Two academic heavyweights give Biden public advice: " Robert Alexander is a professor of political science and founding director of the Institute for Civics and Public Policy at Ohio Northern University. He is also the author of "Representation and the Electoral College." David B. Cohen is a professor of political science and assistant director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at The University of Akron." https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/26/opinions/three-women-who-should-be-at-the-top-of-bidens-vp-list-alexander-cohen/index.html
Biden already made history by committing to choose a female running mate. Fortunately for him, there are a number of talented and experienced women who are legitimate contenders for the spot. We believe California Sen. Kamala Harris, Florida Rep. Val Demings and former National Security Adviser Susan Rice should be at the top of Biden's list.
An emerging consensus is that Biden should select a woman of color. University of Virginia Professor Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball ranks all five of Biden's top vice presidential choices as women of color, with Harris, Demings, and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth leading the way. USA Today's Jill Lawrence argues that Biden should choose either Harris or Demings.
We concur with 538's Perry Bacon's assessment that choosing a Black woman is an important acknowledgment of both descriptive (how much a candidate looks like the electorate) and symbolic representation (how a candidate exemplifies an idea that resonates with the electorate). Such a choice would likely shore up positive perceptions of Biden among the Democratic base — a base riled by racial unrest and protests across the country. Failing to do so may dampen turnout among marginal voters that could prove costly in a close contest.
Given the likelihood of Biden dying in office if elected president, the choice is critical. The one chosen must be able to retain public support via mana and competence. Healing the racial divide will take at least that, but the prospects of rebuilding goodwill on the basis of a renewal of ethos compel the right choice.
"We believe California Sen. Kamala Harris, Florida Rep. Val Demings and former National Security Adviser Susan Rice should be at the top of Biden's list."
????!!??? People who write something like that are not "academic heavyweights"; they're nothing but Democratic Party jobsworths.
Harris thinks it's funny to lock up black parents if their kids don't go to school.
Fine Gael’s leader and former taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the coalition’s formation marked the end of civil war politics in the Dáil. “I believe civil war politics ended a long time ago in our country, but today civil war politics ends in our parliament,” he said. “Two great parties coming together with another great party, the Green party, to offer what this country needs: a stable government for the betterment of our country and for the betterment of our world.”
Sinn Féin responded with a conspiracy theory:
The Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, whose party won the second-highest number of Dáil seats, said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had conspired to exclude Sinn Féin from government.
Cabinet posts have been divvied up along expected lines. Fine Gael getting the finance, justice, foreign affairs, economic development portfolios while Fianna Fáil gets the social stuff, education, health, housing plus ag & fish. Greens have done pretty well actually with 3 cabinet posts including environment, climate change, arts & culture, transport, youth & children.
Martin and Varadkar will swap roles halfway through the term when Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach.
By the way the election was way back at the beginning of February. It’s taken 4 & a half months to put the government together.
You got to feel for Mary Lou McDonald she’s taken Sinn Fein almost into government.
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are like our Labour and National so it remains to be seen how well the coalition will go.
My (admittedly rather sketchy) understanding is that their Labour Party is more akin to our old Alliance under Anderton. Fianna Fáil is a broad church centrist, republican party; that split-off from Sinn Fein after that movement went all in for armed resistance. Fine Gael is the Conservative party in the same mould as National here or the Tories in the UK.
Never a good sign for Major Parties when they're forced into a Grand Coalition by a dynamic Opposition Party on an upward trajectory.
As for the Irish Greens … wiped out last time they went into Govt … support more than halved at the following Election … no TDs at all … about as welcome to Irish voters as a Baby Arctic Seal Vol-au-vent served at a Green Party Annual Conference.
Would be good to have an explanation of the shift in voter views of them. A mix of negatives sufficient to overwhelm these positives?
"In almost four years in Government, from 2007 to 2011, the Green Party contributed to the passage of civil partnership for same-sex couples, the introduction of major planning reform, a major increase in renewable energy output, progressive budgets, and a nationwide scheme of home insulation retrofitting." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_(Ireland)
Edit
All very interesting and perhaps we should be more Irish. They have been oppressed badly and still have spirit. We have been oppressed and seem to go into dour as a default. They worked like billy-oh to make their way and initiated the word 'navvies' short for those who dug out England's navigation canals for transporting production.
We worked hard cutting down the forest in our own land for profit. The working man here found a voice in the Labour Party but that turned out to be more interested in being socially mobile, going up a class, and left its supporters behind. It has now to turn back from representing nature's despoilers targeting wealth, and return to its core role of acting for working people, and the underpaid and underemployed and find a way to get enterprise in NZ working for NZs providing for NZs needs, with some export as well, instead of the present reverse situation.
Now Labour must combine with the Green Party in implementing policies good for us all. And for the strugglers; be about healthy housing same as when it began, and relating to the new Climate Change menace which has penetrated our consciousness with trepidation.
If you listen to the Irish music it can be soulful but also the jigs really get everyone going, along with Irish whisky. Our music was more about gold-mining failures 'Farewell to the Gold' or a waltz, Save the Last Dance for Me. The Kokatahi Band played a mix of music that they remembered to bring some light and rest from toil, fuelled by beer and home-made spirit and refreshments. Then another lot of music crazed us up with rock and roll, and drugs. We had a chance to break the pattern of poor and drunken, rich and self-satisfied after WW2, but our horizons were too low. Now the size of the problem is huge but looking at how we can pull together to cope with Covid-19, this will likely act as a spur to carry the spirit further.
Problems can be dealt to rather than crush us, so let's show Ireland we can do better, let's compete in a sporting fashion to have the best policies performing successfully like well-oiled machines, for all the people and the country. We should keep in touch with Ireland, is there a group uniting the two countries? We can learn from them, the jigs, the determination, the national closeness as in, 'If You're Irish come into the Parlour, There's a Welcome here for you'! We will say, 'Naumai, Haeremai' but with the same meaning and effect. Let's do it.
According to Worldometer this morning, 10 million cases occurred overnight, both the US and Brazil recorded 42 thousand new cases each, the total death toll is now 500 thousand.
Exponential increase in the infections rate and countries still not taking the virus seriously.
Just more evidence that NZ has applied the best response to this pandemic of any country, we've got a Govt that has saved us from potentialy the worst disaster in any of our life times.
We are the lucky country for having the Govt and response we've had, wake up NZ media, get your head out of the sand.
As the situation deteriorates overseas the public here will have cast into clear definition, the foolish position taken by the National Party, Todd Muller and much of the media.
Audrey Young in the Herald yesterday pretty much admitted that National’s best hope now is community transmission and a second wave of covid so they can call Jacinda a failure. Astonishingly cynical really.
Tawdrey lets the mask slip and out comes the 'power at all costs' even if that cost is kiwis lives. Cynicals not the word more like inhumane and a view that doesn’t get the airplay it deserves.
MSM are lock step with nationals messaging as Joyce (Mr 20Bill hole that didn't exist) gets a pulpit in granny today and Judiths book will no doubt provide exposure through till sept GE.
Remember that one the dark lords of DP is employed by them now with all his media contacts and all that money from swallowing rats gives them a lot of resources.
Apparently testing rates have gone through the roof again in Auckland as people start to get nervous about covid again on the back of National’s scaremongering.
One would think after going through the unpleasant experience of being nose swabbed and being all clear they'd get a bit pissed off at the hysteria inducing media and opp party. My kids mum rang sick at her work and they asked her to go get tested, she said the test is absolutely awful.
IIRC three of the Oz states haven't had any cases for weeks so they may want to keep their borders closed to Victoria until community transmission ceases.
Just read 50,000 tests conducted in Ak of late , all negative. Slim hope then for the Nats. Shocking to think they are likely hoping for community transmission.
Just read an article from the Daily Telegraph which quotes Michael Baker, saying he was the designer of the worlds most successful lockdown. Things aren't looking to great in Australia. I remember when we were in lockdown zooming friends over there and thinking theres was a pretty loose lockdown……
I feel frightened about what all. this is going to mean for billions of people
Politics of disaster is politics of fear and this never makes for good policy. This is consistent with the absence of coherent and detailed policy from National. It is also another reason why I’m happy-ish that the Government didn’t push for major reform, besides the fact that they should obtain a clear mandate for it and campaign on it.
It generally doesn't, Just Is. Instead, the dread generated by events in America, Brazil and so on, will overshadow the fear being stirred up by National et al and New Zealanders will reassess their views accordingly. I reckon.
Well said Just In. Talking to a rabid brain dead Tory yesterday I got the impression that he was very bitter that we had no community transmission of the virus as it was more down to good luck than good management as this incompetent pack of no-hopers could not organise a piss up in a brewery. He wanted National to fix things. Yeah, like Mullet was screaming for letting students in and then in the next breath claim that we were letting the virus in and it was shambolic
Not surprised really by his comments after the last week of hysteria lead by the pathetic excuse for shit house paper called the Herald.
As I said to him I am very grateful for living in a country run by people who could not organise a piss up and their good luck, Sooner be here mate than some of these so-called countries where the right is soooo organised like Australia (held up as a sample how we should do it ) UK run by Bozo and top of the hit parade USA and Brazil run by pea brained ultra right wing fuckwits.
I get the impression that most Kiwis are aware of our success and why we've been successful, it's really only the rusted on Nat supporters making a lot of noise, many of those supporters are of course the media its self, I doubt wether ordinary Kiwis are interested in "tipping the baby out with the bath water" better off sticking with Govt that has got us to where we are today, history proves the Nats don't have what it takes in a natural disater, never did.
" Nats don't have what it takes in a natural disaster, never did."
You can say that again pal. Only have to study how the Christchurch earthquake was run by Jerry Brownarse Minister of Disasters one almighty big disaster.
Incidentally, my answer was to your comment @3 not @3.1.2 as written. 8. 48 am on a Sunday is a bit early for me
+1. This of course could all be destroyed if National win in September. New Zealand is in great danger of pandemic disaster should that happen and I think the public know this.
"This of course could all be destroyed if National win in September. New Zealand is in great danger of pandemic disaster should that happen and I think the public know this".
We hope so Mutton because there are one hell of a lot of fuckwits out there who are brain dead to this and are more interested in point-scoring against the government.
Like prat Garner one morning last week kept asking Premier Ardern if she was going to apologise. What for? I ask, apologise for keeping the pandemic at bay in NZ.
Prime Minister Ardern please. Premier is Australian term.
What does Premier mean in Australia?
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive branch of government in the Australian state of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions. Wikipedia
"Prime Minister Ardern please. Premier is Australian term"
You are not quite right there me old son
I quote the Oxford Concise Dictionary
Premier Prime Minister in Great Britain or some British dominions. so it is NOT an Ozzie term but a British term so I will stick with what I said Premier Ardern.
On Friday, the Australian Federal Police raided the Sydney home and parliamentary offices of the NSW Labor MP and the home of his part-time staffer John Zhang.
Federal politics under the Libs has seen multiple police raids, often targeting Labor or Union offices, most, if not all have no outcome whatsoever, but the negative publicity is always damaging to the Labor Party and the mostly right wing media go along for the ride
I lived in Sydney from 2011 to 2018 and saw how the media can destroy a whole country for the sake of political point scoring.
Is this the media cosying up to ScoMo? Chomp on your pavlova while you watch this fascinating culinary masterpiece unfold, and hear about the latest passion – date syrup! But which date was that?
No, I didn't, but he was minister of Tourism under the Howard Govt and was suddenly sacked from the position, only very recently the reason for his demise was revealed, Fraudulent Activity, recieving kickbacks for favourable contracts, basically, completely dishonest, he's a Pentecostal Christian, say no more, right wing conservatism.
"Green Party senator Pippa Hackett will be Super Junior Minister in Agriculture with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity." Obviously a new form of political creature, Super Junior Ministers – ought we to get some? Chloe seems a contender, eh?
Could be. The label implies minister-with-training-wheels-on, yet I wonder why the Super gets put on the front – as if to imply a better product that the consumer ought to buy. Perhaps they will wear a badge with their title on it (as a marketing device).
WSJ didn't confirm their reporting either. Just more uncritical parroting of the same evidence-free assertions by anonymous sources we have no reason to believe are different from NYT's sources. pic.twitter.com/lSQVthmudo— Caitlin Johnstone ⏳ (@caitoz) June 27, 2020
The minatory deep voice and the ominous timpani percussion obviously affected you deeply. But where are the links you talk about? Did those dastardly Russian masterminds steal the links as well?
After 3 weeks of poor journalism and some appalingly ignorant commentary as a result – about as poor a service from the media estate as one should ever have to experience.
The story that should have been written weeks ago.
There was a government of a country that was coronavirus free. It was at Level 2 of its management regime and because it was community transmission free for some weeks was under pressure to move to level 1 and open up its borders to foreign students and bubble with a neighbouring country (Oz).
