The old folk will love him for it. But hey, I’ve a soft spot for his Peoples Public Credit, and love a good racist, sorry, realist, sorry. He actually claims he isn’t racist at all. Oh, this is all so confusing.
He is so wealthy he never checks his accounts or notices his bank balances. It must be awful for him. Does seem like a non story except the keeping quiet bit.
In fairness to newsroom, he lied on his form and said he was single when actually in a de facto relationship. She told the truth when she registered a few years later which is when they cross referenced.
Surely it doesnt matter why he lied, he lied and took money from the poor taxpayer. BUT unlike Turei this wont trigger outrage cos he wasnt a beneficiary and the hatred displayed toward them is not reserved for Super recipients
Cool, ganna be fun at customs next week with the old double passport, but woops forgot the NZ, but woops Student Loan. But woops did I really say that at Select Committee for National Security. “No Sir. No gold coins or political thoughts…”
…but looking forward to being back in NZ and sleeping in a car.
As opposed to the ongoing subversion of due process and transparency we see with slater, roastbusters, a prominent NZ’er etc etc.
National have politicised many sections of nz’s public service and SOE’s, some were happy to, others had managers dropped in to ensure they came to heel like RNZ, kiwirail and TVNZ.
I wish to write about the Dairy industry in a un biased manner.
As I was only hurt by one and a cop was part of that the other 2 were elderly and for that reason I will let them off.
All dairy farm workers including most farm owners work 7 days a week usually 430 am to 600 pm. THEY can not stop milking the cows as the cows would get sick I.e mastitis e.c.t rain hale or snow the cows have to get milked .I take my hat off to the farmers for that. Now the immigrant issue some kiwi workers have cost the farm owners money big money to tens of thousands of dollars have been lost because of incompetent workers.But not all kiwi workers are like this when I work or run a farm I strived to increase production and minimise stock losses I got the big picture the boss loses money no job + I thought about my reputation.
But some workers could not give a fuck not all kiwi workers are like this.Now all the tree in central north island are more productive being dairy farmed but not next to our water ways. A dairy farmer buys a cow he get about 5 season from the cow he doesn’t have to kill the cow for his production. A good cow will produce 4 times her body weight in milk solids and give the farmer 3 good calves.Most farmers look after there stock in a very HUMANE way as if they don’t the farmer would lose his ASS I.e go broke.So please don’t go being city slickers and bash farmers. Most farmers care about the environment they get that we have one planet they usely want to leave the farm to there children so they are not going to deliberately FUCK up there farming environment the media have a lot to blame for all the dairy farm haters well get real.
Now we have a industry that is world class most of our dairy farm are the best in the world for animal welfare. The cows are not locked inside in a unnatural environment.
Now let’s not make the mistake and think that they are sensitive to the environment like humans as cows have a hide that is a half inch thick and hair and when it rains hard they all gather together to keep warm.
Now were are lucky to have a environment that’s good for dairy farming. Our Dairy farming industry is the only industry that we have that is a price setter so all big powers in the world can not muck our dairy industry around and pay the farmers unstable money like some industry’s .So for a small nation we have a industry that puts us on top of the world .The dairy farmers insulate us from been bleed dry by larger more powerful Nations.I no that the dairy industry is not perfect but whom is a small persent are but you get that in any population or industry .All the photos of cows in water ways are beef cows I.E dry stock but townies can not tell the difference so those pictures are doctored up to shit on the dairy farming image So new zealand let’s not be led by the corrupt and paid for media. Let’s not kill our one world class industry .kill the only golden goose
We have sure they need to change abit but not that much to fuck it up
Come on the rest of the WORLD ARE VERY ENVYIUS OF OUR WOURLD CLASS DAIRY FARMERS AND OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY
Most dairy farmers are still struggling from the low milk solid payment of the last 3 season so they could not take a hit from legislation against them. We need to work with them to mitigate against climate change. Not kick them in the private parts.
All the flats that have been turned into dairy farms are good for NZ .It’s national fault for the way things are at the moment not dairy farmers.
We need to plant more trees on the hill country and around water ways . National are at fault for all the problems they have down south .The Allblacks are world class and we celebrate them And we should celebrate our would class DAIRY FARMERS .The only leader ship national showed was to subsidize Bills m8 down south.I believe that irritation is good when run properly and not a free for all circus.
As it what the ancient culture did thousand of years ago as insurance against droughts system that store water when there is plenty of water and we use it during droughts
Finland does not test.
It has the best educational system in the world.
National are copying the US and the UK with more testing.
Neo-liberalism is destroying our country.
Yes but having promised the 3Rs and after 9 years maths is worse any Right thonking person woukd introduce free language learning for primary schoolers. Wouldnt they?
Apparently studies have shown that online learning is considerably more effective when students have regular face to face meetings with other students.
The personal interaction both reinforces and motivates students.
I worked from 2015 to end of 2016 delivering and writing blended courses for Tertiary students. Blended meaning a mixture of online face to face and doing some work before class.
The students complained. Parents wrote emails demanding we “teach” their children properly cos “I am not paying them to teach themselves”. Leaving aside the obvious advantage of learning self directed learning these parents demanded mobey back cos we didnt stand up and lecture at their kids for 2 hours rather we used mixtures of discussion, activity and lecturing.
There is so much wrong in NZ cos too many parents want education to be for their children what it was for them. Even though it failed almost half of them.
There is so much wrong in NZ cos too many parents want education to be for their children what it was for them. Even though it failed almost half of them.
Probably for more than half of them actually. Some actually realised that though and have taken self-directed efforts to counter that failing and so have some idea as to how much better self-directed learning is.
The problem seems to be that many parents don’t understand the new system and so want us to go back to the old system simply because they feel comfortable with it. These are the people who haven’t realised how bad the old system was and, yes, they’re the very definition of ‘conservatives’. They really do see the past through rose-coloured glasses.
I had that conversation with my betters. That parents need to be educated on what we were doing and why. However my betters wete more concerned to change those 45s to 50s.
Pat,
Not as big as MT because he paid it back straight away. Also what were his circumstances 7 years ago when he first claimed it. Maybe he was not in a relationship back then and was therefore entitled to the single rate.
I guess we will soon find out.
bollocks…Peters a)was not a young inexperienced solo parent b) if anyone should know about super payments it is qualified lawyer, serial politician “gold card’ winston c) he took 7 years to correct, and curiously around the time of MTs scandal (I also note MT agreed to pay back any overpayment once the level determined)
….in his defence Iwill say that as I understand it the onus is on the dept to ensure the correct level of payment is made
All that needs to happen to get millennials to show up to vote is to run a competition for a new home. Entry would be a n/a/p into a separate box on the way out of the voting booth.
the claim of 100-200,000 New Zealanders being subject to illegal blanket surveillance is an extremely serious one, but I can’t see Bradbury’s evidence. He clearly has a very strong case personally against the plod – he has been treated outrageously.
However, if he has proof of a coupe of hundred thousand people – presumably including some leading figures on the left and centre left – being subject to arbitrary search then this is a gigantic scandal the media can’t ignore.
The government and police – who I think have almost certainly subverted security and police resources to further the governments own political agendas – will fall into a lockstep of blanket refusal to comment and claims of secrecy. Normally, they would get away with that, given the three day media cycle. But during an election campaign, I am not so sure.
Labour should stay out of this, unless it really blows up – and even then, simply promise a full public inquiry if they gain office.
M8 National will use every trick they can to keep power.
One would notice that I did Not use the phrase Every trick in the book.
Because they will use any thing to cling to power .But all the shit they have pulled makes that pole of power to slippery for them to hold on to hence the phrase national slip out of parliament.
