“So the key things that the current government has to tackle are strategic – to look as though they are in charge at the time of the 2020 election and not just battling the rising pressures. Here is what I would do immediately.
First, there is a need for a strategic policy group, probably in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and separate from the already existent policy advisory group which deals with the short-term crises. Given the daily turmoil, I have no problems with the Prime Minister having such a short-term group. But within government there is no overarching medium and long term policy thinking”
The one area of this government that does have strong plans is the urban spatial frameworks, through transport and housing. The main question is whether they will be in long enough to confirm them.
and I made the same point myself days ago….the transport and housing plans i would suggest are in themselves incomplete but importantly are not part of a comprehensive plan….employment, taxation, inequality, immigration. trade, population even…..if we are going to transform our economy (and society) its a wee bit more than some tram tracks and prefab housing.
The Coalition have the ideal person in Jacinda Adern to take people with them but she needs a plan to sell.
Great just what we need. Yet another little group of nodding heads, drawing six figure salaries and preparing another ‘report’ on how to tell citizens to live their lives.
Like every other trough established by this government, it will have no power or relevance.
The only committee that has any power is the committee of 2 – Ardern and Peters.
you said “First, there is a need for a strategic policy group”
Yes a ‘summit between the three coalition Parties’ – would be a very strong issue to first do here so the Government can then clearly set about honouring all their promises made pre-election such as;
1/ Tackling the Climate change effects.
We still see the trucking lobby increasing truck use and no real regional rail being used as we in the provinces need trucks off our second class narrow winding roads as tjhey are now so dangerous and being destroyed by constant heavier trucks wrecking them as they increase the transport CO2 emmissions where rail would be lowering the CO2 levels.
2/ Secondly; – need the Government to restore the “free to air TV channel for Public affairs investigative jouralism as we Nationnal Party media is sending negative meessages about the new Labour co-alition Government andn that will harm our cause to get the issues aired on TV in a open and free from bias manner and those two issues are among the urgently needed issues to deal with right now.
you will note the quotation marks….the point I believe Brian Easton is making is that its all very well for the Coalition to address the problems (of which there are many) as they arise, but like previous administrations there is no overarching strategy (other than vague feel good slogans) ….if anything of substance is to be achieved, including reelection then this Gov needs to devote some energy (and PDQ) to strategic planning rather than wasting it all on firefighting….i’d suggest that its best opportunity to achieve this is with the Carbon Neutral 2050 policy due to be released early next year….but that is being led by a Minister outside Cabinet and support party member and is only a few months away so is it likely to provide such?
“Should I say something about the quality of people in the strategic policy group? Is it necessary to say that while they need to be sympathetic to a transformative government, the emphasis has to be on competence rather than political correctness? Perhaps I have to, for the government’s record thus far has to scatter an awful lot of politically correct incompetents through its advisory committees (but no more than predecessor governments).”
The last bit deserves repeating.
“….for the government’s record thus far has to scatter an awful lot of politically correct incompetents through its advisory committees (but no more than predecessor governments).”
We spoke at length to the Climate change “zero carbon” committee ‘team”‘ when they came to Napier and held their ‘road show’ last month.
We used another emission problem that the comittee had not yet considered yet.
That was about the ‘elephant in the room’ about the other large freight road transport emissions that were so badly affecting our climate and that was the “yyre dust emissions of small plastic particles that are shedding from truck tyres at an alarming rate that is now found on the ice caps and that black dust is now exellerating the melting of the ice caps.
The whole panel was shunned like a mullet, and said they never throught of that as being a problem and now said they do so we hope they will now curtail road freight in favour of regional rail freight as trains dont use tyres and only steel wheels.
Subject ; Tyre dust is another form of plastic so use rail it has steel wheels non-polluting. – ‘ Carbon emissions.’
When you drive your car don’t forget that tyres are made from plastic too!!!
So tyre dust is being spread all around the roads and into our water as we drive. https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-002.pdf
quote;
3. Tyres: abrasion while driving Tyres get eroded when used. The particles are formed from the outer parts of the tyre and consist of a matrix of synthetic polymers, namely Styrene Butadiene Rubber (approximately 60%), in a mix with natural rubber and many other additives (Sundt et al., 2014). Tyre dust will then either be spread by the wind or washed off the road by rain. In this study, losses of synthetic rubber are considered but losses of natural rubber are not.
There is no reliable information on the transfer of microplastics from tyres to the world’s oceans. Both Norwegian and Swedish researchers have pointed out that a large fraction of particles found in the sea seem to originate from car tyres (Essel et al., 2015; Sundt et al., 2014).
End.
Finally, the long term best solution is to use far more rail freight and passenger services to give funding to upgrade the rail network in all our regions to expand rail freight/passenger services.
Rail and reducing pollution are key areas of any strategy IMO. I’d like to think that the electrification and expansion (at least of use) of the entire rail network could form part of an interconnected strategy….but one that is detailed, at least broadly costed and which has a timeline not deferred to some indeterminate future.
We need to use solar panel backup power on wagons of freight trains and ‘reserve generation power systems’ (direct drive generators on the rail drive system) to also complete partical or total electricifation of rail use to caputure the way forward for even the most ardent opposers of rail use.
Electric EV vehicles use these systems now so should trains use them.
The new BMW EV models now have solar panels on the roof of their new EV models.
yes sorry and thanks for that here read this explosive Auckland infrustructure report commioned for that region shows that tyre dust with brake and cluth dust are very high air pollution emitters so trucks with 34 tyres on each track and use braking and clutch use very often in our own “residential zones ” are damaging the health and wellbeing of many of us all.
Trucks are industrial activities that should be kept far away from our residental zones where high populations reside. No to any industrial activities near our residential zones please NZTA government here our call.
The post you replied to may not be the most clearly articulated of all time, but it would nonetheless take some pretty rank stupidity to get out of it what you did.
Idiot number 2, step on up!
Did you miss the part where the original idiot talked about he national party media? Then demanded a free to air tv channel that is free from bias but only presented views the original idiot agrees with?
My problem with your suggestions is that a government funded tv channel should only air views you approve of. Hardly bias free as you seem to imagine it would be. It would only be right wing bias free. Which
One of the failures of the current Labour-led government, is the lack of urgency and limited expertise they have provided for revitalising public service media. It should have had high priority.
Maybe Robertson has has got more contacts in the corporate media who he can feed lines/info to, and that he doesn’t have any similar contacts in RNZ?
Public service media, at arms length from government, free from bias, and that holds all political parties and MPs to account, is absolutely necessary to democracy. Some non public service media journos also do that.
However, corporate media puts much more focus on cheerleading private enterprise, and capitalist values, and pollies who support those things.
I think I have to disagree with a free to air TV channel even though I would like one myself. I have two children in there twenties and thirties and both do not even have TV Aerials and none of their friends watch free to air TV, its really the older generation who watch it and they are unlikely to change the way they vote.
Have a look at what TVNZ is doing – massive expansive of free to view online TV programmes and movies.
That is what a public service TV channel can do – freeview plus ondemand viewing online.
Clare Curran has totally ignored what can be done with TVNZ. It’s not just about current affairs. TVNZ ondemand has an LGBT stream, it has Scanadanavian TV programmes, it has documentaries, it has express shows available ondemand the same week as in the US, and I suspect it is pulling in some younger viewers.
Yes, the imaginary leader as portrayed in the first testament is indeed cruel and tyrannical. Perhaps this goes part of the way to explaining the Zionists’ behaviour.
