Is it just me, or has Glenn Greenwald shifted to the right over the past year or two? He seems to support Trump, and also, more disturbingly, seems to claim to be in favour of civil liberties, but is now very pro police being able to gun down blacks like dogs in the middle of the street.
I have emailed him to clarify these views, but he never replied.
In that case, please provide a link to his Twitter feed. Not everybody here is on Twitter and they might still want to access it through a browser, as I tend to do from time to time. Ideally, please provide a link to one or two specific Twitter feeds that support your comment. Don’t expect others to do the digging.
Yes provide a link to show us all where Greenwald has said or even implied that supports "police being able to gun down blacks like dogs in the middle of the street." and "guy wants to give police in the USA power to give out summary executions."..if you cannot provide those links, I believe these comments really need to be removed.
Given my browser no longer works with the toolbar here I cannot link to it, but Greenwald’s current focus on Twitter is that Democrats are not taking public concerns about violent crime as seriously as they do their own security on Capitol Hill (and he claims that because Biden has not done anything for Assange this means he wants to criminalise journalism).
Which is not support for police doing summary executions, but is, what it is.
So in other words millsy is just making shit up…..those comments should really be moderated, not that I am trying to tell moderators how to do their job, but millsy's comments seem to be straight out slander.
Jonathan Cook is a really thoughtful and thought provoking journalist.
No wonder he was chucked off the Guardian .They refused to print his dispatches from Jerusalem because they didn't reflect the core values of the Guardian (not pro Israel enough)
Sorry , should have included a bit more info about the link
an excerpt
“Others on the left recoil from this approach. They warn that, by fixating on Trump, elements of the left have drifted into worryingly authoritarian ways of thinking – sometimes openly, more often implicitly – as a bulwark against the return of Trump or anyone like him.”
It is there plain is day. He is starting to carry on about crime – that has always been used as an exuce to let cops gun down and beat up who they damn well please,
All my points illustrated there and then. You simply cannot be in favour if civil liberties if you support the right of cops to beat and shoot whoever they like.
The guy would have supported the KKK and lynching back in the day.
Glenn Greenwald supports a massive crackdown on civil liberties to fight crime. Its right there, plain as day. The guy is a charlatan, plain and simple.
He probably thought that George Floyd deserved to die,
[you have made a number of allegations about Greenwald and still not provided a single specific example (i.e. tweet) to support these. It definitely looks like you’re making up shit.
You’re now in Pre-Moderation until you provide links to specific tweets to support all of your allegations made today here on OM about Greenwald or until you withdraw each and every one of them or until you’ll be moved to the Ban list for a while – Incognito]
@millsy, just as a matter of interest do you also believe that Trump was enabled by Putin?..just wondering, as your desperate efforts to extrapolate that bullshit out of Greenwalds tweets is giving me flash backs to that mad debunked conspiracy theory and the tortured logic that often went with it.
Yeah, nahh… everybody has their eyes peeled on other issues. Drugs and alcohol not that much. Child violence, poverty and child death has not improved despite so many promises. But we have 16 billion to give for corporate welfare. Feelin so much better…sarc.
……our assessment didn’t need to split hairs in this way. The evidence was overwhelming.
…..Deep decarbonisation requires that we reduce anthropogenic emissions in the first place. In fact, we need a year-on-year reduction in emissions from now until 2050, roughly equivalent to the 7% reductions seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
…..To study the social dynamics needed for such a rapid transformation, we looked at ten social drivers of decarbonisation: United Nations climate governance, transnational initiatives, climate-related regulation, climate protests and social movements, climate litigation, ….
…..Though the 1.5°C target might be possible, there are currently no grounds for optimism that we will meet it. But perhaps our findings will provide exactly the motivation we need to make it happen.
Those most at risk from Cov-19 are in the older age bracket.
Those most at risk from climate change are the young people.
Maybe this explains the difference between the extraordinary efforts taken to prevent covid-19 and the lackluster efforts taken to prevent climate change.
Climate change anxiety: Young people 'feel hopeless'
By Steffan Messenger
BBC Wales Environment Correspondent
"The most soul-crushing thing is not being optimistic about [climate change].
"It's something I'm quite worried about that isn't going to be sorted fast enough. We're already seeing effects at the moment. Not enough is being done."
"The government should not see this as something that is just a problem for young people – the other way of actually tackling climate anxiety is to do something about climate change."
Regular surveys by Cardiff University's school of psychology have shown a big shift in people's attitude to climate change in recent years – with 40% of those polled across the UK now saying they are "very or extremely worried" about it.
A third said it triggered feelings of anxiety, fear or outrage.
I understand the SUFW is trying to protect the rights of women and also women only spaces. They are also trying to stop children being encouraged to transition rather than growing up gay. Its seems to me that it is the trans movement that is more likely to be funded by fundamental religious groups. A man with long hair, high heels, makeup and wearing a dress is still a man and no matter how deluded will always be a man.
[Janice, my commitment here as a moderator and feminist is to try and prevent the gender/sex war taking place on TS. The boundaries around robust debate and not using language that effectively excludes others is different from elsewhere. Your comment is a problem in two ways (plus the request below re funding):
By saying that TW are merely cross dressing men you make invisible TW with gender dysphoria and TW as a gender identity. You can make the argument on both those points but I’m going to ask you be less offensive in how you do that (consider the TW reading and those who may want to take part in the conversation) and that you do in fact make the argument if you want to post the opinion).
saying that TW are deluded is akin to saying women are hysterical ie as a class are deficient.
I’m figuring out how to moderate in this debate, so I hope you will take more care. It’s always fine to ask for clarification – weka]
Jasus. There is no equivalence to be being Trans or Gay other than their fight for acceptance in society. When I grew up when it was illegal to be Gay it didn't mean I started wearing frocks.
"A man with long hair, high heels, makeup and wearing a dress is still a man and no matter how deluded will always be a man.?"
Do you have any idea, or care, how offensive comments like this are.
If your comment is reflective of religious bigotry or the SUFW movement then you, churches and the SUFW should STFU
" When I grew up when it was illegal to be Gay it didn't mean I started wearing frocks."…Wonder how Quentin Crisp would have got on in today's climate?
Whatever the answer, here is an incredible interview of an extremely interesting man who was on the forefront of being openly gay in the UK…
I think the very brave Mr Crisp would be a very "happy camper" in todays society and I, for one, am grateful to him so we can ride on his beautifully bloused shoulders.
Janice possible means physically – which may well be true. We shouldn't be so touchy about expressions before we found out what is meant. Some in this forum have English as their second language. If we really care, we care about everybody and their perspective. How else can you get consensus even if it is that there are different opinions?
Janice just make your points quietly and reasonably and don't bring in suggestions that feel like hyperbole likely to arouse emotions from either side of the debate. Just saying, from experience.
Do you know of any legitimate organisations which advocate for womans rights (especially where they conflict with trans rights)? Or are they all transphobic by doing that advocacy?
Not so very long ago The Science declared that human brains do not mature until about 25 years of age.
Speak Up For Women quite rightly have grave concerns about teenagers being encouraged to undergo life altering chemical and surgical 'therapies'.
Watchful waiting and talking therapies are more appropriate.
Pro child-transitioning 'advocates' have declared this treatment approach to children and young people experiencing gender dysphoria as 'denying them access to healthcare'.
Do you really think this is a left wing/right wing issue?
If you read widely on the topic you'll find that some of the most gender (ideology) critical feminists were firmly planted in the Left. Until they began to speak up about the impact on women and girls of accepting without question that 'transwomen are women'. Then the pile on from the wokest left drove them away.
Not to the right…btw…but away.
IMHO I don't believe the traditional definitions of 'Left' and "right' apply anymore.
Nah, I think the trans thing is as much of a generational issue as a political issue.
But social conservatives (i.e. the "right wing") will take the UK court findings about teenage consent for medical procedures and apply them to other medical procedures. Like abortion and contraception.
the people opposed to any sort of sex ed in schools will sure want to stop teens asking the doc for the pill.
I suggest the person on Twitter who asks so many questions about SUFW attends one of their public meetings to find some answers……….The group that has been referred to as a hate group, which the High Court found was patently not true, is now able to hold meetings in Council premises as the High Court concluded was their democratic right.
Usually the research that is used to determine health decisions in Aotearoa, is from overseas, e.g Covid vaccines. NZ doesn't have the same population or funding to undertake Gold Standard research. BTW NICE guidelines on puberty blockers are that there is little evidence to support them improving gender dysphoria, mental health and Body image. They are experimental. I am sorry I don't have a link at hand, but promise to post later. I am running late today!
