YouGov polling methods has been heavily criticised in the UK and I am frankly surprised that Stuff are using them. They were probably the cheapest option.
YouGov used the same sort of methodology described in the Stuff piece back in 2017 in the UK and they got final result completely wrong.
Apart from all the usual hazards of online polling, the biggest problem with their polling is the guesswork behind their weighting of online samples to give the final result. For example, in the UK in 2017 they heavily discounted the results from anyone young because they were thought unlikely to vote, whilst assuming anyone over 60 will almost always vote.
Phone polls use the same weighting methods, for the voting group, age, income, ethnicity etc
the 2017 UK polling assumptions affected all the surveys, and what readers who make up their minds early might not realise is a chunk of voters make up their minds on the day or just before. Who can survey that?
NZ is lucky in that MMP directly takes a voting % into seats. Polling for FPP electorates is inherently difficult.
Allegations the Chinese Government attempted to recruit a car salesman, "Nick" Zhao to run as a Liberal Party candidate have come to light. Mr Zhao allegedly told ASIO about the deal, and was found dead in a hotel room earlier this year.
“Using an Australian citizen and basically run them as an agent of foreign influence in our democratic system. So this is really significant and Australians should be very, very concerned about this.” Mr Hastie has called for a full investigation into Mr Zhao’s death.
“Everyone should be concerned about the way that Nick Zhao died and I think we need a full investigation where we turn over every stone,” he said. “We explore every nook and cranny, we cast as much light into the shadows and make sure that we have a full comprehensive understanding of how he died and why he died.”
Last night/this morning, our local hospital is full. Nowhere for patients to go to from ED.
Senior nurses are talking about experiencing PTSD.. The 'safe' places these people use (running, excercising, debrief at home) are starting to fail…
To go to your place of work, with a feeling of dread. To be often in crisis mode, barely coping with too large a work load. Not good for the patients and families
Then hear the latest approach from management, knowing it will not make a difference, as the last few changes made no difference.
An immediate difference is to implement a nurse/patient ratio, 1/4 in ED.
Of course it is the same old, same old. A lack of priority from those who hold the purse strings.
PTSD is a very real consequence of Ryall/Colemans slash n burn along with underfunding against rising population and demanding DHB's still balance budgets.
Most flogged and leased back to do that which we all know just kicks it down the road, a national party speciality.
Edit
I have done a bit of ferreting in the background to health spending and it is interesting so I have put a number of links and part of some reporting to give a taste of what the problems are. It is NZ Government charges on DHBs that bother me. It might have changed recently but they have to make a return on their land use I think. Supposed to make them more efficient.
This is from a letter to Health Minister David Clark drawing his attention to the 'capital charge' DHBs must pay to the government. I think is an egregious and swingeing impost on DHBs under the business model accounting system, which has probably been set by Treasury but needs to be struck off.
Canterbury researcher Dr Michael Gousmett has long expressed concern at the capital charge – what he describes as "a tax" on their "taxpayer-funded net assets" – which the country's district health boards (DHBs) pay to the Government, and the impact this charge has on DHBs' ability to deliver core services. He outlines these concerns in an open letter to Health Minister David Clark.
More on the 'capital charge' from a report by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists who understand the problems and are well versed in the economics of health in NZ.
(While all this discussion goes on, the hospital services remain in virtual limbo and people must wait for reasonable health provision. People I know who have worked in hospitals tell me about the number and duration of meetings from which very little outcomes arise.)
This on the health funding provision for medical services, staff and doctors from Coleman's 2017 Budget. Has funding increased to a reasonable level since then, both on a population basis, but also special provision, taking account of large areas requiring access by sparse populations as in Southland?
May 2017 – The health sector needs an additional $1.1 billion in this week's Budget to maintain services, according to the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) and the senior doctors' union…
The CTU calculated the Government had not adequately funded DHBs since 2009-2010. Increased costs created a shortfall of $1.8m in health spending.
Research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal in March by Canterbury Charity Hospital founder Dr Phil Bagshaw showed at least 25 percent of adults could not get the basic health care they need. About nine percent have an unmet need for hospital care. ..
Underfunding affected nurses, New Zealand Nurses Organisation chief executive Memo Musa said.
"Our members have told us underfunding is now affecting patient safety, access to care, triggering care-rationing, health-worker burn out and straining the infrastructure."
Dr Coleman said in a statement: "This is traditional pre-budget positioning by CTU and other unions. People should wait until the Budget on Thursday."
.
Then there are the profitable business interests nosing around which have infiltrated some NZ DHBs to the extent that their CEOs have set up their own private business to provide needs of the hospital under their management . This was a shameful grab and double-dipping from people trying to have their cake and eat it too; and succeeding in the confused and corrupt public management set-up neolib economics has dumped on us. (I can’t remember off-hand which hospital CEO that did this – but the news stayed in my memory.)
If less money was spent on preparing reports on theories of how much money could be withheld and spent somewhere else, and money made available on simple straightforward service basis, we could probably see an immediate benefit to conditions.
Then looking at allocation of funding being supplied on an age basis, with the priorities on helping people get back to work, or giving children the services to ensure their proper growth and healthy development, that would be a good start. Then pay attention to what the older people needed and this would reverse the present situation. First the young, and helping those in pain, but not bypassing age but not giving priority to those nearing death which forms a large part of hospital spending.
An economist's report on health spending gives this little gem, an indication of how cold mathematical analysis squeezes humans into little measurable units and probably explains why there is so much pain in the health sector felt by providers as well as patients.
https://www2.deloitte.com/nz/en/pages/2018-government-budget/articles/health-2018-new-zealand-budget.html Again, we hope this money will be spent differently from how it’s been spent in the past. The government wants to lift New Zealand’s productivity, and it is about time we did so in healthcare. Sadly, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) estimates that our workforce of around 210,000 health and social workers is less productive than the national average across all industries, generating only $39 GDP per hour worked (compared to a national average of $48). Even worse, MBIE figures show a steadily declining average in health sector productivity over a number of years.
Glad you approve gsays. It took a while but when put together it shows there is a mounting pile of problems. You hear stuff but singly, and don't realise how bad the whole situation is.
Here is the latest item of stretched and stressed workers When are we going to pop? Or is the sneaky government running down the public hospital system so they can say 'Oh we can't manage', throw their hands in the air, and contract with Serco or such!
Just a thought SPC. I would like a reasonably factual figure of how much would be saved by stopping superannuation (old age pension) for the still working after age 65. Do you have a figure to hand or can give a link where it can be found within say one minute? This is something that we should be thinking about.
Anyway a cool look at the money we have in the economy, and the money we are borrowing every day to keep the present steady state we have, would possibly show that we actually can afford super with a few tweaks.
One thing that could be done is that anyone who receives super goes on a volunteer register and chooses something the government would like done and puts in two to three hours a week minimum on their choice. Showing their enthusiasm for their country in a balanced caring relationship!
The current cost is $15B a year – an increase of $1B in the past year – 1953-54 baby boomers. It will be $23B c 2023 (741,300 last year to over 872,900 by then).
A lot of these new retirees will still be working.
Forty-four per cent of people aged 65 to 69 are still working and that is expected to increase in future.
The number working is greater than could reasonably be excluded (it would have to be more than a MW income and losing super not involve hardship – because of say rent or unpaid mortgage etc).
There are two figures those working now and receiving super (44% of those 65-69). Current cost (some of these will retire during the next 5 years).
The increasing numbers of those reaching age 65 while still working in the next 5 years (rising to over a million by c2030/$20B).
As to how many New Zealanders work full-time while receiving NZ Super and thus calculating the amount that would be saved by not paying them NZ Super until they retired – I have never seen the figure reported anywhere. Short answer billions each year and its rising every year.
The current cost is $15B a year – an increase of $1B in the past year – 1953-54 baby boomers. It will be $20B c 2023 (741,300 last year to over 872,900 by 2023). A lot of these new retirees will still be working.
Forty-four per cent of people aged 65 to 69 are still working and that is expected to increase in future.
The number working is greater than could reasonably be excluded (it would have to be more than a MW income and losing super not involve hardship – because of say rent or unpaid mortgage etc).
There are two figures
1. current cost – those working now and receiving super (44% of those 65-69). (some of these will retire during the next 5 years).
2. future cost – the increasing numbers of those reaching age 65 while still working in the next 5 years (rising to over a million by c2030).
As to how many New Zealanders work full-time while receiving NZ Super and thus calculating the amount that would be saved by not paying them NZ Super until they retired – I have never seen the figure reported anywhere.
Short answer billions each year and its rising every year.
Thanks SPC. Just thinking while it might be good for mental health to keep on working after 65 and it may indicate a pride in not being past 'it', it may be taking a job that pays well along with seniority perhaps, and jobs are in short supply for older people still under retirement age.
FFS: remember that super is taxed. Presumably one income or the other will be at secondary rates if we still have them or would probably push tax brackets otherwise.
So when you calculate it, approximate the clawback into your estimates.
Well given a reasonable rule of thumb would be that a sufficient to not need super income would be the living wage level (full-time) c$45,000 or above – with $20,000 single or $15,000 couple rate.
Tax rules applying
between $48,001 and $70,000 secondary tax code is SH and NZ Super taxed at 30%
more than $70,000 your secondary tax code is ST and your NZ Super will be taxed at 33%.
So deducting 30 cents off est $2Bpa gross cost leaves around $1.4Bpa net cost rising further each year to 2030.
The census of 2013 puts the number of people aged 60-64 as 230,000. Say 210,000 are still alive.
Apparently about 44% of them work aged 65-69. Say 1/4 work only work part-time. So if 1/3rd did not get Super, then that would be around 10% of the total on Super (over 700,000).
