I don't know how many are interested in the hard problem of consciousness which explores the mystery of how physical brain matter and electrochemical interactions at synapses can produce conscious experience.
The physicalist approach is generally that consciousness emerges from the incredible complexity of the brain neurological system. And there is plenty of evidence of correlation between brain activity and conscious experience. But that evidence provides no explanation for how this occurs. There are some looking at quantum processes in the brain as a possible source for discovering an explanation. But it is all very dubious at the moment.
However, there are some such as David Chalmers who look at things a different way. Chalmers proposes that consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe similar to gravity and other physical laws. Chalmers proposes that any organised system will have some fragment of consciousness, and we are the pinnacle of that expression.
The problem is that, if we follow Chalmers logic through, even a light switch is to some small degree, conscious.
However, I have just been studying the work of Donald Hoffman. Hoffman is
a professor in the Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, with joint appointments in the Department of Philosophy, the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, and the School of Computer Science.
So, he is definitely more than an eastern mystic.
Hoffman goes further than Chalmers. Hoffman is proposing that consciousness creates reality rather than the other way around, and that this has been the result of evolutionary processes. He is trying to prove that through predictive mathematical models at the moment. Here is a really interesting Ted talk he has given on the subject. And, for those who haven't got the time for a 20 minute video, here is a transcript of an interview with him in Quanta Magazine.
Definitely very controversial, and not mainstream theory. But fascinating nonetheless.
If anyone wants to go further down this wormhole in a way that is scientific rather than fringe, there is a fantastic series called Closer to Truth on youtube in which qualified neuroscientist, Robert Kuhn explores the topic of consciousness with leading experts from a wide variety of fields. Some great stuff there, including an interview with Donald Hoffman.
[10 or more links trigger Auto-Moderation that requires a Moderator to review and approve. This is because a large number of hyperlinks is a common characteristic of spammers. For robust debate, political or other, less is more, generally speaking – Incognito]
One thing. you could try is putting a second comment with the references in the clear. eg where you said,
I don't know how many are interested in the hard problem of consciousness which explores the mystery of how physical brain matter and electrochemical interactions at synapses can produce conscious experience.
This works for websites like wikipedia, because their URL tells you what the link is about. For those that don't, use the TS comment editor to put your own title in and then the link button for the link so we can see where it goes (esp helpful for people reading on phones). eg,
How do you explain consciousness? | David Chalmers
My main problem with the Fermi Paradox is it conflates likelihood of intelligent life, with possibility of interstellar travel / communication. To me, extraterrestrial life (and occasionally, intelligent life) seems very likely. But it could be that there simply is no solution to the problem of interstellar travel over astonishingly large distances, no matter how advanced / intelligent you are.
So lack of observed aliens isn't strong evidence of lack of extraterrestrial life, to me.
Yes, the problem is, the alternative explanation, that conscious experience springs out of essentially just complex electrochemical interactions is a bid hard to accept as well. The normal explanation that "the brain is incredibly complicated" doesn't really seem to make sense to me.
You would probably find that "Closer to Truth" site really interesting. He interviews some of the best minds in the world, and asks incredibly good questions.
But it could be that there simply is no solution to the problem of interstellar travel over astonishingly large distances, no matter how advanced / intelligent you are.
Possibly. But the number of possibilities even in our own galaxy must be huge. And we are talking about potentially billions of years to colonise space.
Another explanation I have heard is that it might just be that complex life to our level is incredibly rare, and there may just be no-one around to visit in the relatively small window of our civilisation, which in the context of the universe, is incredibly short.
Perhaps all the intelligent life that appeared elsewhere were like us as represented in the Isaac Asimov short story "Silly Asses" and they very shortly wiped themselves out? If you haven't read it a vey brief summary of the story is here.
That life eventually reaches a technological point where it has the ability to wipe itself out, and usually does. Hence, noone survives long enough to pay us a visit.
It was much shorter than that. In fact the whole story is about 400 words on one page. The basis is that anyone who would test nukes in the atmosphere of their own planet isn't going to survive. It was written in about 1956 when such tests were going on.
Major supermarket chain Woolworths, owners of Countdown, says it cannot offer large scale wholesale supply at present but is working on delivering what the government wants.
From what I have seen they have got hardly any of these anyway, and they have major reliability problems. In fact, that was the tank that broke down recently in a military parade.