Ok just had a quick glance and will need more time from me but will do later.
My understanding is that SUFW was the BDMR bill kept as it is where a small number of people, because that is all it is, have to apply to the family court and have a medical exam to change their birth cert. NB my understanding is that genital surgery is not a requirement of this
Sacha I just got home from work. The blog you posted has a hell of a lot of information in it. I am to comment on my views in this area. I am not SUFW nor am I a member.
Reading through it I agree with most of SUFW views. So maybe I will comment on all these areas tonight on Open mike if I get to or or tomorrow.
Since Laurel Hubbard’s naming in the New Zealand Olympic team this week, there’s been a flurry of discussion about the inclusion (or exclusion) of transgender women in women’s sport and the need to protect women’s rights.
It’s fantastic to see how women’s rights and women’s sport are all of a sudden coming to the fore. Now that you are so interested in women’s sport let’s talk about the big threats facing women in sport.
But actually Sacha, it is the trans gender inclusion in women's sport. Here's the science. There is another article I hope to find about the shaky science the Olympic committee used to reach their decision on trans women. its an interesting read.
I agree with all Zoe George says about women's sport but as Rosemary said I add the Trans gender issues as a recent threat and the the two articles on the science of trans gender in womens sport are why
One of the tactics that is sometimes used against gender critical women is the old "look over there!" I think we need to stick to the issues personally
Then there is the skaky science on the exclusion of a South African athlete from their specialist 800m and 1500 metre events, yet allowing them to compete over sprint distances or field events – the entire history of testosterone supplements for competitive advantage has been in sprint or field events.
1. I’ll be moderating to maintain TS kaupapa of robust debate that doesn’t use language or tone to exclude people. Please read the Policy.
2. I’ll also be moderating to prevent the war that is happening elsewhere from happening here. I expect a level of respect for people even where there is disagreement on position or politics.
3. I suggest people read mod notes and comments over time to learn where the boundaries are. There are examples in Open Mike today.
4. on days I am busy I won’t have time to explain and will be more using the mod tools like pre mod and short bans to take the heat out of the debate if it’s getting out of hand. I will try and give warnings.
5. other mods will make decisions about how to moderate, this is a statement about my own approach. We do discuss moderation in the back end.
6. It’s always ok to ask questions if unclear on boundaries or TS debate culture
7. I’d really like to see TS as an exemplar of how to debate the gender/sex issues, and would appreciate all sides helping with that]
For what it is worth about the Laurel Hubbard saga, does anyone know if she has had gender reassignment surgery and is she now legally female on her birth certificate? If no to either, then she shouldn't go.
Transgender athletes should be required to undergo full transition before competing. That is the best solution for everyone.
Hi Millsy the competitive advantage that Laureen has over female weight lifters starts with testosterone in the womb. If you want a link to that I will find it but it was from a scientist at Otago medical school. Once puberty kicks in the advantage increases significantly. If a man has his testicles removed he will produce very little testosterone. But going through male puberty already gives the advantages of a larger heart, larger lungs with greater capacity, larger bones, more haemoglobin, a specific type of muscle which gives men an advantage, height, hand size for sports like rugby. Men also are faster than women, the fastest 10,000men on the planet can out run the one fastest women. Some of these men are 14 years old and some are 50. The two articles I posted today on transgender in sport cover it well.
Yes this is why the issues is being debated. The Olympic committee only changed the trans gender regulations in 2015 or thereabouts.
But in the States Trans women BMX riders are competing with women and winning titles. Same in Italy.
Obviously sporting bodies are aware of the transgender issue and trying to formulate policy. It is something to be addressed, even if at this stage it is just Laureen Hubbard. Allowing trans women to play rugby with women will not only be unfair, it will be dangerous.
There is a proposal that there are two sporting categories women and other and I support this. I think in doing this it allows for fairness to women and girls, while not depriving anyone of the chance to compete.
Afterall it is bodies that play sport, not identities.
I am totally confused about this debate as I think are many others. So i'll ask for a little information.
Setting aside what people do in the privacy of their own homes (who cares about how many Teddy bears they share a room with) what are the issues when it comes to Public facing interactions such as playing sport or using spaces that are used or classified as "male" or "female".
Are we looking at three groups female, interzone and male or is it going to stick with two groups? If we stick with two groups do interzone (regardless of medical procedures undertaken or not) select public facing interactions on a fairly permanent basis as to how they wish to be perceived? Or do we have three groups and assign public facing interactions on some basis over those 3 groups? And if we assign then how do we do it? If we have three groups do we use a neutral pronoun
One example: women’s refuges where traumatised women would have to share spaces with traumatised trans women. Trauma informed support would be not subjecting a woman whose been raped to be housed with a male bodied person, because of retraumatisation. Doesn’t take too much searching to see where there are already problems with this. Solution: retain women only services and set up trans and/gender neutral services. Do the political work to make sure funding is adequate.
Agree REdBaronCV what people do in the privacy of their own homes (as long of course it is mutually consenting adults).
I am speaking up for women (though not a member of that group). The human rights act clearly set out that women have rights to separate spaces in public toilets and change rooms. I want it to stay that way.
The human rights Act also makes the provision for separate women's spaces in accommodation such as hostels, shelters prisons and refuges. The right to have single sex schools for women. It also makes provisions for women's only sports.
I support moves to keep the preservation of these rights. While I do see myself as able to offer complete solutions to issues about Transgender people , eg how they get to play sport , what change rooms they are in, I want to preserve the arrangements we have (although already we have a biological male who is competing in women's elite sport at Olympic level). Women are being expected to automatically comply with allowing trans women to assess domains that are normally reserved for them. Female weight lifters are being told not to speak up about Laureen Hubbard.
I also have huge concerns about introducing gender ideology to school children as young as 7 years old. Kids are being taught there are all these difference gender's you can be e.g pan gender, gender fluid, trans etc. They are presented with flags that go with each gender. I don't believe there is any science behind gender ideology (correct me if I am wrong). I think children at this age are not capable of abstract thought so will just accept these ideas as truths.
We have significant increases of children and young teens as identifying as transgender and we are not sure why. So we now have 12 years old being prescribed puberty blockers and then cross hormones. NICE have come out strongly to say there is a lack of evidence to support the efficacy of puberty blockers and unknown long term effects. We have 16 year old girls getting double masectomies and then hysterectomies at 18 years.
So I have many concerns about this whole area. Not sure I have answered you questions.
Hey Anker that was helpful. I noticed Sacha below used a Venn diagram analogy so we are looking at discussing which public activities intersect the men or women circle and which remain outside. with different levels of support etc? When it comes to some things like public rest rooms do we bump up the disabled toilet type facility- which are very much appreciated by some other groups like women/ men with small children who can use them and keep the children close.
As for children of 7 receiving instruction i suspect it will go straight over their heads. In times past I was treated to some work perfect recitations of the facts of life ( some parents do a great job) complete with zero understanding.
Well my view is that if you are born male and have a male's physiology then you compete with men. I think the Other category could be open to anyone, men, trans women and anyone else who wants to compete in that group. The women's category for women born women and that would be open to trans men.
That seems fair and safe to me. But I understand some trans women may feel uncomfortable with this. Interestingly I watched a clip with a UK trans women who was very clear she should be playing with biological males and has joined a men rugby team. Again my view is it is bodies that play sports not identities. That is why in weightlifting and boxing there are separate categories for different weights. You wouldn't put a light weight man with a heavy weight. BTW Laureen Hubbard is competing in a category that her weight well exceeds in.
I am really sorry about this. I realize this is difficult for some trans people. But my full support goes to women and girls. I am speaking up for the female weight lifters who have been told to stay quiet about Laureen Hubbard. If not me and groups like SUFW then who?
I think this is the problem Sacha. To date you are the first person who has told me that i.e women and trans men are females.
May I ask who decided that? I think Weka is correct most people would know what I meant and I do see how want I said could be considered to be offensive.
I don't think of myself as female as such ,unless the options are male or female. I have always thought of myself as a women. End of.
I do think of myself as female, but in English that word is used in some contexts and not others. Woman is more common. Most people still use the word woman to mean biologically female, but it's implied, they're not sitting there thinking about biology because this is how woman has always been used until fairly recently.
words do indeed evolve, but at this point in history there are compelling reasons why women want to have some control over the language that they use, and that affects them.