If the state of Israel isn’t a Jewish state, as it’s not anti-Semitic to criticise it, then how can any logical person support theocracy over democracy?
Non- sequitur. Firstly, the state of Israel does not represent all Jews, and secondly, Israel has pretty well made itself a theocracy by giving privilege to only those who believe in the God of the first testament. Are there any Jewish atheists who are Israeli citizens? This puts the religion pretty well in control, regardless of whether the politicians are church officials.
I’ll stick with the first non-sequitur, then. Although it intrigues me that Christians who are atheists tend not to regard themselves as Christians. (Apart from the few like Loyd Geering..) I must study your link to see how atheism links with the Jewish religion.
Well, what a nicey-nicey read. lots of concerns like ours about whether religion should be taught in schools, etc, but not one mention of how atheistic, secular Israelis justify their occupation of Palestinian territory.
It seems to me that atheistic, secular Jews can no longer maintain the argument that God Almighty Himself awarded the land to the Jews as the first testament claims. So upon what is their claim based? Sheer racism and ‘might is right’?
Or the even more tenuous one that they are not a theocracy? Are the Palestinians a theocracy?
1/ “White Helmets and the their families….” sort of gives the lie to the Assad regime claim that these are all foreign jihadists, don’t you think?
2/ With reports that White Helmet personal are being detained at government checkpoints. Taking the option of passing through regime lines to rebel held areas is not an option for members of the White Helmets because this is what awaits them.
1. So, Israel….as a humanitarian gesture upon request…spontaneously and within a handful of hours time window….rounded up some 800 White Helmets and their families….
Israel, being the humanitarians that they are, shooting children, women, men, medics, animals etc in Palestine…do a 180 and ‘rescue’ … who exactly…so what does Israels hypocrisy point likely point to…
That Israel have been operating inside Syria an extended period of time, Jenny…that is what it points to…
Then the humanitatians they are…do not take one single ‘rescued’ person…not a single one…
Instead, the ‘rescued’ are being distributed like isis/al nusra cells openly to western nations…
The alleged events to not pass the weakest sniff test…
#2. Someone is lying…rescuers or sponsored moderate terror agents…
As well as all their victims killed and maimed also feel sorry for the jews who have the zionist regime aggressively “representing them” constantly in the media, against their will.
As Jews, we reject the myth that it’s antisemitic to call Israel racist
by Rebecca Vilkomerson, The Independent, 23 July 2018
A worldwide coalition of Jewish groups has issued a joint statement condemning attempts to stifle criticism of Israel with false accusations of antisemitism….
“In recent days members of the Dáil, the main law-making body in the Irish parliament, have passed a bill which will mean no more money goes into exploiting and using the coal, oil and gas which are among the principal drivers of global climate change.”
Pity NZ Government are having some upset about their meek movements to cut oil eploration. Perhaps they should cut all funding to the petroleum industry that National set up.
The rain it raineth every day upon the just and unjust fella,
But more upon the just because
The unjust took the just’s umbrella!
Go, Labour Coalition, the new unjust. And keep the umbrella up rain or shine to
protect against bird droppings from the just – this time a kookaburra (a laughing jackass).
Howard yabbering here is another example of us co-ordinating with Australia as if we are on equal terms while they cherry-pick out criminals who have learned their habits in Australia. Bet most of them are Maori or brownies not whities. It’s an affront to our free country which aims for equality.
But equality with Australia is an uneasy see saw. They sent their army into native land to organise or control Aborigines. This country had the police militarised and went after Tuhoe.)
(Some of our egregious fraudsters live in Oz. But they committed their crimes in NZ so that mightn’t count there.) Thdugj h they were so worried by\\about an ordinary crim that he wasn’t allowed over the Ditch to saw farewell to his dying mother.(
Two petty (on my part, I admit) things about John Howard:
1. He shares his birthday date (26 July) with Jacinda Ardern. He turned 79 on Thursday; she turned 38 – a difference of 41 years (= Simon Bridges’ age.)
2. The last listing in his very long Wikipedia bio – In 2017, Howard endorsed a “No” vote in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey and joined the campaign against same-sex marriage.
During the negotiations somebody (most likely Winston) held a ‘gun’ to their heads and threatened to ‘sue’ them if they made NZF a better offer than Labour. They caved in and the rest is history, as they say. Yeah, ‘forced’ they were 😉
John Howard still has questions to answer about his role in the overthrow of Gough Whitlam.
He was deputy prime minister under Malcolm Fraser in the ensuing government.
Is Max DJ-ing at the National Annual Conference and playing that winning tune Lose Yourself again and again? Where is Max? And Jason??
Are Sir John and Barack in the country to play a round of golf?
It is the same old (mostly white) faces from the past in the same old place, the Sky City Convention Centre for National.
All so disappointingly predictable; so sad to see the once mighty self-entitled born-to-rule politicians wallowing in self-pity and withering away in the Hellish pit that is known as Opposition.
What an ass old Rat Eyes is becoming in his old age just as well that Tracey Watkins didn’t ask the Mad Monk for his two shillings worth on last years election.
Interestingly the only policy bridges mentions is reinstating charter schools. But that was an ACT policy was it not? It’s almost as if National have been using ACT as a front to intoduce policy at arms length…
As an aside I see Paul goldsmith has been getting a lot of airtime (for someone who has preferred invisibility) lately, perhaps they’re getting ready to shove Seymour under the bus in epsom.
Hooch It’s almost as if National have been using ACT as a front to intoduce policy at arms length…
I think you have hit the nail here. In one blow too without hitting your thumb!
At long last the global media are crawling out from their hidey-holes and acknowledging the disastrous effects of Climate Change. It should have happened years ago but better late than never:
They’ve finally stopped hedging their bets on the basis that the CC Deniers of yesteryear were worthy of equal attention. Since they weren’t sure which side was going to win the argument (as if it was a political or ideological issue) they erred on the side of caution and avoided using the term. The same can be said of most governments.
Heads should roll based on gross stupidity and neglect.
Tragically and criminally, they have started writing too late for us to mitigate many of the impacts of industrial capitalism.
The deaths of millions lie at the hands of the corporate media.
No doubt the right wingers will still bury their arses in the sand until the water level surprasses their ability to breath under water or sand and either they snuff their lives out or they get on board with us and get serious about curtailing the carbon emissions of trucks and use rail.
cleangreen
I am suprised that you underrate the actions of the entitled wealthy to climate change spread and rise, you are usually more direct. I hope you will get your local transport issues and climate change and lost opportunities to mitigate proverty dealt to quickly and intelligently.
To escape climate change (cc) effects the comfortable will attempt to save themselves; they will climb on other’s bodies like desperate people escaping a cellar fire or a stadium stampede, or they will divest others of their resources and leave them with no defences or way of exiting. This is not hyperbole, it is observable from past events, and can be forecast from the tone and behaviour of those in positions of power today. Where there is leadership it often is puny and lacking in determination and practicality and psychology of human behaviour.
True but we can change that if we work to do so. Just started reading The Case for a maximum wage. Which is actually a misnomer as he’s actually talking about a maximum income set as a multiple of the minimum wage:
A far simpler and much bolder approach – and the approach that these pages advocate – would be to set a new income maximum as a multiple of the existing minimum wage. Any income above that multiple would face a tax set at 100 percent.
He thinks that such a system gets buy in from everyone and thus the rich won’t be able to get rid of it the same way that they got rid of high tax rates.
