Oh, well done the Grey District Council – defying the facts of climate change science! sarc.
It will take a major world-wide catastrophe to shake the mantle of complacency off the shoulders of too many people before any real action will be taken – and by then, I fear, it will be too late.
The problem is that they don’t believe they need to do anything as they’d be long gone by the time the council is sued for doing nothing. Which they’ve just increased the risk by incoherently misplacing physics advice. Any reasonable people, that’s the standard, knows Mars has a atmosphee, Venus too, due to the Sun, that all the basic gas molecules have been intensely studied, they all know you put more of them into a planet’s atmosphere they raise the temperature. Dig them up a burning will do that.
so are the councilors now liable to be sued for incompetence, not engage basic science advice and winging it with their own thinking. Should we check they are doing the same when deliberating on the law, geology, biology, etc. Or is it the council ending someone to shout a lot at them so whomever they need to hear doesn’t do armchair physics like physic hasn’t been around for a hundred years.
Tony, I read that article as well. Amazing!! Funny if it wasn’t so serious.
It is 31 deg there today, and people have been losing their sections to the sea.
Jacinda has just attended Davos, a gathering of the rich and powerful who have talked of increasing risk costs from storms and encroaching sea levels caused by climate change.
Scientists have written open letters to governments outlining how bad it could be. Recent research tells us the sea has stored 40% more carbon than previously thought. We are in an extinction phase and they want more proof King Canute!!
They are like frightened children seeking some hand to hold. They are supposed to lead.
Like you I think it may be too little too late. Being informed from government sites only needs a computer.
“Jacinda has just attended Davos, a gathering of the rich and powerful who have talked of increasing risk costs from storms and encroaching sea levels caused by climate change”
Funny you should mention Davos….I watched the closing statement from that august body (ahem) and there were two words noticeable by their absence…and they wernt ‘Jacinda Adern’.
And your point is?
I was pointing out that our Prime Minister attended the Environmental session of Davos.
That actuaries were indicating huge costs for businesses caused by climate change. Impacts on insurance Forestry and Property/land values, where super funds are heavily invested.
If you are inferring I was trying to make Jacinda important, well I could have quoted several things she said, and flattering things said about her by others.
But this is about climate Change, and as our Prime Minister said “”You want to be on the right side of history”‘ and that includes the West Coast Regional Council.
the point is where was the acknowledgement of the single most important issue of the time…namely climate change…they couldnt even bring themselves to say the words in their summary statement…which begs the question…why the hell did our PM waste her time attending?
Trying to get my head around their thinking, must be down to money. What other reason could any person have to not want to improve/save their environment/air quality
Once upon a time, near on every house down the coast had a coal range in the kitchen, a coal fire in the lounge and no insulation.
Coal down those ways is a cheap or free way for their home heating, and it’s grey and wet down there most of the winter.
Are there any Coasters here on the TS they could shed some light on the thinking over that way?
The Grey District Council looks like an old boys club, a bunch of old white men and one token young lady. I don’t like to stereotype but…. go freaken figure.
Oops! I might have maligned the good people (?) of the Grey District Council – it was the West Coast Regional Council with the fact-denying blinkers on.
Not sure what the difference is, but they remind me of a rhyme I heard many years ago about the natives of the Isle of Wight – from a recent arrival:
“Island born and Island bred,
Strong in the shoulder and thick in the head.”
The West Coast Regional Council: Left to right: Terry Archer, Neal Clementson, Stuart Challenger, Andrew Robb, Peter McDonnell, Alan Birchfield and Peter Ewen.
Turns out they are all old white men, the whole lot. Crikey one even gives his email addy as @heaphymining wonder what industry he runs/works for
Good article on the ruthless and cynical PR pushed by dairy around dirty rivers
In aggressively pushing the notion that water pollution is everyone’s problem, DairyNZ is following a well-worn play-book to minimise its own responsibility. That’s its job – last year it collected $66m in levies from farmers, part of which is expected to be used to lobby for farmers’ interests…
…The campaign (The vision is clear) consistently equates urban and rural water pollution, but only 1 per cent of New Zealand’s waterways flow through urban areas (where 86 per cent of the population live) while 43 per cent flow through pastoral land (where 14 per cent of the population live).
Including beaches does little to change that proportion. If anything, it would make the comparison worse, given coastal water quality tends to be better than freshwater quality. In Christchurch city, for example, one of four river sites is suitable for swimming, but 20 of 21 coastal sites are swimmable (the one that isn’t is an estuary polluted by the rivers).
Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between poor lowland water quality and the boom in more input-heavy forms of agriculture in the 1990s and 2000s. A recent peer-reviewed assessment, based on analysis of 26 years of data, found that the greatest negative impact on water quality in New Zealand had been “high-producing pastures that require large amounts of fertilizer to support high densities of livestock”.
Toxic algal blooms are increasingly common in rural waterways, partly in response to nutrient enrichment and water extraction for irrigation. New Zealand has the highest percentage of endangered freshwater fish species in the world, partly due to the expansion and intensification of agriculture.
The ‘they’re too stupid to collude’ defense. Chris Christie reckons the Chumps are so clueless they had no idea they were getting played, so they didn’t commit crimes.
Maybe he’s still got hopes of ass-kissing his way back into the inner circle if he can only just clear out all the other “best people” Benedict Donald has surrounded himself with.
Plenty of commentators here the past few years have been emphatic that the Greens are to the left of Labour, but Sue Bradford views this framing as a joke.
Plenty of commentators here the past few years have depicted National as an enemy of nature. I’ve spent most of my life with that view too. Otoh…
“National is often slated by the left as being some kind of environmental destroyer, but it was under a National-led Government that Kahurangi National Park was created, it set up 11 marine reserves, protected the Ross Sea, set up an extensive national network of cycleways, set up Predator Free 2050 and banned shark finning.”
RNZ’s Chris Bramwell: “So while the talk is of there being space for a centrist environmental party, there is not really that much of a gap that needs filling.” Seems reasonable? Perception and reality are two different things. MMP reality provides a gap, Winston has leverage on it but is due to retire, and NZF is likely to exit. The gap is where swing-voters operate, and they determine election results.
Yeah, good points. Re predator-free, some dismiss such stunts as virtue-signalling. A valid criticism, but dismissing it as such is unfair and politically naive. Establishing a goal does actually reframe both the strategic aims and political culture of the party. How much is the question, then. With National, not much!
Establishing a goal, that isn’t utopian and also aiming at absolute purity instead of excellence, would helpfully frame the aims and personal and political culture of the party for informed, practical and achievable outcomes. FIFY
The important thing politically is that the existing Greens get some runs on the board, and in the polls, so that they remain politically viable for the 2020 election, so that a further government with Labour is formed. The should worry less about futile little spats about ideological purity and more about performance.
Planting trees, not Green, a NZF policy. Given the relentless neolib agenda for the past thirty years, the Greens are firmly in the center. It’s the Nats who live in the Trumpian cockoo land off the edge on the right, and of course engage in socialism for the 1% who must never fail.
Winston has leverage on it but is due to retire, and NZF is likely to exit.
I don’t think that a party disintegration is likely to happen past a Winston Peters departure. I’ve attended two NZF conferences as media just to have a look at the people and structure.
Firstly, I really can’t see Winston Peters wanting to retire unless he gets a medical issue.
Secondly, the party structure and internals seems reasonably sound (and I have a skeptics eye about that). Sure they have a lot of nutbars and that shows up in the policy remits. But so does every other mainstream party.
Thirdly, there seemed to be some political talent in the party and its MPs. The ones who have been or are ministers or their associates haven’t screwed up too much. Many of the ones coming through seem to have been constructive in select committees.
NZ First is always going to have a problem because of the way that National operates against other parties (think of that auditing crap against NZF from 2007/8 for instance or 1997). But I suspect that NZF will survive as a party of old style liberal conservatives.
Thanks for that insight. I hear you, and concede there’s more resilience there perhaps than has seemed to be the case. However, he will need to do some heavy lifting to get them back over the threshold, eh?
The portion who returned to National aren’t likely to be recoverable in the short to medium term. Competition from the NewConservatives will subtract some too. It will probably hinge on how well Shane Jones does with regional development. If the regions see tangible benefits, NZF will become secure.
I support everything lprent has said above re NZF.
I have been watching them quite closely since Peters ‘return from the dead’ in 2011, or in fact earlier since he lost out in 2008.
Peters worked really hard under the radar in the year before the 2011 general election, holding and attending meetings all over the country with diverse groups of people, not only Grey Power meetings. At the same time, the NZF Party was quietly renewing and reinventing itself.
To anyone watching all of this, it was no surprise that Peters and NZF won 6.8 percent of the party vote and eight seats in Parliament. In the 2014 general election, NZF increased this to 11 seats and 8.66 percent, although this dropped slightly to 9 seats and 7.2 percent In the 2017 election,
I haven’t attended any NZF meetings or conferences as lprent has done, but my observations (confirmed by people who have attended NZF functions) is that the membership of the Party and its governance Board etc now covers a wide range of ages and backgrounds. It is certainly no longer an old peoples’ party as some wrongly still perceive it to be.
Their current team in Parliament appears united and stable (although IMO Jones is their weakest link). I am particularly impressed with the job Tracey Martin is doing in her portfolios, and Ron Mark seems to be doing well in Defence. Peters himself is excellent in the Foreign Affairs role, and so far has made a reasonable job of DPM. The rest of the team seem to be working well in carrying the NZF in the day to day work of Parliament.
In terms of succession, Fletcher Tabuteau has been with NZF from its conception and appears to be the one selected for succession to the top role. As well as now being Deputy leader of the party, he is also Parliamentary Undersecretary to both Peters and Jones in respect of Foreign Affairs, Regional Economic Development, and Disarmament and Arms Control. At 45, he still has plenty of miles still to be used on his clock.
I put very little weight on the fact that the NZF vote in polls since the election have dropped. This was inevitable whichever way Peters went in deciding between National and Labour. They always seem to drop in polls between elections, and then usually gain in the election itself (2008 being one of few exceptions to this trend).