I think David Fisher is one of the better journalists and this is well researched on why the abuse on Jacinda matters. And amazing that the Herald allowed his publication! No wonder her tenure was so fraught:
There is an unfortunate neatness to the online abuse faced by Jacinda Ardern.
She tried to fix social media and it ate her alive.
Ardern was the instigator of the Christchurch Call, the multi-national effort to try and establish basic standards by which social media companies will operate.
The Call stemmed from the livestreaming of the attack in Christchurch in 2019 – the same event that supercharged the baseline abuse of Ardern that began when she took office.
I only have the Herald paywall because my son's business account allows it.
However this should not diminish David Fishers researched column. David Fisher and Kate Hannah, director of The Disinformation Project. Some more:
Those small pockets include those oft-described as alt-right who pursue similar or connected issues but operate at the edge of the envelope.
In the rumble-tumble uncertain times of the pandemic those issues coalesced and the lines blurred as people stayed home and reached out online. Social media algorithms played matchmaker, linking the extreme to the mainstream and poisoning our discourse.
What people stood for gave way to what they stood against and Ardern became the figurehead on which that anger, fear and resentment could be focused.
That’s not to say there weren’t issues with Ardern’s government. There are issues with every government – that’s why they all eventually get voted out.
But the issues which arose became intermingled with that figurehead to the point where they were the same.
I hold my nose and pay to get through the paywall in order to read David Fisher's and Simon Wilson's articles, plus one or two others, though I simply ignore all the blatantly rightwing pieces by the usual suspects. I have cancelled my subscription before and will so again if their ongoing campaign of support for the National Party gets further traction this year.
The media have this awful habit, which may be a mandatory Editorial directive, not to cite/link primary sources. This dogmatic stance goes against any rules of open & transparent journalism and reporting.
Facts about Health? Dr Shane Reti gets plenty of publicity, the sober, considered, experienced word. Telling us how terrible it all is.
Of course in the last couple of years the likes of his colleague Todd McClay have chimed in about with lack of resources in their regions.
Simon Wilson in The Herald this week:
"On the right, though, there’s an obsession with debt. John Key and Bill English, in power 2008-2017, made eliminating it their number-one goal.
Here’s one example of what that meant in practice. In the five years to 2017, National budgeted a total of only $781 million for “health infrastructure”: mainly, the maintenance and replacement of hospitals. In both 2015 and 2016, the figure was zero.
The result was that from Whangārei to Middlemore, the Hutt Valley to Dunedin, hospital buildings throughout the country were allowed to decay. Many, we have since discovered to our horror, are rotting, dangerous and urgently need replacing.
In Labour’s five years from 2018, they allocated $5.8 billion to addressing this. But to make good on the years of neglect, there is still much more to do."
I found this interesting (not really politics) but I really cannot see why the ANZ should be responsible for this 'prominent kiwi entertainer's loss of $100k. Yes I know banks make excess profits, but they shouldn't have to pay for other people's decisions.
"A member of the bank’s international team advised him to check the beneficiary was legitimate, and if he was unsure, not to proceed."
The ANZ even asked again "When questioned again if he was comfortable sending the large sum of money to the offshore beneficiary, the entertainer told ANZ: “My financial adviser tells me it’s a perfectly legitimate company.”
This person with an ovarian tumor is not "male". They should not be called so in medical literature.
We wonder if all gender confused female patients are explicitly warned by “gender doctors” about the risk of ovarian cancer prior to administering testosterone?
This is a massive harmful medical experiment on our children.
Such a depressing read. One paragraph split into salient points to consider:
"1. The presence of a sex hormone-sensitive cancer is a contraindication to testosterone therapy, but there are no formal recommendations for the use of testosterone in patients with SBT.
It is known that testosterone increased the likelihood of this person getting cancer, however, given that there are no formal dosages in place for adolescents who have already got cancer, this knowledge will not affect future prescription.
2. Given the importance of gender-affirming therapy, which has been shown to reduce suicide risk and improve overall well-being,14 our multi-disciplinary team carefully weighed the risks and benefits of restarting testosterone therapy and, in the context of a completely resected tumour and ambiguous risks associated with endogenous steroids, ultimately recommended restart.
Reference to a limited and biased study on suicidal risk and well-being, means that along with ignoring the development of cancer in this particular individual, we can collectively absolve ourselves of the responsibility of restarting the exogenous hormone therapy, and point the finger elsewhere if another tumor develops.
