What was there to answer?
As Key said, Auckland is a very sought after place to live both locally and internationally.
Also prices have been rising for a long time and will take a while to level out or drop, last thing any government would want to do is rapidly crash a market.
“As Key said, Auckland is a very sought after place to live”
It is a sought after place to invest untaxed money. Not the same thing, sadly. Until a government tackles the financialisation of our housing, Auckland is screwed.
House prices are so high because there are no rules here.
New Zealanders can land bank, buying up many more houses than they need.
And people from overseas can speculate on houses prices here.
Both these groups of people – wealthy New Zealanders and foreigners – are forcing ordinary New Zealanders out of their own land.
But Key and his acolytes believe in the market.
Devoutly.
I don’t understand where that high median income figure comes from. I thought the NZ median personal income was closer to $28,000. – which means half earn less than that. A very long way from the median house price in Auckland (or anywhere).
“The truth is, (the current government) are paralysed with fear that the bubble will burst on their watch, so don’t want to tackle the causes of the crisis.”
– Demographia
As Matthew Hooton described the other day here at The Standard, this government is truly the do nothing government.
What else do you want them to do, take over Auckland?
————————————————–
The truth is, (the current government) are paralysed with fear that the bubble will burst on their watch, so don’t want to tackle the causes of the crisis.
You don’t want the bubble to burst, you want it to slowly deflate, so people have a bit of time to adjust.
Actually, I’d make it so that there was a way for the owners to keep living in the same house without debt and then crash the market.
Bubbles bursting is what happened to NZ between 1984 and 1990, thought Labour would have learn’t their lesson and understood that.
The problem is that we keep getting bubbles, that when we do our governments actually work to protect those that caused the bubbles rather than ensuring that the risk falls where it’s due and they don’t put in place legislation to stop those bubbles. Just banning foreign ownership would kill many of the bubbles that we now have.
Just as an aside Matty – how do you feel about your ‘PERFORMANCE’ on NinetoNoon today?
Was it (on a scale from 1 to 5): Abysmal thru’ adequate to exceptional.
Admittedly we can take in your handicap (i.e. where the regular gal with the balanced portfolio and the world’s best understanding of ‘work-life-balance) where allowances are made for you (in case you throw another hissy fit).
I suspect your judgement (that includes your desire to appear rational and modest) would be in the ‘adequate’ region. 3.5 out of 5 maybe?
“I doubt Aucklanders want their house prices to “deflate slowly”.”
Matthew, if all assets drop in proportion then non problema eh silly.
Problem of course, as highlighted everywhere, is the debt. Not the house price.
Now, if the debt slid in proportion to the house price (for which a very strong argument can be made), then also non problema.
Banks and debt have had to be heavily controlled and regulated for centuries. More is required at this next junction I think. Maybe the change to come post-meltdown will be to limit debt recovery in the event of asset value change (both up and down to be fair)….
BM
You’re stating the bleeding obvious.
Questions that arise:
Why is Auckland so sought? What then can reduce those factors? They are disrupting and skewing our housing market, so what can be done to cool this to a satisfactory level, away from gold rush level?
Your point about the length of time of occurrence is an excellent reason to continue any measures that will bring about a gradual decrease in the rise of prices, perhaps to that of our measured inflation, low, very low.
These would be questions arising from the answer that would be applied by an interviewer after definite information and be forthcoming from a responsible politician.
It’s a very nice city and one of the most multi cultural in the world, people like the place.
Solve the transport issues and I’d say it would be in the top 5.
Seriously, How many major cites have a farm in the middle of it, where you can walk around among sheep.
He’s talking about Cornwall Park – one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is still a working farm, five minutes drive from Queen Street (outside rush hour).
yes, I assumed he was talking about something real, but his phrasing was just too delightfu a summary of propaganda from the neoliberal world view. A lovely city that people can’t afford to live in but hey they can visit the centre and walk around with the sheep. Baaaaa.
“too delightful a summary of propaganda from the neoliberal world view”
Does that even mean anything?
Also, it seems that about 1.4 million people are able to afford to live here. And walk around with sheep. Do you not understand that prices go up because people want to live here? If people “can’t afford to live in” Auckland then prices will go down.
Well it was more of a statement about BM’s politics as much as anything, but since you’ve asked, yes it does mean something. It means that the view you just presented that the market will somehow provide a solution is a nonsense and we may as well just all head down to the sheep farm and make like the sheep.
The South Island is full of ex-Aucklanders who came here for the cheaper housing. To be fair those are generally the middle classes who could live in Auckland but also could afford to get out. The people really feeling it are the people who live in Auckland but whose quality of life is diminished because of wage rates and housing prices. So when I say ‘can’t afford to live in Auckland’ you can take it as a overarching meme for the fact that how we arrange society grossly advantages some and disadvantages others and the market will never make that right (not that I expect you or BM to care about that).
“If people “can’t afford to live in” Auckland then prices will go down.”
No homeless people there then? Nobody leaving? No poverty? No overcrowded housing? No transient population?
What you really meant is if the middle classes can’t afford it then the housing market will slow. But let’s not pretend that prices will actually drop in any kind of meaningful way that is good for people and their communities.
Yes, notice how how Key tried to dodge throughout the interview.
He presented statistical outliers.
He questioned the survey, “This is one survey, there’s a whole bunch of other surveys” then when challenged could not present alternative surveys.
Then changed tack and bragged about growing consents and said what a great place Auckland was a place to live in.
When challenged with the rhetorical question, “So you think it’s a good news story?”
he then blamed Labour for the problem.
PM John Key and his National government say most Kiwis support the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and those who don’t are ignorant or manipulated.
Show him he’s wrong.
Help us to fill the Auckland Town Hall tomorrow, Tuesday 26th at 7pm in the first TPPA: Don’t Sign public meetings.
Hear dynamic, funny, and scary US former trade attorney and TPPA expert Lori Wallach, Director of Public Citizen Global Trade Watch, on how the US politics may sink the TPPA.
Jane Kelsey will explain the highlights of the expert papers saying what the TPPA would really mean for Kiwis.