EDIT:
I like the point he makes here:
What could we do? We could narrow our initial focus, from societies writ large to a pivotal single element within our societies: the corporate enterprise. These enterprises largely determine who gets what in our modern nations. Down through the years, progressive tax rates have traditionally sought to redistribute the income that corporations have so unequally predistributed. But, egalitarians are now asking, why give this inequality a head start? We need to do more, they argue, than redistribute income. We need to much more equally predistribute it.
The path to a “maximum wage” begins with this predistribution.
I have come to the conclusion that there is a no default setting in humans that wuill be happy to say enough at any advanced wage structure. Happiness is a warm gun? (Beatles)
I think it is only poor people that appreciate the advantage of each $ of wage rise. In business studies they used to talk about ‘hygiene’ as somethingto do finding ways to reward and incentivise high earners when they became ‘ blase’ types who already had everything.
Getting buy-in from people with Affluenza for capping their wages could be like stopping elephants drunk on excesses of fermented fruit. You can imagine!
It’s not going to be easy but it does need to be done.
As the author points out we had much better distribution and equality when top tax rates were high because it got to the point that having a higher income made no difference because of the high tax rates and so more was given to the workers.
This way also gets buy in from the rich as when the minimum income goes up so does their maximum income.
It’s just going to be difficult putting such a system in place.
DTB
Yes. Well I did note that business studies were aware of the problem of satiation with top execs. So perhaps some sort of sideways promotion so they feel they have progressed even though the increase is income is foregone because it has gone into tax.
What if their top tax percentages go into an investment fund that helps to finance small, progressive, innovative businesses that advance the country’s sustainable industry or something. I think there is a crowd now called No. 8 Wire that does something like that. If the top bananas regard investing in the infrastructure and services that help with welfare a waste going into a bottomless pit, perhaps they could be satisfied to see the top percentage/s being used for development of small ‘fireflies’.
The business-mania that sweeps over everyone and rains leaflets emblazoned with gold dollars onto every gathering of Commerce enables the fish farm industry to keep harping on about their exponential growth prospects even though they know that fish farms lead to pollution and disease of both the farmed and wild fish.
But, but the world is crying out for our fish. And will pay big money for it.
Oh well all right then. Go ahead and don't worry, we will have some technology to clean up after you. We will breed bigger fish that like it or grow seaweed that will process it and magically make all clean and clear again. And don't forget to talk about employment to be offered, Which needs to be over 50 at least I should think, to sound attractive enough and kill off support for informed protest,
/sarc, but not very.
More private industry taking over public resources and not paying anything to the public for the risk as well as getting corporate welfare of $3 million plus from government to boot. When it all goes wrong, don’t worry the public and environment will suffer to pay for it.
Lots of bad press about these salmon farms and the food they feed them which is often from aggressively taking from ocean ecosystems which is a turn off.
I used to eat this salmon but for some reason as well as the above concerns, the quality has got worse and worse, not sure if it is the salmon, what they are eating, where they are processing it, or how old it is or some other process like freezing it and defrosting it incorrectly. The texture is wrong.
Am wondering if Arctic salmon often cheaper and processed in Denmark is a better bet as at least have the EU regulations on quality?
Interesting saenz. From personal point of view, I want to eat a bit more salmon in my diet as part of thinning my blood intelligently, trying. Will look up references mentioned.
Re the quality of “farmed” salmon. It’s to do with reduced muscle tone from having the pens in still water, the fish don’t have to work for a living.
Early on the farms were located where there was a reasonable tidal flow to disperse the waste, but this got expensive because the pens would break free or get damaged, so they moved to stiller water. Hence quality went down and effects went up. There’s also big variations in quality of what they are fed.
If you get down South, compare the quality of product from the different operations in the McKenzie. Some are in the flowing canals, some are in calm backwaters.
Graeme
I will have to look at this to understand it properly. But I glanced at the
report from Radionz and they were talking about getting into faster flowing deeper sea water so wouln’t they get the same problem they had before with cages breaking away. I think they are havering. (Old Scottish word that has stayed in my brain., sort of means ‘having people on, talking to confuse.)
Graeme
I would like to make an ethical choice to die when I choose but am not allowed to do that by supposedly well-meaning individuals and groups.
That is something useful that I would do, but am prevented from doing it.
Giving up animal flesh – fish, chicken, red or white meat is not something that I can concentrate at present, it is the possibility of losing my vision that is concentrating my mind at present. Also I want to keep my health so I can continue having ability to work for a better future than the very bad scenario we are sinking into and that takes up all my energy and fills my thoughts.
I am old and haven’t many years of intelligent life left. I don’t know if or when dementia will strike me. I think and write here and in the community trying to help the young needy, and promote understanding and assist others demonstrate to the wider public their ways of coping with the disaster that is underlying NZs complacent rock star economy.
So don’t toss simplistic single ideas at me that don’t help me in my efforts to manage my way through the confusing set of barriers erected to prevent good management by our government, central and local.
The single line comment that derails the comment being replied to is common on this blog. It s actually derisory about the problem that a commenter has raised and doesn’t attempt to discuss the matter. If something comes up that isn’t just a tendentious rerun of a continuing disagreement, it deserves more than a throwaway line.
Sorry Graeme
I got your comment mixed with that from Grey Area. Excuse is having eyesight problems at moment. And didn’t check to see whose moniker was on the relevant comment. Sorry again.
And Grey Area thank you, not, for your flip reply. How grey are you?
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Facebook Inc (FB.O) and its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg were sued on Friday in what could be the first of many lawsuits over a disappointing earnings announcement by the social media company that wiped out about $120 billion of shareholder wealth.
Of course $120 billion wasn’t really wiped out – it didn’t exist in the first place and is part of the bludging aspect of capitalism that’s destroying society.
Interesting that your comment came just after earlier discussion on fishfarming problems.
It has been said that the stock exchange behaves like a school of fish turning and twisting in a slick, fast moving mass as predators loom. They are full of hot air anyway in the SX as you mention. And our employment hangs on their feelings of confidence – or flatulence! Makes you larf really don’t it. In a dismal sort of way.
Of course $120 billion wasn’t really wiped out – it didn’t exist in the first place and is part of the bludging aspect of capitalism that’s destroying society.
The same applies to QV; the whole FIRE economy vitally depends on it – it is their raison d’être.
If not invented by capitalists, paper value (profit & loss) surely is one of their most loved and abused instruments.
To grasp what is going on in the world right now, we need to reflect on two things. One is that we are in a phase of trial runs. The other is that what is being trialled is fascism – a word that should be used carefully but not shirked when it is so clearly on the horizon. Forget “post-fascist” – what we are living with is pre-fascism.
[…]
To see, as most commentary has done, the deliberate traumatisation of migrant children as a “mistake” by Trump is culpable naivety. It is a trial run – and the trial has been a huge success. Trump’s claim last week that immigrants “infest” the US is a test-marketing of whether his fans are ready for the next step-up in language, which is of course “vermin”. And the generation of images of toddlers being dragged from their parents is a test of whether those words can be turned into sounds and pictures. It was always an experiment – it ended (but only in part) because the results were in.
‘Devious’ infants
And the results are quite satisfactory. There is good news on two fronts. First, Rupert Murdoch is happy with it – his Fox News mouthpieces outdid themselves in barbaric crassness: making animal noises at the mention of a Down syndrome child, describing crying children as actors. They went the whole swinish hog: even the brown babies are liars. Those sobs of anguish are typical of the manipulative behaviour of the strangers coming to infest us – should we not fear a race whose very infants can be so devious? Second, the hardcore fans loved it: 58 per cent of Republicans are in favour of this brutality. Trump’s overall approval ratings are up to 42.5 per cent.