Woman born woman is an evolution of language that's come out of women wanting to be able to talk about their experience in a highly charge social/political arena. I often just revert to using woman, depending on context, because woman and trans woman is a really effective way to communicate. Everyone knows what is being said.
Unless one believes that women have the right to self determination, in which case it's more like women resisting men telling women what to do, again.
I don't believe that trans women have the right to tell women how to speak about ourselves. What TAs could be doing instead is working with women on how to resolve the issues, including the conflicts. Most women would be open to that (or would have been, there's some seriously angry GC women around now who've had or seen really shitty things done to women). As far as I can tell a big part of this is the dysphoria that drives trans women to need to be accepted as women to relieve dysphoria. I think there are better ways to approach that than taking away women's rights. I also think there's a level of entitlement in that that needs challenging. And I don't think that dysphoria should be a driving force for such significant social change without serious examination. A lot of that is social rather than regulatory or legislative.
I believe the Olympics have an issue with having both a womans and an open category. The suggestion is that this reduces the value of the womans category where the competition is close enough that the best women are in the open category. Their preference is for non overlapping categories, though I do think this could be amended if needed.
"The Soviet Union became a society where everyone knew what their leaders said was not real, because they could see with their own eyes that the economy was falling apart. But everybody had to play along and pretend that it was real, because no one could imagine any alternative."
"One Soviet writer ( Alexei Yurchak, a professor of anthropology who was born in Leningrad and later went to teach in the United States) called it hypernormalisation."
" We are so much part of the system that it is impossible to see beyond it. The fakeness was hypernormal"
"We live in a world where the powerful deceive us. We know they lie. They know we know they lie. They don't care. We say we care but we do nothing. And nothing ever changes. It's normal. Welcome to the post-truth world. HyperNormalisation"
Interesting question….perhaps he's symbolic of a section of the public demonstrating the dishonesty of the system….here is a known liar and crook and we will vote for him as the exemplar of the system.
Yeah but did you find it interesting. I quite like his stuff ever since All Watched over By Machines Of Loving Grace. which looked at Silicon Valley and it's connections to Ayn Rand amongst other things.
These strange days did not just happen. We – and those in power – created them together.
— Adam Curtis
It supports what I've said for a long time – since the 80's – that you need to fundamentally change the power structures – whereas power has focussed on changing individuals – which is really just victim blaming.
We've seen a touch of changing power with the move from Maori consultation to Maori wards. Much more needs to be done to re-empower informed communities in decision making.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff agrees the current model isn’t fair and he hopes the review can throw up some better options.
“As a result of seven different legacy councils having varying levels of asset investment, assets inherited by and maintained by different local boards receive variable funding,” he says.
“The historic legacy means that some areas are not getting equitable funding with others. There are complex issues to work through, but the joint governance working party and council are examining how to ensure that different parts of the city have equitable access to amenities and that funding is provided on a fair basis across the region.”
At least now there is a working group, so snails pace yourselves.
Inequality in wellbeing is increased by such funding frameworks as those that are currently in place.
Yeah but some councils divested themselves (sold off) income producing assets while others did not. Some councils kept costly upgrade needed housing while others sold it off.
Those who disposed of assets benefitted at the time and I can see why some ratepayers would rightly say they didn't benefit in anyway from the sell-offs made at the time but are expected to see those areas who did sell off benefit from them not doing so.
I also think that central government needs to support those councils who did keep housing by giving them some funding to upgrade their housing stock.
Central government helped the private sector through tax breaks and Housing NZ directly (apart from when national pinched poor peoples rent in the way of dividends leaving little money for maintenance) – the councils were always left out. Those they stayed the course should be now compensated.
It’s also ironic that the right go on about councils should only do sewage and water but we can see across the country that they have neglected this very function but due to the rights focus on shifting costs for things like conference centres and racing events and so on that mainly the elite get to partake in they still manage to spend lots of money.
And your own site, power, water, wastewater, roading, playgrounds, schools….
The system is broken….talk about hypernormality.
Even good old Bernard Hickey has given up and recommends anyone not already owning a house should flee while they still can.
The median voter remains supreme. The government has in recent weeks prioritised “keeping a lid on debt” over infrastructure to ensure houses are built.
Get out while you still can
Those parents still renting and those just graduating into Covid without assets should move now. Giving up hope seems a capitulation. It is. But sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. Sometimes there is no hope. Move to Australia and you’ll find wages are 30-40% higher and rents have fallen $50-100 in the last year.
Yes. But in terms of housing during rebuilds those are already usually onsite. And when your permanent housing is ready, it can be sold. repacked and moved on.
I wasn't suggesting it as THE solution to our housing situation (I believe that is a multipronged one), rather as a tool to be deployed where appropriate.
Also, we do need to look how judicious use of technology in our building industry can be used to design and build with efficient use of resources and lower costs. We are really behind the ball here.
(They also have tried to design to avoid the need for heavy moving trucks and cranes, again reducing costs.)
Ok, disagree on the comparison. (Not foldable and able to be moved on a trailer… and using basic build techniques to build cheaper, not efficiently. )
More thinking how investment in automated factories and improvements in design and utilising local supply chains may reduce build costs while standardising a high build quality. Beasley homes were just small homes built to be transported. Build costs in NZ are exceptionally high.
Investing in standardised local supply chains for fittings, and utilising technology and automated systems for regional production of State Housing would be beneficial. Current approach is not keeping up.
Transportables came late to the party when major infrastructure projects required hundreds of homes in remote locations.
The methods and innovations imported post war by Beazly snr and jnr were employed locally to build thousands of comfortable, affordable homes, like the one I grew up in, to accommodate tens of thousands of working New Zealanders. The majority still stand.
The methods and innovations imported post war by Beazly snr and jnr were employed locally to build thousands of comfortable, affordable homes
Jeez. They did not utilise automated systems, or the design software that allows for changes to suit site or orientation. This is possible now without material waste or loss of production efficiency.
But ok, I understand you think there is no room for improvement in building design, material wastage, build time or costs.
… BTW used a relocatable to add extra bedrooms, so not unfamiliar with them. The transport costs can be high. The smaller units shown could be transported on a trailer.
It is estimated that thousands of people with disabilities are living in unsuitable accommodation but only 2 percent of houses are accessible in Aotearoa.
Kāinga Ora plans to make 15 percent of new houses accessible and there is growing pressure for more.
It's not only housing, new plans for carless city centres block out people who struggle to walk or cycle.
A proposal to make Wellington's Golden Mile car-free has been criticised for excluding a large part of the population, while the head of a recreation group has highlighted the barriers to the country's great walks for disabled people.
Sweeping new changes that sound good, look good in nicely coloured promotions, are often coming from the idealist not the realist perspective.
Car free Manners Mall ( now used by buses) was a dogbox but now much better. The bottom end of Cuba Street is deserted pretty much – people don’t even walk through there
This little proposal is worse than that. Yes anyone who can't walk a reasonable distance or climb on a bus can forget it under this.
But the underlying study focused on only three parts of the day, morning and evening rush times and the lunch break. Now to get the buses through pronto we should probably get all private transport ( cars and cycles as well, out of the bus route at those morning and evening times. The actual volumes are low on the actual route ( the side streets are different) so that's not too disruptive. I include cycles because no matter what the number of lanes is limited and will remain so and we don't need buses following slow bikes. There won't be much more space for pedestrians either.
No reason why private transport can't use and park outside those times. A lot of the area is sunless caverns outside lunch hours (it was designed like that in the past) and in the evenings the lower two thirds are absolutely deserted. It will stop people parking when they want to go to a show other evening entertainment etc. It doesn't address the impacts on surrounding areas either or unavoidable road closure and alternate routes when disaster strikes.
Worse of all is the $59 to $76 mill price tag. There would be some minor works needed on the vehicle carriage way but the rest of the price tag looks like $50 mill of planter boxes and paving.
Frankly it's ideology gone mad dressed in high priced designer togs.
RedBaroncv – The idea is the thing. The council planners have to come up with something new and bold etc etc.
I have a feeling that this impetus for Councils is exemplified in this intro for a video meeting of Councils. I don't want to point the finger at any particular council but the current emphasis on being excellent, leading edge, world class etc. all spells money, and perhaps measures beyond what would be satisfactory and useful. Is 'good enough' OK for the average ratepayer? I think they might be getting to that POV:
This … will cover the ,,,,Council's continuous improvement efforts, and all it has done in its pursuit of excellence.
