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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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 ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many 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. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
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. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
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. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
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 ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
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 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
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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
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.