3. Appropriate tumour surveillance was also unclear as there is no data to guide management in this area.
We don't know how to monitor this person's ongoing health, or determine what to look for.
4. The team recommended at least 5 years of periodic transvaginal ultrasounds of the contralateral ovary unless oophorectomy was completed sooner.
We can fall on the standard in regards to ovarian tumors, but given the transgender status of this seventeen-year old, a successful approach will be the removal of the remaining ovary. Which will ensure infertility and lifelong dependence on medication, but that is not our purview. We just do oncology.
5. While transvaginal ultrasounds were deemed of higher sensitivity, transabdominal were prioritised given patient preference."
Given the uncertainty surrounding monitoring: the what and the when, although the how is more effective when done as prescribed, we will cater to the patient's desire for another method, which adds to the uncertainty of effectiveness.
A seventeen year old woman, who has only been on exogenous hormones for a few months has developed a cancer not usually seen in adolescents, which may be a result of testosterone. She is being treated by medics whose primary focus is to maintain affirming hormone treatment, not critically assess and determine what the best option are for prolonging life, maintaining health and/or fertility.
The Central Interceptor will fix a lot of that in relation to the isthmus beaches, but in the meantime there are things we can all do.
Install a rain tank. You can get a detention/retention tank that fits under your eaves or under your driveway. It holds back the first flush of stormwater in rain events, which is the cause of wastewater overflows where the WW/SW pipes are not separated. It gives you non-potable water for your garden, and – with the required building consent – water for flushing toilets and for the first rinse of your washing machine. It will save you $$$ on your water bill as well as saving water.
Br careful where you wash your car. If you wash it somewhere that drains to the street you are putting a dose of particulates, heavy metals, etc straight into the ocean as the street drains usually go to the nearest watercourse. If you would not throw the soapy water into the sea or the river, don't put it in the gutter.
Pick up that dog poo. If you kick it into the gutter, or leave it on the berm which drains to the gutter, you are contributing to the fecal coliform count in the harbour through the gutter drains.
There is a lot that goes into keeping our beaches and harbours clean and very little of it is cheap. That is why we need 3 Waters.
A Guardian opinion article makes a very salient point about the inherent classist nature of non-means tested pension age entitlements. UK pension age is shifting from 66 to 68, the pension is inflation-proofed, comes from the general tax fund or National Insurance (I think; go! Cullen Fund).
The classist nature comes in with data on UK 'healthy life expectancy'.
"Men in Richmond-on-Thames will, on average, live healthily until the age of 71, while for men in Blackpool, a healthy life expectancy is just 53 years, meaning they will wait in bad health, unable to work for 13 years, before qualifying for their pension at 66.", and
" 'If 68 becomes the new pension age, 60% [of UK men] reach that age with a disability that prevents them working' ".
Plus, richer, healthier people get the pension for longer, of course.
I was interested in this article because I had been thinking of the equivalent in NZ with pension age rise, regarding the poorer health outcomes and life expectancy for Māori.
Also, having long ago read a biography of MJ Savage's importance in the set up of the NZ Welfare state, he was extremely forceful on the 'no means testing' and universal entitlement of benefits like the Family Benefit and Pensions. His reason was, as an Aussie who lived through the 1880s depression, when up to 40% of Victorian men were longterm unemployed, he had felt the injustice in barring those who owned their own homes from social support, and who consequently lost them. Plus the humiliation of hoop-jumping to receive social help.
So I support the principle of universal entitlement, kinda. But is my support for this fair? was it fair to replace Family Benefit with Working for Families? One argument for universal entitlement is that political damage is more often done at policy level, with smaller hoops and more red-tape used to strangle social support for our neediest citizens (and residents). Another is that rich people like getting free stuff too, and are less likely to vote for, and politically fund, dismantlement of social benefits (cunning man, Savage).
Readers, I'm confused. Shouldn't we be strengthening our core social support network, rather than more and more targetted legislation like Employment Insurance? But I do know that raising pension age in NZ will definitely disdvantage Māori more. And I'm against policies where taxpayers' dosh goes straight into the pockets of banks and landlands (Accommodation Supplement).
And how does universal entitlement protect against the injustice of pension age limits? There would need to be parity between the pension and minimal hoop-jumping for longterm disability that precludes employment.
Universal Basic Income sounds like a great idea. Until you see UBI in the UK being mostly a direct taxpayer subsidy to the employers of workers on zero-hours contracts and under-paid jobs.