A political panel will tell us why they oppose the signing of the TPPA:
Grant Robertson, Labour; Metiria Turie, Greens; Marama Fox, Maori Party; and Fletcher Tabuteau, NZ First.
The speaking tour is being sponsored by Its Our Future, Action Station, NZ Council of Trade Unions and First Union
but donations are needed to cover costs.
You can contribute to these events and the ongoing campaign at https://givealittle.co.nz/org/itsourfuture
Ever heard Lori Wallach talk about the stark realities of US politics on the TPPA?
If you have, you won’t want to miss her again!
If you haven’t, this is a once in a lifetime chance to hear her on how the US and its corporate lobby stitched us up, and sold out ordinary Americans as well. (for Lori’s bio – see here)
Can the US Congress stop the deal?
Will the US Congress stop the deal?
What happens if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency?
Or Donald Trump (assuming that is worse … which it has to be)
Are US politicians serious that they will rewrite the deal after it is signed by setting rules for ‘implementation’? What would that mean for Kiwis?
….
_________________________
In fact, in the free trade and trade liberalisation regime, which is supposed to end protectionism, IPRs are the main instrument of this new form of protectionism.
Wayne Mapp calls the TPP a “modern FTA”
Lowering a few tariffs, while at the same time increasing Intellectual Property Rights IPRs means that it is a total misrepresentation/lie to imply that the TPP is a Free Trade Agreement.
False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising, and misrepresentation of the product at hand, which may negatively affect many stakeholders, especially consumers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_advertising
I liked the Kelsey video where she states bluntly that this isn’t a trade deal, that the trade part of the TPP is small and that most if it is about giving rights to corporations.
What the TPPA and other agreements do is increase protections for corporations while decreasing protections for those that sell their labour. The end result is more political power in the hands of the corporations and less in the hands of the people.
The TPPA takes us further down the road to serfdom. A serfdom that has always been the goal of capitalism.
Winston Peters…
“If the Opposition was in any way what it should be, [Key] wouldn’t have a hope in Hades.”
“That’s the real test. Whether the Opposition parties mark up, shape up, keep themselves focused, keep their eyes on what the prize should be rather than their own political and egregious self interest and advantage. If they do that, then the Government wouldn’t have a show in its present construction.”
Not so easy when the msm calls this of bs political coverage.
‘ MPs with bald spots reached for the hats. Andrew Little had a snappy hat but foolishly wore a black suit. NZ First leader Winston Peters took refuge in a tree, from where he quoted Noel Coward: “only fools and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”.’
“…Winston Peters took refuge in a tree …” In a tree? Love it! Just had a great image of Winnie in a tree, beady eyes peering out at those below like an elderly possum. Surely the writer meant under a tree?
As is often the case with Peters is he both speaking truth and being a complete hypocrite.
Whether the Opposition parties mark up, shape up, keep themselves focused, keep their eyes on what the prize should be rather than their own political and egregious self interest and advantage
I didn’t see any evidence of browning in the foliage (but I wouldn’t really expect to until another month or two). Since looking at it in the morning means looking into the sun, I couldn’t really assess any subtler hints about foliage colouring or glossiness.
The bandage around the ring-barking has soaked through with sap, but it doesn’t appear to be bleeding trails of sap down the trunk. So I’m cautiously hopeful the sap has gone back to flowing up and down the trunk the way it should.
So on the basis of precisely zero experience or expertise in helping trees recover from ringbarking, my gut feel has gone from “it’s a goner” to “maybe it’s got a teeny-tiny chance”
Thanks Andre. Do you know what the owners are up to? I assume it was them that paid the company to do the ringbarking. Why are they not finishing off the job?
………..The injunction means all activity has been halted on site until the hearing next year and prevents further harm to both the kauri and rimu pending the judicial review………
The ring barking on both the Kauri and its sister the Rimu happened the night before the injunction was passed.
The courts found the owners of the property who have ordered the ring barking to be within their rights.
I know that Johno administered ‘first aid’ and that maori healers came and did their thing. I am not an arborist, but as of today, people are cautiously optimistic that both trees make it.
Keeping my fingers crossed. I’ve not seen a tree recover from such a wound before. But then I’m not an arborist so my knowledge of trees is limited to the general knowledge I need for timber milling, drying, cabinet making etc.
Ummm, monkey apples can survive a ringbarking at least 150mm wide all the way around. Several on my place did, anyways.
The photos from Sabine’s tvnz link appear to show continuous bark left across the wound in a few places, so there may be cambium left behind.
I don’t think the rimu got ring-barked, if it did it’s not visible from the road, and I haven’t been keen to go walking down to take a closer look since kauri dieback is prevalent there.
Sorry, I put out some incorrect information earlier.
Went and took a wander down the section and yes, the rimu also got a cut all the way around the trunk. Along with every other tree that was marked with an X that hadn’t been previously felled. Those cuts were hidden by the slash left on the section, so not visible from the road. The malicious orcs had done more damage than I had previously been aware of.
But I didn’t see that any of the others had great chunks of bark taken off the trunk (unlike the kauri), and the foliage on those trees looks normal, and no trails of sap running down the trunks, so maybe they all have a chance.
Also got the neighbours worried again to see another stranger taking an interest in the section.
Malaysia’s parliament votes this week to accept or reject the TPP, first the Lower House then the Senate. The scheduling of the voting shortly before signing makes it look as though this will determine whether the government signs or not (Auckland 4 February) but I am not sure.
Anyone know definitely?
Malaysia and Australia obtained additional exceptions to those our NZ negotiators achieved. These two countries form an interesting comparison for NZ. But zilch do we hear from our MSM.
Some interesting threads over the weekend ref: fisi and fourth term for Key
The thing that seemed to come through that I noticed the most was the refrain that “the left need to work together”.
I’m not disagreeing with this at all (at least in regards to a left victory) but what it really needed changing to was “Labour need to work with the rest of the left in NZ” as it seems (admittedly to me) that the left want to work with Labour but Labour isn’t as keen.