Duncan garner looks a bit nervous this morning maybe he has heard that he has been played.Now Jack Tame is over compsioncating in his effort to keep a straight face when National are the subject But Hillary’s is not phased at all Yes our Black Ferns should be promoted and held up as role model for all our girls to aspire to and payed for there efforts Cemmon Steven this is 2017 = right this is 2017 we need to raze our women’s confidence so we get more women on the business boards council and Parliament so we have more of women’s ideals become part of our laws. MORE HUMANE LAWS that will benefit women as much as men
Coleman is blaming hospital overloading on a record flu season. Sounds familar to the excuse of a rat plague of bibilical proportions that seems to happen every year in the Kaharangi Park
I’d say that hospital overloading is due to a failing underfunded health system and people unable to afford going to the Dr’s.
Our local Drs only charge $18 per visit no matter who you are, so Nationals bribe of $18 Dr visits doesn’t mean jack to me or anyone else who already pays $18 a visit
thanks for that link….so the Nats are going to make the failed policy of teaching to test entrenched….brain dead. Completely undermines the subsequently promoted goal.
If anyone wants to hear from Guy Standing the author of “The Precariat”, he’s appearing in Auckland this Thursday, on the UBI idea:
Guy Standing – Basic Income: the case for a significant new policy
In conjunction with Basic Income New Zealand and Auckland Debating Society, we present Guy Standing, leading international speaker on Basic Income, author of The Precariat, with as a panel to respond to his presentation, Sue Bradford and Keith Rankin.
Guy Standing is a Professorial Research Associate at SOAS, University of London, and a founder and co-President of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), an NGO promoting basic income as a right. He has held chairs at the Universities of Bath and Monash (Australia) and was previously Director of the Socio-Economic Security Programme of the International Labour Organisation.
He is currently working on pilot basic income schemes in India and on issues relating to his two recent books, The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class (2011) and A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens (2014).
Professor Standing’s book recently featured in University World News: Higher education and the precariat class.
When
Thursday 31 August, 6.30pm
Where
Epsom Campus
Lecture Theatre J1
University of Auckland
76 Epsom Ave
can someone explain to me why someone who earns several tens of thousands of dollars is eligable for superannuation.
btw, i have no issue with monied people getting super if they contributed to he fund, pass the right age crossing and stop working.
but why get it when you are still working?
the whole point about super is that it allows one to retire, stay at home grow a garden, ride a bike etc and hopefully someone younger fills the job.
please explain it to me and ‘its just the way it is’ does not cut it.
Why is someone who earns several tens of thousands of dollars plus perks on super? He is still working?
Yes it is – I worked for several years after I got my super – you get taxed on all your income, so for that time I was essentially paying my own super, or working tax-free, whichever way you like to look at it.
I think any other way would cost more to administer than it’s worth. What a nightmare it would be!
Don’t panic, Sabine, – your day will come!
mate, i don’t think my generation or any generation after mine will get anything. Inever thought we would get anything since at least the 80’s. Someone has to pay for that shit, and we are less and less paying for it
.
I don’t beguile someone the benefit, i just don’t think someone who makes more then the average income and who works full time should be receiving super. It should be reserved for people who retire and free workplaces up to younger people.
Basically the rich pricks (Capitalists) won’t let the poor get something unless they get it too. It’s about the only time they agree with socialism!
The other time is when they “need” a bail out when things don’t go their way.
its actually fairly simple
you are 65 years of age? yes/no
you work? yes/no
full time/part time?
annual income?
fill it out, provide your income stub from IRd and if you work then you are not retired and thus don’t receive ‘retirements’ benefits.
I don’t see this at hard. I again point out that i would base my system on contribution, i.e. taxed income for x amount of years at a minimum to be eligible. But being an active MP and thus at the receiving end of the government largesse should automatically exclude on from retirement funds.
with one difference tho, the minister still got the money even tho he did not need it, while those that need it don’t get it or have to perform circus acts to get some of it.
No. I said the system you propose is the same as the one that UB beneficiaries have to go through now. If you apply that to superannuation then the retirees will have to go through it as well.
Basically, you’re saying that retirees should be treated the same as beneficiaries are now.
Note they should be treated the same but through a UBI. It’s the simplest, most efficient system. We’d just need to alter the tax system a bit.
Actually, the main advantage of a universal system is that the amount of fields that need to be filled in and audited are vastly reduced. This speeds up collection, processing, administration, and averyone knows what they’re getting.
Your list of four questions, under the current system, is reduced to one: are you over 65?
It’s the same with student allowances – the amount of processing and auditing that has to go into whether someone’s parents earn over a particular threshhold, are the kids still dependent or married, number of points of study, academic attainment, weekly changable income declarations – back around the turn of the millenium WINZ-student services hadn’t calculated whether the hundreds of millions administering the system was more expensive than just giving 100k students a set income, and they probably still haven’t.
Whether this applies to the entire population I’m not so sure, but for those populations where a significant proportion are already receiving govt money (students, elderly, single parents) might as well just give it to everyone rather than paying people to be jerks.
I doubt Peters was trying to fraud the system – why for $50.00 extra a week. And he would probably lose as much as he gained in super. Ditto his partner. It may be he thought he should apply as a kind of support for the super policy he is aligned with.
my question stands. why do we pay super to someone who works.
personally i find this ‘benefit depended on partnership’ almost criminal. It essentially forces people to stay in toxic relationships if that is the only income thy are provided.
i personally favor a system where a benefit is paid to a person based on contribution irrespective if they live with family or as a hermit. You don’t pay lower taxes just because you are in a relationship.
so i don’t care if he forgot, mis understood, could not care enough of what ever. The point is, at his current work related income he should not have received super at the first place.
in the meantime however how about we give money to those that have none before we give it to people that already receive government largess such as active MP’s and contenders for the top spot?
One reason is that older people are more likely to be in part time work, so it’s simpler all round to have a set system rather than the complete cluster fuck that is what younger people have to do on a benefit (e.g. declaring income weekly).
Also, it’s not about someone working, it’s about people having adequate or surplus income. So someone could be getting income from investments.
And having pensioners having to jump the same hoops as other beneficiaries is a move in the wrong direction. Better to leave Super alone and fix the rest of WINZ so it is humane.
I’m not averse to people who have surplus income getting less, but it can be done via taxation instead of hoop jumping.
Max Rashbrooke @MaxRashbrooke
Replying to @mfyfyr
Susan St John has a pretty clever way to do it via raising taxes on the other income of ppl 65+. Wdnt test for assets but still.
how many people would miss out if really super were means tested at say 50+ grand income a year after tax? (yes i know arbitrary, but then we have families with nothing live of less)
Very few people would miss out.
If you were in that situation you would do exactly what they do in Australia. You would put your money into expanding your house OR you would give it to your children OR you would spend it on luxury travel until you got down below the bar.
Australia has a National super scheme, at something like the level of the NZ one but it is asset tested.
A couple get, before tax, about $35k if their assets, not counting the family home are less than about $400k.
They get nothing if their assets are greater than about $800k. Between those numbers there is very steep abatement of the super.
Suppose you had $800k. There is no way that you can get a return on the extra $400k in assets that makes up for the loss of super. Indeed I have seen estimates that you would need about $1.5m to be better off without National Super than a person with $400k who gets the full amount.
What do people do? The expand their home. The go on a long world tour. They give it away. They do anything to get their assets over and above their house down to the $400k mark.
If you brought this idea in here people would do exactly the same as Australians do.
If you had an income of $300k you wouldn’t bother. If you had $60k you would definitely get it down to a safe level.
“Better to leave Super alone and fix the rest of WINZ so it is humane”.