I'm flattered my scattered musing caught your eye, weka. With minor edits, I'd be happy for that. I realised after a short think that the crux is, what model is replacing/has replaced the underpinning philosophy and political message of the Welfare State (or post-war Social Contract, I think it's called, in the UK), so I'd add that.
With Nicola Willis competing for Ōhāriu now (see Stuff), it could be an interesting electorate – Wellington Central that is. I think James Shaw (assuming he's still stands for Wellington Central) will be looking forward to the upcoming election.
When that was reprted in RNZ, it was followed by the observation that this move would make it easier for Robertson to retire if Labour do not get elected.
Microsoft knows about the concerns of their major demographic:
A new global survey illustrates the depth of anxiety many young people are feeling about climate change.
Nearly 60 percent of young people approached said they felt very worried or extremely worried.
More than 45 percent of those questioned said feelings about the climate affected their daily lives.
…
The survey across 10 countries was led by Bath University in collaboration with five universities. It was funded by the campaign and research group Avaaz. It claimed to be the biggest of its kind, with responses from 10,000 people aged between 16 and 25.
…
Tom Burke from the think tank e3g told BBC News: "It's rational for young people to be anxious. They're not just reading about climate change in the media – they're watching it unfold in front of their own eyes."
"But Soper believes there’s another politician that offers a tenure more analogous to that of Ardern – and he comes from the ranks of the Labour party: David Lange."
Now that is more analogous in the sense that Lange also had a drama filled term in office. I refer in particular to the nuclear free legislation and the Rainbow Warrior bombing.
I'm currently reading (at least re-reading after 20 years) Lange's book "Nuclear Free" where he dissects exactly what happened, and why the stand-off with the US and Britain became so fraught… culminating in NZ being tossed out of ANZUS. A fascinating story of misunderstandings, wrong interpretations and a head-in-sand attitude towards NZ and NZers.
Lange also resigned as PM before the end of his second term and probably for the same reason as Ardern. He was exhausted.
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Opinion: Artificial intelligence is increasingly part of life, and so are anxieties about how it will change life as we know it. How it will change our jobs is just one aspect of the dystopian future we imagine it is creating. Some, if not many, of these concerns warrant serious ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 29 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Crown research institute GNS Science is about to officially open its new green hydrogen lab in Lower Hutt. One day it could contribute to making sure that small rural communities cut off by disaster can still power through, with stored green hydrogen used to establish a kind of micro-grid. Michelle ...
Asia Pacific Report A score of Palestine solidarity protesters draped themselves in white shrouds with mock blood in a sombre “die-in” demonstration at Te Komitanga Square — the heart of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city — today as speakers urged people to take a stronger boycott against Israeli products. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tackling violence against women will be the sole agenda item for a national cabinet meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened for Wednesday. The meeting, held remotely, follows thousands of Australians attending rallies across ...
The protest outside the White House correspondents’ dinner hotel. Image: Anatolu video screenshot APR More than two dozen Palestinian journalists had called for a boycott of the dinner, writing an open letter urging their American colleagues not to attend. “You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and ...
“Our exporters should, therefore, be deeply concerned that the Fast-track Approvals Bill was not assessed for consistency with any of our free trade commitments prior to being introduced to the House,” says Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Environmental ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
A historian with a track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
For something completely different…
I don't know how many are interested in the hard problem of consciousness which explores the mystery of how physical brain matter and electrochemical interactions at synapses can produce conscious experience.
The physicalist approach is generally that consciousness emerges from the incredible complexity of the brain neurological system. And there is plenty of evidence of correlation between brain activity and conscious experience. But that evidence provides no explanation for how this occurs. There are some looking at quantum processes in the brain as a possible source for discovering an explanation. But it is all very dubious at the moment.
However, there are some such as David Chalmers who look at things a different way. Chalmers proposes that consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe similar to gravity and other physical laws. Chalmers proposes that any organised system will have some fragment of consciousness, and we are the pinnacle of that expression.
The problem is that, if we follow Chalmers logic through, even a light switch is to some small degree, conscious.
However, I have just been studying the work of Donald Hoffman. Hoffman is
So, he is definitely more than an eastern mystic.
Hoffman goes further than Chalmers. Hoffman is proposing that consciousness creates reality rather than the other way around, and that this has been the result of evolutionary processes. He is trying to prove that through predictive mathematical models at the moment. Here is a really interesting Ted talk he has given on the subject. And, for those who haven't got the time for a 20 minute video, here is a transcript of an interview with him in Quanta Magazine.