Its still a worry though that there are posters who still underestimate John Keys intelligence and this attitude that “hes just a money man”, “the USA tells him what to do” etc etc means some on the left don’t prepare as well as they could (subconsciously not taking him seriously perhaps?)
Also it seems the Labour party (yeah yeah MMP but they’re still the largest party on the left) are out of touch with modern day politicking which considering Lange and Clark went that long ago is a real shame
So yes there will be a fourth term for John Key and while that means the left will win in 2020 it depends on whether the Left want two terms or three if they (the Left) are willing/able to change to modern day NZ
Pat, discussing the left-right divide in politics says, in Fisiani Gets it Right on 23/1 says: .it certainly appears to me that the younger generations by and large have no points of reference for that positioning and consequently it carries no relevance for them…but naturally those (few) that are politically active and involved at party level tend to have a very firm view in terms of Left/Right so reinforce the dichotomy within.
But this decay away from Labour-left policies started longer ago than you imply Pat. So a good number of older Labour in NZ are similar to the Blairites in Britain and very possibly any oldies with fire in their bellies for ‘the people’ and a fairer, better functioning NZ, are either isolated or dead.
Would anyone who knows like to identify those older Labour members still in a position of power and/or Parliament who not only talk the talk but walk the walk?
“But this decay away from Labour-left policies started longer ago than you imply Pat. So a good number of older Labour in NZ are similar to the Blairites in Britain and very possibly any oldies with fire in their bellies for ‘the people’ and a fairer, better functioning NZ, are either isolated or dead.’
don’t necessarily disagree with that greywarshark, but I was responding to a comment from CV that implied (to me at least) that there was no future in presenting policy in terms of left/right….just as there are few remaining veterans of WW2 who’s experiences tempered our society for so long after that event there are few who recall the great conflict of ideas of last century…..increasingly to those in positions of influence it is ancient history, not something their parents, grandparents experienced and perhaps formed….what do we care of the politics of ancient Rome, the Chinese dynasties,the French revolution and the like when forming our opinions today? I suggest the Left/Right struggle of last century has as much relevance to the young(er) of today and is as misunderstood….rightly or wrongly.
The lessons will have to be relearned…their own way.
Pat
Hmmm interesting. Someone emphasised the other day that the era of Rome and its politics is not far away from what is occurring today. I think his point was that it is all cyclical, and you refer to the conflict of ideas and systems in the history of other countries. There is a problem with older people with long memories, if they haven’t learned anything from their experience after rumination and reflection, with discussion of the events.
Do older people once involved in war, have a considered opinion about it, or do they just go through the ceremonies each year? Here at the Anzac Day church-run short civic gathering, the same words are repeated each year, reverential, memorial, but not disturbing the air and ears with anti-war poems or comment. That seems too real, questioning the waste of life.
There was no room for the presentation by young peaceniks of white poppies representing peace, perhaps a tacit honouring of the student protesters in Germany using white roses as their badge I think, and who were caught and dispatched early on. The RSA was angry to have them offered, only partly I think because the red poppies raise money for assistance to the returned servicepeople.
Also discussed recently was the word ‘cynical’. The conclusion was that it can get to be a kneejerk reaction that implicitly claims a superior understanding, but is actually closed, negative, simplistic, and lazy. So I think that position applies to the idea that left/right is completely passe’. It is indeed a useful term for broadly discussing themes of political power and of wealth versus wider concern for the populace and the differing attitudes to a resource-controlling status quo. As you say –
The lessons will have to be relearned…their own way.
Here’s a citizen who will be missed by people interested in good enterprise in our country. Barry Brickell was a man with many good visions that advanced NZ and the will to be the one to advance them.
Potter, artist, conservationist and railway enthusiast Barry Brickell moved to the Coromandel to teach high school in the 1960s.
But less than a year later he abandoned teaching to set up a pottery studio and kiln on a property in Driving Creek, north of the town of Coromandel.
Fifty years later he had become one of New Zealand’s most celebrated ceramic artists and had restored hectares of native bush and created a wildlife sanctuary.
Most famously he spent 33 years building the Driving Creek Railway – a popular tourist attraction that has now carried close to 1.25 million passengers.
Gold rush mentality in this country. Using up this country’s resources of beauty and natural goodness. An Eden into a Den of thieves.
Dairy – Overproduction, unhealthy financial dependence, pollution, utilising resources from overseas unfairly. (Milk – More milk perhaps. Sheep milk is being looked at as a possible growth market.)
Tourism – Up from 3 million visitors to 5 million a year is the prediction.
Consequence – overuse of the attractions, trashing of the country, and pricing out the inhabitants. It costs $50 to say at a hut on one of the tracks I think it was Routeburn.
How can people ever afford to get to know and enjoy their own country. They can’t afford to live in a poor dwelling – just like good old Brit was like when we left it in the 1800s.
Freedom tourists –
DoC figures show the number of tourists on all nine Great Walks has increased by 10 percent a year for the past three years.
The Routeburn and Milford tracks and huts, which cost $54 a night per adult, are fully booked for this season ending on 27 April. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/294829/rogue-campers-%27ruining%27-great-walks
Right wing think tanks, Matthew Hooton, and Stephen Franks to come:
Why is there such dismal political commentary on RNZ National? Nine to Noon, Monday 25 January 2016
At 9:30, Kathryn Ryan interviewed—or, more accurately, provided an uncontested free pulpit to—one Andrew Bishop, who rejoices in the splendid title of “senior analyst” for the right wing “think tank” the Eurasia Group. Bishop talked for fifteen minutes, during which he managed to get away with making the extraordinary assertion that the United States was not really involved in either Syria or Ukraine. As is too often the case, Kathryn Ryan didn’t seem to have a clue; about the only thing she said in the whole fifteen minutes was to observe, in a tone of high seriousness, that the United States was suffering “intervention fatigue.”