It had already buckled to pressure to allow early exit from the two week quarantine it ran to be kind. Early release without testing.
So it announced a move to Level 1, but aware of the greater risk of cluster growth (and also the likelihood of returning Kiwis having infections because of the greater numbers returning as overseas lockdown rules eased) under Level 1 moved to a requirement for testing on day 3 and day 12 of the managed isolation.
However it did so with only one days notice. June 8 with the new rules from June 9.
Until June 8 all testing was run by the local Health Boards at its testing sites. It had organised the staff, the safety equipment and training for this. There was some testing of those moving into quarantine hotels because of their symptoms – but these numbers were low and testing was in very small numbers on an occasional ad hoc basis (without any time pressure) and so had no implications for other testing capability.
It was of course not practically possible to have a testing regime in place from June 9 for those who arrived June 7 (June 9 was their third day for testing). Not with one days notice June 8. So operations management staff made the presumption that the policy was meant to only apply for those who arrived from June 9 (not making this presumption would have inferred those making the policy decision were so out of touch as not to realise what they asked could not be done in practice). And so they would apply it from June 11th for those who arrived on June 9. And if they could not organise this with the local Health Board who supplied such staff by June 11th, they would have the first test as early as possible afterward (as they had operated the earlier testing of those with symptoms in quarantine before June 8, when this was in synch with local Health Board staff availability).
As we know this all came to public notice because a pair of sisters who arrived before June 9 were let out early, and without a test (as people were in May and still were if they arrived before June 9 – unknown to government which seemed to presume that a day 3 or day 12 test would have prevented this).
And as we know, it was not until about June 16 that the managed isolation system set up a testing regime for those for day 3 and day 12 – even those who arrived on June 9 were not tested on June 11 as the testing took a while to put in place).
So what actually went wrong.
Cabinet made a collective decision to do something that could not be done in practice.
Did Cabinet receive advice from the Ministry of Health about how long it would take to set up the system to apply day 3 and day 12 testing? Or did it make the decison expecting it to apply from June 9 (with one days notice June 8 Cabinet for those who arrived in June 7 – like those sisters from the UK), without any knowledge that there was little chance this could be done. Blaming the Minister or the Ministry or the management regime officials for not implementing the impossible is stupid.
Did the Ministry inform the Minister about what was possible? Did Cabinet know what they needed to know about the practicality of their policy being implemented in a timely way?
These are the relevant questions. And yet no one has asked them. Well served by our media, hardly.
PS Now there are people criticising the Health Minister for not visiting management isolation facilities. There is a reason we do not allow interface with others in the hotel (just necessary isolation regime staffing). There is a pandemic. A person going from such a place to a hospital (to meet a health need) means everyone in the hospital they meet has to be in a suit and the place they go is isolated out until they get a negative test result.
"These are the relevant questions. And yet no one has asked them."
Well, did you listen to the RNZ political panel this morning? Linda Clark & Richard Harman reviewing the past week. Those here trying to whitewash Labour, who anticipate a pleasant sunday, ought not to listen to it!
It's almost as if Labour presumes a cover-up of public service lying to the govt is in everyone's best interests. Yes, I know Labour MPs are mostly clueless – but that bad?? Really? It puzzles me. What does Jacinda gain by promoting this perception?
1. Cabinet made a policy decision asking for something from June 9 with one days notice that would take a week to roll out in practice (did they know that ion June 8 or not?).
2. The risk of community spread resulting was no greater than that from releaase from managed isolation without a test during May and the first eweek of June.
All of the back testing done is really to prove Muller's beliefs to be wrong. A bit like science – archeology etc has done to creation science belief.
It's almost as if Labour presumes a cover-up of public service lying to the govt is in everyone's best interests. Yes, I know Labour MPs are mostly clueless – but that bad?? Really? It puzzles me. What does Jacinda gain by promoting this perception?
Have a KitKat, Dennis, your comment is projecting so much ‘perception’ that I almost thought it was advanced baiting.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty, it’s worth noting that we’ve had more than 20,000 people go through managed isolation since the beginning of April. Almost all of those would have left without being tested. There is no evidence any of those people have transmitted the virus to anyone in the wider New Zealand community. On top of that, in the last week or so more than 45,000 tests have been processed and the only positives have come from people in managed isolation facilities at the border.
Fourteen days in managed isolation is our first line of border defence, not testing
Because of what we now know about how this virus infects people, lots of countries have settled on 14 days as the time at which if someone doesn’t show symptoms of Covid-19 then it is highly unlikely they will have the virus and be infectious. In other words, they are at very low risk of transmitting the virus to others or “seeding” the virus back into the community. We have been using this 14-day isolation period for several months. This is our first line of defence.
She gives this very useful interactive graphic to also explain why after over 2 weeks of the new border restrictions (implemented on 9 June) there is very little chance of there being community transmission in Aotearoa
ooops sorry about the graphic – seems to have gained extra pixels. 🙁
[lprent: Fixed. The source image was large. You just need to constrain it (as was probably done at sciblog). Just add the width attribute into the img tag (eg width=”550″). If you’re the first in the hierarchy you can get away with 600. If you’re 10 down in the replies then 500 px will do. ]
Yep, we even had Selway on here getting his test and his Dr telling him "you don't need one" after 2 weeks quarantine, the medical experts must despair at the public sometimes. So basically, all these people getting tests after 2 weeks is for political reasons, to assuage the fears of the public.
I mean, if we're within capacity and it's not going to fuck logistics, you might as well test them. It might throw something up once every 50 years.
But the scaremongerers like Muller can go fuck themselves. Spidey-sense is not an effective screening test for community transmission. Their intention is to sow alarm and despondency. It's disgusting.
Hey SPC, have you ever thought about becoming a reporter, this concise and informative turn of events describes the whole dilema in a way most people can understand, it wasn't a bungle, it was a case of not everyone understanding the process and the time frame for implementation, probably the key thing was simple lack of good communication between everyone concerned.
There were/are no subsequent negative outcomes as a result and hopefully communication lines will improve.
I once did, long ago back in the 1980's. I did offer to write a column back in 1999, but got rejected for a black fairy who tried out for the Lord of the Rings.
It was the Singles column at the Dominion Post, they were replacing the original colunmist EG, later City Girl (a blonde) , with another. The column was published with the pseudonym Sarah Duffy. Duffy means black fairy in Gaelic (dubh fey) The person chosen as Sarah Duffy no 2 (a brunette) wrote a first column about them trying out for a role in Lord of the Rings.
I find the PC reaction to the term black fairy – especially in reference to the Lord of the Rings so very 20th Creactionary.
Dunno about that, I know folks who speak Klingon. But if you're going to be obscure, don't take it bad when people think you're just openly saying the quiet bits out loud.
Excellent comment SPC and just published on RNZ a good review on the Report of the country's Managed Isolation and Quarantine system.
While the review found the system wasn't "broken'' it revealed the increased number of people returning to New Zealand and going into managed isolation was putting pressure on accommodation facilities and staff were only able to respond to daily challenges.
"The resources required to support the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) function have failed to keep pace with the increased volume of returnees. This has resulted in a very dedicated team having to confront immediate issues with limited capacity to plan ahead," the review said.
…
"The Ministry of Health will be increasing the number of clinical and non-clinical staff, such as nurses, at each facility to ensure health checks, testing and other health services are consistently delivered to the standards required," Woods said.
Air Commodore Webb last week announced a doubling of the on-the-ground Defence Force staff of 32, across 18 facilities.
"As of today, we have 168 NZDF personnel across 21 facilities providing 24/7 coverage. There are also more government and defence staff across the end-to-end system.
"This increased resourcing has had an immediate impact on the ground in terms of making sure our people are well supported to carry out their roles and ensure the safe transfer of returnees into managed isolation," he said.
Other improvements rolling out now include:
Increased security for transferring returnees to managed isolation facilities
The standardisation of procedures across all facilities
The introduction of better information for returnees – from flight boarding through to entry into New Zealand and their exit from Managed Isolation.
Better information to communities where those facilities are located.
Strengthening of demand forecasting, reporting functions and coordination between agencies.
Health responses include:
More staff in facilities
Improved model of care – including taking into account issues like mental health and addiction issues
More clinical oversight to ensure a consistent quality of service in facilities
Monitoring to ensure there is consistency across facilities
My wife dragged in a Weekend Herald this morning, she purchaed it yesterday, I asked her why on earth she had bought the Herald, she knows I refuse to read it, she replied, I know, but we're running out of newspaper to start the fire and the Saturday edition is quite thick and quite good value.
Ha ha I like it, better than tearing it up into small squares punching a hole in the corner and tying it with a bit of rope on the back of the Loo door which is the natural home for it.
It was well worth reading Matt Nippert's background coverage of how the government organised a response to Covid-19, including lengthy interviews with Ardern and Peters. That was good, in-depth journalism. You'd be much better informed and would have the details to rebut the RW line that "any government would have done the same".
Simon Wilson's lunch with Muller and Kaye was a good read too.
There's plenty of rubbish in the Herald but only a fool would refuse to eat the fish because they don't like the chips.
SPC, good to read some proper background to the situation. Where oh where are intelligent, balanced reporters who can investigate without getting hysterical?
Have any investigated and got hysterical at Bridges & Muller over them wanting to bring in thousands of students? Where would they be put up? Who would manage and staff these facilities, bearing in mind the huge management of thousands of returning Kiwis has not always been easy, which is understandable given there was no rehearsal for this pandemic.
I have been heartened by some sensible letters to Dom Post, and people I know more and more are saying the media has lost the plot and NZ has done extremely well. Muller and Co have never acknowledged this.
It is hard not to come to the conclusion that the govt, somewhat bungled the switch from Level 2 to Level 1. We now know Jacinda Ardern was under enormous pressure to make that switch and it came from all quarters but especially from National. In the end she relented despite Bloomfield's note of caution that Level 2 should run for another two weeks.
The public has to take their share of the blame too because we were all sick and tired of lockdown and we wanted more freedom and we said so – every last one of us.
Who was to blame?
We were all to blame from the PM downwards. So lets stop scapegoating individuals which, from my experiences, is the art of the guilty trying to distract attention away from themselves.
We're all to blame … Let's sack EVERYONE! Then we can start with a clean slate back where we were before, with everyone in the same positions.
One exception: Let's have EVERYONE this time round saying "We don't know how f…..n lucky we are."
The doom merchants, the "Everyone with responsibilities has cocked up" mob?
Put them in a leaky boat, give Michael Woodhouse the oars, stand Odd Job Muller on the poop deck with a telescope to hold up to his ear, and push them off towards Antarctica.
The triumph of reason has happened within Labour in the UK. Apparently…
I don’t want to rub salt into the wound, because that would sterilise it and help it heal, but the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey was one of those rare moments of shocking leadership. For those of us who think a broad-based egalitarian government would be a good idea, it has been a long time since a Labour leader has surprised us with such moral clarity.
It does not diminish Keir Starmer’s decisiveness that Long-Bailey brought it on herself. By refusing to delete her tweet praising Maxine Peake’s interview, with its antisemitic implication that Israel was to blame for the death of George Floyd, she made Starmer’s choice clear. Indeed, it makes the triumph of reason all the sweeter that the other side contributed to its own defeat with such a misjudgement. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-starmer-rebecca-long-bailey-tony-blair-corbyn-defeated-blairite-triumph-a9588896.html
So the long arm of Mossad thesis, eh? I doubt she really implied that, but when UK politics persists in a morass of paranoia, conspiracy theories will inevitably whirl around in the vortex of competing perceptions. And yes, moral clarity in a Labour leader is indeed shocking. As a suggestion. Not sure if the reality has been validated.
An alternative action for Keir Starmer would be to keep following the foolish and fractious Jeremy Corbyn into a defeat so deep it will take years to get Labour out:
… with its antisemitic implication that Israel was to blame for the death of George Floyd…
That was not the implication at all. What was at issue here was whether or not this murderous chokehold technique being used by U.S. police against peaceful and unarmed civilians was taught to them by Israeli police. You probably are aware that Israeli “policing” of the Occupied Territories is even more oppressive and lethal than what is being inflicted on the citizens of the United States by another vicious police culture.
The wild allegation that "Israel was to blame" is entirely the fabrication of Jeremy Rentoul, the Indescribablyboring hack you have ill-advisedly chosen to quote. Rentoul is a shameless backer of the right wing Blairite faction which has managed to grab control of the Party again after its democratic deviation. It would have been hard for you to choose a more devious and dishonorable source; in 2015 he was forced to publicly apologise after another of his outrageous canards aimed about Corbyn.
I wrote a post on Twitter last night that I regret, and for which I apologise. I suggested that Jeremy Corbyn might say that France had brought the Paris attacks on itself. I ought to know the danger of spending too much time on Twitter, and I make no excuses.
I apologise without reservation to Mr Corbyn, to my colleagues and to readers. It was a stupid and offensive thing to say, especially at that time, and I am mortified by it.