[It] has shown courageous leadership as it strives towards the goal of being the very best Council in New Zealand. Their journey started four years ago when the Council undertook its first CouncilMARK™ assessment which helped …. establish a baseline of performance. From there, a comprehensive work programme was created that centered around continuous improvement.
While the ratepayers spend their time hoping the money is spent well. Seems to be a vast increase in style over substance in some areas. The courageous always makes me laugh – what are they expecting – everyone to wade through a crocodile infested swamp?
So the government is going to hand out free phones.Wheee. Much better idea than closing the travel bubble, All this sounds horribly detached from peoples real lives.
And I can't say I liked this Jacinda comment on any level. you know privacy, commercial firms tracking us, sticking it on overseas databases
"We expect that over time requiring people to scan in would become a part of normal life."
Pretty sure when they say scan they mean scan or sign in. The issue with signing in is that the government hasn't set up good systems. Who wants to use a pen that lots of other people have just used in the middle of an outbreak? It's solvable, they just haven't done the mahi.
I'm reasonably ok with what's happening with the app data currently (it's not shared with govt, and afaik stays on the phone rather in the cloud. Commercial companies don't have access?). My concern is what a National government would do to change that, and what Labour might do if pressured enough.
Labour atm has a majority, so really they don't feel pressured to do anything they don't like to do. As for National, let me put it this way, they would do exactly what is legal to do and they would go as far as they could, and Labour if the shoe were on the other side would do exactly the same. I mean, really.
Do you trust Labour to setup a surveillance system that would be 'National' proof? Because making ‘a scanning in a thing of norm’ is plowing the grounds to lay some seeds of mass surveillance. And the plants growing of these seeds won’t be good ones.
Nope. But the current app system seems reasonably ok for now.
Pressure on Labour would be economic pressure, but also closer to the election pressure. Pressure of a scared public demanding the govt be punitive to non-complyers.
Emphasis on 'current'. Currently it is not mandatory. Once it is mandatory who will monitor and how, and i don't trust this government any further on that then i would trust a National government on it.
The ones bringing Covid to our shores are coming in via plane, they are not living here. So really how keeps forcing you to sign in in Dunedin keeps the waitress safe from a spreader on holiday in Auckland or Wellington, Chch, or Arrowtown? And what if you don't comply? A fine? Home D? A bit of a prison stint?
Define ' the public' that is demanding stuff from the government would be helpful too. Also consider that there are things the public demands from government and yet, government does very little or what ever it does is belated. Health Care, Mental Healthcare, Housing, crumbling infrastructure, etc.
So yeah, nah, nah. Surveillance under Labour is/will be as bad as it would be under National. They would both abuse the situation if need arises and if they could get away with it.
I could also see a tool of mass surveillance masked under ‘public health’ to be a massive voter turn off. Just saying. Not that these guys would care about that.
As for economic reasons, well they could get the vaccines in the country with a bit of gusto and urgency and maybe they get finished before the next election runs about?
The whole of NZ should be a bit freaked out at the fact that some covid carrying dude from OZ came to NZ for a bit of leisure and plague spreading.
So, close the door. Unless really the government is now so outta cash that it needs the foreign currency injection so badly that it rather put us under constant surveillance then close the door to people and re-instate the two weeks mandatory quarantine.
And the 'some ask for harsher' methods is not clearly defined, could literally just be some government flunky who realised that Covid is also an issue for those that are well heeled. In fact, that is the issue is it not, its not spread world wide by the poor, but by those that can afford to holiday and fly. But the poor will have to pay the bill, again. Right?
I can not wait for 2023 to come soon enough, just so that i can again vote against these people.
Just get on with the vaccination roll out. And on the topic why have not these alternatives been cleared yet ??
Our closed boarders are only a stop gap until science prevails with the answer/solutions.
and re the phone how will they know that you or I have zapped the app ? Not sure how a government agent will be able to ask to check your or my phone at a pub ?
"The whole of NZ should be a bit freaked out at the fact that some covid carrying dude from OZ came to NZ for a bit of leisure and plague spreading."
I'm not freaked out. The system is working. My concern is where Labour push the system beyond its limits due to economics. I'd be happy with stronger border controls and shifting NZ to a steady state, relocalised economy, but that's not going to happen.
the system works? the system works insofar that we can trace the virus.
But until we have a confirmed case, that case can meander about the country spreading the plague where ever they go.
Maybe ask someone who works at a supermarket, pharmacy, etc if they think the 'system' works. Maybe ask a Nurse at the local ED department if they think the system and works, and then ask how long they think if will hold up if we had an outbreak here like OZ now has.
Maybe ask someone who works public facing if they should wear a mask for 8 + hours a day, just so that some guys from Oz can come over and have a holiday.
The system does not work in preventing an outbreak, it only works in tracing it and hopefully before it goes rampant is brought under control. What do you think your chances are if there were an outbreak? Yes, everyone should be freaked.
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from 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 public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
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:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles and that ...
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 ...
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. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 19 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Are you deeply passionate about sharing Māori stories? We’re on the hunt for an experienced writer/editor to lead coverage in our Ātea section.Ātea is a deeply valued section of The Spinoff site, offering Māori perspectives and insights across politics, current affairs and culture. We are thrilled to be looking ...
By Aisha Azeemah in Suva With the lights on one of his sneakers blinking as he ran through the gallery, a little boy looked up at several works of art. One of them was a sculpture of his grandfather: the man who changed how we see the Pacific — Epeli ...
WHAT: Uber drivers are holding a rally outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington tomorrow, as the company begins its appeal against 2022’s Employment Court verdict (in a case taken jointly by FIRST Union and E tū) that four drivers were permanent ...
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Meteorological Service has a heavy rain warning still in place for the whole of the country after a weekend of flooding, although some floodwaters have receded. Flood and flash flood warnings and alerts are also in place, including a warning for all flash flood-prone areas, small ...
Responding to Grant Robertson’s recent admission on a Q+A with Jack Tame that his only regret from his time in office was that he didn’t take on more debt, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Alex Murphy, said: “Grant Robertson has now admitted that he ...
Is it just me, or has Glenn Greenwald shifted to the right over the past year or two? He seems to support Trump, and also, more disturbingly, seems to claim to be in favour of civil liberties, but is now very pro police being able to gun down blacks like dogs in the middle of the street.
I have emailed him to clarify these views, but he never replied.
Would you please be so kind to include a link, so that we can all be on the same page?
Just scroll through his twitter feed. The guy wants to give police in the USA power to give out summary executions.
In that case, please provide a link to his Twitter feed. Not everybody here is on Twitter and they might still want to access it through a browser, as I tend to do from time to time. Ideally, please provide a link to one or two specific Twitter feeds that support your comment. Don’t expect others to do the digging.
Yes provide a link to show us all where Greenwald has said or even implied that supports "police being able to gun down blacks like dogs in the middle of the street." and "guy wants to give police in the USA power to give out summary executions."..if you cannot provide those links, I believe these comments really need to be removed.
Given my browser no longer works with the toolbar here I cannot link to it, but Greenwald’s current focus on Twitter is that Democrats are not taking public concerns about violent crime as seriously as they do their own security on Capitol Hill (and he claims that because Biden has not done anything for Assange this means he wants to criminalise journalism).
Which is not support for police doing summary executions, but is, what it is.
So in other words millsy is just making shit up…..those comments should really be moderated, not that I am trying to tell moderators how to do their job, but millsy's comments seem to be straight out slander.
Jonathan Cook is a really thoughtful and thought provoking journalist.
No wonder he was chucked off the Guardian .They refused to print his dispatches from Jerusalem because they didn't reflect the core values of the Guardian (not pro Israel enough)
https://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2021-06-22/greenwald-trump-happened/
Sorry , should have included a bit more info about the link
an excerpt
“Others on the left recoil from this approach. They warn that, by fixating on Trump, elements of the left have drifted into worryingly authoritarian ways of thinking – sometimes openly, more often implicitly – as a bulwark against the return of Trump or anyone like him.”
It is there plain is day. He is starting to carry on about crime – that has always been used as an exuce to let cops gun down and beat up who they damn well please,
Here's his twittering.
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald
All my points illustrated there and then. You simply cannot be in favour if civil liberties if you support the right of cops to beat and shoot whoever they like.
The guy would have supported the KKK and lynching back in the day.
I'm not entirely sure I'd go that far to describe his content. Can you quote the one about beating and shooting whomever they'd like?
Its all implied….
The only mention of police I could see in his last few dozen tweets:
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1409198083389394960
Your mouth seems to be writing a lot of cheques that the evidence can't cash, millsy.