Sorry, Dennis, I think there is a little wishful thinking going on there. If the way National is going currently continues, it would not surprise me if there is a disillusioned National voter move to NZF rather than from it. Nat voters may still be choosing Nats in polls, but some of that support may not be as strong as it appears imo.
But time will tell, and there is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet.
A shift from National to NZF is an intriguing possibility, but depends what provides the stimulus at the time. I can’t see why the 3% or so that are disgruntled sufficiently to currently not support NZF (due to them choosing the Labour option) are going to be motivated to switch back at the next election – unless Winston & Jacinda have a falling-out, and he signals pre-election that the National option is again viable…
I was actually suggesting (badl)y that with the current leadership and dramas etc, there may be some Nat voters who are softening in their loyalty. They may currently still be answering polls as saying they would still vote National if an election was held today but may be looking around at other options. I know and have heard of some traditional National voters now thinking along those lines.
Thank Veutoviper, you have inside knowledge. So Crisp is not as Barclay painted him, and had total overarching responsibility. You know Crisp and value his expertise so I’d say you probably have it right. Cheers.
I am not sure that Crisp did have overall responsiblity, Patricia. He was only appointed permanent Head of the hew Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (which includes Kiwibuild) as from 17 December 2018, by which time Barclay was actually already on garden leave pending the investigation being completed. See my reply to Dennis Frank at 7.2.4.4.1. below. Will try to research this further but won’t be until later tonight probably as have other things to do for the next few hours.
(Hope you have seen doctor and x-ray has been scheduled for soon. Keep smiling, things will get there, friend.)
could even make a good NF1 leader when Winnie pops his clogs or has to start shitting into a colostomy bag – and that’ll be a while, if ever, although I imagine there are others lined up to take on the mantle even if they do come equipped with diamond shaped little blue pills bought from some shady internet site.
But then I guess most of that is what is afflicting the senior ranks of the gNats, and probably why there are the likes of Finlayson that chose to retire rather than keep up the chirade
Flectcher Tabuteau is the current forerunner for that role, with Tracey Martin’s blessing is my understanding. Tracey was Deputy Leader for some time, but Tabuteau now holds that role as well as understudy to both Peters and Jones. See about halfway down my long comment at 4.3.1.1.above.
/agree, and with lprent’s analysis – which is not to say that Tracey Martin wouldn’t be another viable candidate as leader. Pretty sure NZ1 won’t be dead anytime soon though, not that I’ve ever voted for them. If it ever got that desperate, it’s more of a possibility that a Winnie’s bro’ (a decent sort of chap) would be tempted back into politics
( Btw, I’ve taken to intermittent and brief visits to TS again throughout the day. Often trying to engage in a conversation can be a complete waste of precious time.
Today 7.1.1.1.1.2 on OM, yesterday 8.1.3 and below on ‘The Power of Anger’
The time stamps and ‘replies’ button on the right are quite useful at times.
I put it all down to my cynicism and what my daughter says is sometimes my “passive/aggressive behaviour at times dad”. [Must be all that power of anger] )
A++++++ gsays. I follow Tracey Martin on Facebook (in fact I’m a friend), though I’m not a NZ1st voter or member of that party. She is one smart cookie, though I do get annoyed at some of the NZ1st policies and attitudes to progressive social policy and will watch for her reaction to some of her colleagues entrenched conservative ideas.
Yep pretty much, I believe to most people here it is more so they’ hope nzf survive Peters is way better in oppostion as a populist, he can say what he wants to his loon bag base Unfortunately for Peters he can’t revert to his go to strategy re blaming Jonny forgeiner and hark back to the good old days. Similarly he will loose the right wing vote of his base and also have conservatives breathing down his neck National should also step up and refuse to work with him if they have any brains ( which is debatable at times)
“Former Green Party MP Sue Bradford said it was laughable that the Green Party is considered far left at all now saying that under James Shaw the party is more centrist than it had ever been.”
“So while the talk is of there being space for a centrist environmental party, there is not really that much of a gap that needs filling.”
Chris Bramwell – RNZ
“…..Until National changes and really accepts sustainability, no green party worthy of the name can support them as a government. And anyone who tells you differently is either a fool, or trying to sell you something.”
Idiot/Savant – No Right Turn, January 29, 2019
I wonder where all this leaves poor old James Shaw diligently slogging away, deep in the parliamentary salt mines in Wellington forgotten to human memory, valiantly trying to stitch together a climate accord with the Nats?
Does he know something we don’t?
When James finally struggles back to the surface world, will he be holding up to the light for all to see, a jewel of inestimable value? or a polished piece of coprolite?
We are going to need a bunch more North Island irrigation if we are going to keep the bulk dairy production we have going here.
[Hey, Ad, you’re still regularly misspelling your email address, which means your comments get held up and have to be manually released. Can you check it before posting, please? Ta, TRP]
No sweat, comrade! It’s not a big deal to release the comment, but it does mean the conversations get disjointed if a mod doesn’t spot it immediately.
(Just to clarify for other readers, first time comments are automatically held until manually released. A misspelled email address or handle triggers this response.)
It is more likely that you have a login with the same email as your commenting address. Since you’re not logging in to comment (no blue background), the comment will automatically get held up by the anti-identity theft settings.
I had to put those settings in after having some identity thefts by people using emails for other people to write comments to try to trash their reputations.
Either login (I can send you a new password) or get me to change the email so there isn’t a conflict.
Simple. Dial back the dairy a bit. When it’s not so intensive, it won’t be as polluting either. But probably just as profitable because input costs are much lower.
They could remove their inputs of the majority of fertilisers, offsite feed, antibiotics, herbicides, pesticides, power…
But they want turnkey systems. Ease of use. Single persons controlling large swathes of land. Monoculture extraordinaire. They dream of robots. They have no vision that is not handed to them by industry.
Throw money at me I’ll breed them a microbe that uses carbon dioxide and methane to build meat and milk. Then I will charge like a wounded bull for the tech and spend all the money lobbying government and educating public on overstocking and the unnecessary importation of feedstock and fertilisers.
Guano factories aka sea bird sanctuaries can be built. Nitrogen supplies can be from recycled farm/industry wastes and via plant fixation.
High nitrogen feedstock comes rapidly and in large volumes from azolla (pteridophyte) and duckweed (angiosperm) cultures. Will also reduce vet bills via large quantities of nutraceuticals in these plants.
Just, so many ways to help farmers. I get sick of wasting breath trying to help rich fuckwits who think they’re the ‘backbone’ but they’re actually the asshole of our society.
This blog always amuses me when snowflake idiots pretend they know how to farm.
Fortunately Wethebleeple, there are plenty of farms for sale at the moment so there is absolutely nothing stopping you from buying a farm and showing us all how to do it. I look forward to your results.
You RG could take the opportunity to learn something, get some perspective.
But that is dangerous, you might be thrown out of your in-group; become an outside without the comfort blanket of the other farmers Who Know It All. Or perhaps you are one of those financial farmers who know how to turn a profit from animals while others do the nitty-gritty and feel pretty happy about that.
I only milked cows once as a favor helping a mate because screw that for a job. But I have got the hay in and fenced 5 wire, 9 wire, deer, post and rail, landscape work galore…. worked in many aspects of horticulture from research on the milk yields via grass types to picking packing and pruning kiwifruit. I’ve done floriculture, viticulture, aquaculture, nursery and greenhouse work. I’ve been in the forestry planting and low and high pruning. I’ve lived in the bush, cleared tracks and built structures in the bush, been a fisherman, a bouncer, an editor, and now a snowflake.
“Simple. Dial back the dairy a bit. When it’s not so intensive, it won’t be as polluting either. But probably just as profitable because input costs are much lower.”
with that dialling back it would lower the amount of trucks on the road, therefore lowering exhaust and tyre emissions and wear and tear on our roads.
That would be true if there hadnt been 20 years of land/development cost inflation that needed to be serviced….the unavoidable truth is someone is going to have to take a hit in order to make a less intensive model workable again…and my guess is it wont be the banks.
Just in case we think The Man In The High Castle was a silly little piece of fascist imaginary, yes Hitler really did have plans for the rest of the world’s Jews.
Nothing like the annual concentration camp liberation commemorations to focus the mind on saving endangered peoples in this world. It was two days ago.
If anyone gets a moment, there’s a really good little Jewish memorial inside the Auckland War Memorial Museum on the third floor. Worth taking a moment there.
‘Rummel, a professor of political science at the University of Hawaii, estimates that between 1937 and 1945, the Japanese military murdered from nearly 3 to over 10 million people, most likely 6 million Chinese, Koreans, Malaysians, Indonesians, Filipinos and Indochinese, among others, including Western prisoners of war’
We’ve had several days overcast, plus drizzle the past two, here in Taranaki. For a gardener, welcome dampening of soil & relief from watering with hose. Young pumpkins & butternuts now sprouting on the vine. Decided I would need only a single courgette plant this summer and I was right – a month since I last watered that and still producing so many that I’ve taken some to a couple of local foodbanks (as well as supplying a couple of neighbours.
Also, had to stop watering the scarlet runner beans a couple of weeks ago due to excess production (a large handful every day) also over-supplying neighbours & foodbanks as well as me. Goes to show how much being Green in a practical sense could produce community reslience if more folks acquired the skills…
What are you talking about. I’m at the coal face here. Living on an upper North Island Dairy farm. So far this has been one of the best years we have had in the last 10 years. It’s normal for low rain to no rain at this time of year and we are getting some on a regular basis. Tommorow I’m having to help with hay bail collection that we use for dry stock, yearlings etc. Twice as good as other years, so my body isn’t looking forward to it.
Yes Ad, hasn’t taken long for things to get brittle with heat and wind. Perhaps farmers need to consider animals and crops which need less water and palms for feed. Land use needs to become Land improved. Rotation is proven.
WtB
Ad is referring to irrigation. Would this be a good time for farmers to put in some of those seepage ponds that have been referred to. Getting out on the tractor
early in the morning before the sun gets hot, and be off before say 11.30 when the Fire Service suggests that its dangerous to work in because of fire from sparks.?
Absolutely. This system and Yeomans Keyline irrigation hold the most promise for dairy. Real conversions would go for contoured swales, tree crops and dairy.