My sympathy goes to the families and friends of all those killed and injured in the attacks.
That's quite a different tone isn't it? Air flight staff in PPE, wake up breakfasts, nurse visits every day, social distancing, security watching all the time, grateful to be back in NZ. What a shambles & David Clark should resign!
Clearly National are ignorant of basic accounting. The cost of doing this is far lower than cost of dealing with a minor outbreak.
Or they are ignorant of human behaviour when constrained – there will always be idiots who care less for the common good than they do for their own personal interests.
Or both.
But I suspect that it is simply because the National strategists are so focused on their spiteful politics of envy because it allows them to stop looking at the horrors that a full-blown epidemic brings. We really should send some of their MPs on a fact finding mission to the US at present (or even after our election) so that they do start to understand it.
Nah, National will be saying that private enterprise can better organise border controls than civil servants and the military, and anyway the money should be going to our mates…..
Toss-up? Far too uncertain. Deals behind closed doors is how you do it, with knighthoods and cushy retirement jobs, and even a little earner writing for the Herald………
[Exasperatedly] Look, it's perfectlysimple, opposition National party politicians are simply saying that NZ's Covid-19 outcomes would be much better if only our government had adopted policies closer to Sweden'sAustralia's New Zealand's – that's all they're yakking on about; give them a break, and while you’re at it read Chris Penk's simple book why don't yah!
In sum, and on the evidence, Australia has done no better than us in economic outcomes, is doing worse than us in public health outcomes and is headed in the wrong direction in controlling the disease. Yet this failed model is what the National Party has been promoting all along, and is what would have adopted had a National government been in power here. Perhaps the media could begin to raise this credibility problem, now that we’re on the verge of an election campaign where National’s main pitch to voters is that it is a safer pair of hands in a crisis, and is a better manager of the economy. In its dreams. For the past three decades there is absolutely no evidence that has been the case, beyond its provision of an occasional sugar hit to the economy in the shape of tax cuts and asset part-sales. Sure, you can always keep warm for a while by burning the furniture, but this isn’t a sustainable way of running the economy. http://werewolf.co.nz/2020/06/gordon-campbell-on-the-media-collusion-with-nationals-attack-lines/
Or keep warm by exporting swamp kauri 'furniture' to China; or live sheep to the Middle East, or kiwi fruit plants to the competition- that kind of sustainable?
Then there's education. Knock off a few diplomas, certificates and degrees to all in-comers. (What did Prof Jim Flynn say on RNZ? No-one reads anymore at Uni.)
Jeremy Corbyn’s Opponents Burned the House Down to Stop Him — Now Keir Starmer Is King of the Ashes
by DANIEL FINN, Jacobin, 25 June 2020
By sacking Rebecca Long-Bailey on a trumped-up pretext, Keir Starmer has set the seal on a drastic shift to the right for the British Labour Party. That shift comes just as the key arguments by Jeremy Corbyn’s opponents to justify a break with his left leadership have been falling apart in the face of overwhelming evidence. ….
Keir Starmer is making the right moves, and it's a helluva lot better than that fucking moron Jeremy Corbyn who was so utterly loathed by both marginal voters and deeply loyalLaobour voters alike. Corbyn lost every voter age category from 25-44 upwards.
Corbyn deserves a statue of himself on a pedestal put up outside Labour UK headquarters central London with feet made of tin, so that Labour supporters can organise crowds to pull it down with tractors and chains every year and sing sings about "never again" and explain to the youngest of supporters this is how to avoid wasting millions of supporter hours and millions of supporter money and a huge 2017 voter surge into stupid policies and catastrophic defeat within 2 years and allow Boris Fucking Johnson to rule the country into ruin instead.
Or, of course, you could read Norman Finkelstein instead.
The Health and Disability system review was finally released last week to mixed reception. We all know that the MOH is dysfunctional, and successive governments have failed to either take charge of this rogue organisation or properly fund our public health and disability system to ensure systemic inequities do not cost further lives.
What gladdens my cynical and bitter old heart is how finally, finally, disabled people have raised their voices both individually and collectively to express their bitter disappointment at the failure of this review to address the very real inadequacies in the Ministry of Health Disability Support Services.
There were no disabled people on the Review's steering committee and as Gerri Pomeroy, President of DPA says…
Disabled people have the right to have their views taken into consideration and be heard, particularly now the government is a signatory to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons."
While she and others supported many of the health system changes the report suggested, she said the review was "as we feared, a health review with disability tacked on".
(Kudos to Gerri. She is an ACC client and it became clear she had little understanding of the struggles faced by those who have no rights or entitlements to disability supports enshrined by law. A while after we challenged her on this, she did approach us and admitted that she really had no idea how tough it is under MOH. Very pleased to see her stepping up.)
I remember as a young disability activist at the time this went against the consensus view of disabled people who believed it would represent a regression to the medical model of disability. Simply, the medical model holds that disabled people should be treated as people with bodily and mental deficits which needed to be addressed through treatment – rather than as people who need to have our rights upheld and requirement for individualised support respected.
As time has shown, the government's claims turned out to be but fine rhetoric.
The reality for disabled people like me is that we still have to go through bureaucratic hoops to prove to the Ministry of Health (which controls funding for non-accident related disability) that we need essential mobility equipment such as, for example, wheelchairs or housing modifications.
This having to go through hoops has been compounded by successive governments failing to increase disability support funding substantially – at least not until this year's Budget which saw the most significant boost to disability funding in decades.
Chris doesn't just criticize he suggests a solution…one that has been on the disability wishlist for many years.
I would like to see a government entity called Disability New Zealand established (replacing both the Ministry of Health DSS and ACC), whose operations and governance are be led by disabled people.
This agency would administer disability support funding and allow disabled people and their whānau to both create and hold individualised support budgets.
Moreover, an independent, autonomous Disability Commission, which would also be disabled person-led, would provide policy advice and monitor all government policy which impacted on disabled people.
We could have had all these recommendations had the Health and Disability System Review included disabled people's representation on it – something that I and other disabled people and our organisations called for constantly, including to Health Minister David Clark and Review Chair Heather Simpson.
Our views were ignored, hence the limited recommendations.
Responses from both Carmel MIA Sepuloni as Minister for Disability Issues and Jenny 'I don't really want this hot potato thrown at me by JAG' Salesa have been predictably dismissive.
'Just fuck off and wait..' sums it up.
I might be being over optimistic, but this might be one of those make or break issues for this Current Mob occupying the gummint benches.
Perhaps someone close to them could whisper in their ear that some of us out here do understand that the Misery of Health has been a rogue entity for quite some time now so we don't necessarily blame the MPs and the PM directly for this continued shitting on of disabled New Zealanders. What would be great…and very possibly vote winning… would be the massive purge of the entrenched bureaucracy at the Mystery that is desperately needed.
Start again with new blood, and this time use the word "entitled" in all of their policies.
A Disability Authority and Disability Commission (advocacy) does seem to be the way to go.
Not that this should be needed to make these moves.
1. move long term support (disability benefit) to super rate level
2. allow those who meet criteria for disability support to receive a minimum of the dole rate when living with working partners.
3. super rate support to those unable to work while they are facing illness likely that incapacitate them, or cause death (heart attacks and late stage cancer)
4. more than benefit level support to workers no longer able to work for health reasons (outside the current ACC model).
Advocacy for those with disability, birth or ACC orbit, or non ACC criteria sickness/deterioration in terms of medical and treatment support is necessary, especially when we are still under the funding constraint management regime of health services model.
and writing that I went to the RNZ website and see the front page is plastered with the DA review critiques, which is fantastic except for the fact that the disability activist sector appears to be sacrificing people whose disability stems from health issues. Or maybe they just don't know about them.
…the disability activist sector appears to be sacrificing people whose disability stems from health issues….
You're going to have to expand on that weka. Am I right in thinking this is to do with the difference between the social and medical models of disability?
Can be a bit tricky….no disabled person…especially those born with impairments…wants to be seen solely as someone who needs treatment or fixing. Chris Ford's piece discusses this a little. I'll let him explain.
OTOH…if disabled people do not get the supports they need then their health can go rapidly to shit. So there is the medical to consider.
In all our dealings with the Misery of Health over the years one of the expectations that Peter and I wrongly held was that provision of good supports for disabled people would be seen as an investment. The cost of fixing someone through through the health system can be seriously expensive. Much more than funding adequate supports.
But no. It seems the bastards don't care if a person with spina bifida (who survived the near compulsory termination protocols) gets repeated bladder and kidney infections because they are forced to use single use catheters multiple times. Kidney failure? Shortens their lives. In the Ministry's book this would be a win.
And as for the End of Life Choice Bill….this should be ditched until ALL disabled New Zealanders who need disability supports have those supports funded as of right.
the RNZ headlines and having a quick read through are pushing the separate Disability from Health. Which I actually support, but you *have to take health disability people with that, not create a further ghettoisation of chronically ill people. We already have discrimination with Health on that basis around who can get disability funding. I can totally see that if Disability were given its own ministry that Labour would fuck this up and chronically ill people would be sacrificed yet again.
I agree there are issues on what framing/narratives are used too, especially around ‘fixing’. It's complex. I completely agree with the position that the govt should be putting disabled people in charge, and this needs to include those with health disabilities (which will present another whole set of challenges). I don't think the disability sector (govt, NGO or activist) is particularly good on this.
I can totally see that if Disability were given its own ministry that Labour would fuck this up and chronically ill people would be sacrificed yet again.
Very quickly…because I have stuff to do outside while it is not raining…you might want to have a look at the MOH DSS definition of disability as pertains to accessing services.
For many years now mental health has been accepted into the disability tent..but not, you say chronic health conditions.
Why…I guess this is about the 'condition lasting for longer than six months' part of the definition. Could it be than many with these health conditions resist the definition of 'disability' because of the negative connotations of the word? They are hoping to be cured?
"… the medical model holds that disabled people should be treated as people with bodily and mental deficits which need to be addressed through treatment – rather than as people who need to have our rights upheld…"
Which would be bad enough on its own – but is compounded when the treatment recommended is far from the best available. For example, the scandalous reluctance of the medical profession to recommend and advocate for the the funding of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) for children with cerebral palsy. Combined with follow-up physiotherapy, gym-work and strengthening, it is by far the best, modern treatment for cerebral palsy of the diplegic type. The long-term burden of disability on the individuals concerned, and the taxpayer (though the health economics studies have not been done) is substantially reduced. Existing protocols of multiple, repeated orthopaedic operations with poor cumulative outcomes are protected and maintained – because that is where the current medical expertise and government funding sits. Families are self-funding or running lengthy fund-raising campaigns to obtain this procedure overseas – then paying again for physiotherapy or gym sessions while injured rugby players get covered by ACC.
And then there was 9.06 am Media Watch which I didn't find easy to reach as usual. There seems to be some reshuffling of how things are presented, not sure just what. However here is the audio which is very interesting as it is about Cambridge Analytica et al. Did you know that Margaret Thatcher used the services of the political mixers for her three elections? And there's more….
Those who wish to be politically informed, and those who wish to be up with all the sly ways of undermining our political process and elections, and those who want to find out who is who and who's paying should listen to this. Journalists are out there with 'truly epic stories', and that's not puffing them up. Knowing about this is important for those with dreams of maintaining a good, functioning democracy that keeps itself in good condition, and clean its boots topside, and soles regularly.
It would be interesting to know what others here thought after hearing this, did everyone find something new they hadn't heard?
Air nz really doesn't get it- starting to look like they might be a paid up member of the Nats.
Do they need to have government regulation on every little thing or could they not err on the side of caution and wear and handout masks. No aircraft filtration system is going to save you from the person next to you coughing all over you.
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said crew on international flights are required to wear masks and gloves during food and drink service and face-to-face interactions with passengers.
However, there was no government requirement for staff to wear masks in Queensland.
"Our jet aircraft are fitted with hospital-grade air systems that filter out viruses, and hand sanitiser is also available in airports and on aircraft for customers and staff to use as they wish," she said.
And on a wider note we probably really don't need further infections from in transit and aircraft transmission. If we get too much or find it towards the end of quarantine it will delay departure from quarantine of more people and clog up the spaces we do have.
LC: "I think it's inevitably a combination of both… Labour has made a lot of mistakes in the last couple of weeks". She's saying Muller's achievement isn't solely the cause of the 9% switch in the poll. "A lot of public confidence has been shaken by a whole series of mistakes, and they are going to be punished for that."
RH: "we learnt this morning that both Shane Jones & Nikki Kaye want the legislation to be amended to let Auckland take more water from the Waikato River". After mentioning that the RMA amendments are still in select committee. And "it's looking less & less likely that the shovel-ready projects are going to be ready before the election."
LC: "Winston is in the petty politics phase at the moment, and I don't think it's working for him."