Glenn Greenwald supports a massive crackdown on civil liberties to fight crime. Its right there, plain as day. The guy is a charlatan, plain and simple.
He probably thought that George Floyd deserved to die,
[you have made a number of allegations about Greenwald and still not provided a single specific example (i.e. tweet) to support these. It definitely looks like you’re making up shit.
You’re now in Pre-Moderation until you provide links to specific tweets to support all of your allegations made today here on OM about Greenwald or until you withdraw each and every one of them or until you’ll be moved to the Ban list for a while – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 2:36 pm
Plain as day. When did you stop beating your wife?
@millsy, just as a matter of interest do you also believe that Trump was enabled by Putin?..just wondering, as your desperate efforts to extrapolate that bullshit out of Greenwalds tweets is giving me flash backs to that mad debunked conspiracy theory and the tortured logic that often went with it.
Yes.
It is just you.
Hopefully this guy gets a decent sentence handed down from the judge that will actually act as a deterrent.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300343177/police-officer-hospitalised-with-serious-concussion-after-alleged-assault-in-central-auckland
Well these two wont be "parents of the year". A shame these kids weren't taken away from the parents.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/125552709/parents-jailed-for-injuring-children
Yeah, nahh… everybody has their eyes peeled on other issues. Drugs and alcohol not that much. Child violence, poverty and child death has not improved despite so many promises. But we have 16 billion to give for corporate welfare. Feelin so much better…sarc.
Can we stop global warming climate change?
We are quite capable of stopping climate change
Will we stop global warming/climate change?
No we won't
Why?
Because there is no political will to do so.
We need to be that 'motivation’, ‘to make it happen'.
These wilful criminals need to be sued and protested against for all they are worth.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
OK Boomer
Those most at risk from Cov-19 are in the older age bracket.
Those most at risk from climate change are the young people.
Maybe this explains the difference between the extraordinary efforts taken to prevent covid-19 and the lackluster efforts taken to prevent climate change.
We need to harness our outrage to demand that our governing bodies do something about it.
Detailed analysis of SUFW's stance – not my content and I am not in a position to comment on it but I figure people here deserve to have access to it. https://postingdad.medium.com/speak-up-for-what-d3d7a7cecab9
https://twitter.com/postingdad/status/1409037507912605696
https://twitter.com/postingdad/status/1409063171415937028
SUFW is a group set up to wage war on the trans community.
You will find that it is the God-people that are jerking their chain if you dig deep enough.
[please provide some evidence that Christians control SUFW or retract the assertion – weka]
[assertion has now been retracted below – weka]
Look, Sacha can post links to Tweets.
Um, the trick is to put the link on a line of their own here and this system expands them out automatically.
Your tip is handy, thank you.
The trick is to put just a tiny little bit of effort into it and when it fails, ask for technical assistance here.
Trial and errer.
I understand the SUFW is trying to protect the rights of women and also women only spaces. They are also trying to stop children being encouraged to transition rather than growing up gay. Its seems to me that it is the trans movement that is more likely to be funded by fundamental religious groups. A man with long hair, high heels, makeup and wearing a dress is still a man and no matter how deluded will always be a man.
[Janice, my commitment here as a moderator and feminist is to try and prevent the gender/sex war taking place on TS. The boundaries around robust debate and not using language that effectively excludes others is different from elsewhere. Your comment is a problem in two ways (plus the request below re funding):
I’m figuring out how to moderate in this debate, so I hope you will take more care. It’s always fine to ask for clarification – weka]
Jasus. There is no equivalence to be being Trans or Gay other than their fight for acceptance in society. When I grew up when it was illegal to be Gay it didn't mean I started wearing frocks.
"A man with long hair, high heels, makeup and wearing a dress is still a man and no matter how deluded will always be a man.?"
Do you have any idea, or care, how offensive comments like this are.
If your comment is reflective of religious bigotry or the SUFW movement then you, churches and the SUFW should STFU
I also think it’s incredibly offensive and will be keeping an eye on this as a moderator.
" When I grew up when it was illegal to be Gay it didn't mean I started wearing frocks."…Wonder how Quentin Crisp would have got on in today's climate?
Whatever the answer, here is an incredible interview of an extremely interesting man who was on the forefront of being openly gay in the UK…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTRntQUhipc&t=603s
I think the very brave Mr Crisp would be a very "happy camper" in todays society and I, for one, am grateful to him so we can ride on his beautifully bloused shoulders.
Janice possible means physically – which may well be true. We shouldn't be so touchy about expressions before we found out what is meant. Some in this forum have English as their second language. If we really care, we care about everybody and their perspective. How else can you get consensus even if it is that there are different opinions?
As with Millsy, can you please provide the evidence that the trans rights movement is funded by religious fundamentalist groups.
For clarity and with regard to the nature of the debate, when you say man you mean biologically make right?
Are you saying that trans women as a group are deluded?
Mod note for you Janice
Janice just make your points quietly and reasonably and don't bring in suggestions that feel like hyperbole likely to arouse emotions from either side of the debate. Just saying, from experience.
emotion is fine. Flaming is not.
Do you know of any legitimate organisations which advocate for womans rights (especially where they conflict with trans rights)? Or are they all transphobic by doing that advocacy?
NZ's National Council for Women seems like a relevant organisation: https://www.ncwnz.org.nz/
Mod note for you Millsy.
Thanks Weka. Millsy, where is your evidence. A claim like that needs to be backed up or please retract.
I know your claim to be absolutely false.
See retraction at end of thread.
Not really in the mood to argue today.
New tweet to start from/share:
https://twitter.com/postingdad/status/1409239796011081728
Not so very long ago The Science declared that human brains do not mature until about 25 years of age.
Speak Up For Women quite rightly have grave concerns about teenagers being encouraged to undergo life altering chemical and surgical 'therapies'.
Watchful waiting and talking therapies are more appropriate.
Pro child-transitioning 'advocates' have declared this treatment approach to children and young people experiencing gender dysphoria as 'denying them access to healthcare'.
Just wait for the right wing to take those grave concerns and apply them to general sexual health matters, including contraception and abortion.
Just wait for the right wing ….
Do you really think this is a left wing/right wing issue?
If you read widely on the topic you'll find that some of the most gender (ideology) critical feminists were firmly planted in the Left. Until they began to speak up about the impact on women and girls of accepting without question that 'transwomen are women'. Then the pile on from the wokest left drove them away.
Not to the right…btw…but away.
IMHO I don't believe the traditional definitions of 'Left' and "right' apply anymore.
Nah, I think the trans thing is as much of a generational issue as a political issue.
But social conservatives (i.e. the "right wing") will take the UK court findings about teenage consent for medical procedures and apply them to other medical procedures. Like abortion and contraception.
the people opposed to any sort of sex ed in schools will sure want to stop teens asking the doc for the pill.
I suggest the person on Twitter who asks so many questions about SUFW attends one of their public meetings to find some answers……….The group that has been referred to as a hate group, which the High Court found was patently not true, is now able to hold meetings in Council premises as the High Court concluded was their democratic right.
Usually the research that is used to determine health decisions in Aotearoa, is from overseas, e.g Covid vaccines. NZ doesn't have the same population or funding to undertake Gold Standard research. BTW NICE guidelines on puberty blockers are that there is little evidence to support them improving gender dysphoria, mental health and Body image. They are experimental. I am sorry I don't have a link at hand, but promise to post later. I am running late today!
When you have some time I suggest you read his blog post that answers all those questions.
Didn't click on it sorry Sacha. Will do so.
Ok just had a quick glance and will need more time from me but will do later.
My understanding is that SUFW was the BDMR bill kept as it is where a small number of people, because that is all it is, have to apply to the family court and have a medical exam to change their birth cert. NB my understanding is that genital surgery is not a requirement of this
Sacha I just got home from work. The blog you posted has a hell of a lot of information in it. I am to comment on my views in this area. I am not SUFW nor am I a member.
Reading through it I agree with most of SUFW views. So maybe I will comment on all these areas tonight on Open mike if I get to or or tomorrow.
Relatedly, a recent NZ opinion piece about priorities in women's sport: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/300341029/the-biggest-threat-to-womens-sport-is-not-the-inclusion-of-transgender-athletes
I read that the other day.
And re- read it.
Revised the heading to "Inclusion of transgender women just the latest threat to women's sport."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018757712/the-science-of-transgender-women-in-sport
But actually Sacha, it is the trans gender inclusion in women's sport. Here's the science. There is another article I hope to find about the shaky science the Olympic committee used to reach their decision on trans women. its an interesting read.