We really need to get trees back on our farms, it is a bloody travesty they’re mostly gone. Heat stress will lower production considerably, as will cold/wind.
As for this ‘drought’. I found mushrooms in two spots this morning as I carried a bucket of water down the back to help some new plantings I was worried about. Mushrooms, ha ha, water situation seems fine for now.
If you want to irrigate gardens but need to conserve water, drip is a good way to go. Turn on the tap and it’s working, nice. A friend installed them for new homes with central controllers and timers and sensors… could get really efficient (or wasteful) with a set-up like that.
Drip and mulch rules, so the water doesn’t evaporate after application and the soil is cooler for your plants. Overhead irrigation is extremely wasteful in hot weather.
The trick is to put the water in the ground, not the air.
Well, I’m halfway thro & doesn’t seem any worse yet. Thanks for the link, though, because he’s clarifying the problem sufficiently in general terms to give us insight into what went wrong.
So sounds like his role was project manager. That function is executive: it executes. It makes things happen. Actions produce outputs. You can imagine bureaucrats aghast at someone with a `know-how, can-do’ attitude being given the authority to get results. Obviously they had to stop him!
So classic leftist bureaucratic stonewalling of a rightist infiltrator, seems to me. The method they used was to manufacture personal complaints about his style of leadership. Clearly telling people what to do was unacceptable to them. It would have seemed autocratic. The idea that a leader issues instructions to subordinates in order to make an operation a success would have freaked them out. Not how the public service is meant to operate. Twyford got kneecapped accordingly. Will he learn from the experience? I doubt it. He’s Labour.
Okay, I’ve listened to almost all and now I get where you’re coming from. I’ll give readers the context:
“The ousted boss of KiwiBuild says he has been put through an awful few months by the head of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Crisp. Stephen Barclay faces allegations about his management style but says he was given no chance to properly challenge them. He won’t detail the exact nature of the allegations but rules out bullying or any financial or sexual misconduct. Mr Barclay is also mystified that KiwiBuild is now missing its targets – saying they were on track when he was at the helm.”
He’s explained it as an interpersonal problem between him & Crisp. Seems to have been created as a result of the govt shifting the goalposts after he signed his contract. He signed up to operate the scheme more independently, then they gave Crisp either authority over him or enough leverage to interfere. So he ought to win his grievance case unless there’s stuff we aren’t being told. Twyford’s fault.
Twyford looks like he has not got a handle on one of the key planks of his ministerial portfolio. Also, according to Barclay, they were on track to meet the 1000 house target for this tear UNTIL his unit was absorbed in to the new ministry. That needs investigating further.
Yes, I was addressing that point while you posted that. I agree. Twyford is out of his depth. Has Labour got someone who can finesse the mandarin syndrome that seems to take over the minds of top public servants? If not, Ardern needs to do a cabinet reshuffle & give the job to Winston so he can do the necessary arse-kicking. We’re talking about the flagship coalition policy being derailed by typical Labour ineptitude. That’s unacceptable.
I agree that there needs to be some radical changes if this policy is to be rescued from failure. Appointing Peters would be a laugh in my opinion (not that I think he would do a bad job just that it would be a laugh). Obviously I think the policy is doomed given my ideological leanings but it does have a potential to deliver some wins for the government if done better and a potential for a colossal mess if done badly (which it looks like it is being done).
“Has Labour got someone who can finesse the mandarin syndrome that seems to take over the minds of top public servants?”
So far, it seems not @ Dennis although there appears to be some small changes in culture happening. It was always going to be that the biggest hurdle this coalition faced would be the senior and upper middle ranks in our PS.
I notice (for example) we’re starting to see some serious effort put into cracking down on exploitative employers – yet another case on RNZ/Stuff today. What prevented that happening four or five years ago when many/most of the same people were involved? Indeed one now feigns a concern when he was the very same person that was assuring us all that they had sufficient Labour Inspectors just before the election. (And now they wonder why no one wants to report exploitative arseholes).
Oh, and they even had the benefits then of having a private force in the form of T&C, as well as a few nudge nudge wink winks and Chinese whispers at play – not to mention a demographic spreadsheet or two.
Keeps them in an over-paid job though I guess
Exactery @ Gabby. And especially after I L-G has been forced to go through some ‘learnings going forward’ when it comes to having to deal with them.
You know, it buggers my mind at times trying to understand a coalition with the best of intentions hasn’t yet come to learn where many of the roadblocks are. It has a stellar record of failure in everything from worker exploitation and immigration fuckups (which might as well have been decided on the basis of rolling a set of dice or an auction system), to shitty steel and building related failures, to radio spectrum interference.
Btw – have you ever had to try and deal with any of them directly?
It sounds to me like Twyford was knee-capped. I presume he was the one who appointed Barclay to the position. I know him well enough to believe he’s not the sort to be taking it lying down. He’s an astute politician and he will be staying out of it for a very good reason. We just don’t know what it is – yet. There will come a time when he will probably speak out, and maybe we’ll get the real deal about what went down.
The Public Service knows how to close ranks and rid themselves of perceived out-siders. They’ve had 150 plus years of practice. It would not surprise me if Twyford was coerced – or possibly even bullied – to change the goal posts. If so, it would have been motivated by self interest and a reluctance to concede power and authority.
There is also the possibility of political interference behind the scenes. If my past experiences of the P.S. are any indication, then the “bureaucrats” are more likely to be National supporters (not Labour) and they know how to undermine cabinet ministers and their perceived toadies. I’ve seen it first hand – albeit a long time ago.
Interesting view, thanks Anne. Nothing there I’d disagree with, so I’ll just add that the intent seems to be to defeat the coalition agenda. Your theory fits that fact better than mine – but it wouldn’t surprise me if the mandarins actually vote Labour and just feel that defending their traditional privilege is more important than serving the public. The mandarin syndrome is a privileged-class thing that goes back all the way to the rise of empires, and their need for admin.
The mandarin syndrome is a privileged-class thing that goes back all the way to the rise of empires, and their need for admin…
OMG yes!. They can become so blinded to reality, they actually end up by destroying their own positions. I saw it happen in one sector of the PS in the early 1990s.
No idea re his political alignment, Gabby, but it looks like he was given authority over the project manager: “State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes says Crisp’s career includes 13 years in senior and executive leadership roles. He says he also has a deep understanding of the New Zealand housing system.”
Dennis your bias is showing. Making sweeping generalisations is not your usual style.
They wanted Crisp and stonewalled, accused Steven Barclay of aggressive leadership and he was hamstrung. Public Service was manned by National for the 9 years prior to this, and had limited budgets. They probably spent all their energy on endless staffing reviews as National was aiming for less Government.
Suddenly, there is a plan, money for it and a leader. The undermanned service coped , were on track with the building but complained They brought the complaints up and from that day forward progress halted, to the point where Steven Barclay resigned and the Minister was left saying an internal employment issue was the problem. What is with your “They are Labour so they won’t learn”
I’ve been equally critical of both establishment parties since I realised I had to become neither left nor right in ’71. My conscience refused to allow me to fake it and pretend Labour were somehow the lesser of two evils. That’s my bias.
One final comment: in respect of his view that they had 600 houses contracted when he bailed out, it smells to me very much like a smoking gun. He seems genuinely mystified that Twyford’s told the public they won’t meet the target, and said that conflicts with the fact that the operation was on track to deliver the target of 1000 in the first year. So I must now endorse your view – the fiasco is indeed getting worse.
How the hell can they have 600 signed up, and then Twyford tells the media & public that they will only deliver 300? Can we please get someone in the media to demand an explanation?! If it’s just logistics, and builders don’t want to build houses fast enough to deliver in the required time-frame, say so! Okay, he did imply that, but he’s creating the impression that he feels no need to keep the public fully informed. Labour voters deserve more respect and accountability from the minister.
If it’s just logistics, and builders don’t want to build houses fast enough to deliver in the required time-frame, say so! Okay, he did imply that, but he’s creating the impression that he feels no need to keep the public fully informed.
Hang on Dennis, he may well have reiterated the reason but it could have been edited out of the report that made it into the public arena. Nowadays most news items consist only of sound bites and the substance of an interview never sees the light of day. It happens all the time.
True – I saw that happen regularly when I was making news & current affairs stories for TVNZ. But the onus is then on the media manager of the party to rectify the impression in the public mind by issuing a follow-up…
I may be unduly cynical but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is an attempt by Twyford to shift all the blame onto Barclay and to set himself up as being the hero who improves things.
Barclay says he already had 600 houses scheduled before July 1. Twyford announces instead that there will only be 300. Who would I believe? Barclay over Twyford any day.
Imagine if they manage, and it will be a real stretch, to get to 500 or so. Twyford will claim that he took over, got rid of Barclay and then heroically improved the scheme from only producing 300 houses and got up to 500. Hip, hip hooray for Phil. He will of course ignore the fact that 500 is really an epic fail. The MSM will of course tell us what a great man Twyford is.
Still, he will say that it was only his intervention that got the number up from the phantom 300 that he will credit Barclay with. Twyford will be lying of course but he, along with the rest of the CoL, have never found this something they are uncomfortable with.
Or could it be that Barclay was a bully boy who through his toys out of the coat when pulled up for it and is know pulling numbers out of his arse to discredit his former boss.
It appears building stopped while the case of employment complaints was reviewed. Then Barclay resigned and left. Any shortfall is under Crisp’s watch? Barclay said they were up to date and on track when he left. He is suing HNZ for constructive dismissal. Twyford is at arms length as it is an employment matter.It will get sorted in court when the truth may then come out.
Well you lot on this 7 thread (with one or two exceptions eg Patricia) are all now off my 2019 Hanukkah card list*. You only have 10 months to redeem yourselves.
(*Or Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays list. I don’t do Christmas cards).
First, what a one dimensional pile-on on all public servants. As one for over 40 years, I really take offense (well a little). Not all of us are like that!!!!!
Two, I would not be so fast to make decisions on this situation from a role definition, power, and employment perspective.
The real situation is far from clear and certainly not as clearcut as Barclay is claiming.
Sacha and I had a late night conversation on this last night on OM 28 Jan (at 11 down). Won’t try to link but still easy to find.