What a tasteless, crass but totally predictable comment by the president of the National Party at their conference to the gathered faithful to slaver over.
‘National Party President Peter Goodfellow has mounted an attack on Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters, saying National had “dodged a whisky-swilling, cigarette-smoking, double-breasted and irrational bullet”.’ Of course no National MPs ever frequent Bellamys to have a tipple or two or sneak out for a fag or two either. I’m no N Z First voter or supporter, but for better or worse they are part of the present coalition so be it. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12097023
It just goes to show they haven’t learned a damned thing.
Come the next election there’s a good chance that they will once again have to negotiate with Winston or someone who likes him. But not, the nats will call him names and bitch about how unfair democracy is.
I give them as much sympathy as they give people who need benefits to live: none at all. Just contempt, scorn, and low regard. Goodfellow may be, but bad politician.
Fanatics fuck things up in Vino the majority of every religion want peace love and prosperity the minority want to rule and cause division uncivilised fools.
The national party displayed there true values when they had that fallout with Winston Peters all those years ago and they showed it on there election campaign with the word lazy don’t want to work don’t want to work those words of bill’s were directed at tangata whenua . And there next move was to try and throw Winston under the bus.
Then the aggressors switch hats and act as a victim when they lost the seemingly un lose able election .I see this behavior all the time the aggressor switch hats at the blink of the eye and cry foul.
The big picture is one cannot go around displaying arrogance and think that your culture and thoughts are the only ones that counts why . because you end up with no m8. Well here you go national The Maori Language and culture is get a revival not just in Aotearoa but right around Papatuanuku Kia kaha tangata whenua this fact gives me a sore face Ka kite ano link below.
The big picture is the sandflys are upset that there national m8 are warming the back benches. This is the party that gave them laws to do what ever they want and not be held accountable for there actions they change the bail laws so one can be locked up with out a crime been proven that’s room for deception I say how well they say plead guilt and you will get a lesser charger they don’t care that the charge will stuff up the person life just so long as they get more credit for a promotion. national also made it harder to get a fair trial by making legal aid harder to get what.s the consequences Its a breach of human rights to a fair trial that’s one of the consequence of those changes.The other is they get more leverage to get a guilty plee more cridits for a pay rise.
The sandflys won’t like it that there prison muster has lowered by 500 because to ECO MAORI the law changes the sandflys lobbied for were designed to make it easier for them to lock up people full stop. Ana to kai Ka kite ano
If the sandflys try anything against my offspring I will appel it to the highest court of te whenua to get justice that’s the law of te whenua. Ka kite ano
I just read a story in North and South mag on Matt Robertson he was a Alince mp the year is 2001 this will seam like last century to some but to ECO Maori its just yesterday. Here are some of the truth full statement he made it’s only the poor common people who go to jail.
We have the second recorded for the most people’s locked up in jail the most was USA half the people in prison are Maori the highest group of people are male 15 to 24 age groups. He also states that to some they are just numbers but to him there’s are OUR babys that we are locking up someone’s son And I totally agree with that statement the young are easily lead to make mistake. It cost $50.000 to lock up someone in those days 18 years later its dubble $100.000.
He has figures that show if we invest in early intervention it’s is %50 more likely to change the Mokopunas future for the better than waiting till the are being changed with a crime so 70 % for early intervention to 15% when they are in the system. So what’s the big picture equality shear the putea that Aotearoa gives us more equaly and all the bad stats will go down Its not Rocket science people it’s common sense to do this and this is what our Coalition Government is doing at the minute. Ka kite ano
Kia kaha Joseph Parker you did us proud.
It stinks that the opperstion did not get more points taken of for a head but I didn’t realise that was part of boxing rules makes a mockery of the sport.
Just like the systems in Atoearoa.
Ka kite ano
Here we go the European Union is going to stamp out demarcat elections voter beening minupulate by there computers IE being sold lies by target ad verts the kumara never tells how sweet it is Ka pai. Eco Maori could see that happening tangata being sold lies like the one we’re the people are coned into believing a billion are has their best interests at heart come on Ana to kai
Ka kite ano link below PS all government should do the same most common tangata are so trust worthy they trust what’s being feed to them because they would not deceive anyone on that scale
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The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
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“So the key things that the current government has to tackle are strategic – to look as though they are in charge at the time of the 2020 election and not just battling the rising pressures. Here is what I would do immediately.
First, there is a need for a strategic policy group, probably in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and separate from the already existent policy advisory group which deals with the short-term crises. Given the daily turmoil, I have no problems with the Prime Minister having such a short-term group. But within government there is no overarching medium and long term policy thinking”
https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/what-should-the-government-be-doing
At last a commentator points out the obvious….whats the plan?
I did a post on the same thing on July 22nd.
The one area of this government that does have strong plans is the urban spatial frameworks, through transport and housing. The main question is whether they will be in long enough to confirm them.
and I made the same point myself days ago….the transport and housing plans i would suggest are in themselves incomplete but importantly are not part of a comprehensive plan….employment, taxation, inequality, immigration. trade, population even…..if we are going to transform our economy (and society) its a wee bit more than some tram tracks and prefab housing.
The Coalition have the ideal person in Jacinda Adern to take people with them but she needs a plan to sell.
Great just what we need. Yet another little group of nodding heads, drawing six figure salaries and preparing another ‘report’ on how to tell citizens to live their lives.
Like every other trough established by this government, it will have no power or relevance.
The only committee that has any power is the committee of 2 – Ardern and Peters.
Nothing else means anything.
We can take it then that you dont think strategic planning is necessary or desirable?
You can take it that the right wing thinks consideration of evidence, consultation and deliberation, are superfluous.
As Wayne Mapp said once. “This is not how we do policy in New Zealand”.
Pat
you said “First, there is a need for a strategic policy group”
Yes a ‘summit between the three coalition Parties’ – would be a very strong issue to first do here so the Government can then clearly set about honouring all their promises made pre-election such as;
1/ Tackling the Climate change effects.
We still see the trucking lobby increasing truck use and no real regional rail being used as we in the provinces need trucks off our second class narrow winding roads as tjhey are now so dangerous and being destroyed by constant heavier trucks wrecking them as they increase the transport CO2 emmissions where rail would be lowering the CO2 levels.
2/ Secondly; – need the Government to restore the “free to air TV channel for Public affairs investigative jouralism as we Nationnal Party media is sending negative meessages about the new Labour co-alition Government andn that will harm our cause to get the issues aired on TV in a open and free from bias manner and those two issues are among the urgently needed issues to deal with right now.
you will note the quotation marks….the point I believe Brian Easton is making is that its all very well for the Coalition to address the problems (of which there are many) as they arise, but like previous administrations there is no overarching strategy (other than vague feel good slogans) ….if anything of substance is to be achieved, including reelection then this Gov needs to devote some energy (and PDQ) to strategic planning rather than wasting it all on firefighting….i’d suggest that its best opportunity to achieve this is with the Carbon Neutral 2050 policy due to be released early next year….but that is being led by a Minister outside Cabinet and support party member and is only a few months away so is it likely to provide such?
In any government, the first year is their ideologically strongest.
Both in beliefs and in polls it goes down from here.