RH on the border shambles: "I think they need to explain just how the decisions were made… Go back to Tuesday, and in the House, Jacinda Ardern quite clearly stated that the Ministry of Health had misled her… now, for a ministry to mislead the prime minister herself on something like this [testing done] is very, very important. And so yes, Clark is guilty of not asking enough questions". [Re the DGoH] "The prime minister said he was reporting, but what he was reporting was wrong."
Yet the public servant who think they've got away with lying to their minister, the DGoH, and the PM are sitting there rubbing their hands with glee, saying to each other "Way cool, dudes! Public service is fun, eh?"
RH: "I think it would be unfair to sack the minister for this, yet the government has not presented a case in its own defense."
Then re Newshub and "throwing Dr Bloomfield under the bus"…
LC: "As an old television reporter I have to take my hat off to the cameraman… an absolute master, because that really caught a moment – and he was being thrown under a bus, I don't think there's any denying that… there's no question that the prime minister has been misled by the ministry, and it may be that Bloomfield has been too – by his officials". "I think the most responsible thing that David Clark could do is resign."
As you know, I think Linda Clark's perspective is very ignorant.
As to the question to the Minister while alongside Bloomfield, and the cameraman’s filming of Bloomfield at that moment, speaks to the very fact of this being a pre planned sting. The story of it effectively written before the question was even asked.
Taking off their hat to the cameraman, in that context, is disingenuous.
Yeah, incantations do work via repetition. Just like advertising. Yet people en masse still have this old idea in their heads; magical thinking is ineffective.
Mass perceptions of a shambles are likewise influential. Weight of numbers – politics being a numbers game.
What a couple of poisonous weeds. There have been a number of people who appeared to be sensible reporters revealed when they leave government jobs, as deeply troubled by the idea of a fair democracy, and honest, balanced reporting with both negative and positive observations!
Loud noise in MSM does not equal mass perception although NZ’s megaphone media would like you to believe it and, sadly, it seems to be working. You seem to be scared that critical thinking might be conflated with defending the Government/Clark/DGoH. Walk and chew gum at the same time.
"Sensors in Sweden …" is how the Chernobyl news kicked off in 1986.
Radiation sensors in Stockholm have detected higher-than-usual but still harmless levels of isotopes produced by nuclear fission, probably from somewhere on or near the Baltic Sea, a body running a worldwide network of the sensors said on Friday.
People who visited a bar in East Lansing, Michigan, are being asked to self-quarantine because roughly 85 people contracted Covid-19 after visiting the establishment this month, a health official says.
That number is up from the 34 reported Wednesday and is expected to rise, Ingham County Health officer Linda S. Vail told CNN.
The Health Department is asking patrons who visited Harper's Restaurant & Brew Pub between June 12 and June 20 to self-quarantine, and report cases of Covid-19, the department said in a statement.
"Given the number of cases in this outbreak, we consider this a higher risk exposure than a typical visit to a restaurant or bar," Vail said. "There are likely more people infected with Covid-19 not yet identified."
Well, does that mean it isn't a UBI?? Perhaps you could write up & post an essay explaining what sort of critter it is. Sounds good tho, & a radical move… 👍
UBIs are generally paid to everyone. The GP GMI is for those that need it (essentially everyone not in full time work). I tempted to say Gareth Morgan won't be getting it 😈 but I haven't seen yet if the GMI is asset tested.
I took it as a question from someone who hadn't read the policy yet.
The debate around UBI has been dominant, so it's going to be useful to compare the two different things and point out they are apples and oranges but they're still both fruit 🙂 Especially when it comes to examining TOP's UBI policy 😈
Fair comment. Talking about TOP’s UBI policy is specific, at least. I still don’t see much point in a head-to-head comparison other than to show and highlight (?) the differences? I think it is a reductionist trap and an exercise in futility (AKA waste of time) but I’m sure some pundits and MSM won’t be able to resist 😉 Just my 2 cents, of course.
Given TOP will be going after GP votes, and that too many lefties have been singing the praises of TOP's UBI, I find it instructive to look at them side by side. I'm putting up a post tomorrow about the GP policy alone, might do a separate one on the comparison with TOP at some point (might not be necessary).
It's also because I've written about the serious short comings of UBI models (including TOP's) and the GP basically fills the gaps that others haven't been able to. This isn't about the GP so much (apart from pointing out the value in voting for them), it's more about keeping visible the need for welfare to be bolted on to any model. A distinction that too many on the left had failed to grasp. Will be really interesting to see who gets it now, once presented with an integrated and costed policy.
I am writing a post as we speak. It's a beautiful policy and yes, radical but not so much as to scare the horses. Not perfect, but really good. Tt's not a UBI. It's a guaranteed minimum income for those that need it, plus lots of other good stuff for welfare.
I used to support UBI, but now prefer Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI). GMI means you can afford to give more to those who need it, while maintaining the other desirable aspects of UBI (no test or expectations other than having sufficiently low income). All of us are eligible for GMI when we need it.
Listening to this from Max Rashbrooke explained the UBI / GMI issue well.
I gave Melanie a call once and suggested that instead of Equity for 'Illness' it was reworded to be inclusive of those who were disabled from birth and those whose injuries predated ACC…she wouldn't have a bar of it. Different communities and different needs.
At the end of the day we're all humans whose minds or bodies have some degree of impairment because of whatever and who need a some degree of support.
Not sure if those words are from the Party or clumsy paraphrasing by the media. The release to members reads:
That means we’re making big changes to how we support students and people out of work, giving extra help to parents, those who are sick or disabled, and making sure all whānau have what they need to thrive.
✅Extra support for people who are sick or disabled
By reforming ACC as the Agency for Comprehensive Care, our plan ensures that those who find themselves unable to work due to sickness or disability are properly supported, and have enough to live on.
GREEN PARTY candidate Chris Ford says he's "reassessing" his membership of the Green Party in the light of the leadership shifting the party further to the right and signing up for Labour's 'Budget Responsibility Rules'. He's also angry that this was done without any consultation with the party membership.
Ford, who stood for the Green's in 2014, said: "I'm very disappointed with the party I belong to for doing this! In fact, I know that many other members -like me – are disappointed and angry. I am reassessing my membership. I knew that this statement (Labour and Greens' joint Budget Responsibility Rules agreement) was being developed but party members seem to have been largely bypassed in doing so.”
Ford is expressing a widespread dissatisfaction within the Green Party rank and file who believe that the party has strayed far from its progressive roots, For many, the sight of co-leaders James Shaw and Metiria Turei signing up to the 'Budget Responsibility Rules' may be the final straw.
For mine they should reduce pressure on the managed isolation facilities by turning them into second week stays.
They should locate first week stays in hotels not currently used (rent by floor). Just the day 3 test to interface with the confined without symptoms.
And if they bus – either level 3 spacing, or provide masks to passengers and PPE to staff.
We should if at all possible have special flights for Kiwis in Oz coming here, they do not leave Oz with it and are at risk on the journey to the hotel and others they are isolated with.
Very good, clear press conference by Woods and Webb (most of which will never make the headlines, because it was too sensible).
Expecting 5,000 arriving in the next 1-2 weeks? Capacity for 6,000, give or take.
So let's invite thousands more people in, we can cope easily, said no sane person, ever. But National are saying exactly that. So what do the journos at press conference ask about instead? "Is anybody bringing in drugs?" FFS.
Better questions from the media might be, "Why are all these people returning home to New Zealand?" and "What are the returnees reporting on how conditions are in the countries they are returning from in terms of Covid-19 and social risk?" or "What percentage of returnees have furnished substantive complaints about treatment on return?"
Personally I would have brought those who lost employment through ill health (sickness/physical decay and heart attacks etc) into the ACC employer funded system. This also has a focus on funding treatment/recovery to get people back to work.
Savings for MSD then used for more generous funding to those with earlier and other circumstance inability to work (often permanent) – 80% of the MW is generous ($600 a week before tax). And I thought moving those on disability (now around $300) to the super rate $425 was the bold move. I can however agree younger folk need more than someone on super who owns a home, so there is a case for the higher amount.
The last sentence may refer to the ACC payment system, how to put a cap on the payments it currently makes to injured workers to reduce its costs to afford the expansion of coverage. The 80% payment amount maximum frozen until it reduces to 1/2 times the average wage as a maximum.
thanks, I did wonder if it was about high income earners going onto ACC. Can you please explain how that works?
SLP current rate is $307 for an adult. GP policy is to increase this to $390 before April (60% of min wage), then once merged with ACC to increase it to 80% of net minimum wage, $604/wk or $484 depending on whether they are talking about 80% of net or gross.
Surprises me that this woman had worked for MSD and was shocked and disappointed when her employer treated her like shit, sorry, with less than kindness when she became sick.
All I know about ACC is that its based at 80% of the former wage.
correction to the original post
until it reduces to 1 1/2 times the average as a maximum.
I presume that under the ACC system there is a maximum former wage allowed and thus there would be savings made if that was fixed/unadjusted until it was no more than 1 1/2 times the average. Thus a future maximum amount at 80% of that amount, which would be a maxmum of (at current average somewhere around 60,000, 80% would be c$48,000 near $1000 per week).
PS above I put it at $600 a week for 80% of the MW, it would at next years rate of $20 an hour be c$640 per week before tax.
Oh how could police do this in a supposedly civilised country. If they had a spark of decency left in the USA they would be ashamed. It's a disgrace at present, sick outside and in. That was in Florida with a lot of coronavirus. A good slogan for their protests would be Cough on a Cop. A violence free way of retaliating. What sort of reaction did Ghandi and his followers get? It takes a lot of resolve to face this sort of viciousness.
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Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
COMMENTARY:By Ronny Kareni Since the atrocious footage of the suffering of an indigenous Papuan man reverberates in the heart of Puncak by the brute force of Indonesia’s army in early February, shocking tactics deployed by those in power to silence critics has been unfolding. Nowhere is this more evident ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
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 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
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Two academic heavyweights give Biden public advice: " Robert Alexander is a professor of political science and founding director of the Institute for Civics and Public Policy at Ohio Northern University. He is also the author of "Representation and the Electoral College." David B. Cohen is a professor of political science and assistant director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at The University of Akron." https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/26/opinions/three-women-who-should-be-at-the-top-of-bidens-vp-list-alexander-cohen/index.html
Given the likelihood of Biden dying in office if elected president, the choice is critical. The one chosen must be able to retain public support via mana and competence. Healing the racial divide will take at least that, but the prospects of rebuilding goodwill on the basis of a renewal of ethos compel the right choice.
They're giving him advice like those three haven't been on the top of the list for months.
How timesomely irrelevant of them.
????!!??? People who write something like that are not "academic heavyweights"; they're nothing but Democratic Party jobsworths.
Harris thinks it's funny to lock up black parents if their kids don't go to school.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/31/kamala-harris-laughed-jailing-parents-truancy
During Israel's 2014 massacre of civilians in Gaza, Rice spoke out—in favour of the Israelis.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/29/susan-rice-gaza-hamas-israel-defends-john-kerry
And Demings is—surprise, surprise—just like the other two, a Russiagate truther….
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr1404
Greens enter govt in Ireland: "The three-way coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green party is the first time the first two parties – former civil war rivals – have been in government together." https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/27/micheal-martin-irish-taoiseach-coalition-fianna-fail-fine-gael
Sinn Féin responded with a conspiracy theory:
Cabinet posts have been divvied up along expected lines. Fine Gael getting the finance, justice, foreign affairs, economic development portfolios while Fianna Fáil gets the social stuff, education, health, housing plus ag & fish. Greens have done pretty well actually with 3 cabinet posts including environment, climate change, arts & culture, transport, youth & children.
Martin and Varadkar will swap roles halfway through the term when Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach.
By the way the election was way back at the beginning of February. It’s taken 4 & a half months to put the government together.
You got to feel for Mary Lou McDonald she’s taken Sinn Fein almost into government.
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are like our Labour and National so it remains to be seen how well the coalition will go.
Although they do actually have a Labour Party: it has 5 senators (same as Sinn Fein), Green Party only has two.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seanad_%C3%89ireann
However in the more powerful elected lower house things are very different:
Sinn Fein 37, Greens 12, Labour only 6.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A1il_%C3%89ireann
My (admittedly rather sketchy) understanding is that their Labour Party is more akin to our old Alliance under Anderton. Fianna Fáil is a broad church centrist, republican party; that split-off from Sinn Fein after that movement went all in for armed resistance. Fine Gael is the Conservative party in the same mould as National here or the Tories in the UK.
Interesting. There's also the Social Democrats – due to an apparent necessity to fill the void between "broad church centrist, republican" and Labour.
A void so huge they have 6 members currently in the lower house. Very Irish.
Never a good sign for Major Parties when they're forced into a Grand Coalition by a dynamic Opposition Party on an upward trajectory.