As I commented at 11.1.1.1, I worked with/for Andrew Crisp some years ago and have utter respect for his integrity, management style etc and do not believe that he would have lost any of that over the years. He also has experience in sorting out messy CE employment situations such as this and is scrupulous in doing so. The fact that he has come out and said certain things about the Barclay situation strongly reinforces to me that Crisp has his ducks in a row.
Barclay is interesting though. Sure, he seems to have had a strong private sector background mostly in the building area, but also some other very different roles more recently.
Barclay was chief executive of the 2013 America’s Cup defence in San Francisco. Sacha found and posted a link on the OM thread at 11 to an article about Barclay copping bitter criticism from both city politicians and media amid accusations the event had not delivered sufficiently for San Francisco, leading him to launch a parting broadside after the event had ended.
Yes Fletcher is from Rotorua, and well known to a past pupil who worked with him at Waiariki Polytech. Said he was amazing. The past pupil was amazing so….
@vv
I have always made it clear that my viewpoint regards the Public Service is based on my personal experiences and relates to only two agencies – more like one and a half. Your experiences were obviously different to mine.
Yes, there are very good public servants with plenty of integrity. There is also the other kind which I had the misfortune to come up against. To deny the second category doesn’t (or didn’t) exist is not facing up to reality. Perhaps the second kind is (was) more prevalent outside of Wellington.
Sure, my experiences date back 25 years so there may well have been a lot of improvement since.
I can also claim from the same experiences that personal political attitudes – lined up against Labour suppporters – was rife in my day. And there is plenty of recorded evidence to back up that claim.
Anne, I certainly don’t deny the existence of public servants such as the ones you have experienced, as I also have. And I fully support you in what you have discussed here many times and have done so many times in comments. Not all my experiences were good by any means, and I left of my own accord in the end due to those types of experiences.
Nevertheless, I will stand up and speak against some of the one dimensional, one size fits all approach of some here who take every opportunity to denigrate public servants – who cover a massive range of people, roles, political views, approaches to neutrality etc – and occupations.
As you may not have noted, my comments were also half tongue in cheek. After it was too late to edit, I realised that I had left you out of the exceptions, so my apologies for that. I know you have had experience of differing sorts as I have had.
However, when I see people denigrating/condemning someone who I have high regard for such as Andrew Crisp on the basis of very little information about them and the situation, I am not going to stay quiet. I am trying to keep an open mind about the whole situation until more is known, and my intent was primarily to suggest that others do the same and not rush to opinions, condemnations etc.
I’ve done it too. Made mistakes or haven’t explained something clearly but too late to edit. Tend to leave it and hope for the best.
I’ve also stood up for individuals who are being unfairly criticised. Take Phil Tywford. Some ignorant MSM twat tried to claim recently that he had no managerial skills. That is laughable. Anyone who knows Phil well can tell you about his brilliant managerial and organisational skills honed during previous occupations linked to the UN.
Fair enough, if he is indeed conscientious. And after learning he was indeed given authority over Barclay after the latter signed his contract, it looks like the blame ought to be allocated to either Twyford or SSC or both, eh?
Perhaps we leave ‘blame’ out of it until we know a lot more, Dennis.
I don’t know what process was used in appointing Barclay and who was involved in the process*. Presumably Twyford as Minister would not have been involved in any way … hopefully.
Perhaps some form of trial period such as the 90 day provisions should be applied to such high level contracts – rather than the types of employment they were applied to!!!!!!!!!! LOL.
* Actually I now remember seeing something to the effect that Barclay’s appointment was made by the head of MBIE. That was about midnight last night when I had been awake for 20 hours. Don’t have time for the next few hours to recheck but will see what I can find/refind re the appointment process.
** Crisp actually only formally became overall permanent head of the MInistry of Housing and Urban Development on 17 December 2018 – ie weeks after Barclay had been sent on garden leave while the investigation was undertaken. So the reporting structure (ie who Barclay formally reported to prior to that) is unclear. Crisp was seconded to the overall organisation earlier than Dec but I am unclear as to his secondment role and employment relationship to Barclay in that role. More research to do.
Crisp had nothing to do with the ridiculous spends on signs etc when MBIE was set up. He only moved to Housing recently, and this and Kiwibuild are now a separate Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which Andrew Crisp became Chief Executive of only on 17 Dec 2018. See my 7.2.4. LOL.
Thank Veutoviper, you have inside knowledge. So Crisp is not as Barclay painted him, and had total overarching responsibility. You know Crisp and value his expertise so I’d say you probably have it right. Cheers.
It’s a Kate Aronoff piece, for anyone else that didn’t click the link because they’ve come to the opinion that Greenwald’s become irrelevant and boring and doesn’t have anything new to say.
Greenwald is failing to entertain you? Habet, Hoc habet! Shall we send him to the lions?
Then again, maybe he’s fighting the same ‘boring’ fights because the same boring powers that be are doing the same boring stuff??
When Snowden’s stuff dropped in his lap he had a period when he was relevant, had things to say that people hadn’t heard before. He had the thrill of genuinely opening people’s eyes to shit that had been going on in the shadows.
But that was a while ago now. And the way The Intercept negligently mishandled the information Reality Winner gave them means any future whistleblower with any sense will likely use a different conduit to get their info out in the open.
So now Greenwald seems to be reduced to just writing day-late-and-dollar-short polemics against the mainstream media and Dems, ranting about shortcomings that other parts of the msm have already pointed out.
A great article. Not sure if anyone’s been following this story – pure gold 😀
Truth is the issues discussed in this article can be extrapolated to many things imo from the environment to peace.
Until men do their share – not just nappy-changing but feeding, bathing, cooking, caring for children when they’re sick, organising birthday parties and play dates – they’ll never be proper co-parents. Patting yourself on the back for doing 10 per cent isn’t enough, closer to 50 per cent needs to be the target.
It boils down to this: are you prepared to grow up, almost overnight?
Because that’s ultimately what the job requires.
Russell Brand, it appears, clearly isn’t. He should focus on the mystical connotations of that.
Maybe women should try actually letting men be parents. For the 1 in 5 who fit into the stay at home dad catagory I can say my partner who works hard is no different to how the “men” behave. What is it now in NZ? 45% are raised with no father.
The organising play dates thing is a resultant of underlining bigotry. There is no way in my daughters case that a random call by a strange man to one of her freinds mothers for a play date, or stay over is going to work.
My partner pretty much refuses to change shitty nappies. I’m the person who had to clean up the shit artwork, when my son decided to use poo for decoration.
Andrew Crisp does not need ‘looking at’, patricia. Or rather if you want to “look at” him, see my comment at 7.2.4 above and also at 7.1.1.1. on OM 28 Jan last night.
Both threads also cover Barclay’s previous history – it seems he has at least once before badmouthed former employers when they question whether or not he achieved the expected performance.
On TVNZ 1 news online …..
“ arrest warrant has been issued for a 26-year-old man who was part of the group of unruly British travellers after he failed to appear in court today on three charges.
The man, who has name suppression, was on bail and failed to appear at the Auckland District Court for a bail hearing this morning.”
“It is not clear if the 26-year-old was with the group who had flown back to the UK.”
Why is it not clear, if immigration is doing their job right?
He has either gone through the airport or not, hasn,t he?
From the ODT:
“Sarah Dowie’s short-lived political career looks all but over.
The Invercargill MP from 2014 is almost certain not to be a National Party candidate in the 2020 election – assuming she does not resign beforehand….
…Several members of Dowie’s electorate committee had resigned in recent months.
It is understood several members of Dowie’s staff have also resigned.
She is advertising for staff to work in her Wellington office.
Dowie was not answering her mobile phone yesterday or responding to a text message requesting comment.”
But all will be well because Simon and Paula see no hypocrisy in firing Jamie for infidelity while supporting Sarah for the same thing. (Paula should regret ever raising the matter in the first place.)
Kennedy Graham backs the TavaGreens.
I/S isn’t impressed.
“The problem isn’t that the Greens won’t work with National – they have done so in the past and have signalled their willingness to do so again. The problem is that National won’t work with the Greens. On environmental fundamentals – climate change, rivers, mining – National is utterly opposed to sustainability and Green policy.” http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/01/getting-problem-backwards.html
As I siad yesterday Robert If Tava builds credible team around him they the pure greens will be existential threat to the watermelons, no matter what hate is thrown at them personally, This to will just work in their favour It’s no point prattling on anout national, blue:green etc if this goes ahead they will be judged on thier policies alone and left right neutrality, what the hard left greens think will be irrelevant
Bewildered (love the variable spellings you employ), I liken the formation of a political party to the building of crystals in a super-saturated solution – the crystal you get reflects the purity and form of the seed crystal. If Vernon is the genuine seed, his party will be stunning. That’s why I have no concerns.
Hmmm, “hard left greens”, you say. Are those the undercooked Brussels sprouts that your kid leaves on their plate because they hate them? If so, maybe you could change your preparation and presentation to make them more palatable and turn them into yummy firm greens that will be left no more? What’d you say?
New Blue – Green Party is purely an angle to get into Government, they will have no say when the Natzi’s are elected in a Coalition with the New Greens & the New Conservative Party.
I doubt that very much, National will manage relationship to ensure 9 +years, they also know rwnj also care about the environment but want Governent based on responsibility not on virtue signalling and dying in a ditch on idealogy
WATCH : A new #Israeli crime, by attacking directly a paramedic with a Gas bomb 💣, while helping wounded #Palestinians participating in the peaceful #GreatReturnMarch eastern Of #Gaza city. #ICC4Israel #GazaMassacre #SaveGaza #BDS pic.twitter.com/cgIw7j6lJu
9.) Israel has three regimes. First, there is the “liberal democracy” which is the privilege of its Jewish citizens, but there are many threats to this. The second regime is aimed at the Palestinians—the “Israeli Arabs” who comprise 20 per cent of the population, and who have formal civil rights; they are deeply discriminated against in every way. The third regime is very different from any “liberal” posturing—this is Israel’s dark heart, the regime in the Occupied Territories. This is one of the most brutal tyrannies on Earth today, no less than that.