After the 11 o’clock news, it was time for the forum now entitled “Political Commentators Matthew Hooton and Stephen Mills”. It should actually be called “Matthew Hooton Straight and Uninterrupted”; after a promising first appearance just before Christmas, Mills has not taken long to slip into playing Colmes to Hooton’s Hannity, a soul-destroying rôle which until recently was filled by the hapless Mike “I Agree With Matthew” Williams. Hooton can, if nothing else, sense weakness in an adversary, and he’s already dominating Mills. Today, the only hint of passion from Mills came when he guffawed derisively after Hooton said, “There’s no homelessness of any note in Auckland.”
Yes, Gabby, that’s something I have long considered commenting on, but have refrained from for fear of seeming petty and mean. I’m glad to see that you have also noticed her occasional affectation of an absurdly correct and slow manner of speaking, especially when speaking to someone she is trying to, for whatever reason, to impress.
Another of her verbal tics, which really annoys me, is the way she adds the tag “Yeah?” to the end of a question. Jim Mora also does this.
They could also do worse then make the gun laws federal rather then state responsibility (not ever going to happen of course)
The focus in the USA, especially in the media, seems to be on “assault weapons”, specially AK and M16 type rifles, which no one really knows how it came up:
Not so much mental health, more availability and moments of madness.
Though guns are not the most common method by which people attempt suicide, they are the most lethal. About 85 percent of suicide attempts with a firearm end in death. (Drug overdose, the most widely used method in suicide attempts, is fatal in less than 3 percent of cases.) Moreover, guns are an irreversible solution to what is often a passing crisis. Suicidal individuals who take pills or inhale car exhaust or use razors have time to reconsider their actions or summon help. With a firearm, once the trigger is pulled, there’s no turning back.
The problem is though that if these individuals don’t have pistols (I’m guessing hand guns would be more used) then they’ll use some other method so it won’t really treat the underlying issue of why people are wanting to commit suicide
A public service announcement.
We’re not allowed to ask if Magisterium is [deleted] in drag – or even if [deleted]
Warning warning warning [deleted].
No fuck it ….. BAN!
[lprent: No you aren’t. Banned 1 week as a gentle reminder, and I’d strongly suggest that you don’t ever try to game the privacy policy again. ]
Evil evil bastards, http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/revealed-environmental-officials-warned-snyder-administration-not-to-use-water-that-poisoned-flint/ & a someone I know over there emailed this to me “There is mounting evidence that the entire goal was to undermine the financial stability of the Detriot Water and Sewerage Dept so as to justify its breakup and privatization thereby brokering control of one of the largest aquifers in the Midwest. Water is the new oil and we are only seeing the beginnings of the resource grab.”
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TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
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TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Bennett, PhD Student, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Foo, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, Monash University pikselstock/Shutterstock In the next 40 years in Australia, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Grant, Research Associate, Power Institute for Arts and Visual Culture, University of Sydney Jonas Åkerström’s 1790 work, Session of the Accademia dell’Arcadia on August 17 1788.Nationalmuseum/Cecilia Heisser Ever wondered whether you’d have a better chance at winning an Olympic gold ...
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Guyon Espiner asks Key questions about housing affordability in Auckland.
Key has no answer.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201786630/john-key-on-the-week's-events
What was there to answer?
As Key said, Auckland is a very sought after place to live both locally and internationally.
Also prices have been rising for a long time and will take a while to level out or drop, last thing any government would want to do is rapidly crash a market.
I guess something like “Isn’t the cost of housing in Auckland a problem for median earners?” and “What are you going to do about it?”
Median income $ 77, 000
Median house price $ 748 000
It appears Key ( a multi-millionaire) does not.
“As Key said, Auckland is a very sought after place to live”
It is a sought after place to invest untaxed money. Not the same thing, sadly. Until a government tackles the financialisation of our housing, Auckland is screwed.
House prices are so high because there are no rules here.
New Zealanders can land bank, buying up many more houses than they need.
And people from overseas can speculate on houses prices here.
Both these groups of people – wealthy New Zealanders and foreigners – are forcing ordinary New Zealanders out of their own land.
But Key and his acolytes believe in the market.
Devoutly.
Except when it comes to the TPPA and multinationals he wants them protected?
You always did, but it has been tightened up.
Too many kiwis doing a shifty and not declaring income from property speculation.
http://www.ird.govt.nz/m/campaigns/property-changes.html
I don’t understand where that high median income figure comes from. I thought the NZ median personal income was closer to $28,000. – which means half earn less than that. A very long way from the median house price in Auckland (or anywhere).
Is it household income?
Yes. Another little lie.
– Demographia
As Matthew Hooton described the other day here at The Standard, this government is truly the do nothing government.
You don’t want the bubble to burst, you want it to slowly deflate, so people have a bit of time to adjust.
Bubbles bursting is what happened to NZ between 1984 and 1990, thought Labour would have learn’t their lesson and understood that.
Obviously not and yet another reason why they’re not fit to govern and National is the only option out there to skillfully run the economy.
By doing nothing?
Fact is they are getting right towelling in the media today and about time too.
And do please when you are ready point out where Labour advocates for a bursting of the bubble.
Doing nothing?
http://www.ird.govt.nz/m/campaigns/property-changes.html
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/ratesbuildingproperty/housingsupply/pages/specialhousingareas.aspx
What else do you want them to do, take over Auckland?
————————————————–
Phil Twyford
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/76150232/auckland-housing-soars-further-out-of-householders-reach-demographia
And yet Auckland has moved from ninth to fifth on the least affordable cities in the world list after the timid tinkering by the current government.
The tinkering around the edges by John Key is clearly not working and as several experts have said this morning far more needs to be done.
Actually, I’d make it so that there was a way for the owners to keep living in the same house without debt and then crash the market.
The problem is that we keep getting bubbles, that when we do our governments actually work to protect those that caused the bubbles rather than ensuring that the risk falls where it’s due and they don’t put in place legislation to stop those bubbles. Just banning foreign ownership would kill many of the bubbles that we now have.
I doubt Aucklanders want their house prices to “deflate slowly”.
Just as an aside Matty – how do you feel about your ‘PERFORMANCE’ on NinetoNoon today?
Was it (on a scale from 1 to 5): Abysmal thru’ adequate to exceptional.
