The results of decades of amateur landlordism and poor governance in New Zealand:
Half of children studied sleeping in bedrooms that are too cold, study says.
The pioneering study was a joint project between the building researchers BRANZ and the University of Auckland longitudinal study, Growing Up in New Zealand.
It got eight-year-olds to spend two days collecting temperature and humidity information at home and school.
The results made for sober reading, with about 1000 children going to sleep in bedrooms that were too cold – at or below 19C – with the temperature in some rooms dropping to under 4C by the morning.
BRANZ scientist Dr Chris Litten, from a research organisation that aims to improve New Zealand's building system, said New Zealand needed to do better with its housing stock standards.
"We need to build better houses, we need to insulate them and on top of that we need to be able to heat them properly and be able to afford to heat them."
Litten said good work was being done by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to look at improving energy efficiency in homes.
But he said housing standards were lagging behind the rest of the world, and it was time to catch up.
I have more than a few worries about this housing heating study.
Firstly how ethical is it to use children? Should children be encouraged to be researching a subject which puts their parents in the difficult situation of either refusing so that the kids are left out or shamed/sidelined at school for being unable to contribute or do they agree to this spying by default on the household? And how reliable is the data. If this was my household I might agree but the thermometer would be regularly "fixed" to give an incorrect result.
And 21 degrees? Who decided that? Most of the houses have been around since at least the 1960's and have produced some very large cohorts who seem to be living a long long time. Personally I'm comfortable without heating down to the mid teens. The industry shilling for commercial companies here?
There is a big problem with housing. We live in timber framed tents. People simply cannot afford to heat houses to the temperatures the Government has set.
The solution is much more complex than is currently recognised and involves house design, energy pricing and appliance selection.
It would be a good start to look at developments in Europe who are way ahead if anything we are doing here.
It probably would be a good idea….but its one that conflicts with 'mum and dad' investors interests and its also one that will take decades to implement.
We had an excellent opportunity to test some of these ideas with the Christchurch rebuild….guess what we did.
People simply cannot afford to heat houses to the temperatures the Government has set.
No doubt that is true but what has been set is the ability for tenants to heat the houses they pay for to be heated to that level.
That the houses aren't up to it is a dreadful indictment on New Zealand's passage so far. The number 8 wire, do it on the cheap, she'll be right mentality.
Well, she will not be right. And it's long past time this changed, painful as it might be.
Wuhan virologists fell sick, possibly from COVID-19 (!), in November 2019
Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, a month before China reported the first cases of COVID-19, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a US intelligence report.
A State Department fact sheet released near the end of the Trump administration said "the US government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses." It did not say how many researchers.
I guess you could say those who have an interest in climate change denial also have an interest in the lab-leak theory: Western big business.
Muttonbird. You really should not assume that your oblique references are clear to all.
Not sure how "Western big business" should benefit from exploration of the lab leak hypothesis. You do understand that the Wuhan Lab received funding from the US government to continue bat/human coronavirus research that was under a moratorium in the US…because of very real concerns of a potential leak?
To clarify, I think Western big business has an interest in climate change denial because a) that is observably true and b) any action against climate change erodes profits.
I also think Western big business has an interest in the lab-leak theory because they have been at war with China over trade and intellectual property and anything that weakens China boost profits.
If the lab leak hypothesis gains ground…both China and the US will come under equal scrutiny. And censure. Whatever credibility either has on the world stage will be eroded. Is this the rise of Europe?
More about getting the former guy off the hook, I reckon.
Move perceptions from the tRump regimes ineptitude allowed a pandemic to run rampant costing hundreds of thousands of American lives to everything that could've been donewas doneafter the inept Chinese lost control of their engineered a bio weapon.
tRump regimes ineptitude Poor lad. He was busy demanding that 'Chy Na' be held to account and positively foaming at the mouth. Then he went very quiet on the issue. Could it be some underling whispered in his ear that despite the apparent US/Sino sabre -rattling…there were very close ties between the two great nations. Especially in bat/human coronavirus- with- gain -of- function research.
Just a few of very many papers and articles published over the past 18 months that present evidence (or not) that disagrees with what rapidly became the only acceptable explanation of the origin of Te Virus.
Just so you understand….science simply does not (or should not) work like this. Science is not about dogma and belief and the casting of slurs against those who have a differing hypothesis.
Its about research and evidence and open mindedness …and certainly should not be driven by or dictated to by a compromised media.
The most interesting contributor to one of the above publications is a researcher with a long history of bat / human coronavirus research (with a special side order of gain of function) who also happened to work closely with the lead virologist at the Wuhan Lab. He and his mates called for more investigation very shortly after the publication of Wades article.
Because of all known SARS-related beta-coronaviruses, only SARS2 possesses a furin cleavage site. All the other viruses have their S2 unit cleaved at a different site and by a different mechanism. [From the bottom article linked by Rosemary]
Chris Martenson of Peak Prosperity pointed to this furin cleavage many months ago.
And Fauci (of Donald Trump infamy) has his corporate fingers deeply inserted in the whole sorry business, along with blokes like Daszak.
"The furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is required for transmission in ferrets"
Do you even know what 'a furin' is ?