Definitely very controversial, and not mainstream theory. But fascinating nonetheless.
If anyone wants to go further down this wormhole in a way that is scientific rather than fringe, there is a fantastic series called Closer to Truth on youtube in which qualified neuroscientist, Robert Kuhn explores the topic of consciousness with leading experts from a wide variety of fields. Some great stuff there, including an interview with Donald Hoffman.
[10 or more links trigger Auto-Moderation that requires a Moderator to review and approve. This is because a large number of hyperlinks is a common characteristic of spammers. For robust debate, political or other, less is more, generally speaking – Incognito]
Mod note
Thanks for that. Will bear that in mind in the future. Just trying to be thorough .
One thing. you could try is putting a second comment with the references in the clear. eg where you said,
the first link in the second comment would be,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_problem_of_consciousness
This works for websites like wikipedia, because their URL tells you what the link is about. For those that don't, use the TS comment editor to put your own title in and then the link button for the link so we can see where it goes (esp helpful for people reading on phones). eg,
That also functions to stop the YT embed.
Interesting post – consciousness is one of the big mysteries remaining.
That seems a bit presumptuous, given the size and age of the universe. On this planet, perhaps.
Yes, I should have added "on earth". There may well be more intelligent life elsewhere. But then there is the Fermi Paradox. LOL.
I view all of this sort of stuff with interest and skeptisism, which is probably the right way to go.
Skepticism yes, but unbelievably interesting!!
My main problem with the Fermi Paradox is it conflates likelihood of intelligent life, with possibility of interstellar travel / communication. To me, extraterrestrial life (and occasionally, intelligent life) seems very likely. But it could be that there simply is no solution to the problem of interstellar travel over astonishingly large distances, no matter how advanced / intelligent you are.
So lack of observed aliens isn't strong evidence of lack of extraterrestrial life, to me.
Yes, the problem is, the alternative explanation, that conscious experience springs out of essentially just complex electrochemical interactions is a bid hard to accept as well. The normal explanation that "the brain is incredibly complicated" doesn't really seem to make sense to me.
You would probably find that "Closer to Truth" site really interesting. He interviews some of the best minds in the world, and asks incredibly good questions.
Possibly. But the number of possibilities even in our own galaxy must be huge. And we are talking about potentially billions of years to colonise space.
Another explanation I have heard is that it might just be that complex life to our level is incredibly rare, and there may just be no-one around to visit in the relatively small window of our civilisation, which in the context of the universe, is incredibly short.
Perhaps all the intelligent life that appeared elsewhere were like us as represented in the Isaac Asimov short story "Silly Asses" and they very shortly wiped themselves out? If you haven't read it a vey brief summary of the story is here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silly_Asses
Yes, that is another more sobering theory.
That life eventually reaches a technological point where it has the ability to wipe itself out, and usually does. Hence, noone survives long enough to pay us a visit.
Haven't read it, but I assume a variation on the theme that there is a common recurring process in the universe:
1) Life
2) Intelligent life (with various problematic and inevitable traits resulting from common evolutionary pressures / history)
3) Discover nukes
4) End Life with nukes
It was much shorter than that. In fact the whole story is about 400 words on one page. The basis is that anyone who would test nukes in the atmosphere of their own planet isn't going to survive. It was written in about 1956 when such tests were going on.
https://www.sffaudio.com/silly-asses-by-isaac-asimov/
And I would say the duopolists move….VERY slowly..kicking and struggling to not change.
"supermarkets".A major component of NZers fixed expenses. Everyone needs food and other associated items. Could Labour make a difference ?
There also is another alternative to the greedy gougers….
Cmon Labour..there are people struggling here….Make a difference. Could be votes in it ?
Keystone-cops style tank manouvering from the Russians. LOL.
lots of fun all round Smithfield, if thats your thing
lol
https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-destroying-us-tank-active-protection-2016-11
According to the British Ministry of Defense intelligence update the Russians are planning to send some T-14 Armata tanks to the Ukraine.
That is interesting – to me it is far to high risk a move to do unless you were getting desperately short of serviceable vehicles.
Likely if they do they'll be a high priority to be knocked out, recovered by the Ukraine and shipped to the USA before Easter.
https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1615955854724943873?cxt=HHwWgsC-2bjSg-0sAAAA
From what I have seen they have got hardly any of these anyway, and they have major reliability problems. In fact, that was the tank that broke down recently in a military parade.