I agree with this. Super has meant NZ has lower levels of poverty amongst older age groups and the universality means it is cheap to administer. We need to do something similar for others on benefits.
Tax will reduce payments for those with less need but needs to include a wealth as well as income.
Super has always been a sort of insurance scheme.
I remember 60 years ago my dad showing me his payslip and explaining it. The superann contribution was shown separatly as I recall.
I think it is still very much the same, it is structured like an insurance policy and think of the shit fight if an insurance company said that they werent going to pay out on a maturing life policy because … “you’ve got too much money “.
You are thinking of Social Security. This was a tax of one shilling and sixpence on each pound of income.
Politicians talked about it going into a fund to pay old age pensions but it didn’t of course. It simply went into the Consolidated Fund and was promptly spent.
It was much the same as the pension scheme for veteran MPs (before 1992) and retired Public Servants who belonged to their scheme prior to 1991 or 1992.
They pay tax free super. The fairy tale story about that is that it is being paid by capital gains made by the fund. If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. The payout comes straight from the taxpayer as the returns on the “fund” come nowhere near paying for their obligations. Wonderful if you belong. Inflation proof, guaranteed by the taxpayer. No risk of going bust.
And NO, you can’t join them now.
Now, perhaps reluctantly, Bill English has played the kids card.
When the National Party officially launched its election campaign at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere, the Prime Minister’s own kids were on show.
His 26-year-old daughter Maria sang the New Zealand national anthem and 17-year-old Xavier, in a smart-looking suit, accompanied his father and mother, Mary English, onto the stage.
Does this mean to say that families are fair game in political reporting/commenting now?
A bit of a contrast to an interview just the other week, when he told the interviewer he won’t give interviews in his family home because he likes to keep his work and family life seperate.
It’s like a Key style campaign with a few character replacements.
Gosh that venue had many empty seats and so many asian people in the audience, the crowd did not seem like a typical snap shot of our nz people and English appeared not very confident to me.
It is the same as Key and Max. Apparently it is ok for a PM to use their family to project their career but not the media to comment on their families.
You are right. Do you remember Andrew Little trying to put on a warm family face in his speech to the Labour Party Conference this year?
“It was the house we brought our baby boy home to.
I remember that time vividly. Preparing the baby room. And putting this precious bundle of humanity in his cot for the first time. This tiny little thing, in this ocean of sheets.
Of course, XXXX’s nearly 6 foot tall now. He doesn’t fit in the cot anymore!”.
Everyone cooed happily. But the press, and the blogs, left him alone thank God.
I won’t give the lad’s name or provide a link to the speech. Leave him alone.
Keep thinking about the Royal Flush from Tim Murphy – it could be that no. 1 Metira Turei defrauded WINZ way back in the piece, no. 2 ol’ Winnie has defrauded WINZ on his Super – whether he knew about it or not, now this new biggie supposedly coming out this week could be no.3 our Paula Benefit and her back story which we are not allowed to discuss. That would be a “sort of” Royal Flush being that these stories are all of the same ilk. Now wouldn’t that be fun and games.
They are hinting on the radio that Morgan is about to announce that he has a female co-leader. Apparently TOP chased away heaps of women voters with the lipstick comment last week, lolz
A move as obvious as morgans motives are IMO….propping up national as he sees their puppet parties dissolving. About as trustworthy as any banskta dealer is imo.
Monday, 28 August 2017, 11:33 am
Press Release: The Opportunities Party
Opportunities Party Announces New Co Deputy Leader
The Opportunities Party East Coast Bays candidate Teresa Moore will join Wellington Central candidate Geoff Simmons as Co Deputy Leader of the Party.
“Teresa is a welcome addition to TOP’s leadership team and will play a vital role on the campaign trail and in Parliament,” says TOP Founder and Leader Gareth Morgan, “With strong credentials in environmental matters and a proven track record in business Teresa is a fantastic addition to our leadership team.”.
“I’m proud to be part of TOP’s leadership team”, says Teresa, “It was already a privilege to be standing alongside a highly skilled group of candidates who believe in the need for real change in New Zealand, to be asked to help lead such a great team of people is an added honour”.
likes sailing, solar power, renewable energy, and green tourism – had a tourism company, been involved in the special education sector, and believes education should be tailored to the individual.
p5; the Board consists of 3-8 members, including the party leader. Party leader to preside at board meetings.
The initial board will be appointed by the initial party leader. (p8)
the Board determines candidates for election, based on the recommendations/nominations of a select committee and members – but the board makes the final decision, and there is no right for anyone to appeal against it.
Basically it’s a very top-down business type set up.
Certainly makes Morgan look like a bit of an egotistical control freak. And maybe explains why he just didn’t provide support and engagement with an existing party with some similar policies.
He is actually a very good fit with the greens in many ways but seems to want to bleed votes from the left. he says forget this left/Right thing (and I empathise with that view) but he is not having an impact on the Right… so what will he achieve?
He hates being questioned at all – it has to be his way or no way.
I find him to be an exceptionally obnoxious man and his choice of Sean Plunkett as PR just reinforces the general impression of him being a misogynist bully.
Same Teresa Moore who stood as a Green candidate in the Rodney electorate 2/3 elections ago? When we lived there I remember voting for the Green party and Christine Rose from Labour as my candidate vote. Intuition told me not to vote for Moore at the time!
Wow – Hooton is going bezerk on RNZ. He is actually advancing that Jacinda/Labour will implement a “wind tax” in addition to the “water tax” because they are so devoid of policy.
Bad move from Hooten that Diana comparison – simultaneously sneering at the emotions of the general public and elevating Jacinda to Diana status. Double fail right there.
Silly little elitist prig that he is – can’t discipline his own tongue.
Punters out Punter land is how Brash characterised the general populace. From what I’ve seen no right wing leader or media mouthpiece thinks any different.
Yep I’d imagine times it by 4 or 5 for attempts that didn’t work and inconclusive like no note, plus all the self harming hospitalizations. A total disaster imo. So much suffering and pain so much hurt and utter devastation.
How any government can even speak the words “Delivering for New Zealand” or “A Brighter Future”, with a statistic like this – is disgraceful and outrageous.
Education failing. hospitals failing, mental health failing, rivers failing, youth dying at own hands, houses unaffordable, people sleeping in cars, Tertiary allowing cheating and grade changes to get funding…
“..but back to the main point…I’m afraid 3000 members of the National Party stamping their feet and drumming their seats means absolutely nothing…other than that the National Party is in good heart…
The Jacinderella effect is real, and it’s frightening..here’s two totally different soundings, in two countries….I am a member of a 50 person focus group which responds weekly to various questions on the coming election…7/10 of that group thinks “it’s time for a change”
My roughneck mate Hughie, presently working in the West Australian desert, finds to his considerable astonishment that most of his kiwi workmates think Jacinda is fantastic…and more important, many of them are planning to vote, when normally they don’t bother, just so they can vote for her.
Thumb up 26 Thumb down 1
It’s a comment on a Kiwiblog thread – one that quotes Tracy Watkins saying that English has delivered on the need to push back against Labour’s success, by, er, announcing a second-language policy for schools.
NB: not recommended for those easily offended by the sight of dim bulbs parading their misogyny.
They are just punters.
Punters on the most powerful site in the country. like ZB or other talkback.
Really useful to understand the mood.
I engage there when I have the time, with a different handle.
Keeps you sharp and clear.
Thanks BG, I’ve been following Houston today and I was wondering about that very thing. Drop some links if have anything of interest, I might put a post up on the differences.
Sadly flooding in Houston is far worse than the destruction of half of Bangladesh. I note that the lead article in the Guardian (wrt the Sub-Continent) just now is about a guru tried for rape – no mention of the millions forced to abandon their homes.