Admittedly we can take in your handicap (i.e. where the regular gal with the balanced portfolio and the world’s best understanding of ‘work-life-balance) where allowances are made for you (in case you throw another hissy fit).
I suspect your judgement (that includes your desire to appear rational and modest) would be in the ‘adequate’ region. 3.5 out of 5 maybe?
And that’s the thing. We have become a nation of ladder-kickers.
“I doubt Aucklanders want their house prices to “deflate slowly”.”
Matthew, if all assets drop in proportion then non problema eh silly.
Problem of course, as highlighted everywhere, is the debt. Not the house price.
Now, if the debt slid in proportion to the house price (for which a very strong argument can be made), then also non problema.
Banks and debt have had to be heavily controlled and regulated for centuries. More is required at this next junction I think. Maybe the change to come post-meltdown will be to limit debt recovery in the event of asset value change (both up and down to be fair)….
BM
You’re stating the bleeding obvious.
Questions that arise:
Why is Auckland so sought? What then can reduce those factors? They are disrupting and skewing our housing market, so what can be done to cool this to a satisfactory level, away from gold rush level?
Your point about the length of time of occurrence is an excellent reason to continue any measures that will bring about a gradual decrease in the rise of prices, perhaps to that of our measured inflation, low, very low.
These would be questions arising from the answer that would be applied by an interviewer after definite information and be forthcoming from a responsible politician.
Have you been to Auckland.?
It’s a very nice city and one of the most multi cultural in the world, people like the place.
Solve the transport issues and I’d say it would be in the top 5.
Seriously, How many major cites have a farm in the middle of it, where you can walk around among sheep.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/pictures/9477990/The-worlds-10-best-cities-to-live-in.html
https://www.gfmag.com/global-data/non-economic-data/best-cities-to-live?page=13
“Seriously, How many major cites have a farm in the middle of it, where you can walk around among sheep.”
Roflnui. Sometimes I think you are a parody account BM.
He’s talking about Cornwall Park – one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is still a working farm, five minutes drive from Queen Street (outside rush hour).
yes, I assumed he was talking about something real, but his phrasing was just too delightfu a summary of propaganda from the neoliberal world view. A lovely city that people can’t afford to live in but hey they can visit the centre and walk around with the sheep. Baaaaa.
“too delightful a summary of propaganda from the neoliberal world view”
Does that even mean anything?
Also, it seems that about 1.4 million people are able to afford to live here. And walk around with sheep. Do you not understand that prices go up because people want to live here? If people “can’t afford to live in” Auckland then prices will go down.
Well it was more of a statement about BM’s politics as much as anything, but since you’ve asked, yes it does mean something. It means that the view you just presented that the market will somehow provide a solution is a nonsense and we may as well just all head down to the sheep farm and make like the sheep.
The South Island is full of ex-Aucklanders who came here for the cheaper housing. To be fair those are generally the middle classes who could live in Auckland but also could afford to get out. The people really feeling it are the people who live in Auckland but whose quality of life is diminished because of wage rates and housing prices. So when I say ‘can’t afford to live in Auckland’ you can take it as a overarching meme for the fact that how we arrange society grossly advantages some and disadvantages others and the market will never make that right (not that I expect you or BM to care about that).
“If people “can’t afford to live in” Auckland then prices will go down.”
No homeless people there then? Nobody leaving? No poverty? No overcrowded housing? No transient population?
What you really meant is if the middle classes can’t afford it then the housing market will slow. But let’s not pretend that prices will actually drop in any kind of meaningful way that is good for people and their communities.
he sounded like a slimy bullshitter…the comments which followed said as much…
Yes, notice how how Key tried to dodge throughout the interview.
He presented statistical outliers.
He questioned the survey, “This is one survey, there’s a whole bunch of other surveys” then when challenged could not present alternative surveys.
Then changed tack and bragged about growing consents and said what a great place Auckland was a place to live in.
When challenged with the rhetorical question, “So you think it’s a good news story?”
he then blamed Labour for the problem.
When he blames labour its a sign of desperation which a decent journo would see and go for the jugular.
3rd term and still blaming clark/cullen which he does because nat shills like Gluon let it pass as the accepted meme/spin being peddled.
Did he get asked about flogging state houses, a broken election promise, by gluon ? This removal of supply will only make it worse and they know it.
PM John Key and his National government say most Kiwis support the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and those who don’t are ignorant or manipulated.
Show him he’s wrong.
Help us to fill the Auckland Town Hall tomorrow, Tuesday 26th at 7pm in the first TPPA: Don’t Sign public meetings.
Hear dynamic, funny, and scary US former trade attorney and TPPA expert Lori Wallach, Director of Public Citizen Global Trade Watch, on how the US politics may sink the TPPA.
Jane Kelsey will explain the highlights of the expert papers saying what the TPPA would really mean for Kiwis.
A political panel will tell us why they oppose the signing of the TPPA:
Grant Robertson, Labour; Metiria Turie, Greens; Marama Fox, Maori Party; and Fletcher Tabuteau, NZ First.
For details of Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin meetings see http://itsourfuture.org.nz/tppa-dont-sign-tour/
The speaking tour is being sponsored by Its Our Future, Action Station, NZ Council of Trade Unions and First Union
but donations are needed to cover costs.
You can contribute to these events and the ongoing campaign at https://givealittle.co.nz/org/itsourfuture
Does Labour not support the TPPA?, have they changed their mind again?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/72953458/Labour-unlikely-to-withdraw-from-TPPA-trade-deal-if-in-Govt-Andrew-Little?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
I hope they have.
Anyone who cares about New Zealand’s sovereignty should.
Did you read Rod Oram’s excellent article on the matter?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/76114721/rod-oram-dark-clouds-on-the-horizon
And have you read legal experts’ view on the TPP?
https://tpplegal.wordpress.com/nzlf-expert-paper-series/
I predict that the Auckland Town Hall will be PACKED!
Want a seat?
Get there early ….. 🙂
Want to hear the other side of the story to PM John Key’s ‘spin’ on the TPPA?
PUBLIC MEETING!