The current cost is $15Bpa – so $1.5B plus those over 70 still working more around $2B pa at the moment. It would rise to around $3Bpa by 2030 in todays dollars.
MSD (and certainly not benefit fact sheets) do not say how many of those of those on Super are aged 65-69.
But the census of 2013 shows 230,000 aged 60-64 then – if alive they would be 65-69 today. Sort of important when the only figure out there is 44% of those aged 65-69 are working (and we do not know how many are full-time or part-time).
There is a slightly more complete set of numbers from the 2013 Census that breaks the total down by age (in 10 year chunks), sex and whether they are full time or part time. This shows
"Across the three broad age groups within the 65s and over, there is a noticeable decline in the percentage employed as the groups get older. However, there are still people employed in all three of these broad age groups:
33.3 percent of people aged 65–74 years were employed
8.7 percent of people aged 75–84 years were employed
3.9 percent of people aged 85 years and over were employed.
We also see differences across the three 65+ age groups between people working full-time (30 hours or more per week) and part-time (less than 30 hours per week) in the week before the 2013 Census.
Of those aged 65–74 years:
19.1 percent worked full-time – the highest percentage of full-time workers in the 65+ age group
a significantly higher proportion of men (27.1 percent) than women (11.6 percent) worked full-time
14.3 percent worked part-time
a slightly higher proportion of women (14.9 percent) than men (13.5 percent) worked part-time.
In the next age group, 75–84 years, 2.6 percent worked full-time and 6.2 percent worked part-time. As with the 65–74 age group, a higher proportion of men worked full-time (4.5 percent) than women (1.0 percent).
Almost all people in the oldest age group (85+) were not in the labour force (96.1 percent). However, a small proportion were employed, with 3.2 percent working part-time and 0.7 percent full-time."
OK I found a data table at the bottom of the page – shows 237,000 aged 65-69. A small increase on the number in the age group 2013. Deaths fewer than those … returning here to retire.
This is almost certainly the wrong way to think of it. The NZ govt at all times has the capacity to buy everything for sale in NZ dollers. Paying /not paying pensions does not change that at all. The constraint the govt does have to deal with is on the real side of the economy, e.g are there sufficient medical professionals to carry out the work and maybe is there extra burden being put by the private sectors ability to buy up those resources.
By cutting pensions to those working you will most likely just leave a hole in aggregate demand and be responsible for a whole raft of inequity. I also suspect that its vaguely illegal as the pension payments were effectively earned at the time they were taxed by the wage earner.
1. The problem is limited government funding to HB who can thus can only afford so many staff. Then there are wages unattractive compared to those in Oz. Even if all positions were staffed the working conditions would be worse than in Oz, and because of this and lower pay, they find it hard to fill all the positions. Making things worse for those still employed.
The problem is the limited funding of the DHBs. The govt can choose to increase that without facing any financial constraint on so doing.
Payments to pensioners occur when the govt credits pensioners bank accounts. The payments the govt makes to the pensioners banks occur inside the reserve bank settlement system (the bank then goes on to credit the pensioners account). Only the reserve bank can create these interbank settlement account balances and entries. Making such payments (in a similar way to making payments to DHBs or their employees) is not therefore constrained by tax collection.
The main constraint here is a voluntary preference of the government.
If the government increases funding to HB. How do they respond? The HB cannot fill all places it has funds for now because they cannot attract staff at their pay rates.
Does the HB increase pay to fill all existing staffing positions or declare more vacancies when they are struggling to fill vacancies now
You know what a 30% GDP spending cap is right? Yeah I know its a voluntary 2017-2020 Labour-Green commitment to demonstrate their neo-liberal credentials to centre New Zealand, but that – and things like budget deficit or surplus and debt to GDP still determine the parameters for party policy formation and political debate.
So your suggesting taking away pensions in order to maintain that Labour party voluntary policy then? You realise at least some of the part time workers are relying on that pension payment for a reasonable income. Time, i think, to address the actual problem rather than contorting the govt policy to try to accomodate a harmful fiscal strategy.
I am saying there is a more just allocation of revenues/spending than paying super to those working (and I am referring to those working full-time or earning more than a 40 hour MW/living wage if part-time).
I'm pretty sure we already established in the discussion that this neo-liberal constraint framing is a fiction. It happens to obfuscate from the present and previous govts choices to underfund the DHBs and ultimately put many health care workers under various stresses. Its also their narrative choice to have DHBs report deficits rather than funding them with sufficient operational expenditure.
Make sure to read Bill Mitchells blog as the interviews he often addresses framing (and the interviewer questions) rather than explaining the economics directly. His writing is accessible however.
The pension payments are taken out of current earnings. When super was set up there was higher inflation and that could mean that savings value could be eroded whether private or government. Also there is the possibility of fraud, and for security in old age the pension (super) was set up to be universal and current. The Kiwisaver was a prudent and carefully managed fund added, that would take the shock to the system when all the products of a particularly fruitful time came of (older) age.
The better working conditions – better staffing levels, are reason enough to go. Of course the better pay means the student debt can be paid back more easily.
Well Key did want to set up a low wage system in New Zealand. And the Gnats wanted us to work harder and not get so above ourselves in our pay demands. The Gnats succeeded – or did they?
Did the National Party and their sycophants find the truth of that cautionary saying 'Be careful what you wish for', (or when you get it you might find it's a poisoned chalice)? No, the National Party find it suits them to go on poisoning us, our society, our living conditions, our water, our environment, our hopes and dreams. I am sick of materialistic sycophants.
"No, the National Party find it suits them to go on poisoning us, our society, our living conditions, our water, our environment, our hopes and dreams. I am sick of materialistic sycophants".
Stuff has published fake news from Jonathan Young of National – where he claims that ending new exploration licences is the reason why we burnt more coal for power generation last year.
What has become clear is there has been no net environmental gain as we're currently using less gas for electricity generation and burning 115 per cent more coal than a year ago.
'The company had struggled to meet its financial commitments since a $300 million well-drilling programme in the offshore Tui field was suspended in September [2019] after the first well proved dry."
Unpaid bills will affect local community hard…who knew there was a downside to drilling for oil
Interesting in view of OMV's announcement last week that they have reached agreement with Jadestone Energy to take OMV's 69% share in the Maari oil field off Taranaki subject to NZ government approvals etc.
OMV's intentions are supposedly to concentrate on their natural gas operations in NZ and not oil.
Curious . The people who stole the documents , then put them in a dumpster and call a journalist ? Who hasnt done that . Why didnt Nixons 'plumbers' think of that
Forgetting the rigmarole of finally getting hard proof, the information should be publicly available. It is beyond a lack of transparency. I feel it is a lack of basic honesty.
For Peters the documents potentially betray his voters, the donors who back the party, his candidates, his MPs and democracy.
There are so many people left bloodied on the path behind him that a resistance started to form and say enough is enough.
The problem is this sort of dump is that it is designed to replay 2005 and undermine NZF's re-election. It's manipulative dirty politics.
It's all very well for the media to run with it, but it's selective coverage advantaging another party/other parties.
Holding a blow torch to the practices of other parties in this area, with an overview of clearer and cleaner rules for all, is the way the media can best serve the public.
hes the only political leader whos been there for 25 years.
I see people talk about something about the Cook St ferries and Peters as though it was yesterday, the same era scandal involved Jenny Shipley and Tourism ministry – who remembers that. One of TS contributors had a list of Keys lies, twisted facts and half truths that could fill a booklet- who remembers that.
What you dont seem to get is the 2017 election result of Labour and Greens is less seats than National- remember that
Its just a game of fantasy football that Peters can be discarded
Yeah, let’s have another long drawn-out tortuous trial-by-media inflicting maximal harm to NZF, the Coalition-Government, and NZ politics in general. MSM would love nothing more than that.
The Herald has editoralised that Trump should face the voters, rather than be subject to an impeachment process (which just has Trump's own party Senators determine judgement).
Presumably they take the same stand on NZ First's fundraising practices and or the PM of Israel facing criminal charges while in office, or those politicians facing charges of corruption (or disqualified from standing for elections, as per Brazil).
The BBC just changed things to the way it should have been – so the audience applauded Johnson's answer on trust rather than laughed and so (a year earlier in fact) Johnson lay the wreath down the right way up (he had done so in the past after all).
It just goes to show how many Etonians rise to the top in all spheres of UK society …
I'm just reading CP Snow's 1964 Corridors of Power. He describes one family mixing in high circles in London; that they had never studied politics, but in their sphere had been immersed in it since childhood, understood all the maneouvres and levels of importance and thought it their right as members of high society to receive political positions if they were so inclined.
He wrote incisively in his 1959 book 'The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution':
There is, of course, no complete solution. […] But we can do something. The chief means open to us is education […] There is no excuse for letting another generation be as vastly ignorant, or as devoid of understanding and sympathy, as we are ourselves.
(This is a wikiquote and seems relevant to my point, though shortened.)
When Winston Peters announced the New Zealand First decision to enter into a Coalition agreement with the Labour Party, he observed it was ‘now or never for serious change in this country’s social and economic direction’. Equally, Jacinda Ardern signaled that she sought a change to capitalism and the way the economy is run. There appeared agreement that the neo-liberal experiment had failed New Zealanders, and the views of many, of “capitalism as foe”, “was not all wrong”. Winston said “capitalism must regain its responsible, human face” and that this view deeply influenced his party’s negotiations. He said he was confronted with the choice between a “modified status quo, or change’,
Key likes the idea of the Northern Port – thinks it makes sense. Then the extra cherry for the tuck operators, a four lane highway right to Whangarei. He has retired from his PM job and become a lobbyist for the powerful trying to drive the country forward by twisting our tails. Look out Key for we poor cows and our ultimate retaliation, we might poo on your hand.