Most of us can also see a past in which homelessness was rare in NZ, Bill – having lived in that past right up until your tenure as finance minister. Still, I guess if he can’t remember making that statement to Police last year it would be way too much to expect him to remember stuff from ten years ago.
LOL. I just cannot see Shearer, Cunliffe or Little or Shaw saying this kind of shit and not being ridiculed in the press. Let alone admitting a maths learning deficit and solving it with imaginary teachers from the rapidly destaffing Humanities courses at Unis teaching every primary child 1 of ten possible second languages
In Australia they would be having a satire field day.
…. “activists charged under the ‘Anadarko Amendment’ after swimming in front of the world’s largest seismic oil ship, have pleaded Not Guilty.
Greenpeace Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman, and activist Sara Howell, will be using a greater good defense to fight the charges.
“I have to fight these charges laid against us because we are in a climate emergency that’s being fueled by the oil industry and propped up by our own Government. Politicians and industry are failing us, but people everywhere are rising up and taking action.”
“The legal defense used by the Waihopai 3 – that they mounted an attack on the spy base to prevent suffering – is to be reformed or repealed, Justice Minister Simon Power has announced.”
Good momentum for the next govt to declare a National Disaster, as a legal requirement for financial innovation. Housing is the obvious, but with environmental issues added, it does stake up.
“There is overwhelming support for a water tax in New Zealand even if it means higher costs for consumers, a new poll shows.
The Herald-ZB Kantar TNS online survey shows that 70 per cent of people agree that commercial water users should pay a royalty to help fund the clean-up of waterways.
Just 19 per cent of the 1000 respondents oppose the idea, while the remainder are unsure.”
Well that’s where their campaign has been focused for the last week – boot camps, getting tough on freedom campers, more testing of school kids. They’ve given up on the floating 50% voter, now it’s pitched right at the core of the core. the bleed line must have gone back that far.
“if they do an ounce of fucking work on the campaign”
As opposed to doing what their donors are demanding, which may be what’s going on. I’ve just spent 9 years watching them being poll driven, centre focused fruitcakes, so the past weeks performance has been a bit different.
Green Energy Markets analyst Tristan Edis said the emergence of renewables, in particular wind and solar, as a “significant source of power” had ushered in a “construction jobs and investment boom”.
“The renewable energy sector has staged a remarkable recovery, after investment completely dried-up under former prime minister Tony Abbott,” Edis said.
Edis said the renewables sector was on track to meet the federal government’s renewable energy target of 20% of total generation by 2020 over a year early, by the end of 2018.
At least 46 large-scale energy projects under construction by the end of June were providing enough work to employ 8,868 people full-time for a year. This figure had surged to 10,000 by July. Most jobs were in NSW (3,018), thanks largely to wind farms, while Queensland (2,625) was next, with 70% of its jobs coming from solar farms.
Rooftop solar installations supported a further 3,769 full-time jobs across Australia in 2016-17.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a government committed to doing something about meeting our Paris Commitments.
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 25 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
Darn. The # isn’t released yet.
Edit: Bomber’s one …a distant cousin https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/28/exclusive-my-case-against-a-secret-nz-police-investigation-that-breached-my-privacy-and-my-civil-rights/
The MOAS?
Yes that #. Although TDB story is offensive the type of behavior is almost expected and needs urgent attention.
Has it been picked up by MSM and English questioned, and the current Police Minister of course.
Newshub and Seymour are trying to turn Peters overpayment into a *thing*, Newshub claiming he told them two different stories. Pathetic.
Love him or hate him… Winnie has always got something up the sleeve. Bet this pans out for him 10x better than MT’s benefit story.
Sadly I think that will be the case. Newsroom has a better story on this.
Even so all it does is highlight why we need means resting on Super.
The old folk will love him for it. But hey, I’ve a soft spot for his Peoples Public Credit, and love a good racist, sorry, realist, sorry. He actually claims he isn’t racist at all. Oh, this is all so confusing.
He is so wealthy he never checks his accounts or notices his bank balances. It must be awful for him. Does seem like a non story except the keeping quiet bit.
In fairness to newsroom, he lied on his form and said he was single when actually in a de facto relationship. She told the truth when she registered a few years later which is when they cross referenced.
Surely it doesnt matter why he lied, he lied and took money from the poor taxpayer. BUT unlike Turei this wont trigger outrage cos he wasnt a beneficiary and the hatred displayed toward them is not reserved for Super recipients
You have no proof he lied – i suggest being more circumspect as the way to go.
!!! OK…this is more like it. And I bet anyone commenting or reading this site will be included in that surveillance.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/28/exclusive-the-rawshark-investigation-secret-police-mass-surveillance-program-against-100-000-nzers/
100 000.
Goodness me.
I’d love to see the reckoning that led to that figure.
On a more serious note, what are the odds that various people connected to The Standard Trust are on that list?
Somewhere between a strong likelihood and a certainty.
Cool, ganna be fun at customs next week with the old double passport, but woops forgot the NZ, but woops Student Loan. But woops did I really say that at Select Committee for National Security. “No Sir. No gold coins or political thoughts…”
…but looking forward to being back in NZ and sleeping in a car.
I think @tmurphyNZ dropped the final clue…sounds like National
Sounds like Winston, you mean.
This is the “mother of all scandals”?!
Next.
I’m very disappointed in the quality of this scandal.
Perhaps the real scandal is the exposure of Patrick Gower et al’s revolting partisan double standards.
Not exactly news to anyone here.
It isnt even headlining on stuff or Herald… you have to scroll down
Ok, so Bradbury actually came up with something. Seriously out-of-control cops. How many other people’s human rights have they violated this way?
Edit: I see Bradbury is claiming 100k. So somewhere between two, and one-hundred thousand.
As opposed to the ongoing subversion of due process and transparency we see with slater, roastbusters, a prominent NZ’er etc etc.
National have politicised many sections of nz’s public service and SOE’s, some were happy to, others had managers dropped in to ensure they came to heel like RNZ, kiwirail and TVNZ.
I wish to write about the Dairy industry in a un biased manner.
As I was only hurt by one and a cop was part of that the other 2 were elderly and for that reason I will let them off.
All dairy farm workers including most farm owners work 7 days a week usually 430 am to 600 pm. THEY can not stop milking the cows as the cows would get sick I.e mastitis e.c.t rain hale or snow the cows have to get milked .I take my hat off to the farmers for that. Now the immigrant issue some kiwi workers have cost the farm owners money big money to tens of thousands of dollars have been lost because of incompetent workers.But not all kiwi workers are like this when I work or run a farm I strived to increase production and minimise stock losses I got the big picture the boss loses money no job + I thought about my reputation.
But some workers could not give a fuck not all kiwi workers are like this.Now all the tree in central north island are more productive being dairy farmed but not next to our water ways. A dairy farmer buys a cow he get about 5 season from the cow he doesn’t have to kill the cow for his production. A good cow will produce 4 times her body weight in milk solids and give the farmer 3 good calves.Most farmers look after there stock in a very HUMANE way as if they don’t the farmer would lose his ASS I.e go broke.So please don’t go being city slickers and bash farmers. Most farmers care about the environment they get that we have one planet they usely want to leave the farm to there children so they are not going to deliberately FUCK up there farming environment the media have a lot to blame for all the dairy farm haters well get real.
Now we have a industry that is world class most of our dairy farm are the best in the world for animal welfare. The cows are not locked inside in a unnatural environment.
Now let’s not make the mistake and think that they are sensitive to the environment like humans as cows have a hide that is a half inch thick and hair and when it rains hard they all gather together to keep warm.