We saw this during the lockdowns, the instant epidemiology experts. People who often dont even know how mail is sorted before delivery can come up with these theories about how infectious viruses spread.
You're quite right, ghost, I don't know what a furin is. But I can read and reason, and I know Martenson pointed out that no other SARS virus has such an addition way back in April or May of last year – and got roundly turned on for showing the obvious evidence of human tampering with the virus.
But now three workplace colleagues got flu-like symptoms in autumn. Smoking gun right there lol
All this origin debate is just geopolitical agenda-puching. Leave it 20 years and someone might actually figure something out with relative impartiality.
The evidence is stacking up McFlock and one day, as you say, we may have the 'answers'. In the meantime. Today, as it was 18 months ago when the Chinese govt 'gave the genome to the world' there are signs aplenty that this was a lab born virus. What might have been really, really useful (other than being able to trust WHO etc) was a few clues from the source on the best way of dealing with this.
"1: "signs aplenty"? No more than for any other possible origin."
Hmm… The virus first emerged in one of only a handful of places in the world that has a laboratory that studies bat coronaviruses. The same lab also has in its possession the closest known relative virus to covid19.
And you give equal weight to other origin theories??
In 2004, deep in the wilderness of China's Yunnan province, a group of scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology discovered a cave full of wild bats carrying hundreds of SARS-related viruses.
Their work, published in a draft paper in 2005, unearthed the link between SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and bats for the first time.
Now the virologist who led that study, Shi Zhengli, has revealed one of the strains found in that cave — the exact location of which is a closely guarded secret — is almost identical to the 2019-nCoV coronavirus which has so far killed at least 1,115 people and infected more than 45,000 worldwide, news.com.au reports.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t say what you and mauī think it says and it doesn’t mean what you and mauī think it means.
Since the two of you will just keep beating around the bush, let’s assume you’re thinking of RaTG13. That will help sharpen the mind somewhat.
It seems that both of you believe that the Wuhan lab had this mystical virus “in its possession”. Taking this belief a few steps further, it is entirely plausible, very likely, if you’re so inclined, that they were experimenting with it. You know, that gain-of-function stuff and other scary bio-weaponising Frankensteinish work. And of course, the lab bats were sold on the wet market and the rest is history. Dan Brown would be proud.
A clue is in the link you provided. Another clue is in my comment to McFlock. I’m afraid you’re barking into the wrong cave.
In addition, I think that you believe that “almost identical” means what you think it means. It does not, but if you want fly that balloon, I cannot stop you from flying it as high as a kite.
If only we could find that cave again but the bat may have flown …
Hmmm. How many is a "handful"? Any other source of bats nearby? Is the bat virus transported across the reagion in any other way?
The first workplace heavily affected (2/3 workers+) seems to have been a fresh meat/livestock market.
The lab allegedly had 3 cases in a vaguely appropriate timeline – but really appropriate? Covid19 spreads fast. A week or two here or there dramatically changes the infection rate the following month.
And why do you even care? Will knowledge of the virus' origin change your behaviour or affect your life in any way? Or are you just invested in the lab idea to satisfy some other internal narrative you have playing in your brain?
My internal narrative tends to be along the lines of "nutbars gonna nutbar, fuckit. Next thing some fucking moron will be beating up a Korean because they can't even target their stupidity right and they read about labs on the interwebs". Just in case you were wondering.
Leave it 20 years and someone might actually figure something out with relative impartiality.
I would wager a bet that in 20 years time the response will be:
The first conclusion was the correct conclusion. That is: the source was a Wuhan Wet Market where the virus jumped from an animal to a human. The difference being in 20 years time they will be able to determine beyond reasonable doubt which animal it was… by which time nobody will care.
The simplest and obvious conclusions inevitably turn out to be the correct ones. But there will always be nutbar conspiracy theorists and their assorted followers who want to claim a sinister plot. Look no further than the assassination of President Jack Kennedy in the 1960s.
Yep its just as well anne we live in a world of decency and mutual respect and where noone ever conspires with anyone else to cover up a dirty secret !!So simple really
Oh so you're a follower of conspiracy theorists are you. There's always a few lurking around every corner.
Covering up dirty secrets like heinous crime, genocide or producing fraudulent documents as we have just discovered in respect of the BBC is something else altogether. Maybe you are not equipped to recognise the difference.
Anne. Last year, in late January, there was at least one virologist quoted on Natrad as saying the virus had obvious signs of being lab made. (It must have been RNZ as they are the only station we were listening to and we don't do telly.) Others heard this. Others also remember this being one of the original hypotheses.
Within days this hypothesis was declared a "conspiracy theory" and all further discussion along those lines was mocked, silenced and 'debunked'. This was the very first sign that there was something very, very odd going on.
And what on earth do you mean when you say "conclusion"? As far as I am aware no one has conclusively proved any of the hypotheses.
The jury is still out.
The simplest and obvious conclusions inevitably turn out to be the correct ones
Just for shits and giggles, why don't you provide us with a bit of proof to back up that rather sweeping statement?
Damned if I know how to argue facts with someone who can't remember their sources and then reckons that people calling BS on an unsupported claim is somehow suspicious.