If that is true then it dosnt bode well does it?
No.
“Should I say something about the quality of people in the strategic policy group? Is it necessary to say that while they need to be sympathetic to a transformative government, the emphasis has to be on competence rather than political correctness? Perhaps I have to, for the government’s record thus far has to scatter an awful lot of politically correct incompetents through its advisory committees (but no more than predecessor governments).”
The last bit deserves repeating.
“….for the government’s record thus far has to scatter an awful lot of politically correct incompetents through its advisory committees (but no more than predecessor governments).”
Brian Easton…
Pat,
We spoke at length to the Climate change “zero carbon” committee ‘team”‘ when they came to Napier and held their ‘road show’ last month.
We used another emission problem that the comittee had not yet considered yet.
That was about the ‘elephant in the room’ about the other large freight road transport emissions that were so badly affecting our climate and that was the “yyre dust emissions of small plastic particles that are shedding from truck tyres at an alarming rate that is now found on the ice caps and that black dust is now exellerating the melting of the ice caps.
The whole panel was shunned like a mullet, and said they never throught of that as being a problem and now said they do so we hope they will now curtail road freight in favour of regional rail freight as trains dont use tyres and only steel wheels.
Subject ; Tyre dust is another form of plastic so use rail it has steel wheels non-polluting. – ‘ Carbon emissions.’
When you drive your car don’t forget that tyres are made from plastic too!!!
So tyre dust is being spread all around the roads and into our water as we drive.
https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-002.pdf
quote;
3. Tyres: abrasion while driving Tyres get eroded when used. The particles are formed from the outer parts of the tyre and consist of a matrix of synthetic polymers, namely Styrene Butadiene Rubber (approximately 60%), in a mix with natural rubber and many other additives (Sundt et al., 2014). Tyre dust will then either be spread by the wind or washed off the road by rain. In this study, losses of synthetic rubber are considered but losses of natural rubber are not.
There is no reliable information on the transfer of microplastics from tyres to the world’s oceans. Both Norwegian and Swedish researchers have pointed out that a large fraction of particles found in the sea seem to originate from car tyres (Essel et al., 2015; Sundt et al., 2014).
End.
Finally, the long term best solution is to use far more rail freight and passenger services to give funding to upgrade the rail network in all our regions to expand rail freight/passenger services.
Rail and reducing pollution are key areas of any strategy IMO. I’d like to think that the electrification and expansion (at least of use) of the entire rail network could form part of an interconnected strategy….but one that is detailed, at least broadly costed and which has a timeline not deferred to some indeterminate future.
Pat very good analogy of the way forward.
We need to use solar panel backup power on wagons of freight trains and ‘reserve generation power systems’ (direct drive generators on the rail drive system) to also complete partical or total electricifation of rail use to caputure the way forward for even the most ardent opposers of rail use.
Electric EV vehicles use these systems now so should trains use them.
The new BMW EV models now have solar panels on the roof of their new EV models.
Yes
Not withstanding the health impacts to human beings and other life, from the toxic dust ge generated by break pads as well as tyres…
One two,
yes sorry and thanks for that here read this explosive Auckland infrustructure report commioned for that region shows that tyre dust with brake and cluth dust are very high air pollution emitters so trucks with 34 tyres on each track and use braking and clutch use very often in our own “residential zones ” are damaging the health and wellbeing of many of us all.
Trucks are industrial activities that should be kept far away from our residental zones where high populations reside. No to any industrial activities near our residential zones please NZTA government here our call.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul_Kennedy4/publication/259756890_Kennedy_PC_Gadd_J_Moncrieff_I_2002_Emission_Factors_for_Contaminants_Released_by_Motor_Vehicles_in_New_Zealand_Report_prepared_by_Kingett_Mitchell_Ltd_and_Fuels_Energy_Management_Group_Ltd_for_Ministr/links/00b4952da26a69dc47000000/Kennedy-PC-Gadd-J-Moncrieff-I-2002-Emission-Factors-for-Contaminants-Released-by-Motor-Vehicles-in-New-Zealand-Report-prepared-by-Kingett-Mitchell-Ltd-and-Fuels-Energy-Management-Group-Ltd-for-Min.pdf
http://www.moh.govt.nz/notebook/nbbooks.nsf/0/B0D63B72C7235954CC257F800004BBD5/$file/health-impact-transport-phac.pdf
A free to air, government funded tv station, free from bias but doesn’t criticise the government?
The stupidity of left leaning voters astounds me. How’s your subscription to that bastion of free press, pravda?
The post you replied to may not be the most clearly articulated of all time, but it would nonetheless take some pretty rank stupidity to get out of it what you did.
Idiot number 2, step on up!
Did you miss the part where the original idiot talked about he national party media? Then demanded a free to air tv channel that is free from bias but only presented views the original idiot agrees with?
I can only suggest you read it again.
three cent biscuit….. aka tuppence shrewsbury….. do you really think calling people idiots is helping you? Good luck with that.
Tuppence Shrewsbury is a right wing advocate are you not.
So the corporate owned media dont critisise the government?
That is a lie as the ‘commecial media do what their paymasters tell them to do so your theory is bunk.
They do. And what’s wrong wth that?
My problem with your suggestions is that a government funded tv channel should only air views you approve of. Hardly bias free as you seem to imagine it would be. It would only be right wing bias free. Which
One of the failures of the current Labour-led government, is the lack of urgency and limited expertise they have provided for revitalising public service media. It should have had high priority.
Maybe Robertson has has got more contacts in the corporate media who he can feed lines/info to, and that he doesn’t have any similar contacts in RNZ?
Public service media, at arms length from government, free from bias, and that holds all political parties and MPs to account, is absolutely necessary to democracy. Some non public service media journos also do that.
However, corporate media puts much more focus on cheerleading private enterprise, and capitalist values, and pollies who support those things.
I think I have to disagree with a free to air TV channel even though I would like one myself. I have two children in there twenties and thirties and both do not even have TV Aerials and none of their friends watch free to air TV, its really the older generation who watch it and they are unlikely to change the way they vote.
Have a look at what TVNZ is doing – massive expansive of free to view online TV programmes and movies.
That is what a public service TV channel can do – freeview plus ondemand viewing online.
Clare Curran has totally ignored what can be done with TVNZ. It’s not just about current affairs. TVNZ ondemand has an LGBT stream, it has Scanadanavian TV programmes, it has documentaries, it has express shows available ondemand the same week as in the US, and I suspect it is pulling in some younger viewers.
This is one major act of terrorism that won’t get any coverage in the Western media.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180727-breaking-israel-storms-al-aqsa-compound-during-friday-prayers-shots-fired/
Add it to the list of Israeli agression and the continued 2 fingers to the world over occupied territories.
Netanyahu is a war monger with USA backing….this only goes one way.
More like the last bastion of freedom against the tyrannical demands of the followers of an imaginary leader
Yes, the imaginary leader as portrayed in the first testament is indeed cruel and tyrannical. Perhaps this goes part of the way to explaining the Zionists’ behaviour.
If the state of Israel isn’t a Jewish state, as it’s not anti-Semitic to criticise it, then how can any logical person support theocracy over democracy?
Non- sequitur. Firstly, the state of Israel does not represent all Jews, and secondly, Israel has pretty well made itself a theocracy by giving privilege to only those who believe in the God of the first testament. Are there any Jewish atheists who are Israeli citizens? This puts the religion pretty well in control, regardless of whether the politicians are church officials.