Now were are lucky to have a environment that’s good for dairy farming. Our Dairy farming industry is the only industry that we have that is a price setter so all big powers in the world can not muck our dairy industry around and pay the farmers unstable money like some industry’s .So for a small nation we have a industry that puts us on top of the world .The dairy farmers insulate us from been bleed dry by larger more powerful Nations.I no that the dairy industry is not perfect but whom is a small persent are but you get that in any population or industry .All the photos of cows in water ways are beef cows I.E dry stock but townies can not tell the difference so those pictures are doctored up to shit on the dairy farming image So new zealand let’s not be led by the corrupt and paid for media. Let’s not kill our one world class industry .kill the only golden goose
We have sure they need to change abit but not that much to fuck it up
Come on the rest of the WORLD ARE VERY ENVYIUS OF OUR WOURLD CLASS DAIRY FARMERS AND OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY
Most dairy farmers are still struggling from the low milk solid payment of the last 3 season so they could not take a hit from legislation against them. We need to work with them to mitigate against climate change. Not kick them in the private parts.
All the flats that have been turned into dairy farms are good for NZ .It’s national fault for the way things are at the moment not dairy farmers.
We need to plant more trees on the hill country and around water ways . National are at fault for all the problems they have down south .The Allblacks are world class and we celebrate them And we should celebrate our would class DAIRY FARMERS .The only leader ship national showed was to subsidize Bills m8 down south.I believe that irritation is good when run properly and not a free for all circus.
As it what the ancient culture did thousand of years ago as insurance against droughts system that store water when there is plenty of water and we use it during droughts
The cops are still pissing in the wind WTF
Finland does not test.
It has the best educational system in the world.
National are copying the US and the UK with more testing.
Neo-liberalism is destroying our country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHHFGo161Os
Yes but having promised the 3Rs and after 9 years maths is worse any Right thonking person woukd introduce free language learning for primary schoolers. Wouldnt they?
Languages can be learnt for free by apps eg Duolingo and travel.
Sister is head of a language department at a highschool. She says that online language learning only works if the student is highly motivated.
Apparently studies have shown that online learning is considerably more effective when students have regular face to face meetings with other students.
The personal interaction both reinforces and motivates students.
I worked from 2015 to end of 2016 delivering and writing blended courses for Tertiary students. Blended meaning a mixture of online face to face and doing some work before class.
The students complained. Parents wrote emails demanding we “teach” their children properly cos “I am not paying them to teach themselves”. Leaving aside the obvious advantage of learning self directed learning these parents demanded mobey back cos we didnt stand up and lecture at their kids for 2 hours rather we used mixtures of discussion, activity and lecturing.
There is so much wrong in NZ cos too many parents want education to be for their children what it was for them. Even though it failed almost half of them.
Probably for more than half of them actually. Some actually realised that though and have taken self-directed efforts to counter that failing and so have some idea as to how much better self-directed learning is.
The problem seems to be that many parents don’t understand the new system and so want us to go back to the old system simply because they feel comfortable with it. These are the people who haven’t realised how bad the old system was and, yes, they’re the very definition of ‘conservatives’. They really do see the past through rose-coloured glasses.
I had that conversation with my betters. That parents need to be educated on what we were doing and why. However my betters wete more concerned to change those 45s to 50s.
There is a lot to be said for educating parents about education.
Almost as big a beat up as MT…..lets see if the opprobrium reaches the same fever pitch, somehow I suspect not.
Pat,
Not as big as MT because he paid it back straight away. Also what were his circumstances 7 years ago when he first claimed it. Maybe he was not in a relationship back then and was therefore entitled to the single rate.
I guess we will soon find out.
bollocks…Peters a)was not a young inexperienced solo parent b) if anyone should know about super payments it is qualified lawyer, serial politician “gold card’ winston c) he took 7 years to correct, and curiously around the time of MTs scandal (I also note MT agreed to pay back any overpayment once the level determined)
….in his defence Iwill say that as I understand it the onus is on the dept to ensure the correct level of payment is made
Yes. He must have been on struggle street with his MP pension… his travel perks… his legal work.
Legal? Yes. And that is all that matters, right Wayne?
All that needs to happen to get millennials to show up to vote is to run a competition for a new home. Entry would be a n/a/p into a separate box on the way out of the voting booth.
Have put up a post on the Peters super thing…
the claim of 100-200,000 New Zealanders being subject to illegal blanket surveillance is an extremely serious one, but I can’t see Bradbury’s evidence. He clearly has a very strong case personally against the plod – he has been treated outrageously.
However, if he has proof of a coupe of hundred thousand people – presumably including some leading figures on the left and centre left – being subject to arbitrary search then this is a gigantic scandal the media can’t ignore.
The government and police – who I think have almost certainly subverted security and police resources to further the governments own political agendas – will fall into a lockstep of blanket refusal to comment and claims of secrecy. Normally, they would get away with that, given the three day media cycle. But during an election campaign, I am not so sure.
Labour should stay out of this, unless it really blows up – and even then, simply promise a full public inquiry if they gain office.
M8 National will use every trick they can to keep power.
One would notice that I did Not use the phrase Every trick in the book.
Because they will use any thing to cling to power .But all the shit they have pulled makes that pole of power to slippery for them to hold on to hence the phrase national slip out of parliament.
Duncan garner looks a bit nervous this morning maybe he has heard that he has been played.Now Jack Tame is over compsioncating in his effort to keep a straight face when National are the subject But Hillary’s is not phased at all Yes our Black Ferns should be promoted and held up as role model for all our girls to aspire to and payed for there efforts Cemmon Steven this is 2017 = right this is 2017 we need to raze our women’s confidence so we get more women on the business boards council and Parliament so we have more of women’s ideals become part of our laws. MORE HUMANE LAWS that will benefit women as much as men
Hell no. They should be a) promising better legislation b) an inquiry into what has actually happened and c) who was spied upon by the police
Yup votes right there in pursuing this and it also highlights nationals intransigence/tacit approval as this is on Bills watch now.
Coleman is blaming hospital overloading on a record flu season. Sounds familar to the excuse of a rat plague of bibilical proportions that seems to happen every year in the Kaharangi Park
I’d say that hospital overloading is due to a failing underfunded health system and people unable to afford going to the Dr’s.
Our local Drs only charge $18 per visit no matter who you are, so Nationals bribe of $18 Dr visits doesn’t mean jack to me or anyone else who already pays $18 a visit
now for something of real political importance…the response to Nationals Education policy..
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201856292/national-out-of-touch-on-education-principals-teachers
They have no idea….much like everything else, if the market doesn’t deliver (and we know it doesn’t in the round) they are clueless
They were like this always. In the 90’s
Lockwood Smith said we had to “implement the new English curriculum in Term 1.”
We didn’t get the curriculum documents ’till Term 2 ,
and the training ’till the following year.
So Bill, did you consult University Research? Principals? Teachers? Boards? Parents? Children? No????? Why not???
Policy on the hoof!!
Hoots is calling it “real policy”. LOL
There was another Education Policy released separately, and quietly , on Saturday. Read about it here. https://saveourschoolsnz.com/2017/08/28/whats-the-real-reason-national-are-implementing-progress-tracking-via-pact/
thanks for that link….so the Nats are going to make the failed policy of teaching to test entrenched….brain dead. Completely undermines the subsequently promoted goal.
If anyone wants to hear from Guy Standing the author of “The Precariat”, he’s appearing in Auckland this Thursday, on the UBI idea:
Guy Standing – Basic Income: the case for a significant new policy
In conjunction with Basic Income New Zealand and Auckland Debating Society, we present Guy Standing, leading international speaker on Basic Income, author of The Precariat, with as a panel to respond to his presentation, Sue Bradford and Keith Rankin.