Johnny Key is a turncoat as when he was in Wairoa/Gisborne in 2012 after his government had stolen the rail track maintenance funding for Auckland rail and caused the washout of a one km rail to close the rail service,
John key was reported in the Wairoa Star saying; quote;"I don't want road to be the only choice for moving freight "
But shortly after this, his henchmen Steven Joyce/Gerry Brownlee turned their backs on fixing the rail, and spent the rail reserve fund of four million dollars on two small passing lanes on the road to benefit trucks instead of fixing the rail line.
I haven't kept up with the Millane case. Could someone please tell me why the suppression of name of the accused is in place still? And put this use of it in context with what we expect with open justice in NZ. (And I would really like to hear from someone else apart from DoU.)
Suppression orders often also suppress the reasons for suppression. there is no "why". They just are. Until they are lifted (I would expect the order to be lifted at sentencing, though).
As others are speculating, there can be a number of reasons –
appeal related
whether further charges are being looked into
whether there are wider Police investigations taking place
the wishes of the victim's family and whether or not the prosecution considers the case closed or not
or something else – maybe even while the judge considers where and wha bestt to do with him so that rough justice is less of a prospect
I'm not quite sure how my knowing the name of this 26 now 27 year old fucked unit is going to benefit me or the general public – knowing that he's in custody, and is likely to be for quite some time.
Open justice takes time. It's taken a year so far. If suppression orders were to be made permanent, then I might have a different opinion.
There's already been enough speculation over this case during the past year (including a bit of victim blaming – such as my blokey neighbours when sinking piss bleating out that "she must be a bit of a dirty girl eh!)
I haven't seen a reason given, but most likely it means something else is pending – an appeal against conviction maybe, or further charges. Must say it's hard to picture an appeal against conviction being the reason…
I cannot see why the name suppression is still in place either. I don't believe he is a famous person or anything and the UK papers have named him apparently. I can only imagine the name suppression stays if there is going to be an appeal? Or if the Millane family (victim) have requested the name suppression stays although I can't imagine why they would.
Don’t forget that the Crown were able to produce photos from his phone. If they found other photos or messages on that phone that would have a bearing on this or any subsequent trial then it makes sense to continue name suppression.
[please don’t speculate details about Grace Millane’s killer. We don’t know the details of the suppression order, so better to err on the side of caution. Posting comment that creates legal risks for the site risks a ban – weka]
If my great aunt said he's transgender and I was sufficiently interested in that, I would post it on my own website rather than where someone else might get prosecuted for it. Be a sport.
You're welcome to link to information in the mainstream media. In the meantime please don't post speculation about details of the killer. As a mod I haven't seen the details of the suppression order, so am erring on the side of caution.
[deleted]
Stricter controls this time out so unable to confirm or deny.
As for breaching the order with my answer, and putting the site in jeopardy, I’ve narrowed it down to 1 in 5 million or 1 in 7.5 billion. Pretty safe odds.
[good for you. I on the other hand am aware that it’s the Trust that carries the legal risk not me, and that speculation leads to other people speculating who don’t know where the boundaries are. This increases the work for mods, which tends to piss us off – weka]
next time I'll just trash the top comment, which takes out the replies as well. Please don't take this as encouragement to speculate as I'm good with handing out bans too.
I'm sure you are, and well done for earning that privilige.
I did just read how in the UK in the last year there were 59 cases of men using rough sex as an excuse for murder. In the same time frame there were zero cases of women claiming that defence.
there's been a bit of discussion in OM and DR in the past week. I don't remember the details but there's something specific about the UK legislation that allows this to be more common (and the bigger population).
The question I ambiguously answered was about [deleted], and as shown in what's left of my reply all I've done is narrowed it down to 1 in 5 million or 1 in 7.5 billion. and that in no way goes anywhere near identifying the individual whose identity is suppressed.
But sure thing, big boy, you gotta roll how you gotta roll 🙄
“the man has also been named on social media accounts leaving the police to issue a warning not to state his identity on any posts.
He cannot yet be named for legal reasons, which have been strictly adhered to by New Zealand media, who can be prosecuted if they don’t comply with the court’s order.”
[2 week ban for wasting my time and ignoring moderation. See my comment below. – weka]
You still don't get it. YOU don't get to decide where the boundary is (nor any other commenter). Ultimately it's for Lynn and Mike to decide. In the meantime this mod is erring on the side of caution for reasons I have already explained and which you seem to be ignoring.
1. we don't know the details of the suppression order. I've seen one journalist say it covers the name and identifying details.
2. if your comment is ok legally (I have no way of knowing), it still leaves the problem of speculation encouraging other people to speculate who have different ideas or no clue about where the boundary is, and each time that happens one of the mods has to read the comments and think about the issues and moderate (which can take varying degrees of time). I'm sick of having to spend time on this.
That's how Granny Herald rolls now. All the toxic partisan crap is free, and you have to pay for anything interesting or relevant. Like crossword puzzles. Or actual news. I've found my life has improved immeasurably ever since I decided to stop reading the Herald completely. I don't understand subscribers. It's like paying someone to punch you in the face.
Congratulations to the people of Hong Kong, who have stood up for democracy against dictatorship. A stunning election result.
It is sad that so many of our politicians, in the relative comfort and safety of NZ, cannot stand up alongside them – for no reason except Beijing $$$.
“Oh, my goodness, it was stunning, the level of buzzing,” Guthrie said. “That moment was sort of an awakening for me.” The presence of so many bees and other insects was an indicator, to Guthrie, of the health of the land."
Good to hear. The bees are the most important link in the food chain and lots of other things to.
Lovely story last night on one of the smaller channels on huge diversity of bees- theres one that sometimes sleeps in the flower its pollinating overnight !
Horrible. Yet Todd Muller on Radionz decrying our hard and unreasonable townies are on 'farmers'. It is time for the umbrella to be removed from the body of all-farmers and let the dirty ones stand in the rain and get shamed and cleansed. Why should the ones that try to do well be besmirched with blame. If they moan about it, they need to recognise that they need to show up the others, twist their arms up their back, until they change their ways.
Farm animals are suffering in muddy, confined spaces, with many people ignoring the problem and officials unsure of what to do about it, a hard- hitting report has found.
Farm groups says pictures showing cows in mud have been taken out of context. Photo: Fish & Game New Zealand
The comments came in a report by a special taskforce on winter grazing.
Foreign farmers from Europe say, who come here and follow their usual ways at home need to be pulled up sharply. In Europe M.bovis is present and I think vaccinated against, but we were free of it. Similar with foot and mouth, I think they vaccinated against it over there.
Todd Muller National's agriculture spokesperson realises that there is a lot of ignorance around but he thinks it is townies who need to learn about the wondrous ways of the farming lobby. We townies are very credulous Todd, if you can show us that you are all behind environmental change we will be all on your side hand in hand.
His comments come in response to a question in a Level 3 English paper that asked students to "discuss the way the writer explores ongoing change" in a New Zealand Geographic article.The text quoted a survey showing two-thirds of respondents blamed farmers for deteriorating water quality.
Yes, electric vehicles really are better than fossil fuel burners
Hans-Werner Sinn’s opinion piece on whether electric cars are as climate friendly as they seem generated a good deal of controversy. William Todts, executive director of Transport & Environment, gives his response
But this isn’t about Sinn. In fact, whenever you read a newspaper article claiming EVs are worse than diesel or petrol cars, that article will be based on a report that deliberately makes EVs look worse than they are.
Usually the plot is as follows: a smaller petrol or diesel car is compared with a bigger, more powerful electric car; then the fossil fuel car is assumed to be as efficient as the EU’s official tests portray (in reality its fuel economy is always a lot worse); and finally the electric car is driving in a region with a very dirty electricity mix. Then you assume very high emissions for battery production based on outdated studies and finally you pretend electric cars don’t last very long and that its batteries aren’t reused or recycled.
There will always be a new study with some flawed assumptions to keep us all busy and we could rebut these until we all drop. The advantage for the oil and diesel industry is that articles and reports, however poor, keep the controversy alive. Discrediting or distorting science is a political strategy, as Naomi Oreskes chronicles so well in Merchants of Doubt
The rise of electric cars and green power are some of the biggest climate success stories of the past few years. It is the result of regulators in Europe, California and China doing their job and industry rising to the occasion. It shows what we can achieve if we set industry ambitious goals to clean up its act.
That might not please some but it is fair, effective and, for the climate, unequivocally a good thing. As the Nobel prize committee eloquently put it: “Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionised our lives since they first entered the market in 1991. They have laid the foundation of a wireless, fossil fuel-free society, and are of the greatest benefit to humankind.”
• William Todts is executive director of Transport & Environment, a European research and campaign group
This is awesome building Wind Turbine Towers out of Wood another good fact to plant billions of Trees.
Swedish company is building wind turbine towers out of timber
It seems that you can build just about anything out of wood.
While researching the carbon footprint of steel production for a lecture recently, I came across the line "it takes 200 tons of steel to make a wind turbine" – a justification for steel being green.
The wooden towers also offer additional environmental benefits compared with steel towers thanks to the lower-carbon manufacturing process. Lundman estimates a saving of 2,000-tonnes of CO2-emission per tower up until deployment. Plus, carbon sequestration in the wood offers the potential to make a wind-power plant carbon neutral.
The increases in waste dumpling fees is needed Ka pai that construction waste charges will go up to I think a lot of construction waste could be recycled.
YEA people should be aware of whats going down in Aotearoa.
That's awesome that the Wahine scientists has found new backing to go and study Ora in the Ross Sea.