10.) Israel cannot be defined as anything other than an apartheid regime. It is apartheid. No one with an open heart could not be shocked and moved by the situation in the Occupied Territories. Israel claimed for years that the Occupation was “temporary. We cannot find a partner.” The Occupation is part of Israel, therefore we cannot define Israel as a democracy. Either ALL the inhabitants of Israel enjoy civil rights, or they do not. Either you are a democracy, or there are other names to call you.
—-Israeli journalist GIDEON LEVY, speaking in Auckland, Dec. 3, 2017
lol the dipshit managed to call her a figurehead and say she was apparently finding that, with leadership, “the job is a little difficult”. Still pushing the “pretty woman out of her depth” meme – I guess she’s next on the probing round after Twyford. Full circle so soon, they must be so disappointed after the promising start they had with Curran.
That is a nasty attempt by a Nat lackey to undermine Jacinda Ardern.
1)Every PM since time immemorial has gone on holiday at Xmas and doesn’t return until the end of January. John Key used to disappear off to Hawaii and we saw or heard nothing from him until the end of the month.
2) She fronted at the first weekly post cabinet press conference of the year this afternoon.
3) Suggesting she is weak and has no ideas flies in the face of all the evidence to the contrary.
Just a pathetic and dirty attempt to undermine her. What a creep.
I was looking at Michael King’s book of photographs of Maori from early days to modern. He explains what they felt about being pictured and what was happening in their lives..
In the later years, there is the famous photo of Dame Whina Cooper, in her 80s, setting off with her grandchild on the long march in 1975, Then Bastion Point occupation – In 1977–78 a 506-day protest against a proposed Crown sale was held there. (Land was to be sold for high-value housing. The sections would have nice sea views I suppose.)
‘In 1978, largely in response to the protest at Bastion Point, the Government made a settlement with some of Ngati Whatua. The Crown returned only some of the land taken under the Public Works Act – the land which had not been used for the purpose for which it had been taken. The tribe was to pay $200,000 for its return.’ This was settled by the Waitangi Tribunal in 1987. https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/publications-and-resources/school-resources/orakei/resolving-the-grievances-of-the-past/
In 1981 there was defiance against the Goverment over the Springbok Tour, protests and some violence and injuries. There were however only two games cancelled.
In 1984 Ernie Abbott was blown up at the Trades Hall by a bomb in a suitcase.
Later the USS Buchanan was forbidden a berth as a protest against the USA’s use of nuclear power coming in to our ports. The Rainbow Warrior was blown up by French security agents with a loss of life as a result of protest against nuclear testing.
1985 Roger Douglas began the economic changes of Lange’s government. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/john-minto/692334/Douglass-reforms-were-an-economic-disaster-for-the-country The scale of the disaster is apparent from an OECD (Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development) report, Growing Unequal, which was released last week….The report’s title refers to the dramatic growth in inequality in OECD countries and New Zealand in particular from 1985 to 2005.
The gap between rich and poor widened rapidly.
Roger Douglas told us there was no alternative to his reforms and there would be no gain without pain. What he neglected to say was that the gains would be for the wealthy and the pain for the poor. And so it was.
We have finally reached the top of the OECD but for the wrong reasons. We are second to none for growth in income inequality from 1985 to 2005 and we are also close to the top for the sharpest increase in poverty over the same 20-year period.
This was a bit like our Brexit. We had no idea of what was to come, innocent bunnies that we were.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Douglas David Caygill, who was also Minister of Trade and Industry, and Richard Prebble, who was also Minister of Transport.[36] Douglas and his associate ministers became known as the “Treasury Troika” or the “Troika”.[37]
The 1984 budget was a radical departure from Labour’s established approach to economic management. Douglas answered criticism that the government’s intentions had not been made clear to the electorate by saying that he had spelled out his whole programme to the Policy Council, which, he said, had understood and endorsed his intentions. He maintained that the detail was not made available to the public because it did not have the capacity to absorb it in the short time available.[45]
The budget owed almost nothing to Labour’s manifesto. Its content closely matched the Treasury view set out in Economic Management.[46] Douglas’s identification with Treasury was complete by 1985. Treasury initiatives adopted by the government that were not signalled before the 1984 election included the introduction of a comprehensive tax on consumption (GST), the floating of the dollar (which Douglas opposed until 1984) and the corporatisation of the government’s trading activities, announced at the end of 1985….
The juxtaposition of the preceding years on the 1985 economic reforms had never occurred to me. I think the wealthy whites were taking fright at the idea of Maori getting control of government, and that they had to act swiftly while they still had a chance. Our finances were already in flux, internationally also. So seize the day.
Interesting about the horticulture industry crying out for workers. – what a load of crock. My 18 year old has been trying to get fruit picking or other similar work and applied for lots of jobs but heard nothing or they don’t want them because they want migrants or people back packing or a particular gender. Accommodation is expensive or difficult to get if you don’t have a car. Here is a physically fit young person who is keen to work and is now giving up and looking at retail work. What the industry means is they want to be able to exploit migrant labour because my kid knows their rights.
Here is a story that say Australia can be run on renewable energy that use less water is better for the environment and more cost effective that carbon based energy
Our electricity system of the future could be powered by sun, wind and waves However, the big four banks and the big three energy companies are not having a bar of it. Indeed the majority of Australia’s energy companies are working towards a very different future for the country’s energy system, a future powered by clean, renewable energy.
There are now at least nine studies conducted during the decade that have analysed how Australia can move from an electricity system based on polluting coal and gas to one powered by the sun, wind and waves.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – the body tasked with making sure we have energy when we need it – found there were “no fundamental limits to 100% renewables”, and that the current standards of the system’s security and reliability would be maintained.
These studies show different pathways towards 100% renewable energy, but what they all agree on is that it can be achievedhe Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – the body tasked with making sure we have energy when we need it – found there were “no fundamental limits to 100% renewables”, and that the current standards of the system’s security and reliability would not be lost.
1. Big on wind and solar
In future, the bulk of our electricity will come from the most affordable technologies – wind and solar photovoltaic (PV). In areas with the best renewable resources, big wind and solar projects connected to transmission lines will generate electricity to power Australia’s industry, transport, cities and exports.
Modelling by the University of New South Wales suggests that wind generation could supply up to 70% of Australia’s electricity needs, while modelling by CSIRO and Energy Networks Australia found that wind and solar could provide nearly all generation in future. UNSW’s analysis, backed up by AEMO’s Integrated System Plan, also found that many of the best solar and wind sites in Australia were in remote locations – renewable energy zones, needing new transmission investments to harvest these amazing resources e supply gaps will then be filled with a range of on-demand renewables and storage, such as concentrating solar thermal with storage, pumped hydro, batteries (grid and domestic), sustainable bioenergy and more.
A study by Andrew Blakers at Australian National University found that pumped hydro could provide enough backup for a grid entirely powered by wind and solar power.
Hold on … hydropower in the dry continent of Australia? Yes, they have identified 22,000 potential sites, mainly off-river reservoirs in hilly terrain or abandoned mine sites, and just 0.1% of those could meet all of Australia’s storage needs in a 100% renewable grid.
This means we will move from a power system paradigm of baseload (big thermal generators) and peaking plants (quick-start gas) to one where our bulk energy is supplied by variable renewables and dispatchable renewables, and storage will fill the gaps.
3. Small, so everyone can benefit
According to CSIRO and Energy Networks Australia, between 30% and 45% of the country’s future energy generation will be local and customer-owned – in homes, businesses and communities. This means solar panels on every sunny roof, and batteries in households and commercial buildings. In apartment blocks, there will be microgrids powered by solar and batteries. Renters will join community solar projects and landlords will be required to make properties more energy efficient. When you go to the shopping centre and plug in your electric car, it will be shaded by solar panels
Ka kite ano links below https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/28/what-would-australia-look-like-powered-by-100-renewable-energyhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1kUE0BZtTRc
Kia ora Newshub Jenna Phil was baited with that question and I don’t think it was respectful doing that to him. It’s not as hot today as it was yesterday all tho ECO has put up and repair some more shade but records are being broken all around Papatuanukue. simon that’s just a spinning ap
There some fools who have broken into the blue penguin whare and stole them Its a stunt leave our wild life be.
That’s cool the seal population at Kaikorua has started booming after the Rua moko quake their and the authorities have built car parks so people can watch them from a safe distance Ka pai. I have just read that a court has ruled that the authoritie that allocated the water in the Murray Darling basin the Wai water was supposed to be allocated and managed with the environment first but the allocation was giving business needs over the environment that is why there are millions of fish dying in the Murray Darling river. It gets hot in Alexander Alex Alot of times they have the countrys highest temperature.
One day I will go fishing with Matt Watson that’s a cool way to tag fish instead of killing it yes Times Are Changing. That person killed his wife in front of there child was alcohol a factor????? Ka kite ano
The big picture is its is cool that the voices are finally getting out through the media that people with more money than they could spend in a life time is outrageous when we have people dieing of starvation around the world . The billionaire have to be pressured into paying more money back to the society that they got the wealth from and Eco Maori can see that happening now. The new currency the hitts on the net and + AND – hitts will give all peoples a conscience and then equality will BOOM.
After the panel Bregman tweeted a link to a opinion piece he wrote for the Guardian in 2017, saying “most wealth is not created at the top, but merely devoured there
Historian berates billionaires at Davos over tax avoidance
Rutger Bregman tells panel that the real issue is the rich not paying their fair share
A discussion panel at the Davos World Economic Forum has become a sensation after a Dutch historian took billionaires to task for not paying taxes.
In a video shared tens of thousands of times, Rutger Bregman, author of the book Utopia for Realists, bemoans the failure of attendees at the recent gathering in Switzerland to address the key issue in the battle for greater equality: the failure of rich people to pay their fair share of taxes.
Noting that 1,500 people had travelled to Davos by private jet to hear David Attenborough talk about climate change, he said he was bewildered that no one was talking about raising taxes on the rich.
Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion.
Rutger Bregman
“I hear people talking the language of participation, justice, equality and transparency but almost no one raises the real issue of tax avoidance, right? And of the rich just not paying their fair share,” Bregman tells the Time magazine panel on inequality.
“It feels like I’m at a firefighters conference and no one’s allowed to speak about water.”