Many Israelis consider themselves to be secular or atheists. Not exactly a theocracy.
https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-in-Israel-and-be-an-atheist
I’ll stick with the first non-sequitur, then. Although it intrigues me that Christians who are atheists tend not to regard themselves as Christians. (Apart from the few like Loyd Geering..) I must study your link to see how atheism links with the Jewish religion.
Well, what a nicey-nicey read. lots of concerns like ours about whether religion should be taught in schools, etc, but not one mention of how atheistic, secular Israelis justify their occupation of Palestinian territory.
It seems to me that atheistic, secular Jews can no longer maintain the argument that God Almighty Himself awarded the land to the Jews as the first testament claims. So upon what is their claim based? Sheer racism and ‘might is right’?
Or the even more tenuous one that they are not a theocracy? Are the Palestinians a theocracy?
Global coverage of the Israeli lead ‘humanitarian rescue’ of the emmy award winning White Helmets was given…
Somewhat inconsistent and selective coverage eh…
What were your thoughs about the spontaneous and daring rescue of the assets known as the White Helmets, Jenny ?
2 thoughts;
1/ “White Helmets and the their families….” sort of gives the lie to the Assad regime claim that these are all foreign jihadists, don’t you think?
2/ With reports that White Helmet personal are being detained at government checkpoints. Taking the option of passing through regime lines to rebel held areas is not an option for members of the White Helmets because this is what awaits them.
1. So, Israel….as a humanitarian gesture upon request…spontaneously and within a handful of hours time window….rounded up some 800 White Helmets and their families….
Israel, being the humanitarians that they are, shooting children, women, men, medics, animals etc in Palestine…do a 180 and ‘rescue’ … who exactly…so what does Israels hypocrisy point likely point to…
That Israel have been operating inside Syria an extended period of time, Jenny…that is what it points to…
Then the humanitatians they are…do not take one single ‘rescued’ person…not a single one…
Instead, the ‘rescued’ are being distributed like isis/al nusra cells openly to western nations…
The alleged events to not pass the weakest sniff test…
#2. Someone is lying…rescuers or sponsored moderate terror agents…
There is a growing wave of repulsion around the world to the actions of the imperialist apartheid Zionist regime.
+1 Jenny, TC, One Two, Ed
As well as all their victims killed and maimed also feel sorry for the jews who have the zionist regime aggressively “representing them” constantly in the media, against their will.
As Jews, we reject the myth that it’s antisemitic to call Israel racist
by Rebecca Vilkomerson, The Independent, 23 July 2018
A worldwide coalition of Jewish groups has issued a joint statement condemning attempts to stifle criticism of Israel with false accusations of antisemitism….
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/antisemitisim-jews-israel-labour-party-bds-jewish-coalition-palestine-a8458601.html
yup they’ll be getting up to a fair bit of that.
They got plenty of allies in the MSM. The playbooks been refined since Glenn Becks incursions.
Probably some of the finest work about in this field given the resources.
Ireland spurns fossil fuel investments.
“In recent days members of the Dáil, the main law-making body in the Irish parliament, have passed a bill which will mean no more money goes into exploiting and using the coal, oil and gas which are among the principal drivers of global climate change.”
https://www.resilience.org/stories/2018-07-26/ireland-spurns-fossil-fuel-investments/
Pity NZ Government are having some upset about their meek movements to cut oil eploration. Perhaps they should cut all funding to the petroleum industry that National set up.
+1 cleangreen, Paaparakauta
National win the 2017 election for the 47th time 😆
https://stuff.co.nz/national/politics/105828141/nationals-loss-unfair-unjust–former-australian-pm
“Howard got *rapturous applause when he labelled the election result “disappointing and unjust and unfair”.”
* when raptors clap their wings
The rain it raineth every day upon the just and unjust fella,
But more upon the just because
The unjust took the just’s umbrella!
Go, Labour Coalition, the new unjust. And keep the umbrella up rain or shine to
protect against bird droppings from the just – this time a kookaburra (a laughing jackass).
Yes and Kookaburras laugh before rain!!
Howard yabbering here is another example of us co-ordinating with Australia as if we are on equal terms while they cherry-pick out criminals who have learned their habits in Australia. Bet most of them are Maori or brownies not whities. It’s an affront to our free country which aims for equality.
But equality with Australia is an uneasy see saw. They sent their army into native land to organise or control Aborigines. This country had the police militarised and went after Tuhoe.)
(Some of our egregious fraudsters live in Oz. But they committed their crimes in NZ so that mightn’t count there.) Thdugj h they were so worried by\\about an ordinary crim that he wasn’t allowed over the Ditch to saw farewell to his dying mother.(
Howard’s yet another moron to thick to understand mmp it would appear.
Two petty (on my part, I admit) things about John Howard:
1. He shares his birthday date (26 July) with Jacinda Ardern. He turned 79 on Thursday; she turned 38 – a difference of 41 years (= Simon Bridges’ age.)
2. The last listing in his very long Wikipedia bio – In 2017, Howard endorsed a “No” vote in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey and joined the campaign against same-sex marriage.
Says it all to me.
I quite enjoyed this by-line:
*Tracy Watkins: After being forced into opposition, National is rolling out the big guns [my bold]
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/105807472/tracy-watkins-after-the-pain-of-last-years-defeat-national-is-rolling-out-the-big-guns
During the negotiations somebody (most likely Winston) held a ‘gun’ to their heads and threatened to ‘sue’ them if they made NZF a better offer than Labour. They caved in and the rest is history, as they say. Yeah, ‘forced’ they were 😉
John Howard still has questions to answer about his role in the overthrow of Gough Whitlam.
He was deputy prime minister under Malcolm Fraser in the ensuing government.
John Howard – so knowledgeable about how democracy works with MMP. He should do, under Aussie fPtP, he was part of a Coalition Government.
Could either the Liberal or National parties ever have been able to form a government on their own?
Aus Labor must be seething after decades of unfairness!
Howard is getting doddery….in Australia labour is the largest party- were they robbed?
Coalition Government is :
Liberal Party
National party
Liberal national party (qld)
Country Liberals ( NT)
WA Nationals
Is Max DJ-ing at the National Annual Conference and playing that winning tune Lose Yourself again and again? Where is Max? And Jason??
Are Sir John and Barack in the country to play a round of golf?
It is the same old (mostly white) faces from the past in the same old place, the Sky City Convention Centre for National.
All so disappointingly predictable; so sad to see the once mighty self-entitled born-to-rule politicians wallowing in self-pity and withering away in the Hellish pit that is known as Opposition.
100% The right wing are a sorry lot.
Not sorry enough by a long chalk.
What an ass old Rat Eyes is becoming in his old age just as well that Tracey Watkins didn’t ask the Mad Monk for his two shillings worth on last years election.
Interestingly the only policy bridges mentions is reinstating charter schools. But that was an ACT policy was it not? It’s almost as if National have been using ACT as a front to intoduce policy at arms length…
As an aside I see Paul goldsmith has been getting a lot of airtime (for someone who has preferred invisibility) lately, perhaps they’re getting ready to shove Seymour under the bus in epsom.
Hooch
It’s almost as if National have been using ACT as a front to intoduce policy at arms length…
I think you have hit the nail here. In one blow too without hitting your thumb!
And there DP driven electoral wins were all totally above board.
At long last the global media are crawling out from their hidey-holes and acknowledging the disastrous effects of Climate Change. It should have happened years ago but better late than never:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/27/extreme-global-weather-climate-change-michael-mann
Yes. At last.