WHERE: Auckland Town Hall.
WHEN: Tuesday 26 January 2016
TIME: 7pm
SPEAKERS: Lori Wallach (Public Citizen USA)
Professor Jane Kelsey
POLITICAL PANEL:
Labour Party: Grant Robertson
Green Party: Metiria Turei
NZ First: Fletcher Tabateau
Maori Party: Marama Fox
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/23/exclusive-an-open-invitation-from-professor-jane-kelsey/
Ever heard Lori Wallach talk about the stark realities of US politics on the TPPA?
If you have, you won’t want to miss her again!
If you haven’t, this is a once in a lifetime chance to hear her on how the US and its corporate lobby stitched us up, and sold out ordinary Americans as well. (for Lori’s bio – see here)
Can the US Congress stop the deal?
Will the US Congress stop the deal?
What happens if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency?
Or Donald Trump (assuming that is worse … which it has to be)
Are US politicians serious that they will rewrite the deal after it is signed by setting rules for ‘implementation’? What would that mean for Kiwis?
….
_________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Bernie Sanders will trump Clinton, piece of cake and he doesn’t like the TPPA.
Vandana Shiva:
http://www.psrast.org/vashipr.htm
Wayne Mapp calls the TPP a “modern FTA”
Lowering a few tariffs, while at the same time increasing Intellectual Property Rights IPRs means that it is a total misrepresentation/lie to imply that the TPP is a Free Trade Agreement.
False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising, and misrepresentation of the product at hand, which may negatively affect many stakeholders, especially consumers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_advertising
I liked the Kelsey video where she states bluntly that this isn’t a trade deal, that the trade part of the TPP is small and that most if it is about giving rights to corporations.
What the TPPA and other agreements do is increase protections for corporations while decreasing protections for those that sell their labour. The end result is more political power in the hands of the corporations and less in the hands of the people.
The TPPA takes us further down the road to serfdom. A serfdom that has always been the goal of capitalism.
If Wayne Mapp was in the Real Estate Industry and advertising like this he would be down in Wellington before the REAA.
Winston Peters…
“If the Opposition was in any way what it should be, [Key] wouldn’t have a hope in Hades.”
“That’s the real test. Whether the Opposition parties mark up, shape up, keep themselves focused, keep their eyes on what the prize should be rather than their own political and egregious self interest and advantage. If they do that, then the Government wouldn’t have a show in its present construction.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11578976
Not so easy when the msm calls this of bs political coverage.
‘ MPs with bald spots reached for the hats. Andrew Little had a snappy hat but foolishly wore a black suit. NZ First leader Winston Peters took refuge in a tree, from where he quoted Noel Coward: “only fools and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11579021
Bill English also wore a dark, if not black suit, but hey, that’s OK as he is not Labour.
And Key wore his new flag on his lapel.
Shameless.
“…Winston Peters took refuge in a tree …” In a tree? Love it! Just had a great image of Winnie in a tree, beady eyes peering out at those below like an elderly possum. Surely the writer meant under a tree?
Depends on how much he’d had to drink I guess
Winston or Key? They both known for their drinking but Winston still looks sharp & coherent the next day, Key? Not so much…
Did any ponytails get pulled?
As is often the case with Peters is he both speaking truth and being a complete hypocrite.
Whether the Opposition parties mark up, shape up, keep themselves focused, keep their eyes on what the prize should be rather than their own political and egregious self interest and advantage
🙄
Paturoa kauri update:
I didn’t see any evidence of browning in the foliage (but I wouldn’t really expect to until another month or two). Since looking at it in the morning means looking into the sun, I couldn’t really assess any subtler hints about foliage colouring or glossiness.
The bandage around the ring-barking has soaked through with sap, but it doesn’t appear to be bleeding trails of sap down the trunk. So I’m cautiously hopeful the sap has gone back to flowing up and down the trunk the way it should.
So on the basis of precisely zero experience or expertise in helping trees recover from ringbarking, my gut feel has gone from “it’s a goner” to “maybe it’s got a teeny-tiny chance”
i follow it on FB and yes, it seems that there is a small bit of hope for the Kauri and the Rimu. Here is to hoping.
Thanks Andre. Do you know what the owners are up to? I assume it was them that paid the company to do the ringbarking. Why are they not finishing off the job?
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/court-action-gains-temporary-reprieve-for-ringbarked-kauri
………..The injunction means all activity has been halted on site until the hearing next year and prevents further harm to both the kauri and rimu pending the judicial review………
The ring barking on both the Kauri and its sister the Rimu happened the night before the injunction was passed.
The courts found the owners of the property who have ordered the ring barking to be within their rights.
Wierd, I would have thought that ringbarking the trees with the court decision pending would have resulted in a contempt charge at the very least.
Thanks Sabine.
After it was ringbarked, was there any cambium (tree stem cells) left in the wound?
i honestly would not know.
I know that Johno administered ‘first aid’ and that maori healers came and did their thing. I am not an arborist, but as of today, people are cautiously optimistic that both trees make it.
Cheeers,
Keeping my fingers crossed. I’ve not seen a tree recover from such a wound before. But then I’m not an arborist so my knowledge of trees is limited to the general knowledge I need for timber milling, drying, cabinet making etc.
Ummm, monkey apples can survive a ringbarking at least 150mm wide all the way around. Several on my place did, anyways.
The photos from Sabine’s tvnz link appear to show continuous bark left across the wound in a few places, so there may be cambium left behind.
I don’t think the rimu got ring-barked, if it did it’s not visible from the road, and I haven’t been keen to go walking down to take a closer look since kauri dieback is prevalent there.
Cheers
Sorry, I put out some incorrect information earlier.
Went and took a wander down the section and yes, the rimu also got a cut all the way around the trunk. Along with every other tree that was marked with an X that hadn’t been previously felled. Those cuts were hidden by the slash left on the section, so not visible from the road. The malicious orcs had done more damage than I had previously been aware of.
But I didn’t see that any of the others had great chunks of bark taken off the trunk (unlike the kauri), and the foliage on those trees looks normal, and no trails of sap running down the trunks, so maybe they all have a chance.