I can see a pattern and it contains the prime number3
In spring 2012, three miners cleaning bat feces in an abandoned copper mine near the town of Tongguan in Mojiang Hani Autonomous County developed fatal pneumonia.
I'd like to give a shoutout to the Prime Minister for recommending Dame Cindy Kiro to be Governor General. Dame Patsy Reddy was of course a corporate lawyer versed in high capitalism's deals within networks within deals: the quintessential National appointment.
Dame Kiro is all about the poor and disenfranchised.
This is a pure Labour move. And a good, human one.
Is it too early to draw a parallel between the first names of the GG and the PM? This could get confusing for those who like to talk down on the PM. Still, there’s always the relatively young age of the PM that can be used, as Peter Dunne CNZM demonstrated recently.
Few rise to the top by merit alone and the top is for few only. Hierarchical systems have processes in place to maintain order, structure & stability, and preservation of traditions & rules through loyalty and rules & recognition for promotion and award/reward. Without wanting to piss on individuals, their accomplishments & achievements, and their awards & appointments, I personally am strongly against hierarchies and the legalised and/or sanctioned authority that flows from them. It goes against my core principle that all people are equal of being and inequality of position runs counter to that. I could dedicate a whole post or two to centralisation of political and economic power, which some seem to consider the bee’s knees and the best thing since sliced bread, but I always cringe internally when I hear about this.
Farrar's argument falls to bits when you point out that Kiro was born in 1958, so she would have still picked up all the welfare state goodies, award wages and free education that was on offer.
Perhaps they realise that a bedrock of surety of money to people enables people to grow, not inflation the big supposed bugbear of the irrational wealthy classes.
I find this weird from Labour too – right up there with public sector wage freezes and a gift to any future right wing administration who would use this to ditch universal welfare payments. A great big vote loser.
And who can afford it anyway as it would effectively be another large tax. The younger cohort already pay about 20 cents income tax, 15 cents GST, 12 cents student loans, Kiwisaver 3 cents, ACC say 2 cents which leaves about 48 cents in the dollar for the rest.. Highly regressive of course.
The only people who could afford it would be the ones who could save a nest egg to tide them over anyway
What an idiot suggestion to waste political capital on. I'm over labour big time.
If they can't afford it, can they afford not to have it? Maybe the design is to agree that the insurance only insures above the dole, so at least some of it is automatically covered. Currently some people can and do afford income protection (me included) while others can't or aren't eligible (my wife), so this would fantastic for us.
Universal coverage is how we get the Nats and others on board and avoiding it getting discarded after a few years.
The important principal to remember about Labour parties is they really believe all their deficit crap.
So National are not going to let a deficit get in the way of a tax cut policy they want implemented, though they will cut or argue against public spending on that same basis.
But this is the reason Labour attempted the wage freeze. Also the basis for the super fund (e.g the govt pre-funding its later super based deficit), and this will function similarly to that. Labour wants the govt books to be in surplus and to be telling us how great they are at running the govt profitably (while disregarding the necessary expanding housing bubble which supports this).
Another BIG idea requiring time. About time that Labour deliver and fix up the important issues housing, health, child welfare instead of day dreaming.
There are already that many insurances.
What difference would another insurance against loss of job make?
edit
I have been with AA – auto insurance – for years and have happily paid up for the use of reliable services when there is a breakdown, whether it is my silly fault or whatever. Some years I have none and I keep paying because it is not too dear, and I get pleasant helpful reliable service if and when in need. People with insurance from the private sector, don't always get a fair deal like I do with the AA which is dedicated to vehicle help.
If we had unemployment insurance from the government, and not a PPP either, then we could achieve the same satisfactory outcome. Other assistance would be available, but insurance holders wouldn't have to go down on their knees to the Department of Miserable Gits to be able to carry on their lives.
The unemployment insurance that is being examined is modelled on ACC but with a time limitation ….it is estimated to cost up to 5 billion p.a. for 6 months cover ….a 2 tier welfare system ….and the way ACC has been operated in recent times is no recommendation and I'd suggest the courts are over extended already without adding yet more potential disputes. The Gov have the ability when needed to extend support as and when needed as has been amply demonstrated with covid without burdening society with an additional slush fund to the benefit of the financial markets and over exposed banks.
I agree Greywarshark, there are too many ready to decry any moves to improve things.
Motives are attached to the moves, sometimes on the flimsiest of reasons and mostly negative. Past experience has shaken our belief in the intent of policies.
This Government is looking at the state of things that undermine wellbeing of people and the moves to have a period of insurance for loss of income, like the protection of the first fifty thousand in the bank, help ordinary people to have time to reorganise and to protect their hard earned small asset base while sorting their future.
There will always be welfare in NZ, how it is provided and the strings attached are the important issues. Those worried about failures of some models should present those ideas to working groups.
Personally, I have been surprised how negative some posters are. For them, no change is good enough great enough left enough or just enough.
The Government represents all of us as well as they can, often in a period of constant threats.
My biggest sorrow is the failure to improve things more for those with permanent or worsening disabilities. Far more needs to be done in that space imo.
Id be very interested to know what possible justification any Labour supporter can offer for an additional unemployment insurance scheme over and above a universal welfare benefit?
It seems to me that Patricia and Pat are both right.