Industry had to “stop talking about philanthropy and start talking about taxes”, he said, and cited the high tax regime of 1950s America as an example to disprove arguments by businesspeople at Davos such as Michael Dell that economies with high personal taxation could not succeed. “That’s it,” he says. “Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion.”
Davos 2019: the yawning gap between rhetoric and reality
Larry Elliott
Read more
A member of the audience, former Yahoo chief financial officer Ken Goldman, challenged his comments and said it was a “one-sided panel”. He argued the fiscal settings across the global economy had been successful and had created record employment.
But another panel member, Winnie Byanyima, an Oxfam executive director, took up the fight and said high employment was not a good thing in itself because many people found themselves in exploitative work. She cited the example of poultry workers in the US who had to wear nappies (diapers) because they were not allowed toilet breaks.
“That’s not a dignified job,” she said. “those are the jobs we’ve been told about, that globalisation is bringing jobs. The quality of the jobs matter. In many countries workers no longer have a voice. Ka kite ano links below P.S its hard finding good vides on this subject $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ distorting our reality once again
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland A bright Eta Aquariid meteor photobombed this photo of comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN) in May 2020.Jonti Horner Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Current concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Earth’s atmosphere are unprecedented in human history. But CO₂ levels today, and those that might occur in coming decades, did occur millions of years ago. ...
Winston Peters has been keen to dismiss speculation on our involvement in Aukus but will give a speech tonight on the direction of our foreign policy, 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. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Usmar, Lecturer in Critical Media Literacies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images With the coalition government’s ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get ...
A new report on protecting journalism and democracy in New Zealand recommends a levy be charged on global platforms like Facebook and Google to fund media firms undertaking public interest reporting. It also calls for the reinstatement of a powerful Broadcasting Commission to distribute public funding for journalism and other ...
On International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement are celebrating the proud history of the labour movement during a tough time for working people. ...
From bills to beards, a walk through the former Green co-leader’s time in politics. After close to a decade in politics, James Shaw is preparing to bid farewell to parliament. Tonight will see the former minister deliver his valedictory address, certain to be a speech filled with Shaw’s trademark wit ...
Two months ago, MPs unanimously voted to give themselves a week off in Efeso Collins’ honour. On Tuesday, most were too busy to give even an hour of their time. The day Fa’anānā Efeso Collins died, parliament felt different. In a building that operates at a breakneck pace, everyone stopped ...
India’s election involves hundreds of millions of people and is a months-long affair. Here’s how voting works and what’s at stake.The biggest-ever election in world history started on April 19, with more than 10% of the world’s population eligible to vote. Elections in India, the world’s most populous country ...
Opinion: The impression from the carpark is very inviting. The area is well fenced but barred so there is easy visibility of loved ones. Inside, the spaces are welcoming and clean and staff are friendly and clearly comfortable. I am greeted by ‘Kim’. She has worked here for three years, ...
After the Christchurch earthquake, the then-national civil defence boss compared his experience to “putting a team on the rugby field who have never ever played together before”. Now, eight years later – and following a damning inquiry into the emergency response of cyclones Gabrielle, Hale and the Auckland anniversary weekend floods – ...
“I had just come off the end of a major robbery case which I had been working on for six months when I got a call on the afternoon of September 1, 1992, that some remains had been found at a building site in Devonport, so I drove over with ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,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 1 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Comment: Journalists are very good at telling other people’s stories, but they fall well short when writing about their own profession. Perhaps that is why it is so undervalued. Every successive poll on the public’s attitude toward journalism is more alarming than the last. In the last month we have ...
Opinion: A young Māori woman and her Pacific partner arrive at their local hospital by ambulance. She has gone into labour at just under 24 weeks, but the couple haven’t recognised the symptoms – and don’t know the risks of premature birth for their baby. By the time they arrive, ...
Behind closed doors, NZ First will be arguing fiercely against any watering down of the ministerial decision-making powers in the Bill The post Bishop backtracks after fast-track backlash appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Emotional scenes played out in the Invercargill courthouse on the first two days of the coronial inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones, in which the boy’s mother was accused of disposing of her son’s body. The second season of Newsroom’s award-nominated podcast The Boy in the Water ...
Asia Pacific Report A Pacific civil society alliance has condemned French neocolonial policies in Kanaky New Caledonia, saying Paris is set on “maintaining the status quo” and denying the indigenous Kanak people their inalienable right to self-determination. The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGOs) Alliance, representing some 15 groups, said in ...
Koi Tū New Zealand cannot sit back and see the collapse of its Fourth Estate, the director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Sir Peter Gluckman, says in the foreword of a paper published today. The paper, “If not journalists, then who?” paints a picture of an industry ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Foreign investment proposals with implications for Australia’s strategic or economic security will face tougher scrutiny, under a policy overhaul to be announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday. At the same time, the government ...
A Waitangi Tribunal inquiry report has warned government that a repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act could cause harm to children in care. ...
The Treasury has published today three new papers covering government consumption multipliers, automatic stabilisers and the impacts of global shocks on New Zealand’s economy. ...
Asia Pacific Report The Pacific state of Hawai’i’s House of Representatives has joined the state’s Senate in calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, becoming the first state to pass such a resolution, reports Hawaii News Now. In March, the Senate passed a ceasefire resolution with a 24–1 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ferrie, A/Prof, UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Technology Sydney PsiQuantum The Australian government has announced a pledge of approximately A$940 million (US$617 million) to PsiQuantum, a quantum computing start-up company based in Silicon Valley. Half ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia Cameron Prins/Shutterstock If you spend a lot of time exploring fitness content online, you might have come across the concept of heart rate zones. Heart rate zone training has become more ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Eugene Doyle He is the most popular Palestinian leader alive today — and yet few people in the West even know his name. Absolutely no one in Gaza or the West Bank does not know him. That difference speaks volumes about who dominates the media narrative that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will McCallum, PhD Candidate – School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University Earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of not supporting Operation Sovereign Borders – the military-led border security operation that has “closed Australia’s borders ...
By Melyne Baroi in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinea MP, Peter Isoaimo, who had been ousted by the National Court in an alleged bribery case, has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal. A three-member Supreme Court bench found that the National Court had erred in finding that ...
Publisher Chris Holdaway reflects on the unique project of collecting the work of the late, terrific poet Schaeffer Lemalu. One of the nice things you can do as a truly independent publisher is to make the books that writers want to make, whatever they happen to be. That’s how I’ve ...
Those profiled in the stamp series served on overseas deployments from 1995 onwards, and all have been awarded theNew Zealand Operational Service Medal. ...
Last night’s dismal poll result for the coalition government shows the limits of trying to govern as an opposition, argues Joel MacManus. There’s a quote from the American political activist Barbara Deming: “Vengeance is not the point; change is. But the trouble is that in most people’s minds, the thought ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shireen Morris, Associate Professor and Director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab at Macquarie University Law School, Macquarie University Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock Foreign interference in Australian democracy poses a growing risk to our national sovereignty. It refers to coercive, corrupt or ...
A defendant charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining by deception in relation to a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing has been scheduled for 14 August 2024. ...
What to say when pesky journalists ask gotcha questions like ‘can you name a single book you’ve ever read?’ and ‘did you read it, or did you just see the movie?’This week, Act Party arts spokesperson Todd Stephenson foolishly agreed to an interview with Newsroom’s Steve Braunias regarding his ...
Explainer - What will a ban on cellphones in schools achieve? Can students use them during lunch breaks? And what happens if you need to contact your child? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND In winter 2021, Australia’s frogs started dropping dead. People began posting images of dead frogs on social media. Unable to travel to investigate the deaths ...
In the year ended March 2024, 0.4 percent of home transfers were to people who didn’t hold New Zealand citizenship or a resident visa, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wasay Majid, Research Assistant , University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau New Zealand’s accommodation supplement scheme is facing scrutiny, with Social Development Minister Louise Upston recently saying “there is merit in considering whether the current settings are fair and sustainable long-term”. The ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The first prime ministerial candidate has been announced in Solomon Islands and it is not Manasseh Sogavare. The man of the hour is Jeremiah Manele, the MP for Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency in Isabel Province, who served as minister of foreign affairs in the last government. ...
Protesting the removal of bins by leaving piles of your dog’s shit for others to deal with doesn’t make you a hero – it’s precious and entitled behaviour. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve stood on the shoreline of Auckland’s Cheltenham beach, desperately trying to scoop increasingly liquid dog shit ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon will be alert to the factors driving the dire polling, but won't be waving the white flag just yet, RNZ political editor Jo Moir writes. ...
Writer, teacher and academic Vincent O’Sullivan died on Sunday 28 April. Here we gather tributes from friends, colleagues, and students who remember his extraordinary contributions. I went down to the garage tonight. There was a bird shrieking out in the bush, in the dark, maybe a kākā. Miraculously, through the ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a burnt-out corporate escapee explains how she gets by ‘working as little as possible’. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 31 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Contractor in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Schmidt, Professor of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney Albert Russ / Shutterstock The icebreaker of many a barbeque conversation is something like “what do you do for a crust?” “I teach chemistry at university,” is what we usually reply. Then silence. Our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Asher Flynn, Associate Professor of Criminology, Monash University Shutterstock Sexual harassment is often considered to be a person-to-person act, but new research shows Australians are also experiencing and perpetrating workplace harassment in large numbers through technology. Our latest study shows one ...
A petition signed by more than 16,500 people, demanding the government take stronger action to halt the genocide of Palestinians by the State of Israel, is being presented to the House of Representatives today by Hon Phil Twyford. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University jenmartin/Shutterstock April has been a bad month for the Australian environment. The Great Barrier Reef was hit, yet again, by intense coral bleaching. And Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek delayed ...
Winston Peters might not give a ‘rat’s derriere’ about last night’s poll, but it revealed the unusual absence of a honeymoon period and little payoff for the government’s action plan approach, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marco de Jong, Lecturer, Law School, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Details released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under the Official Information Act reveal New Zealand officials have been considering involvement in AUKUS from the outset. ...
The government's treatment of Māori raised eyebrows, with countries saying New Zealand needed to do more to reduce health, education and justice inequities. ...