From the extract I quoted above:
I agree with all Zoe George says about women's sport but as Rosemary said I add the Trans gender issues as a recent threat and the the two articles on the science of trans gender in womens sport are why
One of the tactics that is sometimes used against gender critical women is the old "look over there!" I think we need to stick to the issues personally
would you mind talking about trans women in women's sports? I think the issues for trans men are different.
you might find this an interesting read.
Title X and full inclusion of trans girls and women in the US.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/04/15/transgender-athletes-womens-sports-title-ix/
Then there is the skaky science on the exclusion of a South African athlete from their specialist 800m and 1500 metre events, yet allowing them to compete over sprint distances or field events – the entire history of testosterone supplements for competitive advantage has been in sprint or field events.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/06/the-problems-with-laurel-hubbards-qualifying-for-the-olympics-as-a-woman/?fbclid=IwAR0isT5R–76ozVZuocMnfRhSMoi
And this piece about how it was decided Trans gender could compete at the Olympics. Interesting that there was nofemaleweight lifting till 2000.
Will get back to you soon Sacha. Juggling a busy day
[general mod note on the sex/gender debate:
1. I’ll be moderating to maintain TS kaupapa of robust debate that doesn’t use language or tone to exclude people. Please read the Policy.
2. I’ll also be moderating to prevent the war that is happening elsewhere from happening here. I expect a level of respect for people even where there is disagreement on position or politics.
3. I suggest people read mod notes and comments over time to learn where the boundaries are. There are examples in Open Mike today.
4. on days I am busy I won’t have time to explain and will be more using the mod tools like pre mod and short bans to take the heat out of the debate if it’s getting out of hand. I will try and give warnings.
5. other mods will make decisions about how to moderate, this is a statement about my own approach. We do discuss moderation in the back end.
6. It’s always ok to ask questions if unclear on boundaries or TS debate culture
7. I’d really like to see TS as an exemplar of how to debate the gender/sex issues, and would appreciate all sides helping with that]
Ok, I retract the statement made earlier on this morning about SUFW.
Thanks Millsy. I respect that. I think we all make assumptions and I appreciate your retraction
For what it is worth about the Laurel Hubbard saga, does anyone know if she has had gender reassignment surgery and is she now legally female on her birth certificate? If no to either, then she shouldn't go.
Transgender athletes should be required to undergo full transition before competing. That is the best solution for everyone.
AFAIK you don’t need to surgically transition to change BC sex in NZ.
why should surgery be necessary for inclusion in Olympic sport?
BC?
Birth Certificate.
Testosterone has a huge impact on muscle strength. Competing against females (biological) will provide an advantage.
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-testosterone
Hi Millsy the competitive advantage that Laureen has over female weight lifters starts with testosterone in the womb. If you want a link to that I will find it but it was from a scientist at Otago medical school. Once puberty kicks in the advantage increases significantly. If a man has his testicles removed he will produce very little testosterone. But going through male puberty already gives the advantages of a larger heart, larger lungs with greater capacity, larger bones, more haemoglobin, a specific type of muscle which gives men an advantage, height, hand size for sports like rugby. Men also are faster than women, the fastest 10,000men on the planet can out run the one fastest women. Some of these men are 14 years old and some are 50. The two articles I posted today on transgender in sport cover it well.
Yet Lauren Hubbard is the first trans athlete who has qualified to compete in an Olympics.
Yes this is why the issues is being debated. The Olympic committee only changed the trans gender regulations in 2015 or thereabouts.
But in the States Trans women BMX riders are competing with women and winning titles. Same in Italy.
Obviously sporting bodies are aware of the transgender issue and trying to formulate policy. It is something to be addressed, even if at this stage it is just Laureen Hubbard. Allowing trans women to play rugby with women will not only be unfair, it will be dangerous.
There is a proposal that there are two sporting categories women and other and I support this. I think in doing this it allows for fairness to women and girls, while not depriving anyone of the chance to compete.
Afterall it is bodies that play sport, not identities.
I am totally confused about this debate as I think are many others. So i'll ask for a little information.
Setting aside what people do in the privacy of their own homes (who cares about how many Teddy bears they share a room with) what are the issues when it comes to Public facing interactions such as playing sport or using spaces that are used or classified as "male" or "female".
Are we looking at three groups female, interzone and male or is it going to stick with two groups? If we stick with two groups do interzone (regardless of medical procedures undertaken or not) select public facing interactions on a fairly permanent basis as to how they wish to be perceived? Or do we have three groups and assign public facing interactions on some basis over those 3 groups? And if we assign then how do we do it? If we have three groups do we use a neutral pronoun
will do my best to put my tuppence in.may come later today
One example: women’s refuges where traumatised women would have to share spaces with traumatised trans women. Trauma informed support would be not subjecting a woman whose been raped to be housed with a male bodied person, because of retraumatisation. Doesn’t take too much searching to see where there are already problems with this. Solution: retain women only services and set up trans and/gender neutral services. Do the political work to make sure funding is adequate.
Agree REdBaronCV what people do in the privacy of their own homes (as long of course it is mutually consenting adults).
I am speaking up for women (though not a member of that group). The human rights act clearly set out that women have rights to separate spaces in public toilets and change rooms. I want it to stay that way.
The human rights Act also makes the provision for separate women's spaces in accommodation such as hostels, shelters prisons and refuges. The right to have single sex schools for women. It also makes provisions for women's only sports.
I support moves to keep the preservation of these rights. While I do see myself as able to offer complete solutions to issues about Transgender people , eg how they get to play sport , what change rooms they are in, I want to preserve the arrangements we have (although already we have a biological male who is competing in women's elite sport at Olympic level). Women are being expected to automatically comply with allowing trans women to assess domains that are normally reserved for them. Female weight lifters are being told not to speak up about Laureen Hubbard.
I also have huge concerns about introducing gender ideology to school children as young as 7 years old. Kids are being taught there are all these difference gender's you can be e.g pan gender, gender fluid, trans etc. They are presented with flags that go with each gender. I don't believe there is any science behind gender ideology (correct me if I am wrong). I think children at this age are not capable of abstract thought so will just accept these ideas as truths.
We have significant increases of children and young teens as identifying as transgender and we are not sure why. So we now have 12 years old being prescribed puberty blockers and then cross hormones. NICE have come out strongly to say there is a lack of evidence to support the efficacy of puberty blockers and unknown long term effects. We have 16 year old girls getting double masectomies and then hysterectomies at 18 years.
So I have many concerns about this whole area. Not sure I have answered you questions.
Hey Anker that was helpful. I noticed Sacha below used a Venn diagram analogy so we are looking at discussing which public activities intersect the men or women circle and which remain outside. with different levels of support etc? When it comes to some things like public rest rooms do we bump up the disabled toilet type facility- which are very much appreciated by some other groups like women/ men with small children who can use them and keep the children close.
As for children of 7 receiving instruction i suspect it will go straight over their heads. In times past I was treated to some work perfect recitations of the facts of life ( some parents do a great job) complete with zero understanding.
So trans women would compete as women? Or do they have to compete with trans men?
Well my view is that if you are born male and have a male's physiology then you compete with men. I think the Other category could be open to anyone, men, trans women and anyone else who wants to compete in that group. The women's category for women born women and that would be open to trans men.
That seems fair and safe to me. But I understand some trans women may feel uncomfortable with this. Interestingly I watched a clip with a UK trans women who was very clear she should be playing with biological males and has joined a men rugby team. Again my view is it is bodies that play sports not identities. That is why in weightlifting and boxing there are separate categories for different weights. You wouldn't put a light weight man with a heavy weight. BTW Laureen Hubbard is competing in a category that her weight well exceeds in.
I am really sorry about this. I realize this is difficult for some trans people. But my full support goes to women and girls. I am speaking up for the female weight lifters who have been told to stay quiet about Laureen Hubbard. If not me and groups like SUFW then who?
In other words, genetic females. Why not just say that?
How about people use the language they use to best communicate what they’re trying to communicate except where they’re being excessively offensive.
When trying to communicate about sex and gender it pays to know the difference.
We already have one standard word in this language that describes both ‘women born women’ and ‘trans men’ in this context. Females.
How did Anker fail to not understand the difference between sex and gender?
most people would understand what she said
I think this is the problem Sacha. To date you are the first person who has told me that i.e women and trans men are females.
