Open mike 27/03/2025
Written By:
- Date published:
6:00 am, March 27th, 2025 - 93 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags:
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
CommentsOpinions
Recent Comments
FeedsPartyGovtMedia
- The National Party’s Prison Pipeline Ruining New Zealand
The National Party government is doubling down on a grim, regressive vision for the future: more prisons, more prisoners, and a society fractured by policies that punish rather than heal. This isn’t just a misstep; it’s a deliberate lurch toward a dystopian future where incarceration is the answer to every ...17 hours ago - Don Brash’s NZME Power Grab Must Be Rejected
19 hours ago
- 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #16
A listing of 28 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 13, 2025 thru Sat, April 19, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...1 day ago - The “perfect storm” National can use to consolidate slash’n’burn policy is here…
“What I’d say to you is…” our Prime Minister might typically begin a sentence, when he’s about to obfuscate and attempt to derail the question you really, really want him to answer properly (even once would be okay, Christopher). Questions such as “Why is a literal election promise over ...1 day ago - Economic Futures – Climate Change and Modernity
Ruth IrwinExponential Economic growth is the driver of Ecological degradation. It is driven by CO2 greenhouse gas emissions through fossil fuel extraction and burning for the plethora of polluting industries. Extreme weather disasters and Climate change will continue to get worse because governments subscribe to the current global economic system, ...1 day ago - Winning Together
A man on telly tries to tell me what is realBut it's alright, I like the way that feelsAnd everybody singsWe are evolving from night to morningAnd I wanna believe in somethingWriter: Adam Duritz.The world is changing rapidly, over the last year or so, it has been out with the ...2 days ago - My Food Bag’s Cecilia Robinson Courts Your Money For Health
MFB Co-Founder Cecilia Robinson runs Tend HealthcareSummary:Kieran McAnulty calls out National on healthcare lies and says Health Minister Simeon Brown is “dishonest and disingenuous” (video below)McAnulty says negotiation with doctors is standard practice, but this level of disrespect is not, especially when we need and want our valued doctors.National’s $20bn ...2 days ago - The Case Against Chris Luxon Remaining PM
Chris Luxon’s tenure as New Zealand’s Prime Minister has been a masterclass in incompetence, marked by coalition chaos, economic lethargy, verbal gaffes, and a moral compass that seems to point wherever political expediency lies. The former Air New Zealand CEO (how could we forget?) was sold as a steady hand, ...2 days ago
- Cameron Slater’s Creepy Fixation On Jacinda Ardern
Has anybody else noticed Cameron Slater still obsessing over Jacinda Ardern? The disgraced Whale Oil blogger seems to have made it his life’s mission to shadow the former Prime Minister of New Zealand like some unhinged stalker lurking in the digital bushes.The man’s obsession with Ardern isn't just unhealthy...it’s downright ...2 days ago
- Fact brief – Is climate change a net benefit for society?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is climate change a net benefit for society? Human-caused climate change has been a net detriment to society as measured by loss of ...2 days ago
- National’s Water Done Well Will Cost Ratepayers More
When the National Party hastily announced its “Local Water Done Well” policy, they touted it as the great saviour of New Zealand’s crumbling water infrastructure. But as time goes by it's looking more and more like a planning and fiscal lame duck...and one that’s going to cost ratepayers far more ...2 days ago
- Trump’s Tariff Tantrum Is Causing Economic Chaos
Donald Trump, the orange-hued oligarch, is back at it again, wielding tariffs like a mob boss swinging a lead pipe. His latest economic edict; slapping hefty tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, has the stench of a protectionist shakedown, cooked up in the fevered minds of his sycophantic ...3 days ago
- The ‘China’ challenge: now a multi-generational test for Australian strategy
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...3 days ago - White Rabbit
One pill makes you largerAnd one pill makes you smallAnd the ones that mother gives youDon't do anything at allGo ask AliceWhen she's ten feet tallSongwriter: Grace Wing Slick.Morena, all, and a happy Bicycle Day to you.Today is an unofficial celebration of the dawning of the psychedelic era, commemorating the ...3 days ago - Why Has The World Forgotten About Hollywood?
It’s only been a few months since the Hollywood fires tore through Los Angeles, leaving a trail of devastation, numerous deaths, over 10,000 homes reduced to rubble, and a once glorious film industry on its knees. The Palisades and Eaton fires, fueled by climate-driven dry winds, didn’t just burn houses; ...3 days ago
- Viennese Refugees Who Changed the Way We Think
Four eighty-year-old books which are still vitally relevant today. Between 1942 and 1945, four refugees from Vienna each published a ground-breaking – seminal – book.* They left their country after Austria was taken over by fascists in 1934 and by Nazi Germany in 1938. Previously they had lived in ‘Red ...3 days ago - Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1496): A Complete...
Good Friday, 18th April, 2025: I can at last unveil the Secret Non-Fiction Project. The first complete Latin-to-English translation of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola’s twelve-book Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem (Disputations Against Divinatory Astrology). Amounting to some 174,000 words, total. Some context is probably in order. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) ...3 days ago - Hamish Campbell Lied About His Links With Two By Twos Cult
National MP Hamish Campbell's pathetic attempt to downplay his deep ties to and involvement in the Two by Twos...a secretive religious sect under FBI and NZ Police investigation for child sexual abuse...isn’t just a misstep; it’s a calculated lie that insults the intelligence of every Kiwi voter.Campbell’s claim of being ...4 days ago
- Is Shane Jones The Most Corrupt Politician in New Zealand?
New Zealand First’s Shane Jones has long styled himself as the “Prince of the Provinces,” a champion of regional development and economic growth. But beneath the bluster lies a troubling pattern of behaviour that reeks of cronyism and corruption, undermining the very democracy he claims to serve. Recent revelations and ...4 days ago
- Good Friday
Give me one reason to stay hereAnd I'll turn right back aroundGive me one reason to stay hereAnd I'll turn right back aroundSaid I don't want to leave you lonelyYou got to make me change my mindSongwriters: Tracy Chapman.Morena, and Happy Easter, whether that means to you. Hot cross buns, ...4 days ago - Luxon Turns A Blind Eye to Homelessness
New Zealand’s housing crisis is a sad indictment on the failures of right wing neoliberalism, and the National Party, under Chris Luxon’s shaky leadership, is trying to simply ignore it. The numbers don’t lie: Census data from 2023 revealed 112,496 Kiwis were severely housing deprived...couch-surfing, car-sleeping, or roughing it on ...4 days ago
- The Hoon around the week to April 18
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on a global survey of over 3,000 economists and scientists showing a significant divide in views on green growth; and ...4 days ago - Simeon Brown Has Caused The Doctor’s Strike
Simeon Brown, the National Party’s poster child for hubris, consistently over-promises and under-delivers. His track record...marked by policy flip-flops and a dismissive attitude toward expert advice, reveals a politician driven by personal ambition rather than evidence. From transport to health, Brown’s focus seems fixed on protecting National's image, not addressing ...4 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2025
Open access notables Recent intensified riverine CO2 emission across the Northern Hemisphere permafrost region, Mu et al., Nature Communications: Global warming causes permafrost thawing, transferring large amounts of soil carbon into rivers, which inevitably accelerates riverine CO2 release. However, temporally and spatially explicit variations of riverine CO2 emissions remain unclear, limiting the ...4 days ago
- Whatever Happened to Cactus Kate?