The age of criminal responsibility was one of numerous human rights issues raised during Aotearoa New Zealand’s UPR. Other key themes were racism and discrimination, the disproportionate representation of Māori in prison, and to uphold the UN Declaration ...
In a sitdown interview ahead of his final day at Parliament this week, the former Green Party co-leader tells RNZ about his lowest point during 2017's rough election campaign. ...
Is the fringe radio station really in a financial crisis, or is it just running a hyped-up donation drive? Fringe internet radio station Reality Check Radio was launched by the anti-vaccine mandates group Voices for Freedom in March 2023. For the next year, it undertook probably the most aggressive promotional ...
Above the Fold: On Monday, the biggest Māori screen production company faced down the biggest funder of Māori content at the High Court. It was an incredibly tense moment – then, just as quickly, it resolved. Duncan Greive breaks down a strange day in the screen sector.Yesterday morning, Māori ...
Oh, well done the Grey District Council – defying the facts of climate change science! sarc.
It will take a major world-wide catastrophe to shake the mantle of complacency off the shoulders of too many people before any real action will be taken – and by then, I fear, it will be too late.
The problem is that they don’t believe they need to do anything as they’d be long gone by the time the council is sued for doing nothing. Which they’ve just increased the risk by incoherently misplacing physics advice. Any reasonable people, that’s the standard, knows Mars has a atmosphee, Venus too, due to the Sun, that all the basic gas molecules have been intensely studied, they all know you put more of them into a planet’s atmosphere they raise the temperature. Dig them up a burning will do that.
so are the councilors now liable to be sued for incompetence, not engage basic science advice and winging it with their own thinking. Should we check they are doing the same when deliberating on the law, geology, biology, etc. Or is it the council ending someone to shout a lot at them so whomever they need to hear doesn’t do armchair physics like physic hasn’t been around for a hundred years.
Tony, I read that article as well. Amazing!! Funny if it wasn’t so serious.
It is 31 deg there today, and people have been losing their sections to the sea.
Jacinda has just attended Davos, a gathering of the rich and powerful who have talked of increasing risk costs from storms and encroaching sea levels caused by climate change.
Scientists have written open letters to governments outlining how bad it could be. Recent research tells us the sea has stored 40% more carbon than previously thought. We are in an extinction phase and they want more proof King Canute!!
They are like frightened children seeking some hand to hold. They are supposed to lead.
Like you I think it may be too little too late. Being informed from government sites only needs a computer.
“Jacinda has just attended Davos, a gathering of the rich and powerful who have talked of increasing risk costs from storms and encroaching sea levels caused by climate change”
Funny you should mention Davos….I watched the closing statement from that august body (ahem) and there were two words noticeable by their absence…and they wernt ‘Jacinda Adern’.
https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting/sessions/closing-remarks-the-road-ahead/
And your point is?
I was pointing out that our Prime Minister attended the Environmental session of Davos.
That actuaries were indicating huge costs for businesses caused by climate change. Impacts on insurance Forestry and Property/land values, where super funds are heavily invested.
If you are inferring I was trying to make Jacinda important, well I could have quoted several things she said, and flattering things said about her by others.
But this is about climate Change, and as our Prime Minister said “”You want to be on the right side of history”‘ and that includes the West Coast Regional Council.
the point is where was the acknowledgement of the single most important issue of the time…namely climate change…they couldnt even bring themselves to say the words in their summary statement…which begs the question…why the hell did our PM waste her time attending?
Trying to get my head around their thinking, must be down to money. What other reason could any person have to not want to improve/save their environment/air quality
Once upon a time, near on every house down the coast had a coal range in the kitchen, a coal fire in the lounge and no insulation.
Coal down those ways is a cheap or free way for their home heating, and it’s grey and wet down there most of the winter.
Are there any Coasters here on the TS they could shed some light on the thinking over that way?
The Grey District Council looks like an old boys club, a bunch of old white men and one token young lady. I don’t like to stereotype but…. go freaken figure.
https://www.greydc.govt.nz/our-council/mayor-and-councillors/Pages/default.aspx
Edit… one last thing… looks like it’s an election year for them. Fingers crossed that change will come,
Yes Cinny, they change or change will overtake the West Coast Regional Council actually xx
Thanks for the correction Patricia, much love xxx
Oops! I might have maligned the good people (?) of the Grey District Council – it was the West Coast Regional Council with the fact-denying blinkers on.
Not sure what the difference is, but they remind me of a rhyme I heard many years ago about the natives of the Isle of Wight – from a recent arrival:
“Island born and Island bred,
Strong in the shoulder and thick in the head.”
Opps from me too….
The West Coast Regional Council: Left to right: Terry Archer, Neal Clementson, Stuart Challenger, Andrew Robb, Peter McDonnell, Alan Birchfield and Peter Ewen.
Turns out they are all old white men, the whole lot. Crikey one even gives his email addy as @heaphymining wonder what industry he runs/works for
https://www.wcrc.govt.nz/our-council/councillors/Pages/default.aspx
Good article on the ruthless and cynical PR pushed by dairy around dirty rivers
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/110103636/the-public-relations-war-over-freshwater-has-restarted
The time for sorting our rivers is NOW.
Their big item Pike River Mine tragedy, so distracted?
The ‘they’re too stupid to collude’ defense. Chris Christie reckons the Chumps are so clueless they had no idea they were getting played, so they didn’t commit crimes.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/28/politics/chris-christie-donald-trump-no-collusion/index.html
Christie put the slipper into almost everybody but tRump.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/15/chris-christie-book-jared-kushner-accusations-hit-job
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/16/chris-christie-book-trump-fired
Maybe he’s still got hopes of ass-kissing his way back into the inner circle if he can only just clear out all the other “best people” Benedict Donald has surrounded himself with.
Plenty of commentators here the past few years have been emphatic that the Greens are to the left of Labour, but Sue Bradford views this framing as a joke.
“Former Green Party MP Sue Bradford said it was laughable that the Green Party is considered far left at all now saying that under James Shaw the party is more centrist than it had ever been.” https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/29-01-2019/could-the-idea-of-a-new-blue-green-party-really-fly/
Plenty of commentators here the past few years have depicted National as an enemy of nature. I’ve spent most of my life with that view too. Otoh…
“National is often slated by the left as being some kind of environmental destroyer, but it was under a National-led Government that Kahurangi National Park was created, it set up 11 marine reserves, protected the Ross Sea, set up an extensive national network of cycleways, set up Predator Free 2050 and banned shark finning.”
RNZ’s Chris Bramwell: “So while the talk is of there being space for a centrist environmental party, there is not really that much of a gap that needs filling.” Seems reasonable? Perception and reality are two different things. MMP reality provides a gap, Winston has leverage on it but is due to retire, and NZF is likely to exit. The gap is where swing-voters operate, and they determine election results.
And what did she say about the relative position of the Labour Party? Relative to Bradford all NZ parliamentary politics is right wing.
set up Predator Free 2050
Nearly pissed myself when i read this. All they did was say “predator free by 2050”. By this standard Shaw has already sorted CC.
Yeah, good points. Re predator-free, some dismiss such stunts as virtue-signalling. A valid criticism, but dismissing it as such is unfair and politically naive. Establishing a goal does actually reframe both the strategic aims and political culture of the party. How much is the question, then. With National, not much!
Establishing a goal, that isn’t utopian and also aiming at absolute purity instead of excellence, would helpfully frame the aims and personal and political culture of the party for informed, practical and achievable outcomes. FIFY
The important thing politically is that the existing Greens get some runs on the board, and in the polls, so that they remain politically viable for the 2020 election, so that a further government with Labour is formed. The should worry less about futile little spats about ideological purity and more about performance.
Planting trees, not Green, a NZF policy. Given the relentless neolib agenda for the past thirty years, the Greens are firmly in the center. It’s the Nats who live in the Trumpian cockoo land off the edge on the right, and of course engage in socialism for the 1% who must never fail.
I don’t think that a party disintegration is likely to happen past a Winston Peters departure. I’ve attended two NZF conferences as media just to have a look at the people and structure.
Firstly, I really can’t see Winston Peters wanting to retire unless he gets a medical issue.
Secondly, the party structure and internals seems reasonably sound (and I have a skeptics eye about that). Sure they have a lot of nutbars and that shows up in the policy remits. But so does every other mainstream party.
Thirdly, there seemed to be some political talent in the party and its MPs. The ones who have been or are ministers or their associates haven’t screwed up too much. Many of the ones coming through seem to have been constructive in select committees.
NZ First is always going to have a problem because of the way that National operates against other parties (think of that auditing crap against NZF from 2007/8 for instance or 1997). But I suspect that NZF will survive as a party of old style liberal conservatives.
Thanks for that insight. I hear you, and concede there’s more resilience there perhaps than has seemed to be the case. However, he will need to do some heavy lifting to get them back over the threshold, eh?
The portion who returned to National aren’t likely to be recoverable in the short to medium term. Competition from the NewConservatives will subtract some too. It will probably hinge on how well Shane Jones does with regional development. If the regions see tangible benefits, NZF will become secure.
I support everything lprent has said above re NZF.
I have been watching them quite closely since Peters ‘return from the dead’ in 2011, or in fact earlier since he lost out in 2008.
Peters worked really hard under the radar in the year before the 2011 general election, holding and attending meetings all over the country with diverse groups of people, not only Grey Power meetings. At the same time, the NZF Party was quietly renewing and reinventing itself.
To anyone watching all of this, it was no surprise that Peters and NZF won 6.8 percent of the party vote and eight seats in Parliament. In the 2014 general election, NZF increased this to 11 seats and 8.66 percent, although this dropped slightly to 9 seats and 7.2 percent In the 2017 election,
I haven’t attended any NZF meetings or conferences as lprent has done, but my observations (confirmed by people who have attended NZF functions) is that the membership of the Party and its governance Board etc now covers a wide range of ages and backgrounds. It is certainly no longer an old peoples’ party as some wrongly still perceive it to be.
Their current team in Parliament appears united and stable (although IMO Jones is their weakest link). I am particularly impressed with the job Tracey Martin is doing in her portfolios, and Ron Mark seems to be doing well in Defence. Peters himself is excellent in the Foreign Affairs role, and so far has made a reasonable job of DPM. The rest of the team seem to be working well in carrying the NZF in the day to day work of Parliament.