Shows how strong the weather is getting worse because of global warming.
Discrimination is sad it good that the 3 Africa Americans finally got some justice I hope they get compensation for the 30 od years of wasted time in jail.
I think Tikanga Maori is the best way to get Maori and Pacific people into Whare. A big whare with the grandparents looking after the Mokopuna while the parents mahi is a great model.
Tangata get Solar Power if you build it yourself it's only 8 k no more power cuts you will have to minimise your usage though.
Tangata Whenua O Aotearoa Sports Stars awards there are heaps to choose from kia kaha.
Cool having life jacket hubs to keep the people safe on the Moana.
That's correct Hone chemicals are still being used that harm Bees but not only Bees these chemicals are bad for every living thing. The reason that we are still using the poisoning chemicals is the multi nation company use all the dirtiest tricks in the book to suppress the factual data on the crap $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
I read that story on the Japanese lakes problems with spraying chemicals on their rice paddies. That's the power these companies have no monitoring of poisonous chemicals concentrations in Aotearoa WTF.
I have seen perfect stuff that will be another person taonga being dumped???????.
That's great the Gender pay gaps closing in Aotearoa.
Mitchell you know exactly what's going down you we a cop????????????????.
Be good Whanau the you NO my view on the system.
Exactly its dog while politics but they are playing a flute to.
We must do everything we can can to minimise our Carbon footprint or we will stuff up our Mokopuna futures.
Climate emergency: world 'may have crossed tipping points’
Warning of ‘existential threat to civilisation’ as impacts lead to cascade of unstoppable events
The world may already have crossed a series of climate tipping points, according to a stark warning from scientists. This risk is “an existential threat to civilisation”, they say, meaning “we are in a state of planetary emergency”.
Tipping points are reached when particular impacts of global heating become unstoppable, such as the runaway loss of ice sheets or forests. In the past, extreme heating of 5C was thought necessary to pass tipping points, but the latest evidence suggests this could happen between 1C and 2C.
Prof Tim Lenton at the University of Exeter, the lead author of the article, said: “We might already have crossed the threshold for a cascade of interrelated tipping points. The simple version is the schoolkids [striking for climate action] are right: we are seeing potentially irreversible changes in the climate system under way, or very close.
Here's another story about positive impact tree have on the Earth.
Trees in the Amazon are the world's sweat glands – and 10 other essential climate facts
You will not be surprised to learn that the climate crisis is a big and complicated problem. But when I started Not Cool, a Climate Podcast, I honestly hoped that if I could just talk with a few climate experts, we could clarify the facts and outline straightforward solutions. Thirty-one experts and 26 interviews later, I realize how mistaken I was, with more questions now than when I started. But I’ve also learned some amazing facts about how nature works, how humans work, and how to start addressing this crisis
We need more mangroves
Fortunately, nature provides incredible tools for addressing and adapting to climate change. Mangroves – essentially forests that grow along coastlines – are near magical solutions that came up in multiple interviews. They help prevent erosion and protect coastal regions from waves and rising sea levels. The trees are a haven for biodiversity, which could be partly why coral reefs seem to thrive in their presence. And mangroves also sequester a lot of carbon, which can help address both global heating and ocean acidification – an effect of the increased carbon in the oceans
Forget geoengineering – we have forests
There are two types of geoengineering, more accurately known as climate engineering. One highly contentious method involves injecting particulates, such as sulfur aerosols, into the sky to minimize solar radiation and decrease temperatures. The problem with this approach is that if countries disagree about optimal global temperatures, we can’t just suddenly stop the geoengineering systems, as this would cause global temperatures to rise quickly and dramatically. But if left unaddressed, serious international disagreement could lead to war. The other – far less contentious – geoengineering option involves pulling carbon out of the atmosphere. Though technologies for this exist, they’re not yet affordable or scaleable. But nature could again help here, as more forests could absorb more carbon, cooling the Earth.
forests are useful because they pull moisture from the soil and expel it through their leaves, cooling the Earth just as sweat cools our bodies. So not only are forests vitally important for reabsorbing the carbon we emit, they also decrease temperatures. Unfortunately, many forests – especially the Amazon – face deforestation. Some researchers fear that if even 25% to 30% of the Amazon rainforest is cut down, the loss of moisture could change its basic makeup, transforming it from a rainforest to a savanna. This threat remains speculative, but is it possible we’ve already passed other critical tipping points
Perhaps the most important thing to know about the climate crisis is that solutions exist. It is political will we lack. Many people worry about convincing climate deniers that climate breakdown is real, but deniers make up a very small percentage of the population. Our real focus should be on convincing those in power that the majority of us want to see strong political action. That happens when we talk to each other, when we talk to our representatives, and when we talk to our financial institutions. Individual climate action is critical, but this is ultimately a societal problem, and the solution must be societal as well
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I- Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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 Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Stuff has started another political poll with international agency YouGov – uses only online sampling rather than phones. As usual, we can only really judge trends over time so single poll results are not that meaningful in themselves. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/117662933/labour-ahead-while-national-dips-below-40-in-new-stuff-poll
Thats interesting .
They say it was conducted between 7-11 Nov but isnt publicised till 25th ?
2 week delay is really strange. Is there another poll coming this week , the traditional sort
Checking back I see Colmar Brunton did one around this time last year.
Its very bad journalism by Stuff to hang onto exclusive poll results for nearly 2 weeks.
"very bad journalism by Stuff.." Fearfacts/Granny/Mediawonks don't do journalism they do messaging on behalf of their owners.
Probably some extra quality checking for their first poll?
YouGov polling methods has been heavily criticised in the UK and I am frankly surprised that Stuff are using them. They were probably the cheapest option.
YouGov used the same sort of methodology described in the Stuff piece back in 2017 in the UK and they got final result completely wrong.
Apart from all the usual hazards of online polling, the biggest problem with their polling is the guesswork behind their weighting of online samples to give the final result. For example, in the UK in 2017 they heavily discounted the results from anyone young because they were thought unlikely to vote, whilst assuming anyone over 60 will almost always vote.
Stuff are in the market for clicks, not data.
Recruiting an online panel of the public to survey is used by the others too
Reid Research …Join our panel
Colmar Brunton too
Phone polls use the same weighting methods, for the voting group, age, income, ethnicity etc
the 2017 UK polling assumptions affected all the surveys, and what readers who make up their minds early might not realise is a chunk of voters make up their minds on the day or just before. Who can survey that?
NZ is lucky in that MMP directly takes a voting % into seats. Polling for FPP electorates is inherently difficult.
Sanctuary said; “They (You Gov) were probably the cheapest option”????
Cheap shot at your shock about the negative polling results???
Allegations the Chinese Government attempted to recruit a car salesman, "Nick" Zhao to run as a Liberal Party candidate have come to light. Mr Zhao allegedly told ASIO about the deal, and was found dead in a hotel room earlier this year.
Uber creepy.
https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/alleged-plot-to-infiltrate-australian-government/news-story/a3cdbfb2830273e340ee22f9c4bea6b6
Meanwhile, National are like… "All good. Nothing to see here. Move along."
Once again.. another warning, more from the front line.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/404007/report-critical-over-lack-of-action-on-dire-state-of-public-hospitals
Last night/this morning, our local hospital is full. Nowhere for patients to go to from ED.
Senior nurses are talking about experiencing PTSD.. The 'safe' places these people use (running, excercising, debrief at home) are starting to fail…
To go to your place of work, with a feeling of dread. To be often in crisis mode, barely coping with too large a work load. Not good for the patients and families
Then hear the latest approach from management, knowing it will not make a difference, as the last few changes made no difference.
An immediate difference is to implement a nurse/patient ratio, 1/4 in ED.
Of course it is the same old, same old. A lack of priority from those who hold the purse strings.
PTSD is a very real consequence of Ryall/Colemans slash n burn along with underfunding against rising population and demanding DHB's still balance budgets.
Most flogged and leased back to do that which we all know just kicks it down the road, a national party speciality.
PTSD was first mentioned this morning at home, post night shift debrief.
It was observed in a fellow senior colleague. Running is their escape/process time. They had an anxiety attack during the run.
Things are getting serious when the stress manifests in one's 'safe' place.
gsays
Yes you are so correct when you pointed it out that when our "safe place" becomes a stressful place.to live is a problem.
As more and more 'scammers' are knocking on our doors posing as someone else.
Edit
I have done a bit of ferreting in the background to health spending and it is interesting so I have put a number of links and part of some reporting to give a taste of what the problems are. It is NZ Government charges on DHBs that bother me. It might have changed recently but they have to make a return on their land use I think. Supposed to make them more efficient.
This is from a letter to Health Minister David Clark drawing his attention to the 'capital charge' DHBs must pay to the government. I think is an egregious and swingeing impost on DHBs under the business model accounting system, which has probably been set by Treasury but needs to be struck off.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/113984983/capital-charge-makes-it-hard-for-dhbs-to-do-their-job
Canterbury researcher Dr Michael Gousmett has long expressed concern at the capital charge – what he describes as "a tax" on their "taxpayer-funded net assets" – which the country's district health boards (DHBs) pay to the Government, and the impact this charge has on DHBs' ability to deliver core services. He outlines these concerns in an open letter to Health Minister David Clark.
More on the 'capital charge' from a report by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists who understand the problems and are well versed in the economics of health in NZ.
2018 https://www.asms.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Research-Brief-Capital-Charge_169877.2.pdf
And a different viewpoint: https://croakingcassandra.com/2019/03/11/in-defence-of-capital-charges-and-higher-public-sector-discount-rates/
(While all this discussion goes on, the hospital services remain in virtual limbo and people must wait for reasonable health provision. People I know who have worked in hospitals tell me about the number and duration of meetings from which very little outcomes arise.)