I think David Fisher is one of the better journalists and this is well researched on why the abuse on Jacinda matters. And amazing that the Herald allowed his publication! No wonder her tenure was so fraught:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/david-fisher-dont-believe-it-matters-if-jacinda-ardern-was-abused-well-you-need-to-read-this/GHZ5ZVYZ2ZBHDOD77T6U2TYBCQ/
Paywalled. Some of us will go to our cremation without paying a dime to The Herald.
I only have the Herald paywall because my son's business account allows it.
However this should not diminish David Fishers researched column. David Fisher and Kate Hannah, director of The Disinformation Project. Some more:
I hold my nose and pay to get through the paywall in order to read David Fisher's and Simon Wilson's articles, plus one or two others, though I simply ignore all the blatantly rightwing pieces by the usual suspects. I have cancelled my subscription before and will so again if their ongoing campaign of support for the National Party gets further traction this year.
The media hang wringing over how it is possible for disinformation to become widespread doesn't involve a mirror…
https://twitter.com/paultudor/status/1618687482262077441
The media have this awful habit, which may be a mandatory Editorial directive, not to cite/link primary sources. This dogmatic stance goes against any rules of open & transparent journalism and reporting.
Facts about Health? Dr Shane Reti gets plenty of publicity, the sober, considered, experienced word. Telling us how terrible it all is.
Of course in the last couple of years the likes of his colleague Todd McClay have chimed in about with lack of resources in their regions.
Simon Wilson in The Herald this week:
"On the right, though, there’s an obsession with debt. John Key and Bill English, in power 2008-2017, made eliminating it their number-one goal.
Here’s one example of what that meant in practice. In the five years to 2017, National budgeted a total of only $781 million for “health infrastructure”: mainly, the maintenance and replacement of hospitals. In both 2015 and 2016, the figure was zero.
The result was that from Whangārei to Middlemore, the Hutt Valley to Dunedin, hospital buildings throughout the country were allowed to decay. Many, we have since discovered to our horror, are rotting, dangerous and urgently need replacing.
In Labour’s five years from 2018, they allocated $5.8 billion to addressing this. But to make good on the years of neglect, there is still much more to do."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/simon-wilson-chippy-vs-the-donors-de-luxe/76LVB2BAA5HD5B5GREONLV7J2I/
(Paywalled)
I found this interesting (not really politics) but I really cannot see why the ANZ should be responsible for this 'prominent kiwi entertainer's loss of $100k. Yes I know banks make excess profits, but they shouldn't have to pay for other people's decisions.
"A member of the bank’s international team advised him to check the beneficiary was legitimate, and if he was unsure, not to proceed."
The ANZ even asked again "When questioned again if he was comfortable sending the large sum of money to the offshore beneficiary, the entertainer told ANZ: “My financial adviser tells me it’s a perfectly legitimate company.”
Prominent Kiwi entertainer loses $100k in sophisticated investment scam – NZ Herald
Imagine if the ANZ had refused to transfer the funds for entertainer. They would have complained about the bank then too. .
Maybe his financial advisor could cover some of the loss
Yes he should but he wont as sounds like he was more of a friend. The advise given was terrible.
This person with an ovarian tumor is not "male". They should not be called so in medical literature.
We wonder if all gender confused female patients are explicitly warned by “gender doctors” about the risk of ovarian cancer prior to administering testosterone?
This is a massive harmful medical experiment on our children.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-020-01129-4
Such a depressing read. One paragraph split into salient points to consider:
"1. The presence of a sex hormone-sensitive cancer is a contraindication to testosterone therapy, but there are no formal recommendations for the use of testosterone in patients with SBT.
It is known that testosterone increased the likelihood of this person getting cancer, however, given that there are no formal dosages in place for adolescents who have already got cancer, this knowledge will not affect future prescription.
2. Given the importance of gender-affirming therapy, which has been shown to reduce suicide risk and improve overall well-being,14 our multi-disciplinary team carefully weighed the risks and benefits of restarting testosterone therapy and, in the context of a completely resected tumour and ambiguous risks associated with endogenous steroids, ultimately recommended restart.
Reference to a limited and biased study on suicidal risk and well-being, means that along with ignoring the development of cancer in this particular individual, we can collectively absolve ourselves of the responsibility of restarting the exogenous hormone therapy, and point the finger elsewhere if another tumor develops.