Patricia with a long explanation of what might have to be done to achieve anything, pragmatic. And Pat with a terse query as to why this would be necessary when we have the systems in place already, rational.
Unfortunately it seems to Patricia and me that rational no longer has an assured place in NZ, and so pragmatic is the way of necessity. Grasping the nettle may be required.
The first I read of this story turned out to be incorrect information that suggested a terrorist bomb scare forcing the sudden diversion of a RyanAir flight resulting in the terrorist being detained, when it fact it was someone who spoke out against the current leadership of Belarius and the bomb scare was a ploy to get the passenger jet to land in Minsk – quite different. Here is the scoop from Glen Grenwald.
Protasevich, even while in exile, was a leading oppositional voice, using an anti-Lukashenko channel on Telegram — one of the few remaining outlets dissidents have — to voice criticisms of the regime. For those activities, he was formally charged with various national security crimes, and then, last November, was placed on the official “terrorist list” by Belarus’ intelligence service (still called the "KGB” from its days as a Soviet republic).
Lukashenko's own press service said the fighter jet was deployed on orders of the leader himself, telling the Ryanair pilot that they believed there was a bomb or other threat to the plane on board. When the plane landed in Minsk, an hours-long search was conducted and found no bomb or any other instrument that could endanger the plane's safety, and the plane was then permitted to take off and land thirty minutes later at its intended destination in Lithuania. But two passengers were missing. Protasevich was quickly detained after the plane was forced to land in Minsk and is now in a Belarusian jail, where he faces a possible death sentence as a "terrorist” and/or a lengthy prison term for his alleged national security crimes. His girlfriend, traveling with him, was also detained despite facing no charges. Passengers on the flight say Protasevich began panicking when the pilot announced that the plane would land in Minsk, knowing that his fate was sealed and telling other passengers that he faces a death sentence.
I saw the heading in a travel advertisement – Experience Australia Like Never Before! And I wondered if they were offering tours to see the rellies and conditions in Manus Island? Now that would be very different.
Chris Lynch is one of several right wing broadcast personalities having trouble with their identity and reach lately.
Looks like he's joining the recent exodus of outdated, disenfranchised, white, conservative shock jocks, Leighton Smith, Mike Hoskings, Sean Plunkett, John Banks, Larry Williams, Paul Henry, etc, etc.
There's always podcasts. May the door hit their collective arses on the way out.
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Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
Open access notablesImproving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society:To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Bennett, PhD Student, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Foo, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, Monash University pikselstock/Shutterstock In the next 40 years in Australia, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Grant, Research Associate, Power Institute for Arts and Visual Culture, University of Sydney Jonas Åkerström’s 1790 work, Session of the Accademia dell’Arcadia on August 17 1788.Nationalmuseum/Cecilia Heisser Ever wondered whether you’d have a better chance at winning an Olympic gold ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Jones, Program Lead, Food Governance, George Institute for Global Health wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock On Thursday, Australian and New Zealand food ministers at state, federal and national levels met to thrash out what’s next for health star ratings on packaged foods. Now, after ...
The Abuse in Care report found many Pacific survivors lost their connections to their culture and language, resulting in trauma that has been carried from generation to generation. ...
In the regulatory review, ECC intends to suggest that ERO focus on curriculum delivery reviews rather than the Ministry, because it’s not efficient or effective to have two agencies with radically different approaches climbing over each other. ...
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori invites the current government to work in partnership with them to develop a pathway forward, including the development of a parallel pathway and meaningful policy and strategy for Kura Kaupapa Māori ...
If you haven’t started watching yet, Tara Ward begs you to reconsider. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. In the world of New Zealand reality television, we have many gems in our crown. There’s the delicious second season of the Celebrity Treasure ...
A new poem by Fiona Kidman. The clothes of the dead I did not keep my mother’s furry red beret for long nor the stringy scarves that adorned the necks of my aunts, although I have kept tag ends of gold, the rings and trinkets they wore, the brooches no ...
The government’s announcement that it will re-open the foreshore and seabed controversy by changing the rules on recognising centuries-old Māori customary title for a third time goes against the rule of law and New Zealand values,” Mr Tipa says. ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Lioness by Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury, $25) Roarrrr! Perkins’ brilliant, award-winning, Marian-Keyes anointed, darkly funny, long ...
The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antje Deckert, Associate Professor (Criminology), Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Despite the connection between institutional harm and gang membership made clear in this week’s mammoth royal commission abuse-in care report, the government seems unlikely to soften its “get tough on ...
From Lewis Clareburt in the swimming to the start of the rowing – the first seven days of Paris 2024 promise to be big for New Zealand. There are few events that bring the country together quite like an Olympic Games. Nothing quite matches the excitement of getting up in ...
Groundbreaking local science just showed up in the most surprising of places: the season finale of The Kardashians. In the season five finale of The Kardashians last night, several members of the family gathered together in one of their signature empty, cream-coloured rooms to hear test results that had been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in ...
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The results of decades of amateur landlordism and poor governance in New Zealand:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/443288/half-of-children-studied-sleeping-in-bedrooms-that-are-too-cold-study-says
I have more than a few worries about this housing heating study.