Once a venomous thorn in New Zealand’s blogosphere, Cathy Odgers, aka Cactus Kate, has slunk into the shadows, her once-sharp quills dulled by the fallout of Dirty Politics.The dishonest attack-blogger, alongside her vile accomplices such as Cameron Slater, were key players in the National Party’s sordid smear campaigns, exposed by Nicky ...4 days ago
- Sovereign capability can benefit Australia—up to a point
Once upon a time, not so long ago, those who talked of Australian sovereign capability, especially in the technology sector, were generally considered an amusing group of eccentrics. After all, technology ecosystems are global and ...4 days ago
- David Seymour’s Charter School Rort
The ACT Party leader’s latest pet project is bleeding taxpayers dry, with $10 million funneled into seven charter schools for just 215 students. That’s a jaw-dropping $46,500 per student, compared to roughly $9,000 per head in state schools.You’d think Seymour would’ve learned from the last charter school fiasco, but apparently, ...4 days ago
- Flexibility and awareness will help India deal with Trump (again)
India navigated relations with the United States quite skilfully during the first Trump administration, better than many other US allies did. Doing so a second time will be more difficult, but India’s strategic awareness and ...4 days ago
- Inflation data confirms real terms minimum wage cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year. “The prices of things that people can’t avoid are rising – meaning inflation is rising ...5 days ago - Climate Change: Kicking the can down the road again
Last week, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recommended that forestry be removed from the Emissions Trading Scheme. Its an unfortunate but necessary move, required to prevent the ETS's total collapse in a decade or so. So naturally, National has told him to fuck off, and that they won't be ...5 days ago - The Spirit for Australia: why Canberra should pursue the B-2 bomber
China’s recent naval circumnavigation of Australia has highlighted a pressing need to defend Australia’s air and sea approaches more effectively. Potent as nuclear submarines are, the first Australian boats under AUKUS are at least seven ...5 days ago
- A bit more unpicking of RB spending and the Funding Agreement
In yesterday’s post I tried to present the Reserve Bank Funding Agreement for 2025-30, as approved by the Minister of Finance and the Bank’s Board, in the context of the previous agreement, and the variation to that agreement signed up to by Grant Robertson a few weeks before the last ...5 days ago - A successful COP31 needs Pacific countries at the table
Australia’s bid to co-host the 31st international climate negotiations (COP31) with Pacific island countries in late 2026 is directly in our national interest. But success will require consultation with the Pacific. For that reason, no ...5 days ago
- Brown unveils unfunded health plan for small NZ
Old and outdated buildings being demolished at Wellington Hospital in 2018. The new infrastructure being funded today will not be sufficient for future population size and some will not be built by 2035. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Thursday, April 17:Simeon Brown has unveiled ...5 days ago - Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
The introduction of AI in workplaces can create significant health and safety risks for workers (such as intensification of work, and extreme surveillance) which can significantly impact workers’ mental and physical wellbeing. It is critical that unions and workers are involved in any decision to introduce AI so that ...5 days ago
- NZ Must Undertake a Peacekeeping Role in Trump’s Wars
Donald Trump’s return to the White House and aggressive posturing is undermining global diplomacy, and New Zealand must stand firm in rejecting his reckless, fascist-driven policies that are dragging the world toward chaos.As a nation with a proud history of peacekeeping and principled foreign policy, we should limit our role ...5 days ago
- Donald Trump’s first three months: rude, raucous and rogue
Sunday marks three months since Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president. What a ride: the style rude, language raucous, and the results rogue. Beyond manners, rudeness matters because tone signals intent as well as personality. ...5 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Left’s Electability Crisis, And The Abundance Ecotopia
There are any number of reasons why anyone thinking of heading to the United States for a holiday should think twice. They would be giving their money to a totalitarian state where political dissenters are being rounded up and imprisoned here and here, where universities are having their funds for ...5 days ago - Taiwan: the sponge that soaks up Chinese power
Taiwan has an inadvertent, rarely acknowledged role in global affairs: it’s a kind of sponge, soaking up much of China’s political, military and diplomatic efforts. Taiwan soaks up Chinese power of persuasion and coercion that ...5 days ago
- Women in combat roles strengthen our defence force
The Ukraine war has been called the bloodiest conflict since World War II. As of July 2024, 10,000 women were serving in frontline combat roles. Try telling them—from the safety of an Australian lounge room—they ...5 days ago
- China targets Canada’s election—and may be targeting Australia’s
Following Canadian authorities’ discovery of a Chinese information operation targeting their country’s election, Australians, too, should beware such risks. In fact, there are already signs that Beijing is interfering in campaigning for the Australian election ...5 days ago
- Climate Adam: Climate Scientist Reacts to Elon Musk
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). From "founder" of Tesla and the OG rocket man with SpaceX, and rebranding twitter as X, Musk has ...5 days ago
- Rattus Interneticus: Otago’s Internet Saga
Back in February 2024, a rat infestation attracted a fair few headlines in the South Dunedin Countdown supermarket. Today, the rats struck again. They took out the Otago-Southland region’s internet connection. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360656230/internet-outage-hits-otago-and-southland Strictly, it was just a coincidence – rats decided to gnaw through one fibre cable, while some hapless ...5 days ago - Spin (and obfuscation)
I came in this morning after doing some chores and looked quickly at Twitter before unpacking the groceries. Someone was retweeting a Radio NZ story with the headline “Reserve Bank’s budget to be slashed by 25%”. Wow, I thought, the Minister of Finance has really delivered this time. And then ...6 days ago
- Little’s pitch
So, having teased it last week, Andrew Little has announced he will run for mayor of Wellington. On RNZ, he's saying its all about services - "fixing the pipes, making public transport cheaper, investing in parks, swimming pools and libraries, and developing more housing". Meanwhile, to the readers of the ...6 days ago
- Our Rough Beast.
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, 1921ALL OVER THE WORLD, devout Christians will be reaching for their bibles, reading and re-reading Revelation 13:16-17. For the benefit of all you non-Christians out there, these are the verses describing ...6 days ago - What does India Want? What is New Zealand willing to give?