3. Appropriate tumour surveillance was also unclear as there is no data to guide management in this area.
We don't know how to monitor this person's ongoing health, or determine what to look for.
4. The team recommended at least 5 years of periodic transvaginal ultrasounds of the contralateral ovary unless oophorectomy was completed sooner.
We can fall on the standard in regards to ovarian tumors, but given the transgender status of this seventeen-year old, a successful approach will be the removal of the remaining ovary. Which will ensure infertility and lifelong dependence on medication, but that is not our purview. We just do oncology.
5. While transvaginal ultrasounds were deemed of higher sensitivity, transabdominal were prioritised given patient preference."
Given the uncertainty surrounding monitoring: the what and the when, although the how is more effective when done as prescribed, we will cater to the patient's desire for another method, which adds to the uncertainty of effectiveness.
A seventeen year old woman, who has only been on exogenous hormones for a few months has developed a cancer not usually seen in adolescents, which may be a result of testosterone. She is being treated by medics whose primary focus is to maintain affirming hormone treatment, not critically assess and determine what the best option are for prolonging life, maintaining health and/or fertility.
Black alert at 11 Auckland beaches due to wastewater overflows https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/483196/black-alert-at-11-auckland-beaches-due-to-wastewater-overflows
If only there was a party trying to fix our poor water systems. 💧 oh right there is. I hope there isn't too much of a back down on 3waters.
The Central Interceptor will fix a lot of that in relation to the isthmus beaches, but in the meantime there are things we can all do.
Install a rain tank. You can get a detention/retention tank that fits under your eaves or under your driveway. It holds back the first flush of stormwater in rain events, which is the cause of wastewater overflows where the WW/SW pipes are not separated. It gives you non-potable water for your garden, and – with the required building consent – water for flushing toilets and for the first rinse of your washing machine. It will save you $$$ on your water bill as well as saving water.
Br careful where you wash your car. If you wash it somewhere that drains to the street you are putting a dose of particulates, heavy metals, etc straight into the ocean as the street drains usually go to the nearest watercourse. If you would not throw the soapy water into the sea or the river, don't put it in the gutter.
Pick up that dog poo. If you kick it into the gutter, or leave it on the berm which drains to the gutter, you are contributing to the fecal coliform count in the harbour through the gutter drains.
There is a lot that goes into keeping our beaches and harbours clean and very little of it is cheap. That is why we need 3 Waters.
A Guardian opinion article makes a very salient point about the inherent classist nature of non-means tested pension age entitlements. UK pension age is shifting from 66 to 68, the pension is inflation-proofed, comes from the general tax fund or National Insurance (I think; go! Cullen Fund).
The classist nature comes in with data on UK 'healthy life expectancy'.
"Men in Richmond-on-Thames will, on average, live healthily until the age of 71, while for men in Blackpool, a healthy life expectancy is just 53 years, meaning they will wait in bad health, unable to work for 13 years, before qualifying for their pension at 66.", and
" 'If 68 becomes the new pension age, 60% [of UK men] reach that age with a disability that prevents them working' ".
Plus, richer, healthier people get the pension for longer, of course.
I was interested in this article because I had been thinking of the equivalent in NZ with pension age rise, regarding the poorer health outcomes and life expectancy for Māori.
Also, having long ago read a biography of MJ Savage's importance in the set up of the NZ Welfare state, he was extremely forceful on the 'no means testing' and universal entitlement of benefits like the Family Benefit and Pensions. His reason was, as an Aussie who lived through the 1880s depression, when up to 40% of Victorian men were longterm unemployed, he had felt the injustice in barring those who owned their own homes from social support, and who consequently lost them. Plus the humiliation of hoop-jumping to receive social help.
So I support the principle of universal entitlement, kinda. But is my support for this fair? was it fair to replace Family Benefit with Working for Families? One argument for universal entitlement is that political damage is more often done at policy level, with smaller hoops and more red-tape used to strangle social support for our neediest citizens (and residents). Another is that rich people like getting free stuff too, and are less likely to vote for, and politically fund, dismantlement of social benefits (cunning man, Savage).
Readers, I'm confused. Shouldn't we be strengthening our core social support network, rather than more and more targetted legislation like Employment Insurance? But I do know that raising pension age in NZ will definitely disdvantage Māori more. And I'm against policies where taxpayers' dosh goes straight into the pockets of banks and landlands (Accommodation Supplement).