Firstly how ethical is it to use children? Should children be encouraged to be researching a subject which puts their parents in the difficult situation of either refusing so that the kids are left out or shamed/sidelined at school for being unable to contribute or do they agree to this spying by default on the household? And how reliable is the data. If this was my household I might agree but the thermometer would be regularly "fixed" to give an incorrect result.
And 21 degrees? Who decided that? Most of the houses have been around since at least the 1960's and have produced some very large cohorts who seem to be living a long long time. Personally I'm comfortable without heating down to the mid teens. The industry shilling for commercial companies here?
There is a big problem with housing. We live in timber framed tents. People simply cannot afford to heat houses to the temperatures the Government has set.
The solution is much more complex than is currently recognised and involves house design, energy pricing and appliance selection.
It would be a good start to look at developments in Europe who are way ahead if anything we are doing here.
It probably would be a good idea….but its one that conflicts with 'mum and dad' investors interests and its also one that will take decades to implement.
We had an excellent opportunity to test some of these ideas with the Christchurch rebuild….guess what we did.
No doubt that is true but what has been set is the ability for tenants to heat the houses they pay for to be heated to that level.
That the houses aren't up to it is a dreadful indictment on New Zealand's passage so far. The number 8 wire, do it on the cheap, she'll be right mentality.
Well, she will not be right. And it's long past time this changed, painful as it might be.
looking back at previous NZ studies on bedroom temperature seem to suggest that 15C was the 'minimum'
Dont know where the 19C number came from. Certainly you would want living areas in evening when not so active to be around 19-21C.
To have a lounge area on a sunny day to be 18C is fine, as warm clothing inside is still required.
Some nourishment for the conspiracy theorists:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2021/05/coronavirus-china-rejects-report-wuhan-virologists-fell-sick-possibly-from-covid-19-in-november-2019.html
Believers are gonna believe but hey, a couple of threads on the WSJ story.
https://twitter.com/pwnallthethings/status/1396577153232379904
https://twitter.com/MoNscience/status/1396240581651742724
I guess you could say those who have an interest in climate change denial also have an interest in the lab-leak theory: Western big business.
I guess you could say those who have an interest in climate change denial also have an interest in the lab-leak theory: Western big business.
Muttonbird. You really should not assume that your oblique references are clear to all.
Not sure how "Western big business" should benefit from exploration of the lab leak hypothesis. You do understand that the Wuhan Lab received funding from the US government to continue bat/human coronavirus research that was under a moratorium in the US…because of very real concerns of a potential leak?
To clarify, I think Western big business has an interest in climate change denial because a) that is observably true and b) any action against climate change erodes profits.
I also think Western big business has an interest in the lab-leak theory because they have been at war with China over trade and intellectual property and anything that weakens China boost profits.
and anything that weakens China boost profits.
If the lab leak hypothesis gains ground…both China and the US will come under equal scrutiny. And censure. Whatever credibility either has on the world stage will be eroded. Is this the rise of Europe?
or the "very real concerns" were a pretext to enforce a political decision made by a lickspittle of the orange shitgibbon.
More about getting the former guy off the hook, I reckon.
Move perceptions from the tRump regimes ineptitude allowed a pandemic to run rampant costing hundreds of thousands of American lives to everything that could've been done was done after the inept Chinese lost control of their engineered a bio weapon.
tRump regimes ineptitude Poor lad. He was busy demanding that 'Chy Na' be held to account and positively foaming at the mouth. Then he went very quiet on the issue. Could it be some underling whispered in his ear that despite the apparent US/Sino sabre -rattling…there were very close ties between the two great nations. Especially in bat/human coronavirus- with- gain -of- function research.
Whoops.
That too.
One is a meeting of 100s of scientists, who are well known and leaders in their fields
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/climate-change-the-ipcc-1990-and-1992-assessments/
The other is a sort of leak of a suggestion from a US intell agency who have to tailor the intel to Trumps claims.
The author of first twitter thread above notes, someone [is] shopping something that isn't an IC assessment as an IC assessment.
“Belief closes the mind, thought reaches no final conclusion. It looks forward always to new evidence.”
Maurice Gee “The Plumb Trilogy.”
This should be written large in every High School Science Lab.
Ooooh!!! Conspiracy theorists!!! Head for the hills! Lock up your daughters!
You have read this…https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/origins-of-covid-19-who-opened-pandoras-box-at-wuhan-people-or-nature/ ?
This? https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6543/694.1
This? https://zenodo.org/record/4477081#.YKwdON2xX3h
or even this….https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2021/02/01/about-that-claim-that-sars-cov-2-is-not-a-natural-zoonosis-but-instead-is-laboratory-derived/ …which disputes the previous report.
Just a few of very many papers and articles published over the past 18 months that present evidence (or not) that disagrees with what rapidly became the only acceptable explanation of the origin of Te Virus.
Just so you understand….science simply does not (or should not) work like this. Science is not about dogma and belief and the casting of slurs against those who have a differing hypothesis.
Its about research and evidence and open mindedness …and certainly should not be driven by or dictated to by a compromised media.