This on the health funding provision for medical services, staff and doctors from Coleman's 2017 Budget. Has funding increased to a reasonable level since then, both on a population basis, but also special provision, taking account of large areas requiring access by sparse populations as in Southland?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/404007/report-critical-over-lack-of-action-on-dire-state-of-public-hospitals
May 2017 – The health sector needs an additional $1.1 billion in this week's Budget to maintain services, according to the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) and the senior doctors' union…
The CTU calculated the Government had not adequately funded DHBs since 2009-2010. Increased costs created a shortfall of $1.8m in health spending.
Research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal in March by Canterbury Charity Hospital founder Dr Phil Bagshaw showed at least 25 percent of adults could not get the basic health care they need. About nine percent have an unmet need for hospital care. ..
Underfunding affected nurses, New Zealand Nurses Organisation chief executive Memo Musa said.
"Our members have told us underfunding is now affecting patient safety, access to care, triggering care-rationing, health-worker burn out and straining the infrastructure."
Dr Coleman said in a statement: "This is traditional pre-budget positioning by CTU and other unions. People should wait until the Budget on Thursday."
.
CTU economist Bill Rosenberg on health funding in 2019 budget.
https://www.union.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Did-the-Budget-provide-enough-for-Health-2019.pdf
Google lists a number of reports I counted six – on the economics of DHBs with this one I looked through that is a messy pdf showing graphs of units of health gained by some action compared to the opportunity cost of education spending. (Theoretical stuff for a computerised report which tops giving actual hands-on assistance at the coalface!)
https://www.productivity.govt.nz/assets/Documents/31af48f5ed/History-of-efficiency-measurement-by-the-health-sector-Knopf-v2.pdf
This from the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists 2014 https://www.asms.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Reality-Check-health-funding-paper-Final-21-August_162107.6.pdf
162107.6 Reality check:The myth of unsustainable health funding and what Treasury figures actually show
Then there are the profitable business interests nosing around which have infiltrated some NZ DHBs to the extent that their CEOs have set up their own private business to provide needs of the hospital under their management . This was a shameful grab and double-dipping from people trying to have their cake and eat it too; and succeeding in the confused and corrupt public management set-up neolib economics has dumped on us. (I can’t remember off-hand which hospital CEO that did this – but the news stayed in my memory.)
If less money was spent on preparing reports on theories of how much money could be withheld and spent somewhere else, and money made available on simple straightforward service basis, we could probably see an immediate benefit to conditions.
Then looking at allocation of funding being supplied on an age basis, with the priorities on helping people get back to work, or giving children the services to ensure their proper growth and healthy development, that would be a good start. Then pay attention to what the older people needed and this would reverse the present situation. First the young, and helping those in pain, but not bypassing age but not giving priority to those nearing death which forms a large part of hospital spending.
An economist's report on health spending gives this little gem, an indication of how cold mathematical analysis squeezes humans into little measurable units and probably explains why there is so much pain in the health sector felt by providers as well as patients.
https://www2.deloitte.com/nz/en/pages/2018-government-budget/articles/health-2018-new-zealand-budget.html
Again, we hope this money will be spent differently from how it’s been spent in the past. The government wants to lift New Zealand’s productivity, and it is about time we did so in healthcare. Sadly, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) estimates that our workforce of around 210,000 health and social workers is less productive than the national average across all industries, generating only $39 GDP per hour worked (compared to a national average of $48). Even worse, MBIE figures show a steadily declining average in health sector productivity over a number of years.
Cheers grey.
Glad you approve gsays. It took a while but when put together it shows there is a mounting pile of problems. You hear stuff but singly, and don't realise how bad the whole situation is.
Here is the latest item of stretched and stressed workers When are we going to pop? Or is the sneaky government running down the public hospital system so they can say 'Oh we can't manage', throw their hands in the air, and contract with Serco or such!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/404056/mounting-pressure-on-auckland-dhbs-to-meet-mri-targets-technician-says
An Auckland MRI technician says staff are running between patients as they try to get their work done and slash growing backlogs.
How can that be 'immediate' when there are already not enough nurses to go around? Which services would you remove them from to go to ED instead?
I know a few recent nursing graduates from NZ, all gone to work in Aussie (within months of graduation) for much better pay.
I welcome hearing how we can 'immediately' increase the pay of all nurses to keep them here.
I'd stop paying super to (most of) those still working. Frees up billions each year.
Then
Pay increases teachers and nurses
Better staffing levels schools and hospitals
Increase Pharmac funding
Pay those with disability the super payment rate and pay the dole to partners who cannot work (disability, or caring for others).
Pay super rates to those unemployed/sickness over age 60.
Increase state housing from 2000 to 3000 new builds a year and buy 2000 a year from existing housing to get the homeless out of motels.
End repayment of grants out of benefit income (wait till they find jobs first)
Allow beneficiaries to earn more money before abatement
Offer government (cheaper) debt refinance to families facing hardship because of debt.
Just a thought SPC. I would like a reasonably factual figure of how much would be saved by stopping superannuation (old age pension) for the still working after age 65. Do you have a figure to hand or can give a link where it can be found within say one minute? This is something that we should be thinking about.
I wouldn't waste any time on it as it is not going to happen any time soon. The backlash from boomers would sink any gummint that tried.
Anyway a cool look at the money we have in the economy, and the money we are borrowing every day to keep the present steady state we have, would possibly show that we actually can afford super with a few tweaks.
One thing that could be done is that anyone who receives super goes on a volunteer register and chooses something the government would like done and puts in two to three hours a week minimum on their choice. Showing their enthusiasm for their country in a balanced caring relationship!
The current cost is $15B a year – an increase of $1B in the past year – 1953-54 baby boomers. It will be $23B c 2023 (741,300 last year to over 872,900 by then).
A lot of these new retirees will still be working.
The number working is greater than could reasonably be excluded (it would have to be more than a MW income and losing super not involve hardship – because of say rent or unpaid mortgage etc).
There are two figures those working now and receiving super (44% of those 65-69). Current cost (some of these will retire during the next 5 years).
The increasing numbers of those reaching age 65 while still working in the next 5 years (rising to over a million by c2030/$20B).
As to how many New Zealanders work full-time while receiving NZ Super and thus calculating the amount that would be saved by not paying them NZ Super until they retired – I have never seen the figure reported anywhere. Short answer billions each year and its rising every year.
The current cost is $15B a year – an increase of $1B in the past year – 1953-54 baby boomers. It will be $20B c 2023 (741,300 last year to over 872,900 by 2023). A lot of these new retirees will still be working.
The number working is greater than could reasonably be excluded (it would have to be more than a MW income and losing super not involve hardship – because of say rent or unpaid mortgage etc).
There are two figures
1. current cost – those working now and receiving super (44% of those 65-69). (some of these will retire during the next 5 years).
2. future cost – the increasing numbers of those reaching age 65 while still working in the next 5 years (rising to over a million by c2030).
As to how many New Zealanders work full-time while receiving NZ Super and thus calculating the amount that would be saved by not paying them NZ Super until they retired – I have never seen the figure reported anywhere.
Short answer billions each year and its rising every year.
Thanks SPC. Just thinking while it might be good for mental health to keep on working after 65 and it may indicate a pride in not being past 'it', it may be taking a job that pays well along with seniority perhaps, and jobs are in short supply for older people still under retirement age.
FFS: remember that super is taxed. Presumably one income or the other will be at secondary rates if we still have them or would probably push tax brackets otherwise.
So when you calculate it, approximate the clawback into your estimates.
Well given a reasonable rule of thumb would be that a sufficient to not need super income would be the living wage level (full-time) c$45,000 or above – with $20,000 single or $15,000 couple rate.
Tax rules applying
between $48,001 and $70,000 secondary tax code is SH and NZ Super taxed at 30%
more than $70,000 your secondary tax code is ST and your NZ Super will be taxed at 33%.
So deducting 30 cents off est $2Bpa gross cost leaves around $1.4Bpa net cost rising further each year to 2030.
the Entire Super cost is $11-12 bill per year ( 2017)
Only a fraction 30% would be in the 65-70 age group The 30% comes from MSD Super data tables
Those working may be part time but lets be generous and assume 1/3 of those between 65-70 are working
This then leads to 10% of entire super pop are 'working' ( 1/3 of the 30% 65-70)
That would have a rough figure of $1.2 bill saved if those working got no super at all.
The census of 2013 puts the number of people aged 60-64 as 230,000. Say 210,000 are still alive.
Apparently about 44% of them work aged 65-69. Say 1/4 work only work part-time. So if 1/3rd did not get Super, then that would be around 10% of the total on Super (over 700,000).
The current cost is $15Bpa – so $1.5B plus those over 70 still working more around $2B pa at the moment. It would rise to around $3Bpa by 2030 in todays dollars.
No need to look at census for 2013. MSD puts out data tables updated every few months on numbers for all sorts of benefits
https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/statistics/benefit/index.html
MSD (and certainly not benefit fact sheets) do not say how many of those of those on Super are aged 65-69.
But the census of 2013 shows 230,000 aged 60-64 then – if alive they would be 65-69 today. Sort of important when the only figure out there is 44% of those aged 65-69 are working (and we do not know how many are full-time or part-time).
There is a slightly more complete set of numbers from the 2013 Census that breaks the total down by age (in 10 year chunks), sex and whether they are full time or part time. This shows
"Across the three broad age groups within the 65s and over, there is a noticeable decline in the percentage employed as the groups get older. However, there are still people employed in all three of these broad age groups:
We also see differences across the three 65+ age groups between people working full-time (30 hours or more per week) and part-time (less than 30 hours per week) in the week before the 2013 Census.