Also got the neighbours worried again to see another stranger taking an interest in the section.
Malaysia’s parliament votes this week to accept or reject the TPP, first the Lower House then the Senate. The scheduling of the voting shortly before signing makes it look as though this will determine whether the government signs or not (Auckland 4 February) but I am not sure.
Anyone know definitely?
Malaysia and Australia obtained additional exceptions to those our NZ negotiators achieved. These two countries form an interesting comparison for NZ. But zilch do we hear from our MSM.
Interesting that Malaysia would go to the trouble of actually performing the democratic process regarding this issue.
Something for our government to learn?
Some interesting threads over the weekend ref: fisi and fourth term for Key
The thing that seemed to come through that I noticed the most was the refrain that “the left need to work together”.
I’m not disagreeing with this at all (at least in regards to a left victory) but what it really needed changing to was “Labour need to work with the rest of the left in NZ” as it seems (admittedly to me) that the left want to work with Labour but Labour isn’t as keen.
Its still a worry though that there are posters who still underestimate John Keys intelligence and this attitude that “hes just a money man”, “the USA tells him what to do” etc etc means some on the left don’t prepare as well as they could (subconsciously not taking him seriously perhaps?)
Also it seems the Labour party (yeah yeah MMP but they’re still the largest party on the left) are out of touch with modern day politicking which considering Lange and Clark went that long ago is a real shame
So yes there will be a fourth term for John Key and while that means the left will win in 2020 it depends on whether the Left want two terms or three if they (the Left) are willing/able to change to modern day NZ
Key is an irrelevancy. His government is useless and does nothing.
Only concerted media campaigns and opposition inaction keep him in power.
Most kiwis don’t find him as erotic as fisiani appears to – and those that do will just get cast aside like a used Hosking when Key is done with them.
The parallels with the Milliband Labour party are significant – self-serving self-styled elite wonder why they can’t win.
Pat, discussing the left-right divide in politics says, in Fisiani Gets it Right on 23/1 says:
.it certainly appears to me that the younger generations by and large have no points of reference for that positioning and consequently it carries no relevance for them…but naturally those (few) that are politically active and involved at party level tend to have a very firm view in terms of Left/Right so reinforce the dichotomy within.
But this decay away from Labour-left policies started longer ago than you imply Pat. So a good number of older Labour in NZ are similar to the Blairites in Britain and very possibly any oldies with fire in their bellies for ‘the people’ and a fairer, better functioning NZ, are either isolated or dead.
Would anyone who knows like to identify those older Labour members still in a position of power and/or Parliament who not only talk the talk but walk the walk?
“But this decay away from Labour-left policies started longer ago than you imply Pat. So a good number of older Labour in NZ are similar to the Blairites in Britain and very possibly any oldies with fire in their bellies for ‘the people’ and a fairer, better functioning NZ, are either isolated or dead.’
don’t necessarily disagree with that greywarshark, but I was responding to a comment from CV that implied (to me at least) that there was no future in presenting policy in terms of left/right….just as there are few remaining veterans of WW2 who’s experiences tempered our society for so long after that event there are few who recall the great conflict of ideas of last century…..increasingly to those in positions of influence it is ancient history, not something their parents, grandparents experienced and perhaps formed….what do we care of the politics of ancient Rome, the Chinese dynasties,the French revolution and the like when forming our opinions today? I suggest the Left/Right struggle of last century has as much relevance to the young(er) of today and is as misunderstood….rightly or wrongly.
The lessons will have to be relearned…their own way.
Pat
Hmmm interesting. Someone emphasised the other day that the era of Rome and its politics is not far away from what is occurring today. I think his point was that it is all cyclical, and you refer to the conflict of ideas and systems in the history of other countries. There is a problem with older people with long memories, if they haven’t learned anything from their experience after rumination and reflection, with discussion of the events.
Do older people once involved in war, have a considered opinion about it, or do they just go through the ceremonies each year? Here at the Anzac Day church-run short civic gathering, the same words are repeated each year, reverential, memorial, but not disturbing the air and ears with anti-war poems or comment. That seems too real, questioning the waste of life.
There was no room for the presentation by young peaceniks of white poppies representing peace, perhaps a tacit honouring of the student protesters in Germany using white roses as their badge I think, and who were caught and dispatched early on. The RSA was angry to have them offered, only partly I think because the red poppies raise money for assistance to the returned servicepeople.
Also discussed recently was the word ‘cynical’. The conclusion was that it can get to be a kneejerk reaction that implicitly claims a superior understanding, but is actually closed, negative, simplistic, and lazy. So I think that position applies to the idea that left/right is completely passe’. It is indeed a useful term for broadly discussing themes of political power and of wealth versus wider concern for the populace and the differing attitudes to a resource-controlling status quo. As you say –
edited
Here’s a citizen who will be missed by people interested in good enterprise in our country. Barry Brickell was a man with many good visions that advanced NZ and the will to be the one to advance them.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/294797/artist-barry-brickell-dies-aged-80
A long interview on Spectrum from last year.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201776571
Gold rush mentality in this country. Using up this country’s resources of beauty and natural goodness. An Eden into a Den of thieves.
Dairy – Overproduction, unhealthy financial dependence, pollution, utilising resources from overseas unfairly. (Milk – More milk perhaps. Sheep milk is being looked at as a possible growth market.)
Tourism – Up from 3 million visitors to 5 million a year is the prediction.
Consequence – overuse of the attractions, trashing of the country, and pricing out the inhabitants. It costs $50 to say at a hut on one of the tracks I think it was Routeburn.
How can people ever afford to get to know and enjoy their own country. They can’t afford to live in a poor dwelling – just like good old Brit was like when we left it in the 1800s.
Freedom tourists –
DoC figures show the number of tourists on all nine Great Walks has increased by 10 percent a year for the past three years.
The Routeburn and Milford tracks and huts, which cost $54 a night per adult, are fully booked for this season ending on 27 April.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/294829/rogue-campers-%27ruining%27-great-walks
Right wing think tanks, Matthew Hooton, and Stephen Franks to come:
Why is there such dismal political commentary on RNZ National?