The most interesting contributor to one of the above publications is a researcher with a long history of bat / human coronavirus research (with a special side order of gain of function) who also happened to work closely with the lead virologist at the Wuhan Lab. He and his mates called for more investigation very shortly after the publication of Wades article.
https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/origins-of-covid-19-who-opened-pandoras-box-at-wuhan-people-or-nature/
This is truly fascinating stuff.
Chris Martenson of Peak Prosperity pointed to this furin cleavage many months ago.
And Fauci (of Donald Trump infamy) has his corporate fingers deeply inserted in the whole sorry business, along with blokes like Daszak.
Furin cleavage is well above your pay grade
"The furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is required for transmission in ferrets"
Do you even know what 'a furin' is ?
We saw this during the lockdowns, the instant epidemiology experts. People who often dont even know how mail is sorted before delivery can come up with these theories about how infectious viruses spread.
You're quite right, ghost, I don't know what a furin is. But I can read and reason, and I know Martenson pointed out that no other SARS virus has such an addition way back in April or May of last year – and got roundly turned on for showing the obvious evidence of human tampering with the virus.
And another. Those altered rodents with human genes make it plausible.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/lab-leak-called-viable-possibility-for-covid-19-pandemic
but I thought the Italians had it in September 2019…
But now three workplace colleagues got flu-like symptoms in autumn. Smoking gun right there lol
All this origin debate is just geopolitical agenda-puching. Leave it 20 years and someone might actually figure something out with relative impartiality.
The evidence is stacking up McFlock and one day, as you say, we may have the 'answers'. In the meantime. Today, as it was 18 months ago when the Chinese govt 'gave the genome to the world' there are signs aplenty that this was a lab born virus. What might have been really, really useful (other than being able to trust WHO etc) was a few clues from the source on the best way of dealing with this.
but hey, we're just an ordinary charity….
(There is no date when this was filmed. Might have been at the Dec 2019 Virus Conference in Singapore. https://www.ncid.sg/News-Events/Events/Pages/Nipah-Virus-International-Conference.aspx )
1: "signs aplenty"? No more than for any other possible origin.
2: They did map the genetis sequence and share it quickly, helping to enable fast case transmission tracking (amongst other things).
3: what relevance does a half hour video from a conference about another virus have to your comment or the issue at hand?
"1: "signs aplenty"? No more than for any other possible origin."
Hmm… The virus first emerged in one of only a handful of places in the world that has a laboratory that studies bat coronaviruses. The same lab also has in its possession the closest known relative virus to covid19.
And you give equal weight to other origin theories??
Really? Which virus might that be? And they have or had this live virus in the lab?
I doubt you can back that up so I won’t even ask you.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/coronavirus-mysterious-bat-cave-in-chinese-wilderness-could-hold-key/NVLWRX2F4L3KLP3ZN6UDJ5IGHA/
In 2004, deep in the wilderness of China's Yunnan province, a group of scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology discovered a cave full of wild bats carrying hundreds of SARS-related viruses.
Their work, published in a draft paper in 2005, unearthed the link between SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and bats for the first time.
Now the virologist who led that study, Shi Zhengli, has revealed one of the strains found in that cave — the exact location of which is a closely guarded secret — is almost identical to the 2019-nCoV coronavirus which has so far killed at least 1,115 people and infected more than 45,000 worldwide, news.com.au reports.
That’s just so lovely, thanks heaps
Unfortunately, it doesn’t say what you and mauī think it says and it doesn’t mean what you and mauī think it means.
Since the two of you will just keep beating around the bush, let’s assume you’re thinking of RaTG13. That will help sharpen the mind somewhat.
It seems that both of you believe that the Wuhan lab had this mystical virus “in its possession”. Taking this belief a few steps further, it is entirely plausible, very likely, if you’re so inclined, that they were experimenting with it. You know, that gain-of-function stuff and other scary bio-weaponising Frankensteinish work. And of course, the lab bats were sold on the wet market and the rest is history. Dan Brown would be proud.
A clue is in the link you provided. Another clue is in my comment to McFlock. I’m afraid you’re barking into the wrong cave.
In addition, I think that you believe that “almost identical” means what you think it means. It does not, but if you want fly that balloon, I cannot stop you from flying it as high as a kite.
If only we could find that cave again but the bat may have flown …
Hmmm. How many is a "handful"? Any other source of bats nearby? Is the bat virus transported across the reagion in any other way?
The first workplace heavily affected (2/3 workers+) seems to have been a fresh meat/livestock market.
The lab allegedly had 3 cases in a vaguely appropriate timeline – but really appropriate? Covid19 spreads fast. A week or two here or there dramatically changes the infection rate the following month.
And why do you even care? Will knowledge of the virus' origin change your behaviour or affect your life in any way? Or are you just invested in the lab idea to satisfy some other internal narrative you have playing in your brain?
My internal narrative tends to be along the lines of "nutbars gonna nutbar, fuckit. Next thing some fucking moron will be beating up a Korean because they can't even target their stupidity right and they read about labs on the interwebs". Just in case you were wondering.
I would wager a bet that in 20 years time the response will be:
The first conclusion was the correct conclusion. That is: the source was a Wuhan Wet Market where the virus jumped from an animal to a human. The difference being in 20 years time they will be able to determine beyond reasonable doubt which animal it was… by which time nobody will care.