Of those aged 65–74 years:
In the next age group, 75–84 years, 2.6 percent worked full-time and 6.2 percent worked part-time. As with the 65–74 age group, a higher proportion of men worked full-time (4.5 percent) than women (1.0 percent).
Almost all people in the oldest age group (85+) were not in the labour force (96.1 percent). However, a small proportion were employed, with 3.2 percent working part-time and 0.7 percent full-time."
http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-65-plus/work-unpaid-activities.aspx
mod note for you here. Please acknowledge.
https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-22-11-2019/#comment-1668399
@weka.
Yes I read what you have said.
Thanks for that Alwyn.
Not the Fact sheets but the excel tables
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/statistics/benefit/2019/quarterly-benefit-fact-sheets-nzs-and-vp-tables-sep-2019.xlsx
The exact number for age 65-69 was 237,247
Which I see you have found , but a link here for other readers
OK I found a data table at the bottom of the page – shows 237,000 aged 65-69. A small increase on the number in the age group 2013. Deaths fewer than those … returning here to retire.
This is almost certainly the wrong way to think of it. The NZ govt at all times has the capacity to buy everything for sale in NZ dollers. Paying /not paying pensions does not change that at all. The constraint the govt does have to deal with is on the real side of the economy, e.g are there sufficient medical professionals to carry out the work and maybe is there extra burden being put by the private sectors ability to buy up those resources.
By cutting pensions to those working you will most likely just leave a hole in aggregate demand and be responsible for a whole raft of inequity. I also suspect that its vaguely illegal as the pension payments were effectively earned at the time they were taxed by the wage earner.
1. The problem is limited government funding to HB who can thus can only afford so many staff. Then there are wages unattractive compared to those in Oz. Even if all positions were staffed the working conditions would be worse than in Oz, and because of this and lower pay, they find it hard to fill all the positions. Making things worse for those still employed.
2. Super is paid for out of current taxes.
The problem is the limited funding of the DHBs. The govt can choose to increase that without facing any financial constraint on so doing.
Payments to pensioners occur when the govt credits pensioners bank accounts. The payments the govt makes to the pensioners banks occur inside the reserve bank settlement system (the bank then goes on to credit the pensioners account). Only the reserve bank can create these interbank settlement account balances and entries. Making such payments (in a similar way to making payments to DHBs or their employees) is not therefore constrained by tax collection.
The main constraint here is a voluntary preference of the government.
The term that always pisses me off is "DHB deficit".
That's just a measure of how underfunded each DHB is.
Yes, exactly.
If the government increases funding to HB. How do they respond? The HB cannot fill all places it has funds for now because they cannot attract staff at their pay rates.
Does the HB increase pay to fill all existing staffing positions or declare more vacancies when they are struggling to fill vacancies now
You know what a 30% GDP spending cap is right? Yeah I know its a voluntary 2017-2020 Labour-Green commitment to demonstrate their neo-liberal credentials to centre New Zealand, but that – and things like budget deficit or surplus and debt to GDP still determine the parameters for party policy formation and political debate.
So your suggesting taking away pensions in order to maintain that Labour party voluntary policy then? You realise at least some of the part time workers are relying on that pension payment for a reasonable income. Time, i think, to address the actual problem rather than contorting the govt policy to try to accomodate a harmful fiscal strategy.
I am saying there is a more just allocation of revenues/spending than paying super to those working (and I am referring to those working full-time or earning more than a 40 hour MW/living wage if part-time).
I'm pretty sure we already established in the discussion that this neo-liberal constraint framing is a fiction. It happens to obfuscate from the present and previous govts choices to underfund the DHBs and ultimately put many health care workers under various stresses. Its also their narrative choice to have DHBs report deficits rather than funding them with sufficient operational expenditure.
Thanks Nic for yr contribution.
Where can I read up on this, without too much going over my head?
Good introduction on RNZ with Bill Mitchell, Aussie economist:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/201852897/there-s-no-such-thing-as-fair-austerity
And his website has lots of info (and link to his new economics textbook):
http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/
Another look at both sides of arguments:
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/4/16/18251646/modern-monetary-theory-new-moment-explained
Make sure to read Bill Mitchells blog as the interviews he often addresses framing (and the interviewer questions) rather than explaining the economics directly. His writing is accessible however.
Thanks Uncooked and Nic, I am keen to engage with others about this but I want to 'know my onions' first.
The pension payments are taken out of current earnings. When super was set up there was higher inflation and that could mean that savings value could be eroded whether private or government. Also there is the possibility of fraud, and for security in old age the pension (super) was set up to be universal and current. The Kiwisaver was a prudent and carefully managed fund added, that would take the shock to the system when all the products of a particularly fruitful time came of (older) age.
The better working conditions – better staffing levels, are reason enough to go. Of course the better pay means the student debt can be paid back more easily.
Well Key did want to set up a low wage system in New Zealand. And the Gnats wanted us to work harder and not get so above ourselves in our pay demands. The Gnats succeeded – or did they?
Did the National Party and their sycophants find the truth of that cautionary saying 'Be careful what you wish for', (or when you get it you might find it's a poisoned chalice)? No, the National Party find it suits them to go on poisoning us, our society, our living conditions, our water, our environment, our hopes and dreams. I am sick of materialistic sycophants.
Greywarshark; well said. 100%
quote;
"No, the National Party find it suits them to go on poisoning us, our society, our living conditions, our water, our environment, our hopes and dreams. I am sick of materialistic sycophants".
''Truer words have never been spoken'
You are going to have to ask someone else to answer your binary choice questions.
There is a lack of imagination in your thinking.
I am not necessarily suggesting BAU with more nurses.
There are plenty of Health centres/hubs, private providers etc than can meet the health needs of a % of those that present at ED.
It is merely a question of priorities.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/117675349/precarious-state-of-the-countrys-hospitals-laid-bare-by-senior-doctors-union
This is because we have a two tier health system.
Simple solution take the money off the private insurance companies, then ban private health insurance.
Health care for all or let the poor die – your choice.
Heh, it's a cruel irony that the EDs around the country are serving both tiers of the system but only being funded by the public purse.
Stuff has published fake news from Jonathan Young of National – where he claims that ending new exploration licences is the reason why we burnt more coal for power generation last year.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/117648825/taranaki-2050-roadmap-may-have-a-few-bumps-in-the-road-ahead
As if not issuing permits for new gas exploration has an impact on the current supply to the market …
A dry hole for this exploration well off Taranaki
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/117386002/taranaki-offshore-oil-exploration-company-placed-under-voluntary-administration
'The company had struggled to meet its financial commitments since a $300 million well-drilling programme in the offshore Tui field was suspended in September [2019] after the first well proved dry."
Unpaid bills will affect local community hard…who knew there was a downside to drilling for oil
Interesting in view of OMV's announcement last week that they have reached agreement with Jadestone Energy to take OMV's 69% share in the Maari oil field off Taranaki subject to NZ government approvals etc.
OMV's intentions are supposedly to concentrate on their natural gas operations in NZ and not oil.
I have posted full details on the OMV/Greenpeace post on this and who Jadestone Energy are etc. https://thestandard.org.nz/people-vs-oil-activists-are-occupying-the-omv-support-vessel/#comment-1668838
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/117650875/a-wine-box-a-deep-throat-and-a-dumpster–the-trail-that-led-to-the-nz-first-donations-scandal
A journalist directed to a dumpster in Hamilton.
We still do not know if this was a whistle blower or a hacking agent.
Curious . The people who stole the documents , then put them in a dumpster and call a journalist ? Who hasnt done that . Why didnt Nixons 'plumbers' think of that
The problem is this sort of dump is that it is designed to replay 2005 and undermine NZF's re-election. It's manipulative dirty politics.
It's all very well for the media to run with it, but it's selective coverage advantaging another party/other parties.
Holding a blow torch to the practices of other parties in this area, with an overview of clearer and cleaner rules for all, is the way the media can best serve the public.
Timing seems more related to recent resignations of party officials than next year's election. Shaft enough people and they will bite you.
Which is not to deny there are other agendas at play in media and other parties.
There is this Sept/Oct time period story – of the resignation.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12273461
We of course have no idea whether this lead to the "dump" or whether someone else went fishing and extracted the information.
Sounds like only a very small number of people had access to that information. Not like some junior staffer has emotionally photocopied them..
There is another scenario, hypothetical for now …
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/11/22/a-bloody-great-political-story-from-a-parallel-universe/
"Shaft enough people and they will bite you."
You do realise the resignation of a top official was more of a #metoo situation than #shaftme
People, plural.
hes the only political leader whos been there for 25 years.
I see people talk about something about the Cook St ferries and Peters as though it was yesterday, the same era scandal involved Jenny Shipley and Tourism ministry – who remembers that. One of TS contributors had a list of Keys lies, twisted facts and half truths that could fill a booklet- who remembers that.
What you dont seem to get is the 2017 election result of Labour and Greens is less seats than National- remember that
Its just a game of fantasy football that Peters can be discarded
This sounds like something out of a spy movie!
Sounds more like Enid Blyton and The Famous Five to me !
We do know he has a sense of humour leaving them in a wine box.
Lets hope the details get drip fed into the media for months.
Yeah, let’s have another long drawn-out tortuous trial-by-media inflicting maximal harm to NZF, the Coalition-Government, and NZ politics in general. MSM would love nothing more than that.
The Herald has editoralised that Trump should face the voters, rather than be subject to an impeachment process (which just has Trump's own party Senators determine judgement).
Presumably they take the same stand on NZ First's fundraising practices and or the PM of Israel facing criminal charges while in office, or those politicians facing charges of corruption (or disqualified from standing for elections, as per Brazil).
