes because people like you want to make more and more and more money.
I think Ashley B makes about 500k a year. At last, someone on mega bucks that's worth the spend.
…wonder what he spends it on? Nice house, yeah, but he's not a Ferrari kinda guy. I think he'd like a nice gourmet cheese and Florence. I guess Italy is going to be off the menu for a while. Come and see us up in Northland in the spring Dr B, we'll get you onto the snapper sweet-spots.
No relation to policts, but here is a Bluegrass cover of Thunderstruck by AC/DC. Steve'n'Seagulls are based in Finland. It's just a bit of fun, but they are clearly talented musicians with a sense of humour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Ao-iNPPUc
Hi Ian
Where can I forward your fresh turds- to replace the ones you gobbled up last night and the night before ?
Do your children enjoy Turds too ? I guess you ram them down their young throats –
Just as you ram your pitiful obscenities down our five senses. Grow up !
[Grow up yourself! We don’t need this turd-slinging BS competition but you tend to take that one step further, crossing the line again, and make personal insults. I don’t know if Ian has any children but your comment about his children was unacceptable IMO. Take a week off – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 7:52 AM.