The simplest and obvious conclusions inevitably turn out to be the correct ones. But there will always be nutbar conspiracy theorists and their assorted followers who want to claim a sinister plot. Look no further than the assassination of President Jack Kennedy in the 1960s.
Yep its just as well anne we live in a world of decency and mutual respect and where noone ever conspires with anyone else to cover up a dirty secret !!So simple really
Oh so you're a follower of conspiracy theorists are you. There's always a few lurking around every corner.
Covering up dirty secrets like heinous crime, genocide or producing fraudulent documents as we have just discovered in respect of the BBC is something else altogether. Maybe you are not equipped to recognise the difference.
The first conclusion was the correct conclusion.
Anne. Last year, in late January, there was at least one virologist quoted on Natrad as saying the virus had obvious signs of being lab made. (It must have been RNZ as they are the only station we were listening to and we don't do telly.) Others heard this. Others also remember this being one of the original hypotheses.
Within days this hypothesis was declared a "conspiracy theory" and all further discussion along those lines was mocked, silenced and 'debunked'. This was the very first sign that there was something very, very odd going on.
And what on earth do you mean when you say "conclusion"? As far as I am aware no one has conclusively proved any of the hypotheses.
The jury is still out.
The simplest and obvious conclusions inevitably turn out to be the correct ones
Just for shits and giggles, why don't you provide us with a bit of proof to back up that rather sweeping statement?
Damned if I know how to argue facts with someone who can't remember their sources and then reckons that people calling BS on an unsupported claim is somehow suspicious.
I can see a pattern and it contains the prime number 3![wink wink](https://cdn.ckeditor.com/4.11.3/full-all/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.png)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaTG13
I'd like to give a shoutout to the Prime Minister for recommending Dame Cindy Kiro to be Governor General. Dame Patsy Reddy was of course a corporate lawyer versed in high capitalism's deals within networks within deals: the quintessential National appointment.
Dame Kiro is all about the poor and disenfranchised.
This is a pure Labour move. And a good, human one.
"She said she was born to a very poor family so she knows about the hard work and perseverance required to succeed.
Asked what she brings to the role, she said: "Community and service"."
I agree with Ad.
Is it too early to draw a parallel between the first names of the GG and the PM? This could get confusing for those who like to talk down on the PM. Still, there’s always the relatively young age of the PM that can be used, as Peter Dunne CNZM demonstrated recently.
David Farrar has congratulated her on her appointment.
But then he used the post to claim, because she has succeeded having come from a poor Northland background, the system is working well.
The inference being if she can do it, why can’t all poor people do it.
Few rise to the top by merit alone and the top is for few only. Hierarchical systems have processes in place to maintain order, structure & stability, and preservation of traditions & rules through loyalty and rules & recognition for promotion and award/reward. Without wanting to piss on individuals, their accomplishments & achievements, and their awards & appointments, I personally am strongly against hierarchies and the legalised and/or sanctioned authority that flows from them. It goes against my core principle that all people are equal of being and inequality of position runs counter to that. I could dedicate a whole post or two to centralisation of political and economic power, which some seem to consider the bee’s knees and the best thing since sliced bread, but I always cringe internally when I hear about this.
End of first morning rant.
A finely crafted one in pure human-think (which is the best material available on Planet Earth).
Farrar's argument falls to bits when you point out that Kiro was born in 1958, so she would have still picked up all the welfare state goodies, award wages and free education that was on offer.
Yeah – because it's really really smart to design things based on a self-serving assumption that the exception is the actually norm.
Neo-liberalism dead?….I'm afraid not
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018796828/unemployment-insurance-could-cost-5b-a-year
This is one very confused administration.
It's ACT policy. Very strange this government is pursuing it. However, it is a way for them to introduce another tax without it being called a tax.
Perhaps they realise that a bedrock of surety of money to people enables people to grow, not inflation the big supposed bugbear of the irrational wealthy classes.
I find this weird from Labour too – right up there with public sector wage freezes and a gift to any future right wing administration who would use this to ditch universal welfare payments. A great big vote loser.
And who can afford it anyway as it would effectively be another large tax. The younger cohort already pay about 20 cents income tax, 15 cents GST, 12 cents student loans, Kiwisaver 3 cents, ACC say 2 cents which leaves about 48 cents in the dollar for the rest.. Highly regressive of course.
The only people who could afford it would be the ones who could save a nest egg to tide them over anyway
What an idiot suggestion to waste political capital on. I'm over labour big time.
If they can't afford it, can they afford not to have it? Maybe the design is to agree that the insurance only insures above the dole, so at least some of it is automatically covered. Currently some people can and do afford income protection (me included) while others can't or aren't eligible (my wife), so this would fantastic for us.
Universal coverage is how we get the Nats and others on board and avoiding it getting discarded after a few years.
About as attractive as a ponzi scheme.
I can see that income protection works for you.
The important principal to remember about Labour parties is they really believe all their deficit crap.
So National are not going to let a deficit get in the way of a tax cut policy they want implemented, though they will cut or argue against public spending on that same basis.
But this is the reason Labour attempted the wage freeze. Also the basis for the super fund (e.g the govt pre-funding its later super based deficit), and this will function similarly to that. Labour wants the govt books to be in surplus and to be telling us how great they are at running the govt profitably (while disregarding the necessary expanding housing bubble which supports this).