6 days ago
- President Trump is redefining America’s international role, and Australia has influence
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...6 days ago
- Simeon Brown Gaslights Doctors
Yesterday, 5,500 senior doctors across Aotearoa New Zealand voted overwhelmingly to strike for a day.This is the first time in New Zealand ASMS members have taken strike action for 24 hours.They are asking the government to fund them and account for resource shortfalls.Vacancies are critical - 45-50% in some regions.The ...6 days ago - ACT’s “Tough on Crime” Facade Crumbles with Jago’s Appeal
6 days ago
- Judith Collins’ Hypocrisy: War Drums Over Welfare
Judith Collins is a seasoned master at political hypocrisy. As New Zealand’s Defence Minister, she's recently been banging the war drum, announcing a jaw-dropping $12 billion boost to the defence budget over the next four years, all while the coalition of chaos cries poor over housing, health, and education.Apparently, there’s ...6 days ago
- Making the most of it
I’m on the London Overground watching what the phones people are holding are doing to their faces: The man-bun guy who could not be less impressed by what he's seeing but cannot stop reading; the woman who's impatient for a response; the one who’s frowning; the one who’s puzzled; the ...6 days ago - Maranga Ake
You don't have no prescriptionYou don't have to take no pillsYou don't have no prescriptionAnd baby don't have to take no pillsIf you come to see meDoctor Brown will cure your ills.Songwriters: Waymon Glasco.Dr Luxon. Image: David and Grok.First, they came for the Bottom FeedersAnd I did not speak outBecause ...6 days ago - Bernard’s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday, April 16
The Health Minister says the striking doctors already “well remunerated,” and are “walking away from” and “hurting” their patients. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Wednesday, April 16:Simeon Brown has attacked1 doctors striking for more than a 1.5% pay rise as already “well remunerated,” even ...6 days ago - Strengthening Australia’s space cooperation with South Korea
The time is ripe for Australia and South Korea to strengthen cooperation in space, through embarking on joint projects and initiatives that offer practical outcomes for both countries. This is the finding of a new ...6 days ago
- They Can Only Talk About One Thing
Hi,When Trump raised tariffs against China to 145%, he destined many small businesses to annihilation. The Daily podcast captured the mass chaos by zooming in and talking to one person, Beth Benike, a small-business owner who will likely lose her home very soon.She pointed out that no, she wasn’t surprised ...6 days ago - National’s Inflation Shame: Kiwis Pay the Price
National’s handling of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis is an utter shambles and a gutless betrayal of every Kiwi scraping by. The Coalition of Chaos Ministers strut around preaching about how effective their policies are, but really all they're doing is perpetuating a cruel and sick joke of undelivered promises, ...6 days ago
- Winston’s Mate Rhys Williams Has Been Unmasked
Most people wouldn't have heard of a little worm like Rhys Williams, a so-called businessman and former NZ First member, who has recently been unmasked as the venomous troll behind a relentless online campaign targeting Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle.According to reports, Williams has been slinging mud at Doyle under ...6 days ago
- Idiocy, Opportunity
Illustration credit: Jonathan McHugh (New Statesman)The other day, a subscriber said they were unsubscribing because they needed “some good news”.I empathised. Don’t we all.I skimmed a NZME article about the impacts of tariffs this morning with analysis from Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr. Kerr, their Chief Economist, suggested another recession is the ...6 days ago - US allies must band together in weapons development
Let’s assume, as prudence demands we assume, that the United States will not at any predictable time go back to being its old, reliable self. This means its allies must be prepared indefinitely to lean ...6 days ago
- I’ve been reading
Over the last three rather tumultuous US trade policy weeks, I’ve read these four books. I started with Irwin (whose book had sat on my pile for years, consulted from time to time but not read) in a week of lots of flights and hanging around airports/hotels, and then one ...6 days ago
- This is not the time for increasing Indonesia’s defence spending
Indonesia could do without an increase in military spending that the Ministry of Defence is proposing. The country has more pressing issues, including public welfare and human rights. Moreover, the transparency and accountability to justify ...6 days ago
- FSU Supports Chris Milne’s Right to Make Death Threats
6 days ago
- Winston is inciting terrorism
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...7 days ago
- Winston is inciting terrorism
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...7 days ago
- Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding?
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...7 days ago
- Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding?
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...7 days ago
- The Government is cutting, just as the economic recovery is stalling
The economy is not doing what it was supposed to when PM Christopher Luxon said in January it was ‘going for growth.’ Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short from our political economy on Tuesday, April 15:New Zealand’s economic recovery is stalling, according to business surveys, retail spending and ...7 days ago - For a safer Symonds Street
This is a guest post by Lewis Creed, managing editor of the University of Auckland student publication Craccum, which is currently running a campaign for a safer Symonds Street in the wake of a horrific recent crash. The post has two parts: 1) Craccum’s original call for safety (6 ...7 days ago - Tuesday 15 April
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff has published an opinion piece which makes the case for a different approach to economic development, as proposed in the CTU’s Aotearoa Reimagined programme. The number of people studying to become teachers has jumped after several years of low enrolment. The coalition has directed Health New ...7 days ago
- As China’s AI industry grows, Australia must support its own
The growth of China’s AI industry gives it great influence over emerging technologies. That creates security risks for countries using those technologies. So, Australia must foster its own domestic AI industry to protect its interests. ...7 days ago
- Luxon’s Economic Mismanagement
Unfortunately we have another National Party government in power at the moment, and as a consequence, another economic dumpster fire taking hold. Inflation’s hurting Kiwis, and instead of providing relief, National is fiddling while wallets burn.Prime Minister Chris Luxon's response is a tired remix of tax cuts for the rich ...7 days ago
- Girls and Boys
Girls who are boys who like boys to be girlsWho do boys like they're girls, who do girls like they're boysAlways should be someone you really loveSongwriters: Damon Albarn / Graham Leslie Coxon / Alexander Rowntree David / Alexander James Steven.Last month, I wrote about the Birds and Bees being ...7 days ago - Australia can learn from Britain on cyber governance
Australia needs to reevaluate its security priorities and establish a more dynamic regulatory framework for cybersecurity. To advance in this area, it can learn from Britain’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which presents a compelling ...7 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why The US Stands To Lose The Tariff Wars
Deputy PM Winston Peters likes nothing more than to portray himself as the only wise old head while everyone else is losing theirs. Yet this time, his “old master” routine isn’t working. What global trade is experiencing is more than the usual swings and roundabouts of market sentiment. President Donald ...1 week ago
.jpg){kind=link}
- Release: Labour marks the passing of Pope Francis
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins joins those mourning the passing of Pope Francis. ...6 hours ago - Release: Boot camps blog post fails to provide clarity
After stonewalling requests for information on boot camps, the Government has now offered up a blog post right before Easter weekend rather than provide clarity on the pilot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Inflation rises and families feel the squeeze
Inflation is rising again and it’s landing hardest on families already stretched thin. ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt doesn’t know how to fund new hospitals
The Government’s health infrastructure plan is big on promises but coy on where the money is coming from. ...6 days ago
- Release: $10 million for only 215 students in charter schools
David Seymour is pouring $10 million into charter schools that only have 215 students enrolled. ...6 days ago
- Release: Food prices further stretching the family budget
Families already stretched by rising costs will struggle with the news food prices are going up again. ...6 days ago
- Release: Mental health staff and patients at risk without plan
More people could be harmed if Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey does not guarantee to protect patients and workers as the Police withdraw from supporting mental health call outs. ...1 week ago
- Release: Driver licensing proposal doesn’t put safety first
The Government’s proposal to change driver licensing rules is a mixed bag of sensible and careless. ...1 week ago
- Release: Students struggling as Govt sits on hands
The Government is continuing to sit on its hands as students struggle to pay rent due to delays with StudyLink. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: More must be done to stop children going hungry
More children are going hungry and statistics showing children in material hardship continue to get worse. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens continue to call for Pacific Visa Waiver
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...2 weeks ago - More children going hungry under Coalition govt
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Longer wait for treatment under National
New Zealanders have waited longer to get an appointment with a specialist and to get elective surgery under the National Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Ka mate te Pire- Ka ora te mana o Te Tiriti o Waitangi me te iwi Māori
Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...2 weeks ago
- Chris Hipkins speech: Treaty Principles Bill second reading
Normally, when I rise in this House to speak on a bill, I say it's a great privilege to speak on the bill. That is not the case today. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: End to the Treaty Principles Bill, but challenges remain ahead for Aotearoa
Ka mate te pire I te rā neiThe bill dies today ...2 weeks ago
- Ka mate te Pire, ka ora Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty Principles Bill dead, Te Tiriti o Waitangi m...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement. ...2 weeks ago
- Member’s Bill an opportunity for climate action
A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Bill to make trading laws fairer passes first hurdle
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Reserve Bank acts while Govt shrugs
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Property Law Amendment Bill pulled from ballot
A Bill to protect first home buyers and others from bad faith property vendors has been drawn from the Member’s Ballot. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: More children at risk of losing family connections
Karen Chhour is proposing to scrap Oranga Tamariki targets which aim to connect more children under state care with family and their culture. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: David Parker made a difference – Hipkins
The Labour Leader today acknowledged and celebrated David Parker’s 23-year contribution to the Labour Party and to Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: David Parker to step down from Parliament
Long-serving Labour MP and former Minister David Parker has today announced his intention to leave Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Flaws in Govt’s climate strategy will cost us money
The Government’s plan to achieve our climate goals falls short, and will cost New Zealanders money and jobs. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill
Read the Green Party's differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill, prepared by Tamatha Paul. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Urges Governor-General to Block Repeal of 7AA
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Abortion care quietly shelved amid staff shortage
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Govt guts Kāinga Ora, third of workforce under axe
The gutting of Kāinga Ora shows public housing is not a priority for this Government as it removes a third of the roles at the housing agency. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Thousands of submissions excluded from Treaty Principles Bill report
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Uncertainty remains over the impact of tariffs
Today’s announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Worst February for building consents in over a decade
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports Willie Apiata’s selfless act
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...3 weeks ago
No feed items found.