Guy Standing is a Professorial Research Associate at SOAS, University of London, and a founder and co-President of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), an NGO promoting basic income as a right. He has held chairs at the Universities of Bath and Monash (Australia) and was previously Director of the Socio-Economic Security Programme of the International Labour Organisation.
He is currently working on pilot basic income schemes in India and on issues relating to his two recent books, The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class (2011) and A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens (2014).
Professor Standing’s book recently featured in University World News: Higher education and the precariat class.
When
Thursday 31 August, 6.30pm
Where
Epsom Campus
Lecture Theatre J1
University of Auckland
76 Epsom Ave
Flood before and after pics Houston, Texas vs Harvey with motorway sign indicating depth.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-08-27/houston-surreal-and-after-photo
https://mobile.twitter.com/MattSitkowski/status/901782145814978560
can someone explain to me why someone who earns several tens of thousands of dollars is eligable for superannuation.
btw, i have no issue with monied people getting super if they contributed to he fund, pass the right age crossing and stop working.
but why get it when you are still working?
the whole point about super is that it allows one to retire, stay at home grow a garden, ride a bike etc and hopefully someone younger fills the job.
please explain it to me and ‘its just the way it is’ does not cut it.
Why is someone who earns several tens of thousands of dollars plus perks on super? He is still working?
One of the few universal benefits, I believe.
Yes it is – I worked for several years after I got my super – you get taxed on all your income, so for that time I was essentially paying my own super, or working tax-free, whichever way you like to look at it.
I think any other way would cost more to administer than it’s worth. What a nightmare it would be!
Don’t panic, Sabine, – your day will come!
mate, i don’t think my generation or any generation after mine will get anything. Inever thought we would get anything since at least the 80’s. Someone has to pay for that shit, and we are less and less paying for it
.
I don’t beguile someone the benefit, i just don’t think someone who makes more then the average income and who works full time should be receiving super. It should be reserved for people who retire and free workplaces up to younger people.
That’s because we have a delusional system that looks at money rather than the productive capability and carrying capacity of the nation.
Basically the rich pricks (Capitalists) won’t let the poor get something unless they get it too. It’s about the only time they agree with socialism!
The other time is when they “need” a bail out when things don’t go their way.
That’s what we get with WINZ and the governments present punitive policies.
its actually fairly simple
you are 65 years of age? yes/no
you work? yes/no
full time/part time?
annual income?
fill it out, provide your income stub from IRd and if you work then you are not retired and thus don’t receive ‘retirements’ benefits.
I don’t see this at hard. I again point out that i would base my system on contribution, i.e. taxed income for x amount of years at a minimum to be eligible. But being an active MP and thus at the receiving end of the government largesse should automatically exclude on from retirement funds.
The system you describe is the one at work in WINZ ATM in regards to the Unemployment Benefit.
with one difference tho, the minister still got the money even tho he did not need it, while those that need it don’t get it or have to perform circus acts to get some of it.
No. I said the system you propose is the same as the one that UB beneficiaries have to go through now. If you apply that to superannuation then the retirees will have to go through it as well.
Basically, you’re saying that retirees should be treated the same as beneficiaries are now.
Note they should be treated the same but through a UBI. It’s the simplest, most efficient system. We’d just need to alter the tax system a bit.
Actually, the main advantage of a universal system is that the amount of fields that need to be filled in and audited are vastly reduced. This speeds up collection, processing, administration, and averyone knows what they’re getting.
Your list of four questions, under the current system, is reduced to one: are you over 65?
It’s the same with student allowances – the amount of processing and auditing that has to go into whether someone’s parents earn over a particular threshhold, are the kids still dependent or married, number of points of study, academic attainment, weekly changable income declarations – back around the turn of the millenium WINZ-student services hadn’t calculated whether the hundreds of millions administering the system was more expensive than just giving 100k students a set income, and they probably still haven’t.
Whether this applies to the entire population I’m not so sure, but for those populations where a significant proportion are already receiving govt money (students, elderly, single parents) might as well just give it to everyone rather than paying people to be jerks.
Seems odd that he got anything in the sense he had MP Super plus was working.
I doubt Peters was trying to fraud the system – why for $50.00 extra a week. And he would probably lose as much as he gained in super. Ditto his partner. It may be he thought he should apply as a kind of support for the super policy he is aligned with.
that is not my point.
my question stands. why do we pay super to someone who works.
personally i find this ‘benefit depended on partnership’ almost criminal. It essentially forces people to stay in toxic relationships if that is the only income thy are provided.
i personally favor a system where a benefit is paid to a person based on contribution irrespective if they live with family or as a hermit. You don’t pay lower taxes just because you are in a relationship.
so i don’t care if he forgot, mis understood, could not care enough of what ever. The point is, at his current work related income he should not have received super at the first place.
Why not?
But then we have to ask why we’re not doing the same for everyone else.
i like your utopia of giving money to everyone.
in the meantime however how about we give money to those that have none before we give it to people that already receive government largess such as active MP’s and contenders for the top spot?
We give it to everyone and their taxes pay for it.
It’s not as hard as you seem to think it is.
“why do we pay super to someone who works.”
One reason is that older people are more likely to be in part time work, so it’s simpler all round to have a set system rather than the complete cluster fuck that is what younger people have to do on a benefit (e.g. declaring income weekly).
Also, it’s not about someone working, it’s about people having adequate or surplus income. So someone could be getting income from investments.
well considering the current situation, namely that payment is dependent of live in partners etc we can conclude its already a clusterfuck.
And having pensioners having to jump the same hoops as other beneficiaries is a move in the wrong direction. Better to leave Super alone and fix the rest of WINZ so it is humane.
I’m not averse to people who have surplus income getting less, but it can be done via taxation instead of hoop jumping.
Max Rashbrooke @MaxRashbrooke
Replying to @mfyfyr
Susan St John has a pretty clever way to do it via raising taxes on the other income of ppl 65+. Wdnt test for assets but still.
https://twitter.com/MaxRashbrooke/status/901907630800609280
question, and i don’t try to be unreasonable.
how many people would miss out if really super were means tested at say 50+ grand income a year after tax? (yes i know arbitrary, but then we have families with nothing live of less)
Who cares when there’s a better system available?
Very few people would miss out.
If you were in that situation you would do exactly what they do in Australia. You would put your money into expanding your house OR you would give it to your children OR you would spend it on luxury travel until you got down below the bar.
Australia has a National super scheme, at something like the level of the NZ one but it is asset tested.
A couple get, before tax, about $35k if their assets, not counting the family home are less than about $400k.
They get nothing if their assets are greater than about $800k. Between those numbers there is very steep abatement of the super.
Suppose you had $800k. There is no way that you can get a return on the extra $400k in assets that makes up for the loss of super. Indeed I have seen estimates that you would need about $1.5m to be better off without National Super than a person with $400k who gets the full amount.
What do people do? The expand their home. The go on a long world tour. They give it away. They do anything to get their assets over and above their house down to the $400k mark.
If you brought this idea in here people would do exactly the same as Australians do.
If you had an income of $300k you wouldn’t bother. If you had $60k you would definitely get it down to a safe level.
“Better to leave Super alone and fix the rest of WINZ so it is humane”.
I agree with this. Super has meant NZ has lower levels of poverty amongst older age groups and the universality means it is cheap to administer. We need to do something similar for others on benefits.
Tax will reduce payments for those with less need but needs to include a wealth as well as income.
Super has always been a sort of insurance scheme.
I remember 60 years ago my dad showing me his payslip and explaining it. The superann contribution was shown separatly as I recall.