May I ask who decided that? I think Weka is correct most people would know what I meant and I do see how want I said could be considered to be offensive.
I don't think of myself as female as such ,unless the options are male or female. I have always thought of myself as a women. End of.
I do think of myself as female, but in English that word is used in some contexts and not others. Woman is more common. Most people still use the word woman to mean biologically female, but it's implied, they're not sitting there thinking about biology because this is how woman has always been used until fairly recently.
Who said 'offensive'? Just illogical.
Nothing novel or controversial in saying that so I'm not sure what company you have been keeping.
In English. And words evolve as cultures do.
words do indeed evolve, but at this point in history there are compelling reasons why women want to have some control over the language that they use, and that affects them.
Woman born woman is an evolution of language that's come out of women wanting to be able to talk about their experience in a highly charge social/political arena. I often just revert to using woman, depending on context, because woman and trans woman is a really effective way to communicate. Everyone knows what is being said.
In venn diagram terms, positioning the circle 'trans women' as outside the circle 'women' is quite different than inside.
Transgender activists and communities have used the term 'cis women' as distinct from trans women' where both are subsets of 'women'.
The 'debate' seems much like white people trying to claim the word 'New Zealander' or 'Kiwi' only for themselves.
Unless one believes that women have the right to self determination, in which case it's more like women resisting men telling women what to do, again.
I don't believe that trans women have the right to tell women how to speak about ourselves. What TAs could be doing instead is working with women on how to resolve the issues, including the conflicts. Most women would be open to that (or would have been, there's some seriously angry GC women around now who've had or seen really shitty things done to women). As far as I can tell a big part of this is the dysphoria that drives trans women to need to be accepted as women to relieve dysphoria. I think there are better ways to approach that than taking away women's rights. I also think there's a level of entitlement in that that needs challenging. And I don't think that dysphoria should be a driving force for such significant social change without serious examination. A lot of that is social rather than regulatory or legislative.
Which only makes sense if you define trans women as not women. Bit circular there.
I believe the Olympics have an issue with having both a womans and an open category. The suggestion is that this reduces the value of the womans category where the competition is close enough that the best women are in the open category. Their preference is for non overlapping categories, though I do think this could be amended if needed.
Reply to Sacha………?Illogical to say women and trans women???????
I have no idea what you mean.
And also what did you mean when you said about the company I keep? You don't even know me.
A comment on Pundit that resonates….
"The Soviet Union became a society where everyone knew what their leaders said was not real, because they could see with their own eyes that the economy was falling apart. But everybody had to play along and pretend that it was real, because no one could imagine any alternative."
"One Soviet writer ( Alexei Yurchak, a professor of anthropology who was born in Leningrad and later went to teach in the United States) called it hypernormalisation."
" We are so much part of the system that it is impossible to see beyond it. The fakeness was hypernormal"
"We live in a world where the powerful deceive us. We know they lie. They know we know they lie. They don't care. We say we care but we do nothing. And nothing ever changes. It's normal. Welcome to the post-truth world. HyperNormalisation"
https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/debt-is-a-part-of-a-modern-economy-it-still-is-even-if-we-call-it-colonial#comments-placeholder=
So Pat. Where does Trump fit in there?
Interesting question….perhaps he's symbolic of a section of the public demonstrating the dishonesty of the system….here is a known liar and crook and we will vote for him as the exemplar of the system.
A demonstration of contempt.
Heh.
Hot off the youtube press, Beau of the fifth column credits dolt45 for normalising the consideration of socialism in the USA.
not quite the same thing but I wouldnt disagree with his analysis either
Adam Curtis did a good questioning of hyper normalisation.
https://thoughtmaybe.com/hypernormalisation/
2 hours 46…..later
Yeah but did you find it interesting. I quite like his stuff ever since All Watched over By Machines Of Loving Grace. which looked at Silicon Valley and it's connections to Ayn Rand amongst other things.
He has a new series which I haven't watched yet.
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/cgyoomh
These strange days did not just happen. We – and those in power – created them together.
— Adam Curtis
It supports what I've said for a long time – since the 80's – that you need to fundamentally change the power structures – whereas power has focussed on changing individuals – which is really just victim blaming.
We've seen a touch of changing power with the move from Maori consultation to Maori wards. Much more needs to be done to re-empower informed communities in decision making.
Interesting …may find the time to watch later tonight
This legacy of systematic inequity remains a decade after the formation of Auckland Council.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff agrees the current model isn’t fair and he hopes the review can throw up some better options.
“As a result of seven different legacy councils having varying levels of asset investment, assets inherited by and maintained by different local boards receive variable funding,” he says.
“The historic legacy means that some areas are not getting equitable funding with others. There are complex issues to work through, but the joint governance working party and council are examining how to ensure that different parts of the city have equitable access to amenities and that funding is provided on a fair basis across the region.”
At least now there is a working group, so snails pace yourselves.
Inequality in wellbeing is increased by such funding frameworks as those that are currently in place.
Yeah but some councils divested themselves (sold off) income producing assets while others did not. Some councils kept costly upgrade needed housing while others sold it off.
Those who disposed of assets benefitted at the time and I can see why some ratepayers would rightly say they didn't benefit in anyway from the sell-offs made at the time but are expected to see those areas who did sell off benefit from them not doing so.
I also think that central government needs to support those councils who did keep housing by giving them some funding to upgrade their housing stock.
Central government helped the private sector through tax breaks and Housing NZ directly (apart from when national pinched poor peoples rent in the way of dividends leaving little money for maintenance) – the councils were always left out. Those they stayed the course should be now compensated.
It’s also ironic that the right go on about councils should only do sewage and water but we can see across the country that they have neglected this very function but due to the rights focus on shifting costs for things like conference centres and racing events and so on that mainly the elite get to partake in they still manage to spend lots of money.
This is where investment in innovation, technology and new ways of providing housing could have an impact in NZ.
Small houses, delivered for $49,000USD that are able to be connected to services on site within an hour of delivery.
The whole channel is worth watching, when you are disillusioned with the pace of change that you see about you…
https://youtu.be/_W2YDxVi02I
PS. Price includes delivery, fridge and washing machine. You do have to provide your own bed, couch, dining suite…
And your own site, power, water, wastewater, roading, playgrounds, schools….
The system is broken….talk about hypernormality.
Even good old Bernard Hickey has given up and recommends anyone not already owning a house should flee while they still can.
The median voter remains supreme. The government has in recent weeks prioritised “keeping a lid on debt” over infrastructure to ensure houses are built.
Get out while you still can
Those parents still renting and those just graduating into Covid without assets should move now. Giving up hope seems a capitulation. It is. But sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. Sometimes there is no hope. Move to Australia and you’ll find wages are 30-40% higher and rents have fallen $50-100 in the last year.
And your own site, power, water, wastewater.
Yes. But in terms of housing during rebuilds those are already usually onsite. And when your permanent housing is ready, it can be sold. repacked and moved on.
I wasn't suggesting it as THE solution to our housing situation (I believe that is a multipronged one), rather as a tool to be deployed where appropriate.
Also, we do need to look how judicious use of technology in our building industry can be used to design and build with efficient use of resources and lower costs. We are really behind the ball here.
(They also have tried to design to avoid the need for heavy moving trucks and cranes, again reducing costs.)
Nothing new under the sun. (iirc the factory turned out four or five every day)
https://collection.fletcherarchives.co.nz/objects/2432/fletcher-holdings-ltd-beazley-group
[image resized]
Ok, disagree on the comparison. (Not foldable and able to be moved on a trailer… and using basic build techniques to build cheaper, not efficiently. )
More thinking how investment in automated factories and improvements in design and utilising local supply chains may reduce build costs while standardising a high build quality. Beasley homes were just small homes built to be transported. Build costs in NZ are exceptionally high.
Investing in standardised local supply chains for fittings, and utilising technology and automated systems for regional production of State Housing would be beneficial. Current approach is not keeping up.
… and Beasley homes were both mean-spirited and ugly. I bet those that profited from them, never would live in them.
Transportables came late to the party when major infrastructure projects required hundreds of homes in remote locations.
The methods and innovations imported post war by Beazly snr and jnr were employed locally to build thousands of comfortable, affordable homes, like the one I grew up in, to accommodate tens of thousands of working New Zealanders. The majority still stand.
https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/manawatu-standard/20100717/281509337461552
The methods and innovations imported post war by Beazly snr and jnr were employed locally to build thousands of comfortable, affordable homes
Jeez. They did not utilise automated systems, or the design software that allows for changes to suit site or orientation. This is possible now without material waste or loss of production efficiency.