As for the Irish Greens … wiped out last time they went into Govt … support more than halved at the following Election … no TDs at all … about as welcome to Irish voters as a Baby Arctic Seal Vol-au-vent served at a Green Party Annual Conference.
Would be good to have an explanation of the shift in voter views of them. A mix of negatives sufficient to overwhelm these positives?
"In almost four years in Government, from 2007 to 2011, the Green Party contributed to the passage of civil partnership for same-sex couples, the introduction of major planning reform, a major increase in renewable energy output, progressive budgets, and a nationwide scheme of home insulation retrofitting." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_(Ireland)
Edit
All very interesting and perhaps we should be more Irish. They have been oppressed badly and still have spirit. We have been oppressed and seem to go into dour as a default. They worked like billy-oh to make their way and initiated the word 'navvies' short for those who dug out England's navigation canals for transporting production.
We worked hard cutting down the forest in our own land for profit. The working man here found a voice in the Labour Party but that turned out to be more interested in being socially mobile, going up a class, and left its supporters behind. It has now to turn back from representing nature's despoilers targeting wealth, and return to its core role of acting for working people, and the underpaid and underemployed and find a way to get enterprise in NZ working for NZs providing for NZs needs, with some export as well, instead of the present reverse situation.
Now Labour must combine with the Green Party in implementing policies good for us all. And for the strugglers; be about healthy housing same as when it began, and relating to the new Climate Change menace which has penetrated our consciousness with trepidation.
If you listen to the Irish music it can be soulful but also the jigs really get everyone going, along with Irish whisky. Our music was more about gold-mining failures 'Farewell to the Gold' or a waltz, Save the Last Dance for Me. The Kokatahi Band played a mix of music that they remembered to bring some light and rest from toil, fuelled by beer and home-made spirit and refreshments. Then another lot of music crazed us up with rock and roll, and drugs. We had a chance to break the pattern of poor and drunken, rich and self-satisfied after WW2, but our horizons were too low. Now the size of the problem is huge but looking at how we can pull together to cope with Covid-19, this will likely act as a spur to carry the spirit further.
Problems can be dealt to rather than crush us, so let's show Ireland we can do better, let's compete in a sporting fashion to have the best policies performing successfully like well-oiled machines, for all the people and the country. We should keep in touch with Ireland, is there a group uniting the two countries? We can learn from them, the jigs, the determination, the national closeness as in, 'If You're Irish come into the Parlour, There's a Welcome here for you'! We will say, 'Naumai, Haeremai' but with the same meaning and effect. Let's do it.
The group uniting the two countries would be all the dour Irishmenwomen who came out here and cut down our forests.
Sounds like a typical NZ-aligned comment.
According to Worldometer this morning, 10 million cases occurred overnight, both the US and Brazil recorded 42 thousand new cases each, the total death toll is now 500 thousand.
Exponential increase in the infections rate and countries still not taking the virus seriously.
Just more evidence that NZ has applied the best response to this pandemic of any country, we've got a Govt that has saved us from potentialy the worst disaster in any of our life times.
We are the lucky country for having the Govt and response we've had, wake up NZ media, get your head out of the sand.
As the situation deteriorates overseas the public here will have cast into clear definition, the foolish position taken by the National Party, Todd Muller and much of the media.
Robert, are there courses in Riverton on your stuff that I can do?
Got any links for accommodation and bookings in Riverton?
Audrey Young in the Herald yesterday pretty much admitted that National’s best hope now is community transmission and a second wave of covid so they can call Jacinda a failure. Astonishingly cynical really.
Tawdrey lets the mask slip and out comes the 'power at all costs' even if that cost is kiwis lives. Cynicals not the word more like inhumane and a view that doesn’t get the airplay it deserves.
MSM are lock step with nationals messaging as Joyce (Mr 20Bill hole that didn't exist) gets a pulpit in granny today and Judiths book will no doubt provide exposure through till sept GE.
Remember that one the dark lords of DP is employed by them now with all his media contacts and all that money from swallowing rats gives them a lot of resources.
Apparently testing rates have gone through the roof again in Auckland as people start to get nervous about covid again on the back of National’s scaremongering.
Well let's hope the ministry manage to keep track of how many, and passes accurate truthful info to the govt.
One would think after going through the unpleasant experience of being nose swabbed and being all clear they'd get a bit pissed off at the hysteria inducing media and opp party. My kids mum rang sick at her work and they asked her to go get tested, she said the test is absolutely awful.
I had it a few weeks ago. Certainly uncomfortable but not so bad.
Melbourne has second wave of Covid mostly from community Transmission.
Also 30% of those leaving quarantine hotels refusing testing.
National ,Hosking were pushing the Aussie version of partial lockdown.
Muller claiming NZ was at fault for delay in Australia/NZ bubble.
Now Victorian health authorities say this maybe the new normal ongoing community Transmission.
Tova will be interviewing the Horeskin about his expert opinion any .. moment.. now..
IIRC three of the Oz states haven't had any cases for weeks so they may want to keep their borders closed to Victoria until community transmission ceases.
Just read 50,000 tests conducted in Ak of late , all negative. Slim hope then for the Nats. Shocking to think they are likely hoping for community transmission.
Just read an article from the Daily Telegraph which quotes Michael Baker, saying he was the designer of the worlds most successful lockdown. Things aren't looking to great in Australia. I remember when we were in lockdown zooming friends over there and thinking theres was a pretty loose lockdown……
I feel frightened about what all. this is going to mean for billions of people
Politics of disaster is politics of fear and this never makes for good policy. This is consistent with the absence of coherent and detailed policy from National. It is also another reason why I’m happy-ish that the Government didn’t push for major reform, besides the fact that they should obtain a clear mandate for it and campaign on it.
Let's hope Robert, let's hope common sense prevails over manufactured scaremongering.
It generally doesn't, Just Is. Instead, the dread generated by events in America, Brazil and so on, will overshadow the fear being stirred up by National et al and New Zealanders will reassess their views accordingly. I reckon.
Just In @3.1.2
Well said Just In. Talking to a rabid brain dead Tory yesterday I got the impression that he was very bitter that we had no community transmission of the virus as it was more down to good luck than good management as this incompetent pack of no-hopers could not organise a piss up in a brewery. He wanted National to fix things. Yeah, like Mullet was screaming for letting students in and then in the next breath claim that we were letting the virus in and it was shambolic
Not surprised really by his comments after the last week of hysteria lead by the pathetic excuse for shit house paper called the Herald.
As I said to him I am very grateful for living in a country run by people who could not organise a piss up and their good luck, Sooner be here mate than some of these so-called countries where the right is soooo organised like Australia (held up as a sample how we should do it ) UK run by Bozo and top of the hit parade USA and Brazil run by pea brained ultra right wing fuckwits.
I get the impression that most Kiwis are aware of our success and why we've been successful, it's really only the rusted on Nat supporters making a lot of noise, many of those supporters are of course the media its self, I doubt wether ordinary Kiwis are interested in "tipping the baby out with the bath water" better off sticking with Govt that has got us to where we are today, history proves the Nats don't have what it takes in a natural disater, never did.
" Nats don't have what it takes in a natural disaster, never did."
You can say that again pal. Only have to study how the Christchurch earthquake was run by Jerry Brownarse Minister of Disasters one almighty big disaster.
Incidentally, my answer was to your comment @3 not @3.1.2 as written. 8. 48 am on a Sunday is a bit early for me
+1. This of course could all be destroyed if National win in September. New Zealand is in great danger of pandemic disaster should that happen and I think the public know this.
Mutton said @ 3.3
"This of course could all be destroyed if National win in September. New Zealand is in great danger of pandemic disaster should that happen and I think the public know this".
Reply
We hope so Mutton because there are one hell of a lot of fuckwits out there who are brain dead to this and are more interested in point-scoring against the government.
Like prat Garner one morning last week kept asking Premier Ardern if she was going to apologise. What for? I ask, apologise for keeping the pandemic at bay in NZ.
Prime Minister Ardern please. Premier is Australian term.
What does Premier mean in Australia?
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive branch of government in the Australian state of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions. Wikipedia
"Prime Minister Ardern please. Premier is Australian term"
You are not quite right there me old son
I quote the Oxford Concise Dictionary
Premier Prime Minister in Great Britain or some British dominions. so it is NOT an Ozzie term but a British term so I will stick with what I said Premier Ardern.
On Friday, the Australian Federal Police raided the Sydney home and parliamentary offices of the NSW Labor MP and the home of his part-time staffer John Zhang.
https://youtu.be/bV6xQRo3GWY
Federal politics under the Libs has seen multiple police raids, often targeting Labor or Union offices, most, if not all have no outcome whatsoever, but the negative publicity is always damaging to the Labor Party and the mostly right wing media go along for the ride
I lived in Sydney from 2011 to 2018 and saw how the media can destroy a whole country for the sake of political point scoring.
It may well be political point scoring, yet the Party didn't seem to come to their defence while quickly attempting to distance themselves.
Is this the media cosying up to ScoMo? Chomp on your pavlova while you watch this fascinating culinary masterpiece unfold, and hear about the latest passion – date syrup! But which date was that?
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sJyb5zAOi4
Did you know ScoMoFo used to work for Munter McMutton?
No, I didn't, but he was minister of Tourism under the Howard Govt and was suddenly sacked from the position, only very recently the reason for his demise was revealed, Fraudulent Activity, recieving kickbacks for favourable contracts, basically, completely dishonest, he's a Pentecostal Christian, say no more, right wing conservatism.
I wonder if he saw out his contract under McMutton.
The new Irish Cabinet
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/norma-foley-to-be-minister-for-education-with-helen-mcentee-minister-for-justice-1.4290632
"Green Party senator Pippa Hackett will be Super Junior Minister in Agriculture with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity." Obviously a new form of political creature, Super Junior Ministers – ought we to get some? Chloe seems a contender, eh?
Equivalent of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries?
Could be. The label implies minister-with-training-wheels-on, yet I wonder why the Super gets put on the front – as if to imply a better product that the consumer ought to buy. Perhaps they will wear a badge with their title on it (as a marketing device).
Ha. Maybe Ardern should have had training wheels on a few of hers?
We must keep a watching brief on this – how does Ireland manage their agriculture etc?
I refer to my earlier https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-28-06-2020/#comment-1723533 comment about the Irish.
Are they just a mass of dash, or strong contenders in a clash for the perkiest political policies and performance for the peeps?
Watching Q+A this morning.
Gosh Jian Yang is a dodgy MP. Why won't he front for any interviews? Especially in an election year.
Is there any other list MP in the history of NZ who hasn't fronted for interviews for years?
Why is he even on the national party list collecting around $170,000 a year of our tax payer money?
Why aren't media calling out muller on this and asking him questions about it?
It stinks of CCP manipulation deep in the roots of the national party.
Comrade Colonel has people to talk for him.Why own a dog and bark yourself?
Do he and Winston go in for cafe conversations?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/419989/use-of-chinese-communist-party-associated-phrase-inappropriate-winston-peters
Video.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/invisible-man-national-mp-jian-yang-reporters-two-year-attempt-get-him-front
Treason.
https://twitter.com/speechwriterguy/status/1276761350606213120
Gullible.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Cait's consulted her astrology book?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2925449-the-complete-book-of-astrology
Nah. Her astrology book is prob'ly more accurate and objective than her other writing.
… but her emails.
Luckily the Lincoln Project makes the links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiDkTOKI7Ro
The minatory deep voice and the ominous timpani percussion obviously affected you deeply. But where are the links you talk about? Did those dastardly Russian masterminds steal the links as well?
After 3 weeks of poor journalism and some appalingly ignorant commentary as a result – about as poor a service from the media estate as one should ever have to experience.
The story that should have been written weeks ago.
There was a government of a country that was coronavirus free. It was at Level 2 of its management regime and because it was community transmission free for some weeks was under pressure to move to level 1 and open up its borders to foreign students and bubble with a neighbouring country (Oz).
It had already buckled to pressure to allow early exit from the two week quarantine it ran to be kind. Early release without testing.
So it announced a move to Level 1, but aware of the greater risk of cluster growth (and also the likelihood of returning Kiwis having infections because of the greater numbers returning as overseas lockdown rules eased) under Level 1 moved to a requirement for testing on day 3 and day 12 of the managed isolation.
However it did so with only one days notice. June 8 with the new rules from June 9.
Until June 8 all testing was run by the local Health Boards at its testing sites. It had organised the staff, the safety equipment and training for this. There was some testing of those moving into quarantine hotels because of their symptoms – but these numbers were low and testing was in very small numbers on an occasional ad hoc basis (without any time pressure) and so had no implications for other testing capability.
It was of course not practically possible to have a testing regime in place from June 9 for those who arrived June 7 (June 9 was their third day for testing). Not with one days notice June 8. So operations management staff made the presumption that the policy was meant to only apply for those who arrived from June 9 (not making this presumption would have inferred those making the policy decision were so out of touch as not to realise what they asked could not be done in practice). And so they would apply it from June 11th for those who arrived on June 9. And if they could not organise this with the local Health Board who supplied such staff by June 11th, they would have the first test as early as possible afterward (as they had operated the earlier testing of those with symptoms in quarantine before June 8, when this was in synch with local Health Board staff availability).