- Election Diary: Albanese government stays mum over whatever Russia may have said to Indonesia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The imbroglio over the reported Russian request to Indonesia to base planes in Papua initially tripped Peter Dutton, and now is dogging Anthony Albanese. After the respected military site Janes said a request had ...3 hours ago - How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Schmalz, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Cardinals attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013, in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty ...4 hours ago
- Twinkling star reveals the shocking secrets of turbulent plasma in our cosmic neighbourhood
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Reardon, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pulsar Timing and Gravitational Waves, Swinburne University of Technology Artist’s impression of a pulsar bow shock scattering a radio beam. Carl Knox/Swinburne/OzGrav With the most powerful radio telescope in the southern hemisphere, we have observed a twinkling star ...6 hours ago
- Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Hodge, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with a serious bout of double pneumonia. ...6 hours ago
- Pope Francis tried to change the Catholic Church for women, with mixed success
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracy McEwan, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. On Easter Sunday, he used his message and blessing to appeal ...6 hours ago
- Community housing builds stalled as providers left without financial security
Of the 1500 new places, 1000 were last week allocated to five housing providers through 'strategic partnerships' to make contracting the homes more efficient. ...12 hours ago - Will a new chief science advisor be appointed soon?
The role has been vacant since Dame Juliet Gerrard stepped down in June last year. ...12 hours ago
- ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 21, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 21, 2025. A secret mathematical rule has shaped the beaks of birds and other dinosaurs for 200 million yearsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathleen Garland, PhD Candidate, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University ...13 hours ago
- A secret mathematical rule has shaped the beaks of birds and other dinosaurs for 200 million years
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathleen Garland, PhD Candidate, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University The faces of living and extinct theropod dinosaurs. Left: Riya Bidaye; right: Indian Roller model (NHMUK S1987) from TEMPO bird project – MorphoSource. Bird beaks come in almost every shape and size ...18 hours ago
- Curious Kids: if heat rises, why does it get colder in the mountains?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (Climate Science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Shutterstock/EvaL Miko If heat rises, why does it get colder as you climb up mountains? – Ollie, 8, Christchurch, New Zealand That is an ...18 hours ago
- From the doable to the downright impossible: your guide to making sense of election promises
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Rindert Algra-Maschio, PhD Candidate, Social and Political Sciences, Monash University Three weeks into the federal election campaign and both major parties have already pledged to spend billions in taxpayer dollars if elected on May 3. But with so many policies ...18 hours ago
- Security without submarines: the military strategy Australia should pursue instead of AUKUS
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Palazzo, Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney For more than a century, Australia has followed the same defence policy: dependence on a great power. This was first the United Kingdom and then ...18 hours ago
- Prison needle programs could save double what they cost – our new modelling shows how
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Farah Houdroge, Mathematical Modeller, Burnet Institute ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock Needle and syringe programs are a proven public health intervention that provide free, sterile injecting equipment to people who use drugs. By reducing needle sharing, these programs help prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses ...18 hours ago
- ‘Puppy blues’: how to cope with the exhaustion and stress of raising a puppy
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Lucigerma/Shutterstock Caring for a new puppy can be wonderful, but it can also bring feelings of depression, extreme stress and exhaustion. This is sometimes referred to as “the ...18 hours ago
- A survey of Australian uni students suggests more than half are worried about food or don’t have e...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine Kent, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Wollongong StoryTime Studio/ Shutterstock Being a university student has long been associated with eating instant noodles, taking advantage of pub meal deals and generally living frugally. But for several ...18 hours ago
- Low effort, high visibility: what bumper stickers say about our values and identity
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Harrison, Director, Master of Business Administration Program (MBA); Co-Director, Better Consumption Lab, Deakin University Justin Sullivan/Getty You may have seen them around town or in the news. Bumper stickers on Teslas broadcasting to anyone who looks: “I bought this before ...18 hours ago
- How a new ‘Fishheart’ project is combining science, community and Indigenous art to restore life...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Hooker, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator, Health and Medical Humanities, University of Sydney A new state-of-the-art tube fishway technology called the “Fishheart” has been launched at Menindee Lakes, located on the Baaka-Darling River, New South Wales. The technology – part of ...18 hours ago
- Patients have ‘bigger concerns’ than one-day strike – advocate
Patient Voice Aotearoa chairperson Malcolm Mulholland said most Kiwis would support healthcare strikes over a system "in crisis". ...19 hours ago
- Migrante Aotearoa Condemns Harassment And Intimidation Tactics Against Victims Of Migrant Exploitati...
This Easter Sunday harassment of the victim’s family is part of a deliberate tactic to silence the victims, who were wrongfully duped of their money, efforts and hopes for a better future. ...21 hours ago - What does the future hold for whenua Māori?