Even the words cc appeared in the Herald.
“Climate change is supercharging a hot and dangerous Northern Hemisphere summer.”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12096744
They’ve finally stopped hedging their bets on the basis that the CC Deniers of yesteryear were worthy of equal attention. Since they weren’t sure which side was going to win the argument (as if it was a political or ideological issue) they erred on the side of caution and avoided using the term. The same can be said of most governments.
Heads should roll based on gross stupidity and neglect.
Tragically and criminally, they have started writing too late for us to mitigate many of the impacts of industrial capitalism.
The deaths of millions lie at the hands of the corporate media.
Anne,
No doubt the right wingers will still bury their arses in the sand until the water level surprasses their ability to breath under water or sand and either they snuff their lives out or they get on board with us and get serious about curtailing the carbon emissions of trucks and use rail.
cleangreen
I am suprised that you underrate the actions of the entitled wealthy to climate change spread and rise, you are usually more direct. I hope you will get your local transport issues and climate change and lost opportunities to mitigate proverty dealt to quickly and intelligently.
To escape climate change (cc) effects the comfortable will attempt to save themselves; they will climb on other’s bodies like desperate people escaping a cellar fire or a stadium stampede, or they will divest others of their resources and leave them with no defences or way of exiting. This is not hyperbole, it is observable from past events, and can be forecast from the tone and behaviour of those in positions of power today. Where there is leadership it often is puny and lacking in determination and practicality and psychology of human behaviour.
Missed this one back in March:
That’s around three times the average wage of ~$50,000
If that is the optimal point then we should probably cap incomes just above that.
NZ equals = a low wage economy. equals = slave labour economy. equals a unhappy place.
True but we can change that if we work to do so. Just started reading The Case for a maximum wage. Which is actually a misnomer as he’s actually talking about a maximum income set as a multiple of the minimum wage:
He thinks that such a system gets buy in from everyone and thus the rich won’t be able to get rid of it the same way that they got rid of high tax rates.
EDIT:
I like the point he makes here:
My bold.
I have come to the conclusion that there is a no default setting in humans that wuill be happy to say enough at any advanced wage structure. Happiness is a warm gun? (Beatles)
I think it is only poor people that appreciate the advantage of each $ of wage rise. In business studies they used to talk about ‘hygiene’ as somethingto do finding ways to reward and incentivise high earners when they became ‘ blase’ types who already had everything.
Getting buy-in from people with Affluenza for capping their wages could be like stopping elephants drunk on excesses of fermented fruit. You can imagine!
It’s not going to be easy but it does need to be done.
As the author points out we had much better distribution and equality when top tax rates were high because it got to the point that having a higher income made no difference because of the high tax rates and so more was given to the workers.
This way also gets buy in from the rich as when the minimum income goes up so does their maximum income.
It’s just going to be difficult putting such a system in place.
DTB
Yes. Well I did note that business studies were aware of the problem of satiation with top execs. So perhaps some sort of sideways promotion so they feel they have progressed even though the increase is income is foregone because it has gone into tax.
What if their top tax percentages go into an investment fund that helps to finance small, progressive, innovative businesses that advance the country’s sustainable industry or something. I think there is a crowd now called No. 8 Wire that does something like that. If the top bananas regard investing in the infrastructure and services that help with welfare a waste going into a bottomless pit, perhaps they could be satisfied to see the top percentage/s being used for development of small ‘fireflies’.
The mean household income in NZ in 2017 was $107000…lots of unhappy people out there.
The business-mania that sweeps over everyone and rains leaflets emblazoned with gold dollars onto every gathering of Commerce enables the fish farm industry to keep harping on about their exponential growth prospects even though they know that fish farms lead to pollution and disease of both the farmed and wild fish.
But, but the world is crying out for our fish. And will pay big money for it.
Oh well all right then. Go ahead and don't worry, we will have some technology to clean up after you. We will breed bigger fish that like it or grow seaweed that will process it and magically make all clean and clear again. And don't forget to talk about employment to be offered, Which needs to be over 50 at least I should think, to sound attractive enough and kill off support for informed protest,
/sarc, but not very.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018655326/could-salmon-farming-become-the-new-dairy
More private industry taking over public resources and not paying anything to the public for the risk as well as getting corporate welfare of $3 million plus from government to boot. When it all goes wrong, don’t worry the public and environment will suffer to pay for it.
Lots of bad press about these salmon farms and the food they feed them which is often from aggressively taking from ocean ecosystems which is a turn off.
I used to eat this salmon but for some reason as well as the above concerns, the quality has got worse and worse, not sure if it is the salmon, what they are eating, where they are processing it, or how old it is or some other process like freezing it and defrosting it incorrectly. The texture is wrong.
Am wondering if Arctic salmon often cheaper and processed in Denmark is a better bet as at least have the EU regulations on quality?
Interesting saenz. From personal point of view, I want to eat a bit more salmon in my diet as part of thinning my blood intelligently, trying. Will look up references mentioned.
Re the quality of “farmed” salmon. It’s to do with reduced muscle tone from having the pens in still water, the fish don’t have to work for a living.
Early on the farms were located where there was a reasonable tidal flow to disperse the waste, but this got expensive because the pens would break free or get damaged, so they moved to stiller water. Hence quality went down and effects went up. There’s also big variations in quality of what they are fed.
If you get down South, compare the quality of product from the different operations in the McKenzie. Some are in the flowing canals, some are in calm backwaters.
Graeme
I will have to look at this to understand it properly. But I glanced at the
report from Radionz and they were talking about getting into faster flowing deeper sea water so wouln’t they get the same problem they had before with cages breaking away. I think they are havering. (Old Scottish word that has stayed in my brain., sort of means ‘having people on, talking to confuse.)
You could of course make an ethical choice to not eat animal flesh at all.
Graeme
I would like to make an ethical choice to die when I choose but am not allowed to do that by supposedly well-meaning individuals and groups.
That is something useful that I would do, but am prevented from doing it.
Giving up animal flesh – fish, chicken, red or white meat is not something that I can concentrate at present, it is the possibility of losing my vision that is concentrating my mind at present. Also I want to keep my health so I can continue having ability to work for a better future than the very bad scenario we are sinking into and that takes up all my energy and fills my thoughts.
I am old and haven’t many years of intelligent life left. I don’t know if or when dementia will strike me. I think and write here and in the community trying to help the young needy, and promote understanding and assist others demonstrate to the wider public their ways of coping with the disaster that is underlying NZs complacent rock star economy.
So don’t toss simplistic single ideas at me that don’t help me in my efforts to manage my way through the confusing set of barriers erected to prevent good management by our government, central and local.
The single line comment that derails the comment being replied to is common on this blog. It s actually derisory about the problem that a commenter has raised and doesn’t attempt to discuss the matter. If something comes up that isn’t just a tendentious rerun of a continuing disagreement, it deserves more than a throwaway line.
Sorry Graeme
I got your comment mixed with that from Grey Area. Excuse is having eyesight problems at moment. And didn’t check to see whose moniker was on the relevant comment. Sorry again.
And Grey Area thank you, not, for your flip reply. How grey are you?
Facebook is sued after stock plunge ‘shocked’ market
Of course $120 billion wasn’t really wiped out – it didn’t exist in the first place and is part of the bludging aspect of capitalism that’s destroying society.
Interesting that your comment came just after earlier discussion on fishfarming problems.