As we know this all came to public notice because a pair of sisters who arrived before June 9 were let out early, and without a test (as people were in May and still were if they arrived before June 9 – unknown to government which seemed to presume that a day 3 or day 12 test would have prevented this).
And as we know, it was not until about June 16 that the managed isolation system set up a testing regime for those for day 3 and day 12 – even those who arrived on June 9 were not tested on June 11 as the testing took a while to put in place).
So what actually went wrong.
Cabinet made a collective decision to do something that could not be done in practice.
Did Cabinet receive advice from the Ministry of Health about how long it would take to set up the system to apply day 3 and day 12 testing? Or did it make the decison expecting it to apply from June 9 (with one days notice June 8 Cabinet for those who arrived in June 7 – like those sisters from the UK), without any knowledge that there was little chance this could be done. Blaming the Minister or the Ministry or the management regime officials for not implementing the impossible is stupid.
Did the Ministry inform the Minister about what was possible? Did Cabinet know what they needed to know about the practicality of their policy being implemented in a timely way?
These are the relevant questions. And yet no one has asked them. Well served by our media, hardly.
PS Now there are people criticising the Health Minister for not visiting management isolation facilities. There is a reason we do not allow interface with others in the hotel (just necessary isolation regime staffing). There is a pandemic. A person going from such a place to a hospital (to meet a health need) means everyone in the hospital they meet has to be in a suit and the place they go is isolated out until they get a negative test result.
"These are the relevant questions. And yet no one has asked them."
Well, did you listen to the RNZ political panel this morning? Linda Clark & Richard Harman reviewing the past week. Those here trying to whitewash Labour, who anticipate a pleasant sunday, ought not to listen to it!
It's almost as if Labour presumes a cover-up of public service lying to the govt is in everyone's best interests. Yes, I know Labour MPs are mostly clueless – but that bad?? Really? It puzzles me. What does Jacinda gain by promoting this perception?
There are two real takeouts
1. Cabinet made a policy decision asking for something from June 9 with one days notice that would take a week to roll out in practice (did they know that ion June 8 or not?).
2. The risk of community spread resulting was no greater than that from releaase from managed isolation without a test during May and the first eweek of June.
All of the back testing done is really to prove Muller's beliefs to be wrong. A bit like science – archeology etc has done to creation science belief.
Have a KitKat, Dennis, your comment is projecting so much ‘perception’ that I almost thought it was advanced baiting.
Perhaps you and Linda and Richard should read Soiuxsie Wiles' excellent article on why she is confident there is no community transmission of Covid in NZ
She gives this very useful interactive graphic to also explain why after over 2 weeks of the new border restrictions (implemented on 9 June) there is very little chance of there being community transmission in Aotearoa
ooops sorry about the graphic – seems to have gained extra pixels. 🙁
[lprent: Fixed. The source image was large. You just need to constrain it (as was probably done at sciblog). Just add the width attribute into the img tag (eg width=”550″). If you’re the first in the hierarchy you can get away with 600. If you’re 10 down in the replies then 500 px will do. ]
Thanks Lynn I see how to do that now 🙂
I have to say that is a good graphic. What it needs emphasizing is the median time of the onset of any symptoms is days after the infectious period.
Yep, we even had Selway on here getting his test and his Dr telling him "you don't need one" after 2 weeks quarantine, the medical experts must despair at the public sometimes. So basically, all these people getting tests after 2 weeks is for political reasons, to assuage the fears of the public.
I mean, if we're within capacity and it's not going to fuck logistics, you might as well test them. It might throw something up once every 50 years.
But the scaremongerers like Muller can go fuck themselves. Spidey-sense is not an effective screening test for community transmission. Their intention is to sow alarm and despondency. It's disgusting.
I heard it. Basically they said he should resign because it looked bad cos of the cllever camera work. Surely you didn't fall for that crap.
Hey SPC, have you ever thought about becoming a reporter, this concise and informative turn of events describes the whole dilema in a way most people can understand, it wasn't a bungle, it was a case of not everyone understanding the process and the time frame for implementation, probably the key thing was simple lack of good communication between everyone concerned.
There were/are no subsequent negative outcomes as a result and hopefully communication lines will improve.
I once did, long ago back in the 1980's. I did offer to write a column back in 1999, but got rejected for a black fairy who tried out for the Lord of the Rings.
"black fairy"? WTAF dude?
"but got rejected for a black fairy who tried out for the Lord of the Rings."
Please explain what you mean by this.
It was the Singles column at the Dominion Post, they were replacing the original colunmist EG, later City Girl (a blonde) , with another. The column was published with the pseudonym Sarah Duffy. Duffy means black fairy in Gaelic (dubh fey) The person chosen as Sarah Duffy no 2 (a brunette) wrote a first column about them trying out for a role in Lord of the Rings.
I find the PC reaction to the term black fairy – especially in reference to the Lord of the Rings so very 20th C reactionary.
Forgive me for not reading Gaelic, singles columns from 20 years ago, or LOTR. That shifts it to a lowercase "wtaf".
Yeah I know, I am a walking/hobbling relic of yesteryear.
Dunno about that, I know folks who speak Klingon. But if you're going to be obscure, don't take it bad when people think you're just openly saying the quiet bits out loud.
Excellent comment SPC and just published on RNZ a good review on the Report of the country's Managed Isolation and Quarantine system.
Something for a Sunday morning laugh.
My wife dragged in a Weekend Herald this morning, she purchaed it yesterday, I asked her why on earth she had bought the Herald, she knows I refuse to read it, she replied, I know, but we're running out of newspaper to start the fire and the Saturday edition is quite thick and quite good value.
Ha! Indeed!
Ha ha I like it, better than tearing it up into small squares punching a hole in the corner and tying it with a bit of rope on the back of the Loo door which is the natural home for it.
It was well worth reading Matt Nippert's background coverage of how the government organised a response to Covid-19, including lengthy interviews with Ardern and Peters. That was good, in-depth journalism. You'd be much better informed and would have the details to rebut the RW line that "any government would have done the same".
Simon Wilson's lunch with Muller and Kaye was a good read too.
There's plenty of rubbish in the Herald but only a fool would refuse to eat the fish because they don't like the chips.
They were two of the best back-ground stories I have read in a long time.
Maybe what Anne states is true, rare appearances of professional journalism, makes the paper a bit of a lucky dip.
Good fuel and the puzzle section is OK if you like word games
Aus fearing their "second wave", be interesting if Nats/Hooton start screaming "close the border!!!!".
SPC, good to read some proper background to the situation. Where oh where are intelligent, balanced reporters who can investigate without getting hysterical?
Have any investigated and got hysterical at Bridges & Muller over them wanting to bring in thousands of students? Where would they be put up? Who would manage and staff these facilities, bearing in mind the huge management of thousands of returning Kiwis has not always been easy, which is understandable given there was no rehearsal for this pandemic.
I have been heartened by some sensible letters to Dom Post, and people I know more and more are saying the media has lost the plot and NZ has done extremely well. Muller and Co have never acknowledged this.
Yes. I concur with SPC too.
But who was to blame?
It is hard not to come to the conclusion that the govt, somewhat bungled the switch from Level 2 to Level 1. We now know Jacinda Ardern was under enormous pressure to make that switch and it came from all quarters but especially from National. In the end she relented despite Bloomfield's note of caution that Level 2 should run for another two weeks.
The public has to take their share of the blame too because we were all sick and tired of lockdown and we wanted more freedom and we said so – every last one of us.
Who was to blame?
We were all to blame from the PM downwards. So lets stop scapegoating individuals which, from my experiences, is the art of the guilty trying to distract attention away from themselves.
Interesting point Anne, we are all to blame, fair enough.
We're all to blame … Let's sack EVERYONE! Then we can start with a clean slate back where we were before, with everyone in the same positions.
One exception: Let's have EVERYONE this time round saying "We don't know how f…..n lucky we are."
The doom merchants, the "Everyone with responsibilities has cocked up" mob?
Put them in a leaky boat, give Michael Woodhouse the oars, stand Odd Job Muller on the poop deck with a telescope to hold up to his ear, and push them off towards Antarctica.
19 September
For the record, I was not sick and tired of the lockdown, so count me out of the collective breastbeating thanks.
The triumph of reason has happened within Labour in the UK. Apparently…
So the long arm of Mossad thesis, eh? I doubt she really implied that, but when UK politics persists in a morass of paranoia, conspiracy theories will inevitably whirl around in the vortex of competing perceptions. And yes, moral clarity in a Labour leader is indeed shocking. As a suggestion. Not sure if the reality has been validated.
An alternative action for Keir Starmer would be to keep following the foolish and fractious Jeremy Corbyn into a defeat so deep it will take years to get Labour out:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/18/key-points-from-review-of-2019-labour-election-defeat
… with its antisemitic implication that Israel was to blame for the death of George Floyd…
That was not the implication at all. What was at issue here was whether or not this murderous chokehold technique being used by U.S. police against peaceful and unarmed civilians was taught to them by Israeli police. You probably are aware that Israeli “policing” of the Occupied Territories is even more oppressive and lethal than what is being inflicted on the citizens of the United States by another vicious police culture.
The wild allegation that "Israel was to blame" is entirely the fabrication of Jeremy Rentoul, the Indescribablyboring hack you have ill-advisedly chosen to quote. Rentoul is a shameless backer of the right wing Blairite faction which has managed to grab control of the Party again after its democratic deviation. It would have been hard for you to choose a more devious and dishonorable source; in 2015 he was forced to publicly apologise after another of his outrageous canards aimed about Corbyn.
Shame on you for quoting such a callous and calculated liar, Dennis.
The facts are getting out there.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300041626/coronavirus-life-in-a-highsecurity-quarantine-facility-in-new-zealand
That's quite a different tone isn't it? Air flight staff in PPE, wake up breakfasts, nurse visits every day, social distancing, security watching all the time, grateful to be back in NZ. What a shambles & David Clark should resign!
The new natsy line will have to be that the expense of this mollycoddling is A NATIONAL DISGRACE.
Clearly National are ignorant of basic accounting. The cost of doing this is far lower than cost of dealing with a minor outbreak.
Or they are ignorant of human behaviour when constrained – there will always be idiots who care less for the common good than they do for their own personal interests.
Or both.
But I suspect that it is simply because the National strategists are so focused on their spiteful politics of envy because it allows them to stop looking at the horrors that a full-blown epidemic brings. We really should send some of their MPs on a fact finding mission to the US at present (or even after our election) so that they do start to understand it.
Nah, National will be saying that private enterprise can better organise border controls than civil servants and the military, and anyway the money should be going to our mates…..
A toss-up between Serco and Novopay?
Toss-up? Far too uncertain. Deals behind closed doors is how you do it, with knighthoods and cushy retirement jobs, and even a little earner writing for the Herald………
[Exasperatedly] Look, it's perfectly simple, opposition National party politicians are simply saying that NZ's Covid-19 outcomes would be much better if only our government had adopted policies closer to
Sweden'sAustralia'sNew Zealand's – that's all they're yakking on about; give them a break, and while you’re at it read Chris Penk's simple book why don't yah!Or keep warm by exporting swamp kauri 'furniture' to China; or live sheep to the Middle East, or kiwi fruit plants to the competition- that kind of sustainable?
Those 'initiatives' need wider circulation – audience ready and waiting.
How about exporting NZ bulk wine overseas for the GB supermarket trade??
Or, selling Argentinian bulk wine in NZ under NZ brand labels?
Or well water to the Chinese?
Or cheap power to Aussie smelters?
Then there's education. Knock off a few diplomas, certificates and degrees to all in-comers. (What did Prof Jim Flynn say on RNZ? No-one reads anymore at Uni.)
All good little earners for the steakholders
Or smuggling in diseased bees and rabbit viruses of course.
Virus smuggling – now there's an idea for this time of troubles.
Solving a housing crisis, one bankruptcy at a time.
https://twitter.com/carlquintanilla/status/1276620106781659136
Americans can get a house for under $100K. But John Key ( & Clark before that) "saved" us from the GFC by importing a million people
Jeremy Corbyn’s Opponents Burned the House Down to Stop Him — Now Keir Starmer Is King of the Ashes
by DANIEL FINN, Jacobin, 25 June 2020
By sacking Rebecca Long-Bailey on a trumped-up pretext, Keir Starmer has set the seal on a drastic shift to the right for the British Labour Party. That shift comes just as the key arguments by Jeremy Corbyn’s opponents to justify a break with his left leadership have been falling apart in the face of overwhelming evidence. ….