And how does universal entitlement protect against the injustice of pension age limits? There would need to be parity between the pension and minimal hoop-jumping for longterm disability that precludes employment.
Universal Basic Income sounds like a great idea. Until you see UBI in the UK being mostly a direct taxpayer subsidy to the employers of workers on zero-hours contracts and under-paid jobs.
Readers, I'm confused.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/26/britain-rich-pensioners-state-pension-age-68-poor
[Link added – Incognito]
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/26/britain-rich-pensioners-state-pension-age-68-poor
Incognito,tThanks for the tidyup, please remove now superfluous posts. Ta muchly
Huh??
the two extra copies of the links.
Hadn't seen the 2nd copy @ 12:21 pm but will delete it; the other one can stay to show exemplatory self-moderation by tWiggle
Great word!
Never come across that one before
I know many words that you have never come across and never will, some don’t even exist yet. You seem to think that you are alone in the Universe
What an exemplary person you are , gracing me (so alone in the Universe) with your wisdom.
this would make a good post. How would you feel about me putting it up as a Guest Post?
I'm flattered my scattered musing caught your eye, weka. With minor edits, I'd be happy for that. I realised after a short think that the crux is, what model is replacing/has replaced the underpinning philosophy and political message of the Welfare State (or post-war Social Contract, I think it's called, in the UK), so I'd add that.
Grant Roberson goes list-only: Grant Robertson to retire from electorate, run on party list (NZH)
With Nicola Willis competing for Ōhāriu now (see Stuff), it could be an interesting electorate – Wellington Central that is. I think James Shaw (assuming he's still stands for Wellington Central) will be looking forward to the upcoming election.
When that was reprted in RNZ, it was followed by the observation that this move would make it easier for Robertson to retire if Labour do not get elected.
Triggered by energy efficiency.
https://twitter.com/Dexerto/status/1618068373950332930
Microsoft knows about the concerns of their major demographic:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/451490/climate-change-young-people-very-worried-survey
And stickies.
https://twitter.com/randysharpswife/status/1618366220876779520
https://twitter.com/randysharpswife/status/1618453435661291521
Grant Robertson going list only for Labour says to Hipkins get your Shadow Minister of Finance lead ready now in case you lose in October.
At least English had the courage to go leader after Key left.
Robertson. This better not be a BAU budget. It's the last big roll of the dice we have "in the tank".
If ever there was proof that Barry Soper is as nutty as a fruitcake this is it:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/the-front-page-barry-soper-on-the-legacy-of-jacinda-arderns-political-career/BCOUHBNZZVHRPMVRJTPSFEFVIM/
Now how did I guess in advance, which former PM Barry believes Jacinda Ardern is the most reminiscent of… 🙄
Hilarious.
Before clicking on the link, I said to myself "Rob Muldoon!", to pick the most absurd and ridiculous choice I could think of.
….low and behold! Soper really has no clue whatsoever.
"But Soper believes there’s another politician that offers a tenure more analogous to that of Ardern – and he comes from the ranks of the Labour party: David Lange."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/the-front-page-barry-soper-on-the-legacy-of-jacinda-arderns-political-career/BCOUHBNZZVHRPMVRJTPSFEFVIM/
Yes. I didn't quite get to the end of the item.
Now that is more analogous in the sense that Lange also had a drama filled term in office. I refer in particular to the nuclear free legislation and the Rainbow Warrior bombing.
I'm currently reading (at least re-reading after 20 years) Lange's book "Nuclear Free" where he dissects exactly what happened, and why the stand-off with the US and Britain became so fraught… culminating in NZ being tossed out of ANZUS. A fascinating story of misunderstandings, wrong interpretations and a head-in-sand attitude towards NZ and NZers.
Lange also resigned as PM before the end of his second term and probably for the same reason as Ardern. He was exhausted.
The system allows for the posting of an mp4 file using the image button.
If you don't like it perhaps you can have Lprent disallow it rather than blaming users.
Trying to alert this forum of the seriousness of the situation but you decided to censor that…
…just delete the whole thing for god’s sake.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
take a breath and a step back eh? Your sharing of the airport situation was good, I just needed to change the format.
Please don't gaslight me.
I didn't post that tweet and don't agree to you replacing what I did post with it.
Take it down, please.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
that’s fair enough, will do.
Ignore the mod bold comment, it's automated. I move this comment to OM so you would see my reply. Have deleted the other thread.