But ok, I understand you think there is no room for improvement in building design, material wastage, build time or costs.
… BTW used a relocatable to add extra bedrooms, so not unfamiliar with them. The transport costs can be high. The smaller units shown could be transported on a trailer.
Excluding cars from areas in Wellington CBD – what impact will that have on small businesses?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/445647/wellington-businesses-lose-customers-as-level-2-restrictions-continue
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018801327/barriers-everywhere-for-disabled-people
It is estimated that thousands of people with disabilities are living in unsuitable accommodation but only 2 percent of houses are accessible in Aotearoa.
Kāinga Ora plans to make 15 percent of new houses accessible and there is growing pressure for more.
It's not only housing, new plans for carless city centres block out people who struggle to walk or cycle.
A proposal to make Wellington's Golden Mile car-free has been criticised for excluding a large part of the population, while the head of a recreation group has highlighted the barriers to the country's great walks for disabled people.
Sweeping new changes that sound good, look good in nicely coloured promotions, are often coming from the idealist not the realist perspective.
car-free doesn't seem to have killed Cuba St over the decades.
Car free Manners Mall ( now used by buses) was a dogbox but now much better. The bottom end of Cuba Street is deserted pretty much – people don’t even walk through there
Seemed pretty busy when I was there earlier in the year.
Only go to welly once a year or so. Sad TonTory on Manners st is no more – always liked that place late at night.
This little proposal is worse than that. Yes anyone who can't walk a reasonable distance or climb on a bus can forget it under this.
But the underlying study focused on only three parts of the day, morning and evening rush times and the lunch break. Now to get the buses through pronto we should probably get all private transport ( cars and cycles as well, out of the bus route at those morning and evening times. The actual volumes are low on the actual route ( the side streets are different) so that's not too disruptive. I include cycles because no matter what the number of lanes is limited and will remain so and we don't need buses following slow bikes. There won't be much more space for pedestrians either.
No reason why private transport can't use and park outside those times. A lot of the area is sunless caverns outside lunch hours (it was designed like that in the past) and in the evenings the lower two thirds are absolutely deserted. It will stop people parking when they want to go to a show other evening entertainment etc. It doesn't address the impacts on surrounding areas either or unavoidable road closure and alternate routes when disaster strikes.
Worse of all is the $59 to $76 mill price tag. There would be some minor works needed on the vehicle carriage way but the rest of the price tag looks like $50 mill of planter boxes and paving.
Frankly it's ideology gone mad dressed in high priced designer togs.
.
RedBaroncv – The idea is the thing. The council planners have to come up with something new and bold etc etc.
I have a feeling that this impetus for Councils is exemplified in this intro for a video meeting of Councils. I don't want to point the finger at any particular council but the current emphasis on being excellent, leading edge, world class etc. all spells money, and perhaps measures beyond what would be satisfactory and useful. Is 'good enough' OK for the average ratepayer? I think they might be getting to that POV:
This … will cover the ,,,,Council's continuous improvement efforts, and all it has done in its pursuit of excellence.
[It] has shown courageous leadership as it strives towards the goal of being the very best Council in New Zealand. Their journey started four years ago when the Council undertook its first CouncilMARK™ assessment which helped …. establish a baseline of performance. From there, a comprehensive work programme was created that centered around continuous improvement.
While the ratepayers spend their time hoping the money is spent well. Seems to be a vast increase in style over substance in some areas. The courageous always makes me laugh – what are they expecting – everyone to wade through a crocodile infested swamp?
Government looking at compulsory scanning in important areas,
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300343498/covid19-nz-live-cabinet-has-commissed-advice-around-potentially-making-qr-scanning-compulsory-ardern-says
So the government is going to hand out free phones.Wheee. Much better idea than closing the travel bubble, All this sounds horribly detached from peoples real lives.
And I can't say I liked this Jacinda comment on any level. you know privacy, commercial firms tracking us, sticking it on overseas databases
"We expect that over time requiring people to scan in would become a part of normal life."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/445682/government-to-consider-mandatory-masks-qr-code-scanning-pm-jacinda-ardern
Pretty sure when they say scan they mean scan or sign in. The issue with signing in is that the government hasn't set up good systems. Who wants to use a pen that lots of other people have just used in the middle of an outbreak? It's solvable, they just haven't done the mahi.
I'm reasonably ok with what's happening with the app data currently (it's not shared with govt, and afaik stays on the phone rather in the cloud. Commercial companies don't have access?). My concern is what a National government would do to change that, and what Labour might do if pressured enough.
Labour atm has a majority, so really they don't feel pressured to do anything they don't like to do. As for National, let me put it this way, they would do exactly what is legal to do and they would go as far as they could, and Labour if the shoe were on the other side would do exactly the same. I mean, really.
Do you trust Labour to setup a surveillance system that would be 'National' proof? Because making ‘a scanning in a thing of norm’ is plowing the grounds to lay some seeds of mass surveillance. And the plants growing of these seeds won’t be good ones.
Nope. But the current app system seems reasonably ok for now.
Pressure on Labour would be economic pressure, but also closer to the election pressure. Pressure of a scared public demanding the govt be punitive to non-complyers.
Emphasis on 'current'. Currently it is not mandatory. Once it is mandatory who will monitor and how, and i don't trust this government any further on that then i would trust a National government on it.
The ones bringing Covid to our shores are coming in via plane, they are not living here. So really how keeps forcing you to sign in in Dunedin keeps the waitress safe from a spreader on holiday in Auckland or Wellington, Chch, or Arrowtown? And what if you don't comply? A fine? Home D? A bit of a prison stint?
Define ' the public' that is demanding stuff from the government would be helpful too. Also consider that there are things the public demands from government and yet, government does very little or what ever it does is belated. Health Care, Mental Healthcare, Housing, crumbling infrastructure, etc.
So yeah, nah, nah. Surveillance under Labour is/will be as bad as it would be under National. They would both abuse the situation if need arises and if they could get away with it.
I could also see a tool of mass surveillance masked under ‘public health’ to be a massive voter turn off. Just saying. Not that these guys would care about that.
As for economic reasons, well they could get the vaccines in the country with a bit of gusto and urgency and maybe they get finished before the next election runs about?
Apparently there were Wellingtonians a bit freaked out yesterday.
https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ/status/1408313981421244417
read the thread, it's interesting, including the people who disagree with him about the app.
The whole of NZ should be a bit freaked out at the fact that some covid carrying dude from OZ came to NZ for a bit of leisure and plague spreading.
So, close the door. Unless really the government is now so outta cash that it needs the foreign currency injection so badly that it rather put us under constant surveillance then close the door to people and re-instate the two weeks mandatory quarantine.
And the 'some ask for harsher' methods is not clearly defined, could literally just be some government flunky who realised that Covid is also an issue for those that are well heeled. In fact, that is the issue is it not, its not spread world wide by the poor, but by those that can afford to holiday and fly. But the poor will have to pay the bill, again. Right?
I can not wait for 2023 to come soon enough, just so that i can again vote against these people.
Thinking I'll get me a burner phone for govt comms. And never answer it.
Just get on with the vaccination roll out. And on the topic why have not these alternatives been cleared yet ??
Our closed boarders are only a stop gap until science prevails with the answer/solutions.
and re the phone how will they know that you or I have zapped the app ? Not sure how a government agent will be able to ask to check your or my phone at a pub ?
who are you going to vote for?
"The whole of NZ should be a bit freaked out at the fact that some covid carrying dude from OZ came to NZ for a bit of leisure and plague spreading."
I'm not freaked out. The system is working. My concern is where Labour push the system beyond its limits due to economics. I'd be happy with stronger border controls and shifting NZ to a steady state, relocalised economy, but that's not going to happen.
@Weka,
like the last time a third party. I will neither vote for L, N or G. No use.
the system works? the system works insofar that we can trace the virus.
But until we have a confirmed case, that case can meander about the country spreading the plague where ever they go.
Maybe ask someone who works at a supermarket, pharmacy, etc if they think the 'system' works. Maybe ask a Nurse at the local ED department if they think the system and works, and then ask how long they think if will hold up if we had an outbreak here like OZ now has.
Maybe ask someone who works public facing if they should wear a mask for 8 + hours a day, just so that some guys from Oz can come over and have a holiday.
The system does not work in preventing an outbreak, it only works in tracing it and hopefully before it goes rampant is brought under control. What do you think your chances are if there were an outbreak? Yes, everyone should be freaked.