Read more…
https://jacobinmag.com/2020/06/keir-starmer-rebecca-long-bailey-sacked-labour
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2020/06/26/the-sordid-truth-about-jeremy-corbyns-defeat/
Keir Starmer is making the right moves, and it's a helluva lot better than that fucking moron Jeremy Corbyn who was so utterly loathed by both marginal voters and deeply loyalLaobour voters alike. Corbyn lost every voter age category from 25-44 upwards.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/18/key-points-from-review-of-2019-labour-election-defeat
Corbyn deserves a statue of himself on a pedestal put up outside Labour UK headquarters central London with feet made of tin, so that Labour supporters can organise crowds to pull it down with tractors and chains every year and sing sings about "never again" and explain to the youngest of supporters this is how to avoid wasting millions of supporter hours and millions of supporter money and a huge 2017 voter surge into stupid policies and catastrophic defeat within 2 years and allow Boris Fucking Johnson to rule the country into ruin instead.
Or, of course, you could read Norman Finkelstein instead.
Keir Starmer is making the right moves… that fucking moron Jeremy Corbyn … Boris Fucking Johnson to rule the country into ruin
?
https://i0.wp.com/bobcesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/cant-tell-if-serious.jpg
Or, of course, you could read Norman Finkelstein instead.
Of course. And who do YOU read, sir?
Well I read the actual review of the Labour Party's performance for a start, rather than an outsider's reckons.
And you should expect more sackings from Starmer as well, if anyone so much as puts a hair out of place.
And you should expect more sackings from Starmer as well, if anyone so much as puts a hair out of place.
You're quite right there, Ad.
He’ll call belonging to a union “anti-Semitic” next. It would make as much sense as anything else he’s said.
https://twitter.com/HackneyAbbott/status/1276928258102231040
Further down the thread, one Alistair Craig sums up this disastrous capture of the Labour Party by the right wing:
The Health and Disability system review was finally released last week to mixed reception. We all know that the MOH is dysfunctional, and successive governments have failed to either take charge of this rogue organisation or properly fund our public health and disability system to ensure systemic inequities do not cost further lives.
https://systemreview.health.govt.nz/
What gladdens my cynical and bitter old heart is how finally, finally, disabled people have raised their voices both individually and collectively to express their bitter disappointment at the failure of this review to address the very real inadequacies in the Ministry of Health Disability Support Services.
There were no disabled people on the Review's steering committee and as Gerri Pomeroy, President of DPA says…
Disabled people have the right to have their views taken into consideration and be heard, particularly now the government is a signatory to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons."
While she and others supported many of the health system changes the report suggested, she said the review was "as we feared, a health review with disability tacked on".
(Kudos to Gerri. She is an ACC client and it became clear she had little understanding of the struggles faced by those who have no rights or entitlements to disability supports enshrined by law. A while after we challenged her on this, she did approach us and admitted that she really had no idea how tough it is under MOH. Very pleased to see her stepping up.)
This long form article on RNZ is by a journalist unknown to me. He's done an excellent job. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/419956/disability-sector-calls-for-separate-ministry-support-unshackled-from-health-system
And yesterday another writer and long time disability advocate Chris Ford made this contribution…also on the RNZ site. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/419994/opinion-time-to-liberate-disability-from-health
I remember as a young disability activist at the time this went against the consensus view of disabled people who believed it would represent a regression to the medical model of disability. Simply, the medical model holds that disabled people should be treated as people with bodily and mental deficits which needed to be addressed through treatment – rather than as people who need to have our rights upheld and requirement for individualised support respected.
As time has shown, the government's claims turned out to be but fine rhetoric.
The reality for disabled people like me is that we still have to go through bureaucratic hoops to prove to the Ministry of Health (which controls funding for non-accident related disability) that we need essential mobility equipment such as, for example, wheelchairs or housing modifications.
This having to go through hoops has been compounded by successive governments failing to increase disability support funding substantially – at least not until this year's Budget which saw the most significant boost to disability funding in decades.
Chris doesn't just criticize he suggests a solution…one that has been on the disability wishlist for many years.
I would like to see a government entity called Disability New Zealand established (replacing both the Ministry of Health DSS and ACC), whose operations and governance are be led by disabled people.
This agency would administer disability support funding and allow disabled people and their whānau to both create and hold individualised support budgets.
Moreover, an independent, autonomous Disability Commission, which would also be disabled person-led, would provide policy advice and monitor all government policy which impacted on disabled people.
We could have had all these recommendations had the Health and Disability System Review included disabled people's representation on it – something that I and other disabled people and our organisations called for constantly, including to Health Minister David Clark and Review Chair Heather Simpson.
Our views were ignored, hence the limited recommendations.
Responses from both Carmel MIA Sepuloni as Minister for Disability Issues and Jenny 'I don't really want this hot potato thrown at me by JAG' Salesa have been predictably dismissive.
'Just fuck off and wait..' sums it up.
I might be being over optimistic, but this might be one of those make or break issues for this Current Mob occupying the gummint benches.
Perhaps someone close to them could whisper in their ear that some of us out here do understand that the Misery of Health has been a rogue entity for quite some time now so we don't necessarily blame the MPs and the PM directly for this continued shitting on of disabled New Zealanders. What would be great…and very possibly vote winning… would be the massive purge of the entrenched bureaucracy at the Mystery that is desperately needed.
Start again with new blood, and this time use the word "entitled" in all of their policies.
A Disability Authority and Disability Commission (advocacy) does seem to be the way to go.
Not that this should be needed to make these moves.
1. move long term support (disability benefit) to super rate level
2. allow those who meet criteria for disability support to receive a minimum of the dole rate when living with working partners.
3. super rate support to those unable to work while they are facing illness likely that incapacitate them, or cause death (heart attacks and late stage cancer)
4. more than benefit level support to workers no longer able to work for health reasons (outside the current ACC model).
Advocacy for those with disability, birth or ACC orbit, or non ACC criteria sickness/deterioration in terms of medical and treatment support is necessary, especially when we are still under the funding constraint management regime of health services model.
Thanks SPC for your considered response.
You should send that to the PM, Sepuloni and Salesa.
Maybe even Reverend Clark…but that might be a waste of a stamp.
+100
"'Just fuck off and wait..'"
rolfnui.
I just tweeted this
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1277023845271011328
and writing that I went to the RNZ website and see the front page is plastered with the DA review critiques, which is fantastic except for the fact that the disability activist sector appears to be sacrificing people whose disability stems from health issues. Or maybe they just don't know about them.
Not impressed, it's a shit show all round.
…the disability activist sector appears to be sacrificing people whose disability stems from health issues….
You're going to have to expand on that weka. Am I right in thinking this is to do with the difference between the social and medical models of disability?
Can be a bit tricky….no disabled person…especially those born with impairments…wants to be seen solely as someone who needs treatment or fixing. Chris Ford's piece discusses this a little. I'll let him explain.
OTOH…if disabled people do not get the supports they need then their health can go rapidly to shit. So there is the medical to consider.
In all our dealings with the Misery of Health over the years one of the expectations that Peter and I wrongly held was that provision of good supports for disabled people would be seen as an investment. The cost of fixing someone through through the health system can be seriously expensive. Much more than funding adequate supports.
But no. It seems the bastards don't care if a person with spina bifida (who survived the near compulsory termination protocols) gets repeated bladder and kidney infections because they are forced to use single use catheters multiple times. Kidney failure? Shortens their lives. In the Ministry's book this would be a win.
And as for the End of Life Choice Bill….this should be ditched until ALL disabled New Zealanders who need disability supports have those supports funded as of right.
Just like those on ACC.
the RNZ headlines and having a quick read through are pushing the separate Disability from Health. Which I actually support, but you *have to take health disability people with that, not create a further ghettoisation of chronically ill people. We already have discrimination with Health on that basis around who can get disability funding. I can totally see that if Disability were given its own ministry that Labour would fuck this up and chronically ill people would be sacrificed yet again.
I agree there are issues on what framing/narratives are used too, especially around ‘fixing’. It's complex. I completely agree with the position that the govt should be putting disabled people in charge, and this needs to include those with health disabilities (which will present another whole set of challenges). I don't think the disability sector (govt, NGO or activist) is particularly good on this.
I can totally see that if Disability were given its own ministry that Labour would fuck this up and chronically ill people would be sacrificed yet again.
Very quickly…because I have stuff to do outside while it is not raining…you might want to have a look at the MOH DSS definition of disability as pertains to accessing services.
For many years now mental health has been accepted into the disability tent..but not, you say chronic health conditions.
Why…I guess this is about the 'condition lasting for longer than six months' part of the definition. Could it be than many with these health conditions resist the definition of 'disability' because of the negative connotations of the word? They are hoping to be cured?
A minefield.
"… the medical model holds that disabled people should be treated as people with bodily and mental deficits which need to be addressed through treatment – rather than as people who need to have our rights upheld…"
Which would be bad enough on its own – but is compounded when the treatment recommended is far from the best available. For example, the scandalous reluctance of the medical profession to recommend and advocate for the the funding of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) for children with cerebral palsy. Combined with follow-up physiotherapy, gym-work and strengthening, it is by far the best, modern treatment for cerebral palsy of the diplegic type. The long-term burden of disability on the individuals concerned, and the taxpayer (though the health economics studies have not been done) is substantially reduced. Existing protocols of multiple, repeated orthopaedic operations with poor cumulative outcomes are protected and maintained – because that is where the current medical expertise and government funding sits. Families are self-funding or running lengthy fund-raising campaigns to obtain this procedure overseas – then paying again for physiotherapy or gym sessions while injured rugby players get covered by ACC.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/95874406/120k-cerebral-palsy-surgery-worth-it-to-give-3yearold-hugo-a-chance-at-a-normal-life
Interesting…and it seems this is an accepted treatment in the States…so why not here?
Some interesting stuff on media on Radionz today.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018752161/midweek-mediawatch-reporters-criticised-for-being-too-critical 7.51 am
And then there was 9.06 am Media Watch which I didn't find easy to reach as usual. There seems to be some reshuffling of how things are presented, not sure just what. However here is the audio which is very interesting as it is about Cambridge Analytica et al. Did you know that Margaret Thatcher used the services of the political mixers for her three elections? And there's more….
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018752569
Those who wish to be politically informed, and those who wish to be up with all the sly ways of undermining our political process and elections, and those who want to find out who is who and who's paying should listen to this. Journalists are out there with 'truly epic stories', and that's not puffing them up. Knowing about this is important for those with dreams of maintaining a good, functioning democracy that keeps itself in good condition, and clean its boots topside, and soles regularly.
It would be interesting to know what others here thought after hearing this, did everyone find something new they hadn't heard?
Air nz really doesn't get it- starting to look like they might be a paid up member of the Nats.
Do they need to have government regulation on every little thing or could they not err on the side of caution and wear and handout masks. No aircraft filtration system is going to save you from the person next to you coughing all over you.
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said crew on international flights are required to wear masks and gloves during food and drink service and face-to-face interactions with passengers.
However, there was no government requirement for staff to wear masks in Queensland.
"Our jet aircraft are fitted with hospital-grade air systems that filter out viruses, and hand sanitiser is also available in airports and on aircraft for customers and staff to use as they wish," she said.
And on a wider note we probably really don't need further infections from in transit and aircraft transmission. If we get too much or find it towards the end of quarantine it will delay departure from quarantine of more people and clog up the spaces we do have.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/121957033/coronavirus-passenger-dismayed-at-air-new-zealands-casual-attitude-to-virus
From the RNZ political panel this morning (https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018752565/the-panel-with-linda-clark-and-richard-harman – jump to 6.5 mins in to skip the world cup bit):
LC: "I think it's inevitably a combination of both… Labour has made a lot of mistakes in the last couple of weeks". She's saying Muller's achievement isn't solely the cause of the 9% switch in the poll. "A lot of public confidence has been shaken by a whole series of mistakes, and they are going to be punished for that."
RH: "we learnt this morning that both Shane Jones & Nikki Kaye want the legislation to be amended to let Auckland take more water from the Waikato River". After mentioning that the RMA amendments are still in select committee. And "it's looking less & less likely that the shovel-ready projects are going to be ready before the election."
LC: "Winston is in the petty politics phase at the moment, and I don't think it's working for him."
RH on the border shambles: "I think they need to explain just how the decisions were made… Go back to Tuesday, and in the House, Jacinda Ardern quite clearly stated that the Ministry of Health had misled her… now, for a ministry to mislead the prime minister herself on something like this [testing done] is very, very important. And so yes, Clark is guilty of not asking enough questions". [Re the DGoH] "The prime minister said he was reporting, but what he was reporting was wrong."
Yet the public servant who think they've got away with lying to their minister, the DGoH, and the PM are sitting there rubbing their hands with glee, saying to each other "Way cool, dudes! Public service is fun, eh?"
RH: "I think it would be unfair to sack the minister for this, yet the government has not presented a case in its own defense."