Māori own huge areas of land in Aotearoa but as climate change accelerates and carbon markets take hold, many are being backed into a corner. Māori connections to the whenua and ngahere run deep, rooted in whakapapa and sustained through generations. Today, that whenua is at a crossroads – squeezed ...23 hours ago - Daily crossword, Monday 21 April
The post Daily crossword, Monday 21 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...23 hours ago - Lessons from the fog of war
Comment: Two decades ago, I drove from Germany to Southern Belgium to visit the Commonwealth Memorial at Tyne Cot. The remains of my great grandmother’s brother, Private Robert Macalister, lay there. I didn’t know what to expect.Even in early summer, nine decades later, Passchendaele was blanketed in a thick, low ...23 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 21 April
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('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. .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title { font-size: 1.2em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .entry-meta { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; margin-top: 0.5em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-meta { font-size: 0.8em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .avatar { height: 25px; width: ...23 hours ago
- Election Diary: Coalition makes ‘law-and-order’ pitch, with plan to invest proceeds of drug crim...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As it seeks to gain some momentum for its campaign, the Coalition on Monday will focus on law and order, announcing $355 million for a National Drug Enforcement and Organised Crime Strike Team to fight ...1 day ago
- Newspoll steady as both leaders’ ratings fall; Labor surging in poll of marginal seats
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 With less than two weeks to go now until the federal election, the polls continue to favour the government being returned. ...1 day ago
- Caitlin Johnstone: ‘I want a death that the world will hear’ – journalist assassinated b...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Israel assassinated a photojournalist in Gaza in an airstrike targeting her family’s home on Wednesday, the day after it was announced that a documentary she appears in would premier in Cannes next month. Her name was ...1 day ago
- Indicators of alien life may have been found – astrophysicist explains what the new research means
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Whittaker, Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University Darryl Fonseka/Shutterstocl What do you think of when it comes to extra terrestrial life? Most popular sci-fi books and TV shows suggest humanoid beings could live on other planets. But when astronomers ...1 day ago
- ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 20, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 20, 2025. Mediawatch: Jailed Australian foreign correspondent’s life spread across the big screenBy Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter In 1979, Sam Neill appeared in an Australian comedy movie about hacks on a Sydney newspaper. The Journalist ...2 days ago
- Mediawatch: Jailed Australian foreign correspondent’s life spread across the big screen
By Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter In 1979, Sam Neill appeared in an Australian comedy movie about hacks on a Sydney newspaper. The Journalist was billed as “a saucy, sexy, funny look at a man with a nose for scandal and a weakness for women”. That would probably not fly ...2 days ago
- Threat of climate change downgraded in defence force plan
The governments blueprint of how it will invest $12 billion over the next four years into the New Zealand Defence Force mentions climate change twice. ...2 days ago
- Protesters set up camp at fast-tracked coal mine
Protesters are occupying the site of a proposed fast-tracked coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, near Westport. The 70-strong group, organised by climate activism group 350Aotearoa, says this is just the first of a series of protest actions they are prepared to take against the mining company, Bathurst Resources Ltd., if ...2 days ago
- The watchdog that listens: Peter Boshier reflects on nine years as Ombudsman
He says the public can rest assured that there is an enduring institution fighting for fairness and accountability. ...2 days ago
- Photography gains ground in art market
In an art world context, photography has evolved significantly over the years pushing boundaries in both technique and concept. No longer the poor cousin of painting, but still much more affordable thanks to photographs being sold in numbered editions, an art photograph doesn’t merely capture a moment—artists use the medium ...2 days ago
- The global challenge making your backyard come alive
Last year, 20,000 observations of Christchurch species were made during the annual City Nature Challenge, a way for anyone to get involved in biodiversity. It’s back again this month. Even in suburbia, even on grey autumn weekends, there is biodiversity. You just need the time to look for it: to ...2 days ago
- Palestinian solidarity vigil at Easter in NZ as Israeli bombing rages in Gaza
Asia Pacific Report Peaceful protesters in Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest city Auckland held an Easter prayer vigil honouring Palestinian political prisoners and the sacrifice of thousands of innocent lives as relentless Israeli bombing of displaced Gazans in tents killed at least 92 people in two days. Organisers of the rally ...2 days ago
- Labour’s Chris Hipkins stands by initial Covid response, but admits mistakes were made
Labour's Chris Hipkins shares on a podcast his thoughts on the government's Covid response and his journey as a politician. ...2 days ago
- Did Australia back the wrong war in the 1960s? Now Putin’s Russia is knocking on the door
ANALYSIS: By Ben Bohane This week Cambodia marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh to the murderous Khmer Rouge, and Vietnam celebrates the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces in April 1975. They are being commemorated very differently; after all, there’s nothing to celebrate in Cambodia. ...2 days ago
- Trump executive orders roll back ocean fisheries protections in Pacific
By Gujari Singh in Washington The Trump administration has issued a new executive order opening up vast swathes of protected ocean to commercial exploitation, including areas within the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. It allows commercial fishing in areas long considered off-limits due to their ecological significance — despite ...2 days ago
- ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 19, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 19, 2025. Google loses online ad monopoly case. But it’s just one of many antitrust battles against big techSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior Research Associate in Media and Communications, University ...3 days ago
- Battlefield Remains Unearthed By Wildfires In Gallipoli Covered Over By Kiwi Team
New Zealand commemoration lead John McLeod said a small team, including members of the NZDF and the NZ Embassy, assisted in the covering up of remains that were exposed. ...3 days ago
Anne puts TINA to bed.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/24/anne-salmond-the-emperors-clothes/#comment-335517
If you don’t know what TINA stands for and its origins, then brush up here.
(sigh..!)
..national/coc propose a reactionary/repressive…and most importantly..a deeply illogical/irrational ..roadside drug testing policy …
..and labour rush to vote for it..
F.f.s…!
That’s a load of negative adjectives there. Why don’t you explain why you think these adjectives apply to the Coalition’s Bill that’s now becoming Act. Use as many ellipses as you need but don’t go dotty …
Ok..
…cannabis stays in the system..so a previous days use will give a positive reaction..how to deal with that..?
Those with legal weed will test positive . .so a cop over-rules a doctor..?..since when..? .how to deal with that..?
Cocaine/meth:…the facts of those drugs mean they do not impair driving…they make the users more alert…and arguably improve their road safety..which is why long distance lorry drivers have traditionally used meth…to stop them from falling asleep at the wheel…
But the real howler around this one…is all those people whacked off their tits on prescription meds..which most definitely do impair driving skills..
And so many old people who gobble down their daily dose of multiple uppers/downers/leapers/screamers…
…and then go hop in their cars…
..is that enough irrational/illogical to be getting on with.. ?
And I would love to hear just why labour voted for this dog’s arse piece of legislation.
Quoting Andy Huggins on YouTube…
"The cop came over and handed me the bag with the tube on it. My troubles really started when I inhaled, then passed the bag over to the cop. YOLO"
Doesn't test impairment.
How would that be able to be done? I know of folks that can consume quantities of electric puha that would stupify The Wailers, but can still function adequately.
None of this excuses impaired driving, obviously roads are part of the commons and respect for other road users is paramount.
That doesn't entitled the state to dispossess a citizen of their property and liberty because a 'spit test' picks up presence of cannabinoids in the system.
As to Labour, centrists gotta centrist.
I know people who smoke a lot (or even a little) and believe they're not impaired. That's a feature of cannabis culture.
Have a read of the rules, they kind of make sense. I don't have an opinion on the usefulness of the legislation, still waiting for some good analysis of the actual Bill.
Unless the spit test has improved remarkably ( it hasn't or else they would be telling us), the wider important point stands, you can test positive and not be impaired. (Yesterday's toot.)
it's not an impairment tests as far as I can tell, see my comment here,
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27-03-2025/#comment-2029748
Define "recent".
I didn't write the rules 🤷♀️
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27-03-2025/#comment-2029757
I tried to add: the extra bullshitty part of this, considering impairment or lack of, is the random stop aspect.
Do the saliva test if there's due cause (forgive me if that's not the local terminology).
I can see this impacting our caramel cousins and to fight it you can pay for a private test to be done.
Did Paula Bennett (P testing industry goddess) consult on the legislation?/sarc.
Here's The Greens on this.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20250325_056760000/men%c3%a9ndez-march-ricardo
Menendez sums it up well…
…and I guess we still haven't heard why labour would take the unusual move..of voting in an opposition bill…
.. especially one so fundamentally flawed ..
I'm sure M/PI people will be disporportionately negatively affected, as per usual.
I'm not saying it's a good law, I'm just pointing out that we seem to be arguing without knowing what the law actually intends to do.
The other feature is it convinces users that it's harmless ,has no long term effects on tthe mandatory they're not addicted in some way, unlike drinkers who no it isn't good for them but carry on anyway.
that's interesting, because is it culture or the drug itself that does that? Alcohol is physically addictive in ways that cannabis isn't, so perhaps people that overuse alcohol have a better sense of it because they know what it's like to not be able to stop. Whereas cannabis addiction seems to be more psychological with physical effects, and produces different kinds of downsides that tbf aren't as destructive generally, so maybe the whole chill vibe has lead to the idea that it's not harmful at all.
I'm of 2 minds about this legislation.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/556311/concerns-new-drug-driving-testing-could-detect-medication
People who are going to drive drugged (the illegal drugged) are going to drive, the same way some drunk people are going to drive, and laws don't make any difference to them.
But with regards to medical prescriptions-
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/medication/#:~:text=Check%20to%20see%20if%20you,feeling%20drowsy%20or%20sleepy
It's a self-assessment to decide if you're ok to drive or now, and a lot of people can't recognise it, and are also in denial about their limitations. I certainly know that the type of medication I take could affect me driving (moot point because I'm permanently banned anyway). Muscle weakness, slow reaction times for starters. The symptoms they ask you to check aren't always recognisable, so driving seems quite reasonable.