Using ACC as a possible template.
Who is going to make the final decision for the deserving person and how long is it going to take to pay up and how much will it cost?
National and Act will privatise or rob ACC to fund the insurance scheme for loss of jobs, leave it alone.
All to be worked out….but the fact that Labour think a compulsory unemployment insurance scheme is a good idea should be pause for thought.
Another BIG idea requiring time. About time that Labour deliver and fix up the important issues housing, health, child welfare instead of day dreaming.
There are already that many insurances.
What difference would another insurance against loss of job make?
Act?…Robertson has been pushing this for ages and I doubt it is Act in his ear
It is akin to a mechanic buying mechanical breakdown insurance….possibly the the biggest rort there ever was.
Another sop to the finance industry to help prop up the credit bubble.
edit
I have been with AA – auto insurance – for years and have happily paid up for the use of reliable services when there is a breakdown, whether it is my silly fault or whatever. Some years I have none and I keep paying because it is not too dear, and I get pleasant helpful reliable service if and when in need. People with insurance from the private sector, don't always get a fair deal like I do with the AA which is dedicated to vehicle help.
If we had unemployment insurance from the government, and not a PPP either, then we could achieve the same satisfactory outcome. Other assistance would be available, but insurance holders wouldn't have to go down on their knees to the Department of Miserable Gits to be able to carry on their lives.
Im not comparing it to road side assist…im comparing it to mechanical insurance as per link.
https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/mechanical-breakdown-insurance
The unemployment insurance that is being examined is modelled on ACC but with a time limitation ….it is estimated to cost up to 5 billion p.a. for 6 months cover ….a 2 tier welfare system ….and the way ACC has been operated in recent times is no recommendation and I'd suggest the courts are over extended already without adding yet more potential disputes. The Gov have the ability when needed to extend support as and when needed as has been amply demonstrated with covid without burdening society with an additional slush fund to the benefit of the financial markets and over exposed banks.
I agree Greywarshark, there are too many ready to decry any moves to improve things.
Motives are attached to the moves, sometimes on the flimsiest of reasons and mostly negative. Past experience has shaken our belief in the intent of policies.
This Government is looking at the state of things that undermine wellbeing of people and the moves to have a period of insurance for loss of income, like the protection of the first fifty thousand in the bank, help ordinary people to have time to reorganise and to protect their hard earned small asset base while sorting their future.
There will always be welfare in NZ, how it is provided and the strings attached are the important issues. Those worried about failures of some models should present those ideas to working groups.
Personally, I have been surprised how negative some posters are. For them, no change is good enough great enough left enough or just enough.
The Government represents all of us as well as they can, often in a period of constant threats.
My biggest sorrow is the failure to improve things more for those with permanent or worsening disabilities. Far more needs to be done in that space imo.
Id be very interested to know what possible justification any Labour supporter can offer for an additional unemployment insurance scheme over and above a universal welfare benefit?
It seems to me that Patricia and Pat are both right.
Patricia with a long explanation of what might have to be done to achieve anything, pragmatic. And Pat with a terse query as to why this would be necessary when we have the systems in place already, rational.
Unfortunately it seems to Patricia and me that rational no longer has an assured place in NZ, and so pragmatic is the way of necessity. Grasping the nettle may be required.
The first I read of this story turned out to be incorrect information that suggested a terrorist bomb scare forcing the sudden diversion of a RyanAir flight resulting in the terrorist being detained, when it fact it was someone who spoke out against the current leadership of Belarius and the bomb scare was a ploy to get the passenger jet to land in Minsk – quite different. Here is the scoop from Glen Grenwald.
https://greenwald.substack.com/p/as-anger-toward-belarus-mounts-recall
Yes that was a puzzling one KSaysHi and required that every word be read and checked twice to assess what actually happened and the apparent cause.
No bath tub accidents?
https://twitter.com/TadeuszGiczan/status/1396875958234320898
I recall the 1945 UK election, I must have been all of eight years old. Us kids had a song which went as follows.
Vote vote for Aneurin Bevan.
Hang old Churchill from the tree.
Aneurin is the one who will give us all the fun
You can chuck old Churchill in the sea.
[please stick to the e-mail address that has been approved previously, thanks]
[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.]
Mod note for you.
I saw the heading in a travel advertisement – Experience Australia Like Never Before! And I wondered if they were offering tours to see the rellies and conditions in Manus Island? Now that would be very different.
Bravo Phil Goff!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-council-approves-10-year-budget-with-big-increases-in-rates-and-water-bills/RJZHO7FWCT3CS3TS3CPRFK6BTQ/
Chris Lynch is one of several right wing broadcast personalities having trouble with their identity and reach lately.
Looks like he's joining the recent exodus of outdated, disenfranchised, white, conservative shock jocks, Leighton Smith, Mike Hoskings, Sean Plunkett, John Banks, Larry Williams, Paul Henry, etc, etc.
There's always podcasts. May the door hit their collective arses on the way out.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/125237545/talkback-host-chris-lynch-and-newstalk-zb-parting-ways-over-contract-stoush
Agree. You say that so preciselyand effectively M-bird.