" They will do anything too stop Jeremy Corbyn "
https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2019/11/24/the-bbcs-excuse-for-editing-out-people-laughing-at-johnson-could-spell-the-end-of-the-broadcaster-as-we-know-it/
The BBC just changed things to the way it should have been – so the audience applauded Johnson's answer on trust rather than laughed and so (a year earlier in fact) Johnson lay the wreath down the right way up (he had done so in the past after all).
It just goes to show how many Etonians rise to the top in all spheres of UK society …
I'm just reading CP Snow's 1964 Corridors of Power. He describes one family mixing in high circles in London; that they had never studied politics, but in their sphere had been immersed in it since childhood, understood all the maneouvres and levels of importance and thought it their right as members of high society to receive political positions if they were so inclined.
He wrote incisively in his 1959 book 'The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution':
There is, of course, no complete solution. […] But we can do something. The chief means open to us is education […] There is no excuse for letting another generation be as vastly ignorant, or as devoid of understanding and sympathy, as we are ourselves.
(This is a wikiquote and seems relevant to my point, though shortened.)
If it was Corbyn, the audience laughing would be the only part they would show.
This from Christine Rose
When Winston Peters announced the New Zealand First decision to enter into a Coalition agreement with the Labour Party, he observed it was ‘now or never for serious change in this country’s social and economic direction’. Equally, Jacinda Ardern signaled that she sought a change to capitalism and the way the economy is run. There appeared agreement that the neo-liberal experiment had failed New Zealanders, and the views of many, of “capitalism as foe”, “was not all wrong”. Winston said “capitalism must regain its responsible, human face” and that this view deeply influenced his party’s negotiations. He said he was confronted with the choice between a “modified status quo, or change’,
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/11/25/dodgy-donations-the-devils-work/
Trucks bigger and destroying roads and bridges as they feed out the product of the thoughtless economy.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/404035/auckland-trains-cancelled-after-truck-hits-rail-overbridge
Key likes the idea of the Northern Port – thinks it makes sense. Then the extra cherry for the tuck operators, a four lane highway right to Whangarei. He has retired from his PM job and become a lobbyist for the powerful trying to drive the country forward by twisting our tails. Look out Key for we poor cows and our ultimate retaliation, we might poo on your hand.
Good points Greywarshark.
here is the truth about national willfully destroying our public rail; we had finally got to prove it was needed.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6170590/At-risk-rail-line-can-t-cope-with-demand
Johnny Key is a turncoat as when he was in Wairoa/Gisborne in 2012 after his government had stolen the rail track maintenance funding for Auckland rail and caused the washout of a one km rail to close the rail service,
John key was reported in the Wairoa Star saying; quote;"I don't want road to be the only choice for moving freight "
But shortly after this, his henchmen Steven Joyce/Gerry Brownlee turned their backs on fixing the rail, and spent the rail reserve fund of four million dollars on two small passing lanes on the road to benefit trucks instead of fixing the rail line.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1302/S00183/kiwirail-admits-lack-of-maintenance-led-to-wash-out.htm
Rail destroyers they are.
I haven't kept up with the Millane case. Could someone please tell me why the suppression of name of the accused is in place still? And put this use of it in context with what we expect with open justice in NZ. (And I would really like to hear from someone else apart from DoU.)
Suppression orders often also suppress the reasons for suppression. there is no "why". They just are. Until they are lifted (I would expect the order to be lifted at sentencing, though).
+1.
As others are speculating, there can be a number of reasons –
appeal related
whether further charges are being looked into
whether there are wider Police investigations taking place
the wishes of the victim's family and whether or not the prosecution considers the case closed or not
or something else – maybe even while the judge considers where and wha bestt to do with him so that rough justice is less of a prospect
I'm not quite sure how my knowing the name of this 26 now 27 year old fucked unit is going to benefit me or the general public – knowing that he's in custody, and is likely to be for quite some time.
Open justice takes time. It's taken a year so far. If suppression orders were to be made permanent, then I might have a different opinion.
There's already been enough speculation over this case during the past year (including a bit of victim blaming – such as my blokey neighbours when sinking piss bleating out that "she must be a bit of a dirty girl eh!)
I haven't seen a reason given, but most likely it means something else is pending – an appeal against conviction maybe, or further charges. Must say it's hard to picture an appeal against conviction being the reason…
Apparently the reason fro suppression is also suppressed!!!!
Today, Stuff have an article with a general overview of suppression orders in NZ.
Obviously they don't specifically talk about the current case, but it's a pretty good round up of the usual reasons and why they exist.
Thanks for reply McFlock and for informative link.
I cannot see why the name suppression is still in place either. I don't believe he is a famous person or anything and the UK papers have named him apparently. I can only imagine the name suppression stays if there is going to be an appeal? Or if the Millane family (victim) have requested the name suppression stays although I can't imagine why they would.
Don’t forget that the Crown were able to produce photos from his phone. If they found other photos or messages on that phone that would have a bearing on this or any subsequent trial then it makes sense to continue name suppression.
[deleted]
[please don’t speculate details about Grace Millane’s killer. We don’t know the details of the suppression order, so better to err on the side of caution. Posting comment that creates legal risks for the site risks a ban – weka]
Given that we do not know the scope of the suppression order, why would you even ask that?
Sure the suppression order is in place i am aware of that thanks Sacha.
Just thinking back too some of the comments made in the trial and from conversations with acquaintances [deleted]
[mod notes above and below. – weka]
If my great aunt said he's transgender and I was sufficiently interested in that, I would post it on my own website rather than where someone else might get prosecuted for it. Be a sport.
Thanks Sacha it must be wonderful too be a learned individual like yourself sport.
You're welcome to link to information in the mainstream media. In the meantime please don't post speculation about details of the killer. As a mod I haven't seen the details of the suppression order, so am erring on the side of caution.
Why would you even ask that if there's a suppression order in place? Do you really want an answer on this site?
lolsnap sacha
We are well-trained by now. 🙂
heh
I’d call it well behaved 😉
[deleted]
Stricter controls this time out so unable to confirm or deny.
As for breaching the order with my answer, and putting the site in jeopardy, I’ve narrowed it down to 1 in 5 million or 1 in 7.5 billion. Pretty safe odds.
[good for you. I on the other hand am aware that it’s the Trust that carries the legal risk not me, and that speculation leads to other people speculating who don’t know where the boundaries are. This increases the work for mods, which tends to piss us off – weka]
next time I'll just trash the top comment, which takes out the replies as well. Please don't take this as encouragement to speculate as I'm good with handing out bans too.
I'm sure you are, and well done for earning that privilige.
I did just read how in the UK in the last year there were 59 cases of men using rough sex as an excuse for murder. In the same time frame there were zero cases of women claiming that defence.
there's been a bit of discussion in OM and DR in the past week. I don't remember the details but there's something specific about the UK legislation that allows this to be more common (and the bigger population).
And since I am the one who has to go to court for you being a dickhead, you are courting a permanent ban from me.
It sounds fair to me…
The question I ambiguously answered was about [deleted], and as shown in what's left of my reply all I've done is narrowed it down to 1 in 5 million or 1 in 7.5 billion. and that in no way goes anywhere near identifying the individual whose identity is suppressed.
But sure thing, big boy, you gotta roll how you gotta roll 🙄
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12287727
“the man has also been named on social media accounts leaving the police to issue a warning not to state his identity on any posts.
He cannot yet be named for legal reasons, which have been strictly adhered to by New Zealand media, who can be prosecuted if they don’t comply with the court’s order.”
[2 week ban for wasting my time and ignoring moderation. See my comment below. – weka]
You still don't get it. YOU don't get to decide where the boundary is (nor any other commenter). Ultimately it's for Lynn and Mike to decide. In the meantime this mod is erring on the side of caution for reasons I have already explained and which you seem to be ignoring.
1. we don't know the details of the suppression order. I've seen one journalist say it covers the name and identifying details.
2. if your comment is ok legally (I have no way of knowing), it still leaves the problem of speculation encouraging other people to speculate who have different ideas or no clue about where the boundary is, and each time that happens one of the mods has to read the comments and think about the issues and moderate (which can take varying degrees of time). I'm sick of having to spend time on this.
My sincere apologies Weka.
Completely understood.
thanks mosa, appreciate that.
Horrors! Just went to do the Herald crossword and now they want you to subscribe before you can.
They have to take money off you somehow.
That's how Granny Herald rolls now. All the toxic partisan crap is free, and you have to pay for anything interesting or relevant. Like crossword puzzles. Or actual news. I've found my life has improved immeasurably ever since I decided to stop reading the Herald completely. I don't understand subscribers. It's like paying someone to punch you in the face.
US Secretary of Navy Richard Spencer resigning for trying to cover up war crimes of one of his staff.
Good job.
I thought he was resigning because Trump wanted to venerate at the foot of someone who committed war crimes.
Congratulations to the people of Hong Kong, who have stood up for democracy against dictatorship. A stunning election result.
It is sad that so many of our politicians, in the relative comfort and safety of NZ, cannot stand up alongside them – for no reason except Beijing $$$.
“Oh, my goodness, it was stunning, the level of buzzing,” Guthrie said. “That moment was sort of an awakening for me.” The presence of so many bees and other insects was an indicator, to Guthrie, of the health of the land."
https://civileats.com/2019/10/15/planting-native-prairie-could-be-a-secret-weapon-for-farmers/
they're catching on, very good.
Good to hear. The bees are the most important link in the food chain and lots of other things to.
Lovely story last night on one of the smaller channels on huge diversity of bees- theres one that sometimes sleeps in the flower its pollinating overnight !