I think it is still very much the same, it is structured like an insurance policy and think of the shit fight if an insurance company said that they werent going to pay out on a maturing life policy because … “you’ve got too much money “.
You are thinking of Social Security. This was a tax of one shilling and sixpence on each pound of income.
Politicians talked about it going into a fund to pay old age pensions but it didn’t of course. It simply went into the Consolidated Fund and was promptly spent.
It was much the same as the pension scheme for veteran MPs (before 1992) and retired Public Servants who belonged to their scheme prior to 1991 or 1992.
They pay tax free super. The fairy tale story about that is that it is being paid by capital gains made by the fund. If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. The payout comes straight from the taxpayer as the returns on the “fund” come nowhere near paying for their obligations. Wonderful if you belong. Inflation proof, guaranteed by the taxpayer. No risk of going bust.
And NO, you can’t join them now.
Bill English plays his own youth card
Does this mean to say that families are fair game in political reporting/commenting now?
A bit of a contrast to an interview just the other week, when he told the interviewer he won’t give interviews in his family home because he likes to keep his work and family life seperate.
It’s like a Key style campaign with a few character replacements.
Gosh that venue had many empty seats and so many asian people in the audience, the crowd did not seem like a typical snap shot of our nz people and English appeared not very confident to me.
Wonder when the next polls come out?
As the judge says in American court room dramas, “You opened the door Mr English.”
Shows how low the tick from dipton is – he is so fake that guy.
Yes maybe he should’ve borrowed max key who loves the limelight, they could all do a chorus line to a showtune or 2 from les miserables.
Lol noooooooooooooo
It is the same as Key and Max. Apparently it is ok for a PM to use their family to project their career but not the media to comment on their families.
You are right. Do you remember Andrew Little trying to put on a warm family face in his speech to the Labour Party Conference this year?
“It was the house we brought our baby boy home to.
I remember that time vividly. Preparing the baby room. And putting this precious bundle of humanity in his cot for the first time. This tiny little thing, in this ocean of sheets.
Of course, XXXX’s nearly 6 foot tall now. He doesn’t fit in the cot anymore!”.
Everyone cooed happily. But the press, and the blogs, left him alone thank God.
I won’t give the lad’s name or provide a link to the speech. Leave him alone.
Yup. It must be dizzying trying to keep track of all the double standards in public life.
I think there’s a difference between mentioning family and having them on stage with you while electioneering.
One invites happy coos, the other invites political participation and comment.
YESAH!
Kids, huh.
//
https://thestandard.org.nz/cyber-hypocrisy/
Keep thinking about the Royal Flush from Tim Murphy – it could be that no. 1 Metira Turei defrauded WINZ way back in the piece, no. 2 ol’ Winnie has defrauded WINZ on his Super – whether he knew about it or not, now this new biggie supposedly coming out this week could be no.3 our Paula Benefit and her back story which we are not allowed to discuss. That would be a “sort of” Royal Flush being that these stories are all of the same ilk. Now wouldn’t that be fun and games.
They are hinting on the radio that Morgan is about to announce that he has a female co-leader. Apparently TOP chased away heaps of women voters with the lipstick comment last week, lolz
Ha that would be funny – Morgan is yesterday’s man through and through – ‘hey look at me’ is where he is at and where he’ll stay thank the gods
Kind of like trying to put a dress on a misogynist.
Lol.
Touche
A move as obvious as morgans motives are IMO….propping up national as he sees their puppet parties dissolving. About as trustworthy as any banskta dealer is imo.
ah. Of course, Morgan would never share the leadership with anyone.
They have just announced a new co DEPUTY leader, who is a woman – an environmentalist, standing for East Coast Bays – looks like one of the privileged business classes to me – a blue green.
Her profile on the TOP website.
likes sailing, solar power, renewable energy, and green tourism – had a tourism company, been involved in the special education sector, and believes education should be tailored to the individual.
She’s third on the list, with Simmons at #2.
Do the members vote or does Morgan appoint?
It looks like the Board has the ultimate discretion on any decision.
p5; the Board consists of 3-8 members, including the party leader. Party leader to preside at board meetings.
The initial board will be appointed by the initial party leader. (p8)
the Board determines candidates for election, based on the recommendations/nominations of a select committee and members – but the board makes the final decision, and there is no right for anyone to appeal against it.
Basically it’s a very top-down business type set up.
Thanks Carolyn. Sounds like it might be traditionally patriarchal 😉
Certainly makes Morgan look like a bit of an egotistical control freak. And maybe explains why he just didn’t provide support and engagement with an existing party with some similar policies.
He is actually a very good fit with the greens in many ways but seems to want to bleed votes from the left. he says forget this left/Right thing (and I empathise with that view) but he is not having an impact on the Right… so what will he achieve?
He hates being questioned at all – it has to be his way or no way.
I find him to be an exceptionally obnoxious man and his choice of Sean Plunkett as PR just reinforces the general impression of him being a misogynist bully.
thanks for that, that confirms a lot of things for me too about the underlying values.
Carolyn_nth @ (14.4) ….
Same Teresa Moore who stood as a Green candidate in the Rodney electorate 2/3 elections ago? When we lived there I remember voting for the Green party and Christine Rose from Labour as my candidate vote. Intuition told me not to vote for Moore at the time!
What radio Cinny?
sorry, it was on radio live and came from Bill Rolleston.
Looking at the election feed on stuff now, it looks like bill was a little off the mark, deputy female co-leader rather than a co-leader.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96209636/live-on-the-campaign-trail
Wow – Hooton is going bezerk on RNZ. He is actually advancing that Jacinda/Labour will implement a “wind tax” in addition to the “water tax” because they are so devoid of policy.
So desperate its embarrassing, seriously.
He’s rumourmongering on twitter too.
The hollow one is barking – reminds me of those yappy tiny lap dogs – how he ever your any respect I’ll never know.
He also compared her to Princess Diana…
Silly – just a way to denigrate women from mattspew imo
The funny thing is the things he criticises Jacinda for he praise Key for in campaign 2008
Bad move from Hooten that Diana comparison – simultaneously sneering at the emotions of the general public and elevating Jacinda to Diana status. Double fail right there.
Silly little elitist prig that he is – can’t discipline his own tongue.
Punters out Punter land is how Brash characterised the general populace. From what I’ve seen no right wing leader or media mouthpiece thinks any different.
Hooten should be charged a wind tax, due to the toxic vapour arising from his verbal crap
15.4 I agree Cinny … Hooten produces total maure induced farts with no oxygen.
roy cartland (15) … ha ha, Hooton blows plenty of hot air, so he’s probably scared he will be charged a wind tax 🙂
Yes rootin’ tootin’ Hooton is in real panic mode now, realising Natz is on the way out.
More nzers killed themselves last year than any year before – 606 year to end of june
Lead item on news – there is a scandal right there
Higher than road deaths…
One of many things we need to hang our heads in shame, but will not.
Needs research into why and if that increase is in any way attributable to National’s punitive policies.
in 1916 147 people committed suicide,as a proportion of population that would not be significantly different from 2016.
Reasons? Avoiding going to war? Deprivations of War? Impacts of brutal colonisation? Yup comparable to today
can’t have been wages as they went up15% 1914-1917,food prices increased but rents went down.
You do realise that suicide has been decreasing since then don’t you?
It’s just gone up.
Imagining the pain and suffering for all touched by it, just horrific, heart goes out to them, this should not be happening.
Yep I’d imagine times it by 4 or 5 for attempts that didn’t work and inconclusive like no note, plus all the self harming hospitalizations. A total disaster imo. So much suffering and pain so much hurt and utter devastation.
and the ones left behind their mental health suffering, circles and cycles, it’s horrendous.
and how they’ve cut or cleared out funding to so many aspects of prevention.