It has been said that the stock exchange behaves like a school of fish turning and twisting in a slick, fast moving mass as predators loom. They are full of hot air anyway in the SX as you mention. And our employment hangs on their feelings of confidence – or flatulence! Makes you larf really don’t it. In a dismal sort of way.
The same applies to QV; the whole FIRE economy vitally depends on it – it is their raison d’être.
If not invented by capitalists, paper value (profit & loss) surely is one of their most loved and abused instruments.
Why are there no black Koch brothers?
That is an interesting question put forward by Center for Public Integrity.
What do people think, why is that?
Why are not rich Maori here funding far right groups?
The yanks fear black kochs most of all.
There are some in the Maori Moneyocracy, supporting right wing economics.
Annette Sykes has written about them.
Yeah, but not far right hate groups.
Damn sad.
http://thehill.com/homenews/398727-feminist-protest-movement-founder-found-dead-in-apartment
Lol Winnie skewering Bennett – ‘they go for the smallest and weakest one …’ lol classic.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/105828141/fresh-hostilities-erupt-between-winston-peters-and-national
Did you set the alarm clock?
No, I thought you set the alarm clock.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/07/ancient-worms-being-brought-back-to-life-by-russians.html
Well, this is a fucking scary read.
To grasp what is going on in the world right now, we need to reflect on two things. One is that we are in a phase of trial runs. The other is that what is being trialled is fascism – a word that should be used carefully but not shirked when it is so clearly on the horizon. Forget “post-fascist” – what we are living with is pre-fascism.
[…]
To see, as most commentary has done, the deliberate traumatisation of migrant children as a “mistake” by Trump is culpable naivety. It is a trial run – and the trial has been a huge success. Trump’s claim last week that immigrants “infest” the US is a test-marketing of whether his fans are ready for the next step-up in language, which is of course “vermin”. And the generation of images of toddlers being dragged from their parents is a test of whether those words can be turned into sounds and pictures. It was always an experiment – it ended (but only in part) because the results were in.
‘Devious’ infants
And the results are quite satisfactory. There is good news on two fronts. First, Rupert Murdoch is happy with it – his Fox News mouthpieces outdid themselves in barbaric crassness: making animal noises at the mention of a Down syndrome child, describing crying children as actors. They went the whole swinish hog: even the brown babies are liars. Those sobs of anguish are typical of the manipulative behaviour of the strangers coming to infest us – should we not fear a race whose very infants can be so devious? Second, the hardcore fans loved it: 58 per cent of Republicans are in favour of this brutality. Trump’s overall approval ratings are up to 42.5 per cent.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-trial-runs-for-fascism-are-in-full-flow-1.3543375
Watching TV1 News, was that Sir Les Patterson at the National Party Conference? Has anyone seen him and John Howard in the same room at the same time?
Came across this singer (below) watching “The Spinoff TV”
What a tasteless, crass but totally predictable comment by the president of the National Party at their conference to the gathered faithful to slaver over.
‘National Party President Peter Goodfellow has mounted an attack on Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters, saying National had “dodged a whisky-swilling, cigarette-smoking, double-breasted and irrational bullet”.’ Of course no National MPs ever frequent Bellamys to have a tipple or two or sneak out for a fag or two either. I’m no N Z First voter or supporter, but for better or worse they are part of the present coalition so be it.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12097023
It just goes to show they haven’t learned a damned thing.
Come the next election there’s a good chance that they will once again have to negotiate with Winston or someone who likes him. But not, the nats will call him names and bitch about how unfair democracy is.
I give them as much sympathy as they give people who need benefits to live: none at all. Just contempt, scorn, and low regard. Goodfellow may be, but bad politician.
Fanatics fuck things up in Vino the majority of every religion want peace love and prosperity the minority want to rule and cause division uncivilised fools.
The shame of the National Party – coming home to roost:
Warm Hearts: All Kiwi kids deserve a fair go – NZ Herald
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid…
The national party displayed there true values when they had that fallout with Winston Peters all those years ago and they showed it on there election campaign with the word lazy don’t want to work don’t want to work those words of bill’s were directed at tangata whenua . And there next move was to try and throw Winston under the bus.
Then the aggressors switch hats and act as a victim when they lost the seemingly un lose able election .I see this behavior all the time the aggressor switch hats at the blink of the eye and cry foul.
The big picture is one cannot go around displaying arrogance and think that your culture and thoughts are the only ones that counts why . because you end up with no m8. Well here you go national The Maori Language and culture is get a revival not just in Aotearoa but right around Papatuanuku Kia kaha tangata whenua this fact gives me a sore face Ka kite ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/28/google-disney-maori-new-zealand
The big picture is the sandflys are upset that there national m8 are warming the back benches. This is the party that gave them laws to do what ever they want and not be held accountable for there actions they change the bail laws so one can be locked up with out a crime been proven that’s room for deception I say how well they say plead guilt and you will get a lesser charger they don’t care that the charge will stuff up the person life just so long as they get more credit for a promotion. national also made it harder to get a fair trial by making legal aid harder to get what.s the consequences Its a breach of human rights to a fair trial that’s one of the consequence of those changes.The other is they get more leverage to get a guilty plee more cridits for a pay rise.
The sandflys won’t like it that there prison muster has lowered by 500 because to ECO MAORI the law changes the sandflys lobbied for were designed to make it easier for them to lock up people full stop. Ana to kai Ka kite ano
If the sandflys try anything against my offspring I will appel it to the highest court of te whenua to get justice that’s the law of te whenua. Ka kite ano
I just read a story in North and South mag on Matt Robertson he was a Alince mp the year is 2001 this will seam like last century to some but to ECO Maori its just yesterday. Here are some of the truth full statement he made it’s only the poor common people who go to jail.
We have the second recorded for the most people’s locked up in jail the most was USA half the people in prison are Maori the highest group of people are male 15 to 24 age groups. He also states that to some they are just numbers but to him there’s are OUR babys that we are locking up someone’s son And I totally agree with that statement the young are easily lead to make mistake. It cost $50.000 to lock up someone in those days 18 years later its dubble $100.000.
He has figures that show if we invest in early intervention it’s is %50 more likely to change the Mokopunas future for the better than waiting till the are being changed with a crime so 70 % for early intervention to 15% when they are in the system. So what’s the big picture equality shear the putea that Aotearoa gives us more equaly and all the bad stats will go down Its not Rocket science people it’s common sense to do this and this is what our Coalition Government is doing at the minute. Ka kite ano
Kia kaha Joseph Parker you did us proud.
It stinks that the opperstion did not get more points taken of for a head but I didn’t realise that was part of boxing rules makes a mockery of the sport.
Just like the systems in Atoearoa.
Ka kite ano
Here we go the European Union is going to stamp out demarcat elections voter beening minupulate by there computers IE being sold lies by target ad verts the kumara never tells how sweet it is Ka pai. Eco Maori could see that happening tangata being sold lies like the one we’re the people are coned into believing a billion are has their best interests at heart come on Ana to kai
Ka kite ano link below PS all government should do the same most common tangata are so trust worthy they trust what’s being feed to them because they would not deceive anyone on that scale
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/28/democracy-threatened-malicious-technology-eu-fighting-back
And what do you know the person who set up Cambridge analytical is a friend of the national party. Cheats like two peas in a pod Ka kite ano
As I walk around Atoearoa and read MSM I can see the ECO MAORI effect all I can say is that its positive for the common tangata. Kia kaha Ka kite ano