Horrible. Yet Todd Muller on Radionz decrying our hard and unreasonable townies are on 'farmers'. It is time for the umbrella to be removed from the body of all-farmers and let the dirty ones stand in the rain and get shamed and cleansed. Why should the ones that try to do well be besmirched with blame. If they moan about it, they need to recognise that they need to show up the others, twist their arms up their back, until they change their ways.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/404052/farm-animals-suffering-due-to-poor-winter-grazing-practices-taskforce-says
Farm animals are suffering in muddy, confined spaces, with many people ignoring the problem and officials unsure of what to do about it, a hard- hitting report has found.
Farm groups says pictures showing cows in mud have been taken out of context. Photo: Fish & Game New Zealand
The comments came in a report by a special taskforce on winter grazing.
Foreign farmers from Europe say, who come here and follow their usual ways at home need to be pulled up sharply. In Europe M.bovis is present and I think vaccinated against, but we were free of it. Similar with foot and mouth, I think they vaccinated against it over there.
Todd Muller National's agriculture spokesperson realises that there is a lot of ignorance around but he thinks it is townies who need to learn about the wondrous ways of the farming lobby. We townies are very credulous Todd, if you can show us that you are all behind environmental change we will be all on your side hand in hand.
His comments come in response to a question in a Level 3 English paper that asked students to "discuss the way the writer explores ongoing change" in a New Zealand Geographic article.The text quoted a survey showing two-thirds of respondents blamed farmers for deteriorating water quality.
Todd Muller says the piece painted a one-sided picture of New Zealand's farmers. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018723944/todd-muller-on-ncea-level-three-english-exam
Nobody mentioned the herd spa day that it was part of. The waiting nail polishers were just out of shot.
Power cut were I Am at the minute shows what they think of the rest of the tangata
Ka kite Ano
I can spot the merchants of decite a mile away.???????????
Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars
Yes, electric vehicles really are better than fossil fuel burners
Hans-Werner Sinn’s opinion piece on whether electric cars are as climate friendly as they seem generated a good deal of controversy. William Todts, executive director of Transport & Environment, gives his response
But this isn’t about Sinn. In fact, whenever you read a newspaper article claiming EVs are worse than diesel or petrol cars, that article will be based on a report that deliberately makes EVs look worse than they are.
Usually the plot is as follows: a smaller petrol or diesel car is compared with a bigger, more powerful electric car; then the fossil fuel car is assumed to be as efficient as the EU’s official tests portray (in reality its fuel economy is always a lot worse); and finally the electric car is driving in a region with a very dirty electricity mix. Then you assume very high emissions for battery production based on outdated studies and finally you pretend electric cars don’t last very long and that its batteries aren’t reused or recycled.
There will always be a new study with some flawed assumptions to keep us all busy and we could rebut these until we all drop. The advantage for the oil and diesel industry is that articles and reports, however poor, keep the controversy alive. Discrediting or distorting science is a political strategy, as Naomi Oreskes chronicles so well in Merchants of Doubt
The rise of electric cars and green power are some of the biggest climate success stories of the past few years. It is the result of regulators in Europe, California and China doing their job and industry rising to the occasion. It shows what we can achieve if we set industry ambitious goals to clean up its act.
That might not please some but it is fair, effective and, for the climate, unequivocally a good thing. As the Nobel prize committee eloquently put it: “Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionised our lives since they first entered the market in 1991. They have laid the foundation of a wireless, fossil fuel-free society, and are of the greatest benefit to humankind.”
• William Todts is executive director of Transport & Environment, a European research and campaign group
This is awesome building Wind Turbine Towers out of Wood another good fact to plant billions of Trees.
Swedish company is building wind turbine towers out of timber
It seems that you can build just about anything out of wood.
While researching the carbon footprint of steel production for a lecture recently, I came across the line "it takes 200 tons of steel to make a wind turbine" – a justification for steel being green.
TreeHugger Mike demonstrated this wasn't true, and Homer-Dixon wasn't too happy about it either, but the steel industry is still pushing the idea that they are essential to a green future. To which Swedish company Modvion says, Oh yeah? We can build a wind turbine tower out of wood!
The wooden towers also offer additional environmental benefits compared with steel towers thanks to the lower-carbon manufacturing process. Lundman estimates a saving of 2,000-tonnes of CO2-emission per tower up until deployment. Plus, carbon sequestration in the wood offers the potential to make a wind-power plant carbon neutral.
Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/amp/swedish-company-building-wind-turbine-towers-out-timber.html
Kia Ora 1 News
The increases in waste dumpling fees is needed Ka pai that construction waste charges will go up to I think a lot of construction waste could be recycled.
YEA people should be aware of whats going down in Aotearoa.
That's awesome that the Wahine scientists has found new backing to go and study Ora in the Ross Sea.
Shows how strong the weather is getting worse because of global warming.
Discrimination is sad it good that the 3 Africa Americans finally got some justice I hope they get compensation for the 30 od years of wasted time in jail.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
I think Tikanga Maori is the best way to get Maori and Pacific people into Whare. A big whare with the grandparents looking after the Mokopuna while the parents mahi is a great model.
Tangata get Solar Power if you build it yourself it's only 8 k no more power cuts you will have to minimise your usage though.
Tangata Whenua O Aotearoa Sports Stars awards there are heaps to choose from kia kaha.
Cool having life jacket hubs to keep the people safe on the Moana.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Breakfast.
That's correct Hone chemicals are still being used that harm Bees but not only Bees these chemicals are bad for every living thing. The reason that we are still using the poisoning chemicals is the multi nation company use all the dirtiest tricks in the book to suppress the factual data on the crap $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
I read that story on the Japanese lakes problems with spraying chemicals on their rice paddies. That's the power these companies have no monitoring of poisonous chemicals concentrations in Aotearoa WTF.
I have seen perfect stuff that will be another person taonga being dumped???????.
That's great the Gender pay gaps closing in Aotearoa.
Mitchell you know exactly what's going down you we a cop????????????????.
Be good Whanau the you NO my view on the system.
Exactly its dog while politics but they are playing a flute to.
Condolences to Clive whanau I enjoy his programs.
Ka kite Ano
We must do everything we can can to minimise our Carbon footprint or we will stuff up our Mokopuna futures.
Climate emergency: world 'may have crossed tipping points’
Warning of ‘existential threat to civilisation’ as impacts lead to cascade of unstoppable events
The world may already have crossed a series of climate tipping points, according to a stark warning from scientists. This risk is “an existential threat to civilisation”, they say, meaning “we are in a state of planetary emergency”.
Tipping points are reached when particular impacts of global heating become unstoppable, such as the runaway loss of ice sheets or forests. In the past, extreme heating of 5C was thought necessary to pass tipping points, but the latest evidence suggests this could happen between 1C and 2C.
Prof Tim Lenton at the University of Exeter, the lead author of the article, said: “We might already have crossed the threshold for a cascade of interrelated tipping points. The simple version is the schoolkids [striking for climate action] are right: we are seeing potentially irreversible changes in the climate system under way, or very close.
Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/27/climate-emergency-world-may-have-crossed-tipping-points
😇
Here's another story about positive impact tree have on the Earth.
Trees in the Amazon are the world's sweat glands – and 10 other essential climate facts
You will not be surprised to learn that the climate crisis is a big and complicated problem. But when I started Not Cool, a Climate Podcast, I honestly hoped that if I could just talk with a few climate experts, we could clarify the facts and outline straightforward solutions. Thirty-one experts and 26 interviews later, I realize how mistaken I was, with more questions now than when I started. But I’ve also learned some amazing facts about how nature works, how humans work, and how to start addressing this crisis
We need more mangroves
Fortunately, nature provides incredible tools for addressing and adapting to climate change. Mangroves – essentially forests that grow along coastlines – are near magical solutions that came up in multiple interviews. They help prevent erosion and protect coastal regions from waves and rising sea levels. The trees are a haven for biodiversity, which could be partly why coral reefs seem to thrive in their presence. And mangroves also sequester a lot of carbon, which can help address both global heating and ocean acidification – an effect of the increased carbon in the oceans
Forget geoengineering – we have forests
There are two types of geoengineering, more accurately known as climate engineering. One highly contentious method involves injecting particulates, such as sulfur aerosols, into the sky to minimize solar radiation and decrease temperatures. The problem with this approach is that if countries disagree about optimal global temperatures, we can’t just suddenly stop the geoengineering systems, as this would cause global temperatures to rise quickly and dramatically. But if left unaddressed, serious international disagreement could lead to war. The other – far less contentious – geoengineering option involves pulling carbon out of the atmosphere. Though technologies for this exist, they’re not yet affordable or scaleable. But nature could again help here, as more forests could absorb more carbon, cooling the Earth.
forests are useful because they pull moisture from the soil and expel it through their leaves, cooling the Earth just as sweat cools our bodies. So not only are forests vitally important for reabsorbing the carbon we emit, they also decrease temperatures. Unfortunately, many forests – especially the Amazon – face deforestation. Some researchers fear that if even 25% to 30% of the Amazon rainforest is cut down, the loss of moisture could change its basic makeup, transforming it from a rainforest to a savanna. This threat remains speculative, but is it possible we’ve already passed other critical tipping points
Perhaps the most important thing to know about the climate crisis is that solutions exist. It is political will we lack. Many people worry about convincing climate deniers that climate breakdown is real, but deniers make up a very small percentage of the population. Our real focus should be on convincing those in power that the majority of us want to see strong political action. That happens when we talk to each other, when we talk to our representatives, and when we talk to our financial institutions. Individual climate action is critical, but this is ultimately a societal problem, and the solution must be societal as well
Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/27/climate-experts-interview-what-i-learned