3 years is creating a trend, i hope much investigation goes into the stats
Self Help/Parenting etc channel on the telly please. Educate the country
Capitalism is killing NZ
Over 600 suicides last year, third year in a row of increases. Welcome to National’s aspirational Brighter Future. What a team eh?
Don’t worry, Wayne will tell you that he’s feeling quite cheerful so obviously New Zealand doesn’t have a suicide problem.
LOL
Looks like the RSS feed keeps jamming up. I will have a look at it this evening.
It seemed like it was about 3 days behind when I had a look at it yesterday.
Garibaldi – the link on RNZ reporting record suicide rates – and especially high rates for Maori:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/338160/suicide-numbers-rise-to-highest-on-record
How any government can even speak the words “Delivering for New Zealand” or “A Brighter Future”, with a statistic like this – is disgraceful and outrageous.
Education failing. hospitals failing, mental health failing, rivers failing, youth dying at own hands, houses unaffordable, people sleeping in cars, Tertiary allowing cheating and grade changes to get funding…
Suicide rate given top priority on Stuff and RNZ while is right at the bottom right corner of the Heralds website.
David Garrett @KB
“..but back to the main point…I’m afraid 3000 members of the National Party stamping their feet and drumming their seats means absolutely nothing…other than that the National Party is in good heart…
The Jacinderella effect is real, and it’s frightening..here’s two totally different soundings, in two countries….I am a member of a 50 person focus group which responds weekly to various questions on the coming election…7/10 of that group thinks “it’s time for a change”
My roughneck mate Hughie, presently working in the West Australian desert, finds to his considerable astonishment that most of his kiwi workmates think Jacinda is fantastic…and more important, many of them are planning to vote, when normally they don’t bother, just so they can vote for her.
Thumb up 26 Thumb down 1
David Garrett … “Jacinderella”? and he is a member of a focus group?
God help us all.
What was it called when Key was popular? Statesmanlike? Popular? “Finger on the pulse”?
Misogyny is alive and well in its subtle and not so subtle incarnations.
where on earth did you find that?
KB – Kiwiblog. I know, it’s grotty there, but sometimes someone there spills the beans, reveals their inner socialist, lets drop their guard 🙂
KB = Kiwiblog? My first thought was the sewer.
It’s a comment on a Kiwiblog thread – one that quotes Tracy Watkins saying that English has delivered on the need to push back against Labour’s success, by, er, announcing a second-language policy for schools.
NB: not recommended for those easily offended by the sight of dim bulbs parading their misogyny.
Win Kiwiblog and win the election.
I admit the “obnoxious arsehole” constituency is a very large one, but it’s not one you want the party you support to be trying to appeal to.
They are just punters.
Punters on the most powerful site in the country. like ZB or other talkback.
Really useful to understand the mood.
I engage there when I have the time, with a different handle.
Keeps you sharp and clear.
with Farrar conducting thats an ominous statement….
September 2017: Hurricane Harvey kills 6 in Texas. Floods kill 1000 in Nepal, India and Bangladesh.
Guess which got by far the most media attention?
Maybe Trump will now move his wall to the sea?
Thanks BG, I’ve been following Houston today and I was wondering about that very thing. Drop some links if have anything of interest, I might put a post up on the differences.
This one here is good weka:
Worst flooding in years.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/floods-kill-1200-india-nepal-bangladesh-170826230610924.html
cheers.
yes cheers Macro.
Sadly flooding in Houston is far worse than the destruction of half of Bangladesh. I note that the lead article in the Guardian (wrt the Sub-Continent) just now is about a guru tried for rape – no mention of the millions forced to abandon their homes.
For the first time on my life I’d actually like to punch a politician. Of course I won’t… But I’m just saying he should probably watch out for flying dildos
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96211348/bill-english-can-foresee-a-future-where-homelessness-is-rare-in-new-zealand
Its such a manufactured crisis and perfect set up to make money that it should have been related to MOAS.
This is right up there with Key’s disingenuous regret he didnt solve poverty. And by solve he means acknowledge
“bill-english-can-foresee-a-future-where-homelessness-is-rare-in-new-zealand”
So could I 30 years ago. How wrong I was.
This crowd is truly oblivious to the damage they have done… aka Douglas and Richardson.
Most of us can also see a past in which homelessness was rare in NZ, Bill – having lived in that past right up until your tenure as finance minister. Still, I guess if he can’t remember making that statement to Police last year it would be way too much to expect him to remember stuff from ten years ago.
LOL. I just cannot see Shearer, Cunliffe or Little or Shaw saying this kind of shit and not being ridiculed in the press. Let alone admitting a maths learning deficit and solving it with imaginary teachers from the rapidly destaffing Humanities courses at Unis teaching every primary child 1 of ten possible second languages
In Australia they would be having a satire field day.
LOL ASLEEP W W
to rephrase the headline, Bill English can foresee himself losing this election.
…. “activists charged under the ‘Anadarko Amendment’ after swimming in front of the world’s largest seismic oil ship, have pleaded Not Guilty.
Greenpeace Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman, and activist Sara Howell, will be using a greater good defense to fight the charges.
“I have to fight these charges laid against us because we are in a climate emergency that’s being fueled by the oil industry and propped up by our own Government. Politicians and industry are failing us, but people everywhere are rising up and taking action.”
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1708/S00544/greenpeace-crew-plead-not-guilty-in-historic-climate-case.htm
“Greater Good” worked for the Ploughshares, didn’t it, but I recall moves to erase that defense as a result.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3917806/Waihopai-3s-greater-good-defence-to-go
“The legal defense used by the Waihopai 3 – that they mounted an attack on the spy base to prevent suffering – is to be reformed or repealed, Justice Minister Simon Power has announced.”
Or..
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ironmaiden/forthegreatergoodofgod.html
Maybe not your gig Robert but..
‘”But I don’t know, I don’t know” …
Cheers, JC. I’m taken-aback!
Good momentum for the next govt to declare a National Disaster, as a legal requirement for financial innovation. Housing is the obvious, but with environmental issues added, it does stake up.
“Majority of Kiwis back water tax even if it means higher costs”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11912604
“There is overwhelming support for a water tax in New Zealand even if it means higher costs for consumers, a new poll shows.
The Herald-ZB Kantar TNS online survey shows that 70 per cent of people agree that commercial water users should pay a royalty to help fund the clean-up of waterways.
Just 19 per cent of the 1000 respondents oppose the idea, while the remainder are unsure.”
19%.
Sounds like a base National support level.
Yup – a bunch have died since Bill hit bedrock at 23%
LOL….. yes I can see this result Nats 19 Lab 61 Green 8 NZF 8 Top 2 Others 2.
One can but hope.
“Sounds like a base National support level”
Well that’s where their campaign has been focused for the last week – boot camps, getting tough on freedom campers, more testing of school kids. They’ve given up on the floating 50% voter, now it’s pitched right at the core of the core. the bleed line must have gone back that far.
Oh please.
National are good for 40% if they do an ounce of fucking work on the campaign.
“if they do an ounce of fucking work on the campaign”
As opposed to doing what their donors are demanding, which may be what’s going on. I’ve just spent 9 years watching them being poll driven, centre focused fruitcakes, so the past weeks performance has been a bit different.
Some good news from across the ditch:
Renewable energy generates enough power to run 70% of Australian homes
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a government committed to doing something about meeting our Paris Commitments.
A long but informative read…
“The story of Bill English, before he became a nice guy”
by Branko Marcetic
http://werewolf.co.nz/2017/08/bill-english-the-forgotten-history/
https://i.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/95138963/southlanders-have-their-say-environment