Then re Newshub and "throwing Dr Bloomfield under the bus"…
LC: "As an old television reporter I have to take my hat off to the cameraman… an absolute master, because that really caught a moment – and he was being thrown under a bus, I don't think there's any denying that… there's no question that the prime minister has been misled by the ministry, and it may be that Bloomfield has been too – by his officials". "I think the most responsible thing that David Clark could do is resign."
As you know, I think Linda Clark's perspective is very ignorant.
As to the question to the Minister while alongside Bloomfield, and the cameraman’s filming of Bloomfield at that moment, speaks to the very fact of this being a pre planned sting. The story of it effectively written before the question was even asked.
Taking off their hat to the cameraman, in that context, is disingenuous.
there was no shambles, I'll keep repeating that everytime I see it.
Yeah, incantations do work via repetition. Just like advertising. Yet people en masse still have this old idea in their heads; magical thinking is ineffective.
Mass perceptions of a shambles are likewise influential. Weight of numbers – politics being a numbers game.
What a couple of poisonous weeds. There have been a number of people who appeared to be sensible reporters revealed when they leave government jobs, as deeply troubled by the idea of a fair democracy, and honest, balanced reporting with both negative and positive observations!
Loud noise in MSM does not equal mass perception although NZ’s megaphone media would like you to believe it and, sadly, it seems to be working. You seem to be scared that critical thinking might be conflated with defending the Government/Clark/DGoH. Walk and chew gum at the same time.
Dennis: Why are you buying into the "border shambles" line when it was nothing of the sort?
Green have a policy announcement at 1pm
Live stream https://www.facebook.com/nzgreenparty/videos/723007115124045/
"Sensors in Sweden …" is how the Chernobyl news kicked off in 1986.
Radiation sensors in Stockholm have detected higher-than-usual but still harmless levels of isotopes produced by nuclear fission, probably from somewhere on or near the Baltic Sea, a body running a worldwide network of the sensors said on Friday.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuclear-particles-baltic/sensors-detect-rise-in-nuclear-particles-on-baltic-sea-global-body-says-idUSKBN23X2TN
Half-price piss, though.
https://twitter.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/1275409775178768385
People who visited a bar in East Lansing, Michigan, are being asked to self-quarantine because roughly 85 people contracted Covid-19 after visiting the establishment this month, a health official says.
That number is up from the 34 reported Wednesday and is expected to rise, Ingham County Health officer Linda S. Vail told CNN.
The Health Department is asking patrons who visited Harper's Restaurant & Brew Pub between June 12 and June 20 to self-quarantine, and report cases of Covid-19, the department said in a statement.
"Given the number of cases in this outbreak, we consider this a higher risk exposure than a typical visit to a restaurant or bar," Vail said. "There are likely more people infected with Covid-19 not yet identified."
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/27/us/michigan-coronavirus-bar-harpers/index.html
Greens new social security policy:
Guaranteed Minimum Income replacing all core benefits and student allowance.
Increases in income support for those with children
ACC replaced with Agency for Comprehensive Care
Taxing uber wealthy, as well as new tax brackets for $100,000 and $150,000
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/420016/election-2020-green-party-unveils-plans-to-tackle-poverty
https://www.greens.org.nz/green_party_proposes_transformational_poverty_action_plan
Guaranteed Minimum Income
Well, does that mean it isn't a UBI?? Perhaps you could write up & post an essay explaining what sort of critter it is. Sounds good tho, & a radical move… 👍
Is there a single clear definition of UBI, in NZ context? If not, this is a red herring, IMHO.
UBIs are generally paid to everyone. The GP GMI is for those that need it (essentially everyone not in full time work). I tempted to say Gareth Morgan won't be getting it 😈 but I haven't seen yet if the GMI is asset tested.
No one on super (or in FT work) would get.
Ta
GMI =//= UBI and comparing the two would be like apples & orange AKA a red herring 😉
I took it as a question from someone who hadn't read the policy yet.
The debate around UBI has been dominant, so it's going to be useful to compare the two different things and point out they are apples and oranges but they're still both fruit 🙂 Especially when it comes to examining TOP's UBI policy 😈
Fair comment. Talking about TOP’s UBI policy is specific, at least. I still don’t see much point in a head-to-head comparison other than to show and highlight (?) the differences? I think it is a reductionist trap and an exercise in futility (AKA waste of time) but I’m sure some pundits and MSM won’t be able to resist 😉 Just my 2 cents, of course.
Given TOP will be going after GP votes, and that too many lefties have been singing the praises of TOP's UBI, I find it instructive to look at them side by side. I'm putting up a post tomorrow about the GP policy alone, might do a separate one on the comparison with TOP at some point (might not be necessary).
It's also because I've written about the serious short comings of UBI models (including TOP's) and the GP basically fills the gaps that others haven't been able to. This isn't about the GP so much (apart from pointing out the value in voting for them), it's more about keeping visible the need for welfare to be bolted on to any model. A distinction that too many on the left had failed to grasp. Will be really interesting to see who gets it now, once presented with an integrated and costed policy.
The link says $325 base rate (singles) for benefits and srtudent allowance. It also shows higher support payments per child.
And no GMI has nothing to do with UI.
I am writing a post as we speak. It's a beautiful policy and yes, radical but not so much as to scare the horses. Not perfect, but really good. Tt's not a UBI. It's a guaranteed minimum income for those that need it, plus lots of other good stuff for welfare.
I used to support UBI, but now prefer Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI). GMI means you can afford to give more to those who need it, while maintaining the other desirable aspects of UBI (no test or expectations other than having sufficiently low income). All of us are eligible for GMI when we need it.
Listening to this from Max Rashbrooke explained the UBI / GMI issue well.
Does he talk about a GMI specfically?
Absolutely, listen at 12:20
It would support people who were injured or sick …
Arrgghhh!!!!
What about those born with a disability? This is what some of the disability activists are on about.
As if your disability being literally lifelong makes you less deserving.
Hardly inclusive language is it?
We must all try harder.
While yet another rainstorm passes through…remember this?
https://info.scoop.co.nz/Equity_For_Illness
I gave Melanie a call once and suggested that instead of Equity for 'Illness' it was reworded to be inclusive of those who were disabled from birth and those whose injuries predated ACC…she wouldn't have a bar of it. Different communities and different needs.
At the end of the day we're all humans whose minds or bodies have some degree of impairment because of whatever and who need a some degree of support.
Goodness me..our tribalism is our downfall.
Not sure if those words are from the Party or clumsy paraphrasing by the media. The release to members reads:
There does seem to be some unclarity of language in the policy documents.
Just working my way through the details, but it looks good for all disabled, impaired, unwell people that can't work full time.
all in a context of manaaki, give people what they need rather than making them jump hoops. It's bold as.
couples rates would be gone too. Can't see the details on abatement rates yet, but they'd change those too.
And maybe, just maybe the Greens can win back quality candidates such as this…
https://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.com/2017/03/i-am-reassessing-my-membership.html
GREEN PARTY candidate Chris Ford says he's "reassessing" his membership of the Green Party in the light of the leadership shifting the party further to the right and signing up for Labour's 'Budget Responsibility Rules'. He's also angry that this was done without any consultation with the party membership.
Ford, who stood for the Green's in 2014, said: "I'm very disappointed with the party I belong to for doing this! In fact, I know that many other members -like me – are disappointed and angry. I am reassessing my membership. I knew that this statement (Labour and Greens' joint Budget Responsibility Rules agreement) was being developed but party members seem to have been largely bypassed in doing so.”
Ford is expressing a widespread dissatisfaction within the Green Party rank and file who believe that the party has strayed far from its progressive roots, For many, the sight of co-leaders James Shaw and Metiria Turei signing up to the 'Budget Responsibility Rules' may be the final straw.
Maybe. Greens decided to reverse the BRR support some time ago.
Thank heavens
Increase in base benefit rate to $390/wk
$390 or $325?
$325 after tax.
Base rate for people who can't work due to disability/illness would be higher than everyone else.
Bold indeed. Looking good…let's see it explicit in their manifesto.
Might have a party to vote for after all.
Who is the Green candidate for the Far North?
The unwelcome re-emergence of Unity Mitford
https://twitter.com/LKTranslator/status/1276782228660523009
A lot of pressure on the managed isolation system from increased numbers coming across the border.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/420020/covid-19-nz-s-managed-isolation-system-not-broken-but-under-extreme-stress-review
For mine they should reduce pressure on the managed isolation facilities by turning them into second week stays.
They should locate first week stays in hotels not currently used (rent by floor). Just the day 3 test to interface with the confined without symptoms.
And if they bus – either level 3 spacing, or provide masks to passengers and PPE to staff.
We should if at all possible have special flights for Kiwis in Oz coming here, they do not leave Oz with it and are at risk on the journey to the hotel and others they are isolated with.
First week stays confined to their room.
Very good, clear press conference by Woods and Webb (most of which will never make the headlines, because it was too sensible).
Expecting 5,000 arriving in the next 1-2 weeks? Capacity for 6,000, give or take.
So let's invite thousands more people in, we can cope easily, said no sane person, ever. But National are saying exactly that. So what do the journos at press conference ask about instead? "Is anybody bringing in drugs?" FFS.
Better questions from the media might be, "Why are all these people returning home to New Zealand?" and "What are the returnees reporting on how conditions are in the countries they are returning from in terms of Covid-19 and social risk?" or "What percentage of returnees have furnished substantive complaints about treatment on return?"
Can anyone explain this to me?
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1277082483771621377
Personally I would have brought those who lost employment through ill health (sickness/physical decay and heart attacks etc) into the ACC employer funded system. This also has a focus on funding treatment/recovery to get people back to work.
Savings for MSD then used for more generous funding to those with earlier and other circumstance inability to work (often permanent) – 80% of the MW is generous ($600 a week before tax). And I thought moving those on disability (now around $300) to the super rate $425 was the bold move. I can however agree younger folk need more than someone on super who owns a home, so there is a case for the higher amount.
The last sentence may refer to the ACC payment system, how to put a cap on the payments it currently makes to injured workers to reduce its costs to afford the expansion of coverage. The 80% payment amount maximum frozen until it reduces to 1/2 times the average wage as a maximum.
thanks, I did wonder if it was about high income earners going onto ACC. Can you please explain how that works?
SLP current rate is $307 for an adult. GP policy is to increase this to $390 before April (60% of min wage), then once merged with ACC to increase it to 80% of net minimum wage, $604/wk or $484 depending on whether they are talking about 80% of net or gross.
And this just landed on the Natrad website…https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/420040/woman-with-chronic-illness-calls-out-employer-s-double-standard
Surprises me that this woman had worked for MSD and was shocked and disappointed when her employer treated her like shit, sorry, with less than kindness when she became sick.
Other surprising little snippet from this article is that although 24% of the population have some sort of disability…only 4.8% of MSD employees identify as disabled. (https://www.odi.govt.nz/home/about-disability/key-facts-about-disability-in-new-zealand/ )
Explains a lot.
All I know about ACC is that its based at 80% of the former wage.
correction to the original post
until it reduces to 1 1/2 times the average as a maximum.
I presume that under the ACC system there is a maximum former wage allowed and thus there would be savings made if that was fixed/unadjusted until it was no more than 1 1/2 times the average. Thus a future maximum amount at 80% of that amount, which would be a maxmum of (at current average somewhere around 60,000, 80% would be c$48,000 near $1000 per week).
PS above I put it at $600 a week for 80% of the MW, it would at next years rate of $20 an hour be c$640 per week before tax.
heh
https://twitter.com/shannonrwatts/status/1277054431075266560
https://twitter.com/shannonrwatts/status/1277059315937886208
https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article243834242.html
ACT are doing their bit to increase diversity in Parliament. Gun nuts and climate cranks deserve representation too!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12343678
And one of Hooton’s acolytes on no. 2. Will Paul ‘the Muss’ Goldsmith stand aside again in Epsom?
Poots don't care.
/
https://twitter.com/Kasparov63/status/1276957671510339584
Urgent water summit too short notice for double-booked Auckland Council
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12343660
So many ‘surprised’ people, so little action, so late …
Can we please bang some heads together?
She miscarried.
https://twitter.com/eastfeed/status/1276326723995471873
Looks like an intentional piece of Balkans-style ethnic cleansing – deliberate termination of a foetus for being black
Oh how could police do this in a supposedly civilised country. If they had a spark of decency left in the USA they would be ashamed. It's a disgrace at present, sick outside and in. That was in Florida with a lot of coronavirus. A good slogan for their protests would be Cough on a Cop. A violence free way of retaliating. What sort of reaction did Ghandi and his followers get? It takes a lot of resolve to face this sort of viciousness.
Well, I expect all of you will talk about the Greens's beneficiary package tomorrow. It was a late announcement (?).
It depends how much they insist on it in their coalition negotiations. I'll accept all party's positions — a bidding war for the neediest.