There's a lot of people out there on the roads who are technically impaired by prescription meds and by rights shouldn't be behind the wheel. They are also the types of meds that are unlikely to show up in drug testing, so what do we do?
Lots of social cannabis users drive who now might think twice about it if there are consequences, especially if there are random police stops. It's about lowering overall risk of accidents.
Of course, and I think we can all agree that can only be a good thing. It doesn't help the problem of impairment by prescribed medication.
https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/Alerts/driving-impairment.asp
If a qualifying drug is identified, a medical defence is available for the use of prescription medicines for drug driving offences:
Except a lot of people don't read the caution with driving warning that appears on the patient info leaflets, and too many doctors don't even mention it. In my opinion, people who drive medication-impaired, whether or not they crash, deserve some sort of punishment. I acknowledge my driving ban influences my views on this, people have just got to learn that driving is a privelige, not some god-given right.
I think it is more a case of labour giving a textbook example of the incrementalism that has so blighted them…for so long ..
Being seen to be doing something about something…but not really achieving much at all..
That..and hipkins ongoing lifting of his skirt/flirting with national…around the idea of a grand coalition between the two…
And this legislation is reason number 53 why users should get themselves a script for legal weed ..
..and the standard reply to police should be: 'i will test positive..because I used some of my prescribed medicine yesterday'…
Yup, that'll work…
/
The legislation gives police powers to undertake random roadside saliva tests, similar to drink-driving enforcement.
Drivers who return a positive result will have their saliva sample sent for further laboratory testing. If that subsequent test finds qualifying drugs and an indication of recent use, the drivers would be issued a fine and demerit points.
Two positive roadside tests would be required before a driver is prohibited from driving for 12 hours.
Under changes made at the committee stage, drivers will be able to challenge the result once an infringement notice has been issued following a positive test, by paying a private analyst to test the oral fluid sample.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/547547/drug-driving-testing-legislation-passes-despite-concerns
I haven't driven anything since 2010 and frankly that's just as well. Tiredness I found was so damn dangerous – maybe someday they will find an easy way to measure fatigue. Never tried and have no interest in trying meth. I will concede weed affects reaction times but i used to find with the enjoyment of the action of driving the focus on performing the task and absence of aggression to be positives. With alcohol, as well as the physical impairment, the aggression increase and the attacks of leadfoot driving were absolutely the most dangerous.
so long as you have an actual prescription and receipt for purchase.
And then what, dive on, sir? I don't think so because afaik, the law hasn't changed and returning a positive test will be sanctioned despite any actual prescription and receipt for purchase.
dunno, I haven't read the Bill. Have you?
I have and cannabis, actual prescription and receipt for purchase or not, is a qualifying drug.
11A Persons not to drive or attempt to drive while blood contains evidence of, or oral fluid indicates, use of qualifying drug
(1)
A person may not drive or attempt to drive a motor vehicle while—
(a)
the person’s blood contains evidence of use of a qualifying drug (see sections 57A(1) and (2), 57B(1) and (2), and 57C(1) and (2)); or
(b)
the person’s oral fluid indicates use of a qualifying drug (see sections 57A(3), 57B(3), and 57C(3) and (4)).
(2)
A person’s blood contains evidence of use of a qualifying drug if—
(a)
the blood concentration level of a listed qualifying drug exceeds the tolerance level for the drug; or
(b)
the blood contains any level of an unlisted qualifying drug.
(3)
For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), a person’s oral fluid indicates use of a qualifying drug if the results of a first oral fluid test and a second oral fluid test subsequently undergone by the person are positive and indicate the use of the same qualifying drug.
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2022/0005/latest/whole.html
oh good, maybe you can clarify. Does the infringement kick in for any presence of any of the said drugs, or does it have to be a certain level?
@ weka..
I carry a prescription container in my glove box…at all times..
And I urge others to do the same…
It's not going to get you off the hook should you return a positive roadside test.
But it will be the basis to fight it…
.. I'm up for that…
..and I would factor in an anecdote told me by a prescribing doctor…
One of his patients at one love..smoking a large spliff..
..three cops walking towards him…
..one cop asks him if he has a prescription for that..
..he nods ..and the cops didn't even break stride..
..unsure how that factors into all this…
Basis to fight what, driving under the influence of a qualifying drug?
Good luck with that….
a prescription for cannabis? Are you getting high from that?
Nah..!
Just proof of my legal use…
..but I felt ' high' when I got my first script…
..a definite/literal feeling ..
..induced by casting off the shackles of prohibition …
..it felt quite liberating..
..(yet another reason for users to go legal..)
My first response is, do they have they science based research to indicate a sufficiency to prove to the level of driving impairment?
1.alcohol
2.THC
3.amphetamines of various types
MDMA is prescribed for PTSD, others a form of amphetamine for ADHD. If the level of drug presence is not to the level of impairment, it should pass the test.
An irony is that some who use meth now, to remain alert, will be less safe, if tired. Tired truckers and speed are both dangerous.
Some effort to not victimise people, and not make things worse is part of legislative work.
It's nice that we have a new tech device, but …
as far as I can tell it's not a test for impairment, it's a test for recent use,
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/547547/drug-driving-testing-legislation-passes-despite-concerns
There is an impairment level for alcohol, why not for others?
It's poor legislation on this ground alone.
Thus those with PTSD and ADHD are going to be messed around with. They do not need this.
If there is not an impairment level standard, it is just a means to identify and punish drug users under "road safety".
It reminds one of tests to block those who smoked at the weekend from working. Now from roads on following days.
This is not road safety legislation, it is a fraud.
The article indicates sufficient reason – harm to so many New Zealanders who would be driving safely – to question the credibility of all those who voted for it.
Because blood alcohol is an easy measurement that correlates closely with impairment. This is not true of other drugs afaik. So the legislation can't be condemned because other drugs aren't the same as alcohol.
@ weka..
But it can be 'condemned' for all the other flaws highlighted in this thread .
..surely…?
you'd have to be more specific.
Comment 2.1.1..
Plus what kay…and others have highlighted..
from 2.1.1.
Is the law going to catch any use, or just above a certain level?
Muck like workplace testing, to an upper limit to account for passive/casual contact.
if your argument is that evidence of recent use isn't sufficient reason to stop someone driving, then I would agree depending on how recent the test is meant to capture. Someone who smoked cannabis yesterday isn't still going to be stoned. So we lack information in this thread.
What 'information' is lacking..?
People will test positive for cannabis up to 72 hrs after consumption…
How in anyone's name is that either logical..or rational…?
what level on testing is deemed sufficient to stable recent and get demerit points?
Dunno the specifics of that..but a heavy session the nite before would likely still read high the next morning..despite the intoxication being long gone..
I'll wait until I know how the process works.
Pithy version
It will do more harm than good and is in breach of civil liberties.
I welcome our Supreme Court indicating its contempt.
here's the legislation if anyone else wants to read it and make sense of the testing.
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2024/0069/latest/whole.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_drug_resel_25_a&p=1#LMS965582
sorry, that's the amendment bill, so not very easy to read.
This, just this.
Ash Sarker's analysis goes a long way to explaining the staggering difference in social attitudes between young men and young women.
But it got me thinking – if Labour or the Greens really wanted to reconnect with young men, they'd run an ad series on SM where a guy has an emotional journey from living this kind of life to discovering socially useful work, and turns down a lonely night of working at some flash restaurant to go help out with his local scouts group or whatever.
Haven't watched the link but I will later.