Nine to Noon, Monday 25 January 2016
At 9:30, Kathryn Ryan interviewed—or, more accurately, provided an uncontested free pulpit to—one Andrew Bishop, who rejoices in the splendid title of “senior analyst” for the right wing “think tank” the Eurasia Group. Bishop talked for fifteen minutes, during which he managed to get away with making the extraordinary assertion that the United States was not really involved in either Syria or Ukraine. As is too often the case, Kathryn Ryan didn’t seem to have a clue; about the only thing she said in the whole fifteen minutes was to observe, in a tone of high seriousness, that the United States was suffering “intervention fatigue.”
After the 11 o’clock news, it was time for the forum now entitled “Political Commentators Matthew Hooton and Stephen Mills”. It should actually be called “Matthew Hooton Straight and Uninterrupted”; after a promising first appearance just before Christmas, Mills has not taken long to slip into playing Colmes to Hooton’s Hannity, a soul-destroying rôle which until recently was filled by the hapless Mike “I Agree With Matthew” Williams. Hooton can, if nothing else, sense weakness in an adversary, and he’s already dominating Mills. Today, the only hint of passion from Mills came when he guffawed derisively after Hooton said, “There’s no homelessness of any note in Auckland.”
He had nothing else to offer, however. Even the supine Kathryn Ryan did better: she told Hooton he should have listened to her first guest this morning….
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201786658/compliance-issues-with-construction-in-auckland
And the bad news just keeps getting worse: Jim Mora’s guests on The Panel this afternoon are Stephen Franks and Josie Pagani.
What the hell is going on with Kathryn Ryan’s speaking? She sounds weird.
Yes, Gabby, that’s something I have long considered commenting on, but have refrained from for fear of seeming petty and mean. I’m glad to see that you have also noticed her occasional affectation of an absurdly correct and slow manner of speaking, especially when speaking to someone she is trying to, for whatever reason, to impress.
Another of her verbal tics, which really annoys me, is the way she adds the tag “Yeah?” to the end of a question. Jim Mora also does this.
Wonder how the gun nuts are going to claim the answer to this one is more guns?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gun-shop-owner-and-son-die-in-shootout-over-25-service-charge_us_56a54bbde4b0d8cc109a74cf
Well the first thing the USA needs to do is to start enforcing the gun laws they already have
http://thefederalist.com/2016/01/18/mike-rowe-explains-why-obamas-gun-control-push-wont-stop-bad-guys/
They could also do worse then make the gun laws federal rather then state responsibility (not ever going to happen of course)
The focus in the USA, especially in the media, seems to be on “assault weapons”, specially AK and M16 type rifles, which no one really knows how it came up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon
Yet the biggest problem by far, in fact its not even close, is pistols:
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8
(interesting to note knives are second only to pistols for killing)
So another possibility is for the USA to maybe look at other western countries and see how they run things
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Canada
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_New_Zealand
The biggest problem by far is self inflicted gunshots .
Firearm suicides
Number of deaths: 21,175
Deaths per 100,000 population: 6.7
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-20/mental-illness-history-ruled-on-appeal-to-not-bar-gun-ownership
I’m not suggesting everyone whoever killed themselves has a mental illness but I’d say theres probably a high percentage
But what to do about the mentally ill and owning firearms…I really don’t have an answer
Not so much mental health, more availability and moments of madness.
Though guns are not the most common method by which people attempt suicide, they are the most lethal. About 85 percent of suicide attempts with a firearm end in death. (Drug overdose, the most widely used method in suicide attempts, is fatal in less than 3 percent of cases.) Moreover, guns are an irreversible solution to what is often a passing crisis. Suicidal individuals who take pills or inhale car exhaust or use razors have time to reconsider their actions or summon help. With a firearm, once the trigger is pulled, there’s no turning back.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine-features/guns-and-suicide-the-hidden-toll/
The problem is though that if these individuals don’t have pistols (I’m guessing hand guns would be more used) then they’ll use some other method so it won’t really treat the underlying issue of why people are wanting to commit suicide
Yeah, guns are great http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/18/woman-kills-self-adjusting-bra-holster/23640143/ & the guy the other day who accidently shot the woman at the movie theatre had the gun on him to protect him from a possible mass theatre shooting. http://www.salon.com/2016/01/22/toxic_gun_culture_at_work_13_hours_theater_shooting_accident_a_sobering_sign_of_our_concealed_carry_times/
What do people need AK47’s and M16’s for shooting herds of possums?
Given the way its headed, the answer is , more guns
Just ask the Swiss
Interesting article on feathered friends gone wild.
http://www.nature.com/news/when-chickens-go-wild-1.19195
A couple of days ago I posted an article about the harassment of Jane Mayer, an author critical of the Koch brothers.
Excerpts from Jane Mayer’s book.
sean @SeanMcElwee
The Kochs are buying up high schools and teaching students that minimum wages hurt the poor and the New Deal failed. pic.twitter.com/87PIEE3baC
Follow
sean @SeanMcElwee
Holy. Shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. There are literally no words for how fucked up this is. http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Money-History-Billionaires-Radical/dp/0307970655 … pic.twitter.com/KorQhru8pY
https://twitter.com/SeanMcElwee/status/691134628653068288
A public service announcement.
We’re not allowed to ask if Magisterium is [deleted] in drag – or even if [deleted]
Warning warning warning [deleted].
No fuck it ….. BAN!
[lprent: No you aren’t. Banned 1 week as a gentle reminder, and I’d strongly suggest that you don’t ever try to game the privacy policy again. ]
Evil evil bastards, http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/revealed-environmental-officials-warned-snyder-administration-not-to-use-water-that-poisoned-flint/ & a someone I know over there emailed this to me “There is mounting evidence that the entire goal was to undermine the financial stability of the Detriot Water and Sewerage Dept so as to justify its breakup and privatization thereby brokering control of one of the largest aquifers in the Midwest. Water is the new oil and we are only seeing the beginnings of the resource grab.”