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
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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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