One thing, from yr comment resonates. Males, generally enjoy, acknowledge and are drawn to the idea of something bigger than themselves.
Be that sports teams/ groups, scouting, church etc. All things that have lost value in today's society.
Sarkar is often pithily on the mark. Though I'm not sure her observation is a new one. I remember from long ago the observation (from someone I've forgotten) that young women are validated simply by who they are, while young men are validated only by what they do. Young women can 'be', young men must 'become'. That may be an age-old dynamic, but in the modern world everything and anything can and must be monetised, with corrupting effects. The idea that 'becoming' can be achieved through something other than self-obsession and personal gain – through socially useful work for example – is something to hang on to and promote.
It seems to be true of young men focusing on what they want to become, but it's also true of many young women. Social pressure from media, social media, fashion industry, etc is strongly focused on how young women present visually: thin, young-looking, conventionally feminine rather than being assertive, and/or more butch looking, etc: ie to be looked at rather than to be appreciated for what they are, to be appropriately submissive on many occasions, and on limited ways on what they do: ie should care for others and be less into striving for their own development and success in society.
Social pressure does put more stress on the things men do, giving an idea of what young men are to strive for in terms of individual social, political and employment success.
Was the US Houthi Strike chat group using Signal a bungle or intended? Paul Buchanan at Kiwipolitico poses some interesting points…
https://www.kiwipolitico.com/2025/03/signalling-deliberate-reckless-disregard/
to quote his para #5
“5) There are reports that Signal was used to avoid Freedom of Information ACT (FOI) and Official Records Act (ORA) scrutiny. This was recommended by Project 2025 to eliminate information data that might be considered prejudicial or controversial if made public under the FOI or as part of ORA obligations (since apps like Signal permanently delete conversations once they are closed, so no records of them are kept). Deliberately trying to circumvent the ORA is illegal. Think of the historical precedent: Nixon’s Watergate tapes;”
Thanks for that…
Lefties should have a copy of project 2025…
..as a reference/explainer asset…
White House comms focus on, the invitation to the journalist onto the chat, appears to be the diversion to distract people from noticing.
It's started already. At this rate they can write off the mid-terms as a means of reining in the Trump gang.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-signs-executive-order-requiring-proof-of-citizenship-in-federal-elections/ar-AA1BEvLK
It's birth certificates or passports for ID. Otherwise birth certificates and drivers licenses (state photo ID if they have no drivers license). Or birth certificates, marriage certificate (change of name) and drivers licenses.
A passport does it all in one, but most Americans do not have one.
It’s bureaucratic obstructionism.
I'd be more worried about mail in voting restraint* (subsequent reduction in options for early voting in targeted areas and also fewer voting booths on the day will follow).
Taking over US Post and mail in votes having to be received by election day*.
That many Americans have to vote on a day they are required to work is the kicker here.
Blatant voter suppression.
Dr Hugo Z Hackenbush
@MangyLover
Remember when the far right Heritage Foundation found only 193 official findings of mail in voter fraud. In 30 years. Out of 250 million?
https://x.com/MangyLover/status/1853562227543937068
https://electionfraud.heritage.org/
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-voting-elections-executive-order/
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-anti-voting-order-draws-furious-pushback/
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/with-new-order-trump-tries-to-kill-off-vote-by-mail/
Remember, during one election speech, Trump promised the audience, vote for me this time, and you’ll never have to vote again.
Yep..!
The coup will be going down before the mid-terms…
Hence the urgency with which trump is filling all areas of gummint/military with his supporters..
He already has the supreme court stacked with those who support him…
So…a bit of civil unrest…a state of emergency declared by trump…then military rule/elections suspended…
That’s how ya do it…
That is exactly the way I see it happening. Get the (non-MAGA) population angry, to the point of physical violence, and voila martial law.
I predict mid-2026.
Also add ex-prisoners, who have a labrynthine process to re-register, and who have been incorrectly prosecuted for alleged voter fraud.
With the disproportionately high incarceration rate for african-americans, this is another example of systemic racism via disenfranchisment.
Realistically, most of the people being described as 'disenfranchised' don't actually vote.
And, the argument about it preventing criminals from voting, is unlikely to be seen as a problem by the vast majority of the population (a crim is a crim, even when they're released from jail.)
It may go down well with the left-wing intelligensia – but they're already in agreement with you. It will leave the right wing and centre, entirely unmoved.
The majority of the US voting population (as in the people currently registered to vote, and who regularly do vote) – don't see a problem with turning up with ID. They might grumble a little about the 'bureaucracy' – but it's not even a significant inconvenience for them. Especially if its presented as a patriotic duty to prevent criminal non-citizens voting [Yes, yes I know, the numbers who've actually done so are minuscule, but it's the message which is being sold]
You might have greater success by attacking the law on patriotic grounds. 'No government can tell me that I have to have a stinkin' piece of paper to vote in this man's America'
But, even if they won on this issue, would the Democrats actually be better off at the polls? I seriously doubt it. And they'll have used up a lot of political capital to get there.
It's a political distraction.
That
1.democrats can only win the House with a majority of the popular vote is down to gerrymandering.
2.exploiting the movement of those who rent (within areas) to remove people from rolls has more impact on those registered as democrats
3.limiting booths in some areas with more registered democrats
4.limiting early voting
5.obstructing mail in voting
6.requiring people to vote on a working day
it is not to distract democrats, but to let them know that the GOP prefer a system that is deliberately unfair to their opponents.
Like blocking an Obama nomination to SCOTUS for a year.
None of that is changed by this new legislation.
And, clearly, it wasn't sufficiently important to the Dems when they were in government during the last several administrations, to fix. So it can't be a major concern for them.
The executive order includes restrictive rules for mail in voting.
Democrats at federal level cannot change state practice, without GOP buy in.
I don't see what your argument is. Are you complaining that some states have Republican leadership, and therefore wouldn't (in the future) follow a Democratic federal lead?
Surely the same would hold true for the current situation, where Democratic states can choose not to follow a Republican federal lead.
Or is it that it's only Trump who has thought to issue executive orders?
Of course, now the principle has been established, future Democrat Presidents can follow suit.
It seems incredibly unlikely that dropping the mail in option, is going to significantly change the voting balance.
Taking California, for example, a heavy mail-voting state. Over half the registered voters are Democrats, while only 25% (and dropping) are Republicans. It would require heroic levels of voter disenfranchisement to change the Senate/Congress results at mid-terms or full elections.
The idea of a POTUS trying to advantage their party keeping control of the House at the half-term in this way, is unique.
It is a bit like the McConnell blocking the POTUS 44 nomination of Garland to SCOTUS in 2016.
An original corruption.
Other can follow it and make it bi-partisan, is that your view?
I don't see any serious attempt to leverage the vote.
1. The vast majority of the people that *may* be disenfranchised, currently don't vote.
2. The States like California, which have large percentages of mail-in votes – are not swing States. Even the most pessimistic view of the outcome of this legislation, doesn't envisage that it will turn California Red!
3. If it turns out that 'ordinary' US voters (many of whom are Republicans) are unable to vote (which seems highly unlikely ATM) – the Republican Party would be taking swift action to protect their voting base.
It's a storm in a teacup.
While I don't think that the changes are necessary (I don't think there has been significant vote fraud in the US for decades) – the changes are relatively harmless to actual voters. And the more frothing outrage that the Democrats engage in over criminals not being able to vote, the more centrists they alienate; and the more bandwidth they consume with issues which don't matter to swing voters.
This is not a losing strategy for Trump.
Focusing on the economic impacts of things like his tariffs – is a much more effective strategy for the Democrats.
And, yes, I think that the door to executive authority that Trump has opened, won't be easily closed. It will be used by Democrats in the future.
Bomber rightly criticises the local Zionist org: https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2025/03/27/the-israel-institute-of-nz-and-their-definition-of-anti-semitism-must-be-challenged/
Caring folk get to be made fearful by means of a trendy label, so they will end up too scared to adopt an sjw stance in public life. Tedium threatens, you may respond; the syndrome they use as propaganda tool has been effective for years (it destroyed Corbyn).
I think both left and right politicians are too scared to tell the truth about Israelis & Palestinians both being mostly semitic. Pretending that the commonality doesn't exist keeps everyone safe from reality. Trump used `alternative facts' to invoke this collective imaginal realm but partisan grouping in such mental clouds usually accomplishes little other than solidarity in your favourite part. Common ground works better for progress.
The government chose Rainbow as head Commissioner overseeing the HRA, despite or because of his epic rant about McCully over the UNSC Resolution in Dec 2016.
By the way the other person critical of it was Winston Peters, but on the grounds of not having been formally decided at a Cabinet n meeting.
The Greens have called it genocide….. don't they count Dennis?
Have they informed the media that its one bunch of semites doing genocide on another bunch of semites? I expect not! It would help folks to reframe on all these spurious claims of one side being antisemitic if they did so. Semites claiming other semites are antisemitic would reduce such behaviour to a farce in the public mind.
Then we could all move on, because the Israelis would pick up on the ebb tide of sympathy and figure that they'd better get real to earn respect. They've been riding on that holocaust victim thing for too long already.
A Venezuelan gang invaded the USA, and now leftists have combined with judges to stop Trump ejecting them: https://www.pahomepage.com/hill-politics/appeals-court-wont-lift-boasbergs-order-blocking-alien-enemies-act/
Seems like he didn't call them Maduro agents – a missed pr opportunity. If it goes to the Supreme Court next, I expect the SC will focus on the war thing. Has Trump actually declared war on illegal immigrants? If not, no such war exists. The US govt's war on drugs is analogous: a bipartisan success story now in its 56th year of operation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_drugs
So the SC would have to decide to support the leftist view that the gang invasion was imaginary or the rightist view that it was real.
So the SC would have to decide to support the leftist view that
the gang invasion was imaginary or the rightist view that it was realdue process should be followed to avoid legitimate asylum seekers like Andry Hernandez being caught up in the magat fever-dream and being sent to El Salvadorian mega prison despite having no gang affiliation.fify
//
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/venezuelan-asylum-seeker-deported-sent-to-el-salvador-mega-prison/3662760/
In an ideal world, a Supreme Court decision ought to address all primary dimensions of any issue it addresses for both moral and economic reasons (don't avoid one just to be economic or it will return to clog up the justice system).
btw, if you're interested in the challenges to tRump's executive orders etc.
This public resource tracks legal challenges to Trump administration actions. If you think we are missing anything, you can email us at lte@justsecurity.org. Special thanks to Just Security Student Staff Editors Anna Braverman, Isaac Buck, Rick Da, Charlotte Kahan, and Jeremy Venook, and to Matthew Fouracre and Nour Soubani.
The Tracker is part of the Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of the Trump Administration’s Executive Actions. Readers may also be interested in signing up for our free Early Edition roundup of news and our end-of-day newsletter with Just Security articles from the day (We respect your privacy. We do not use your email address for any other purpose except to automatically send you the requested email.)
The Tracker was first published on Jan. 29, 2025 and is continually updated. Last updated March 27, 2025.
https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/
Wow, I'm impressed! T can boast to the public that he's giving the legal system a thorough work-out. Involved judges will soon be complaining that they've got muscles in their head that they didn't even know they had!
For the circuses section, the Guardian interviews Marlon Williams on his new album in Te Reo Māori. There's a doco due in May on its production, too. Love Marlin's voice, and song writing.
If you don't know who he is, try his duet with Aldous Harding, in the video list here, where they sing about their breakup.
He's coming to Palmy. The Regent
We got tkts a couple of weeks ago.
Very Excite.
Oh dear another addiction to worry about
https://futurism.com/the-byte/chatgpt-dependence-addiction
I can report that my middle-aged daughter & Italian husband (they live in Rome) both switched from averse sceptic to enthusiastic user in recent months. The tool gave them impressive career-facilitating advice (they have different careers) that in each case was specific to their (separate) situations.
She told me you just log onto their website and use it for free, said I ought to check it out. I admit to coasting into the slow lane when I retired a decade ago but I've been reading multiple books continuously since the late '80s so I'll likely encompass the gizmo sometime soon…
I am currently working on a daily news bulletin concept…curated by me…assisted by AI…
As someone who spent a decade making news stories for TVNZ long ago, I have an interest in your operational design. In principle, I reckon leftist entrepreneurs are a sub-species deserving of help due to being so rare. I admit my approval would depend on the interface style & media content selection but I suspect you'll go for younger folk than me so that's irrelevant eh?
I will be aiming at all ages… intelligence being the only criteria heh .!
..and basically doing an upgrade on what I did for quite awhile @ whoar co.nz…
A curation of the local/international news of the day..
..but also much much more..involving entertainment/music etc etc…
I see the presenter being voiced by me…but the imagery being the depiction of me when young ..done for me by Chris Knox…bless him..!
I am seeking software that will enable me to sit to present…but the imagery will be that cartoon…a talking cartoon…. synched to what I am saying..and an image that can live on…(Hat tip to max headroom..)
..and will also operate as an open door training option..
I think the concept will work well on the various options available..and a large viewership will earn a lot of money…but as significantly will be a voice presenting that essential viewpoint ..
I repeat…this will be a not for profit..I am not doing this for personal wealth..
..I want something that has the best chance of carrying on after me..
..and it will be configured that the board can toss me out should they choose..
..I expect to earn my role ..on an ongoing basis ..
That's the bare bones of where I am at the moment..
Hope that clarifies what I intend..
Hey that all seems excellent as a vision outline & operational scenario.
Max Headroom was always well-conceived, well-written and presented too. Chris Knox became a close friend of my 2nd wife after Toy Love played a gig at our night-club (The Squeeze) in summer/autumn 1980.
We watched him do the thing with the broken beer bottle jagged edge down his fore-arm till the blood ran out in various dribbles during a song but I wasn't a fan (older generation chasm). However she's told me enough about him since (they both lived near each other in Grey Lynn for years) that I know he could be a suitable role model for quirky style…
Nothing wrong with a media op making a profit btw, since the common interest lies in how it gets shared around, and I like your prioritising of continuance as part of the design. Inter-generational sharing is what folks need to develop more nowadays, but it ain't easy.
Chrs…!
Heh ..!.. it's developed further over the course of the evening,…
It's a wonderful thing…the mind…the mind's eye…
Calls for some commission to investigate fluoride.
No new information would result, just an examination of information from abroad.
The issue of because of a new policy to have it in water supply nationwide.
Europe's use is voluntary. Fluoride is naturally present at low levels in most drinking water in England and Wales. Germany for example
AI
Most nations that provide it with drinking water reduced it towards the level to those with the lowest ones historically (Ireland and Singapore) – 0.5.
The USA is currently at 0.7 (not compulsory 60-70% coverage).
Our rate is still the historic one, at 0.7 to 1.0, which is high, we should have gone to 0.5-0.7 when making it nationwide.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/26/rotorua-water-to-be-fluoridated-by-friday-deadline/
National will do nothing and let NZF campaign on freedom of councils to decide, to remain in parliament.
A referenda
a in all water, or not.
b in all water at the current rate or 0.5-0.7 or 0.5
c in water as councils decide.