In terms of succession, Fletcher Tabuteau has been with NZF from its conception and appears to be the one selected for succession to the top role. As well as now being Deputy leader of the party, he is also Parliamentary Undersecretary to both Peters and Jones in respect of Foreign Affairs, Regional Economic Development, and Disarmament and Arms Control. At 45, he still has plenty of miles still to be used on his clock.
I put very little weight on the fact that the NZF vote in polls since the election have dropped. This was inevitable whichever way Peters went in deciding between National and Labour. They always seem to drop in polls between elections, and then usually gain in the election itself (2008 being one of few exceptions to this trend).
Sorry, Dennis, I think there is a little wishful thinking going on there. If the way National is going currently continues, it would not surprise me if there is a disillusioned National voter move to NZF rather than from it. Nat voters may still be choosing Nats in polls, but some of that support may not be as strong as it appears imo.
But time will tell, and there is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet.
A shift from National to NZF is an intriguing possibility, but depends what provides the stimulus at the time. I can’t see why the 3% or so that are disgruntled sufficiently to currently not support NZF (due to them choosing the Labour option) are going to be motivated to switch back at the next election – unless Winston & Jacinda have a falling-out, and he signals pre-election that the National option is again viable…
I was actually suggesting (badl)y that with the current leadership and dramas etc, there may be some Nat voters who are softening in their loyalty. They may currently still be answering polls as saying they would still vote National if an election was held today but may be looking around at other options. I know and have heard of some traditional National voters now thinking along those lines.
Thank Veutoviper, you have inside knowledge. So Crisp is not as Barclay painted him, and had total overarching responsibility. You know Crisp and value his expertise so I’d say you probably have it right. Cheers.
I am not sure that Crisp did have overall responsiblity, Patricia. He was only appointed permanent Head of the hew Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (which includes Kiwibuild) as from 17 December 2018, by which time Barclay was actually already on garden leave pending the investigation being completed. See my reply to Dennis Frank at 7.2.4.4.1. below. Will try to research this further but won’t be until later tonight probably as have other things to do for the next few hours.
(Hope you have seen doctor and x-ray has been scheduled for soon. Keep smiling, things will get there, friend.)
Personally think that is wishful thinking.
Winston goes the party goes.
Which of the others could seriously lead it with any credibility?
Certainly not Jones or Mark
since you asked chris, tracey martin.
has integrity, honesty and seems to be respected by colleagues and opponents.
could even make a good NF1 leader when Winnie pops his clogs or has to start shitting into a colostomy bag – and that’ll be a while, if ever, although I imagine there are others lined up to take on the mantle even if they do come equipped with diamond shaped little blue pills bought from some shady internet site.
But then I guess most of that is what is afflicting the senior ranks of the gNats, and probably why there are the likes of Finlayson that chose to retire rather than keep up the chirade
Flectcher Tabuteau is the current forerunner for that role, with Tracey Martin’s blessing is my understanding. Tracey was Deputy Leader for some time, but Tabuteau now holds that role as well as understudy to both Peters and Jones. See about halfway down my long comment at 4.3.1.1.above.
/agree, and with lprent’s analysis – which is not to say that Tracey Martin wouldn’t be another viable candidate as leader. Pretty sure NZ1 won’t be dead anytime soon though, not that I’ve ever voted for them. If it ever got that desperate, it’s more of a possibility that a Winnie’s bro’ (a decent sort of chap) would be tempted back into politics
( Btw, I’ve taken to intermittent and brief visits to TS again throughout the day. Often trying to engage in a conversation can be a complete waste of precious time.
Today 7.1.1.1.1.2 on OM, yesterday 8.1.3 and below on ‘The Power of Anger’
The time stamps and ‘replies’ button on the right are quite useful at times.
I put it all down to my cynicism and what my daughter says is sometimes my “passive/aggressive behaviour at times dad”. [Must be all that power of anger] )
A++++++ gsays. I follow Tracey Martin on Facebook (in fact I’m a friend), though I’m not a NZ1st voter or member of that party. She is one smart cookie, though I do get annoyed at some of the NZ1st policies and attitudes to progressive social policy and will watch for her reaction to some of her colleagues entrenched conservative ideas.
Tracey Martin is no mug
Tracey Martin is all shades of awesome, huge respect for that lady.
@ Chris T (4.3.2) … seems NZF has more life and credibility in it now and I’d say post Winston as well, than Natz has at present!
Tracey Martin is one experienced, hard working and credible politician. Can see her leading and taking NZF forward in the future.
Yep pretty much, I believe to most people here it is more so they’ hope nzf survive Peters is way better in oppostion as a populist, he can say what he wants to his loon bag base Unfortunately for Peters he can’t revert to his go to strategy re blaming Jonny forgeiner and hark back to the good old days. Similarly he will loose the right wing vote of his base and also have conservatives breathing down his neck National should also step up and refuse to work with him if they have any brains ( which is debatable at times)
I wonder where all this leaves poor old James Shaw diligently slogging away, deep in the parliamentary salt mines in Wellington forgotten to human memory, valiantly trying to stitch together a climate accord with the Nats?
Does he know something we don’t?
When James finally struggles back to the surface world, will he be holding up to the light for all to see, a jewel of inestimable value? or a polished piece of coprolite?
Another reason why you should use Uber.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/01/scottish-tourist-charged-930-for-5-minute-taxi-ride-in-wellington.html
The kiwi taxi industry is full of cowboys
And another reason not to use Uber.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46790540
Well on that basis you’d never take a cab either
https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/taxi-driver-stabs-commuter-to-death-in-full-view-of-passengers-18377779
I think I’ll take my chances with taxi drivers, thanks!
All good. My kids use Uber, particularly when they work late, and they’ve never had an issue. Hopefully never do.
Or pay in cash.
Still no North Island rain through to mid-February at least.
http://metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain®ion=swp&noofdays=10
We are going to need a bunch more North Island irrigation if we are going to keep the bulk dairy production we have going here.
[Hey, Ad, you’re still regularly misspelling your email address, which means your comments get held up and have to be manually released. Can you check it before posting, please? Ta, TRP]
my apologies.
my desktop seems not to have the automated settings.
will seek to improve.
No sweat, comrade! It’s not a big deal to release the comment, but it does mean the conversations get disjointed if a mod doesn’t spot it immediately.
(Just to clarify for other readers, first time comments are automatically held until manually released. A misspelled email address or handle triggers this response.)
It is more likely that you have a login with the same email as your commenting address. Since you’re not logging in to comment (no blue background), the comment will automatically get held up by the anti-identity theft settings.
I had to put those settings in after having some identity thefts by people using emails for other people to write comments to try to trash their reputations.
Either login (I can send you a new password) or get me to change the email so there isn’t a conflict.
Simple. Dial back the dairy a bit. When it’s not so intensive, it won’t be as polluting either. But probably just as profitable because input costs are much lower.
They could remove their inputs of the majority of fertilisers, offsite feed, antibiotics, herbicides, pesticides, power…
But they want turnkey systems. Ease of use. Single persons controlling large swathes of land. Monoculture extraordinaire. They dream of robots. They have no vision that is not handed to them by industry.
Throw money at me I’ll breed them a microbe that uses carbon dioxide and methane to build meat and milk. Then I will charge like a wounded bull for the tech and spend all the money lobbying government and educating public on overstocking and the unnecessary importation of feedstock and fertilisers.
Guano factories aka sea bird sanctuaries can be built. Nitrogen supplies can be from recycled farm/industry wastes and via plant fixation.
High nitrogen feedstock comes rapidly and in large volumes from azolla (pteridophyte) and duckweed (angiosperm) cultures. Will also reduce vet bills via large quantities of nutraceuticals in these plants.
Just, so many ways to help farmers. I get sick of wasting breath trying to help rich fuckwits who think they’re the ‘backbone’ but they’re actually the asshole of our society.
We’re working on a seagull attractor for our garden. It will emit the smell of fish&chips.
You could sell that as perfume for homesick expats.
You can get fishnchips here sashy.
This blog always amuses me when snowflake idiots pretend they know how to farm.
Fortunately Wethebleeple, there are plenty of farms for sale at the moment so there is absolutely nothing stopping you from buying a farm and showing us all how to do it. I look forward to your results.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/CategoryAttributeSearchResults.aspx?search=1&cid=5745&sidebar=1&rsqid=8e1f1641fb3a494c86677c030609a8b6&132=PROPERTY&selected135=&134=&157=Dairy&49=0&49=0&159=0&159=0&153=&178=0&178=0&sidebarSearch_keypresses=0&sidebarSearch_suggested=0
You RG could take the opportunity to learn something, get some perspective.
But that is dangerous, you might be thrown out of your in-group; become an outside without the comfort blanket of the other farmers Who Know It All. Or perhaps you are one of those financial farmers who know how to turn a profit from animals while others do the nitty-gritty and feel pretty happy about that.
To be fair I was being rude first.
I only milked cows once as a favor helping a mate because screw that for a job. But I have got the hay in and fenced 5 wire, 9 wire, deer, post and rail, landscape work galore…. worked in many aspects of horticulture from research on the milk yields via grass types to picking packing and pruning kiwifruit. I’ve done floriculture, viticulture, aquaculture, nursery and greenhouse work. I’ve been in the forestry planting and low and high pruning. I’ve lived in the bush, cleared tracks and built structures in the bush, been a fisherman, a bouncer, an editor, and now a snowflake.
Snowflakes have many facets.
Plenty of farms for sale huh. I can mostly feed myself off 1/8th of an acre; but you folks with hundreds are struggling?
Plant some trees and get some more shade it seems you’ve had too much of the sun.
You’ll need snowflakes for cooling.
“Simple. Dial back the dairy a bit. When it’s not so intensive, it won’t be as polluting either. But probably just as profitable because input costs are much lower.”
with that dialling back it would lower the amount of trucks on the road, therefore lowering exhaust and tyre emissions and wear and tear on our roads.
That would be true if there hadnt been 20 years of land/development cost inflation that needed to be serviced….the unavoidable truth is someone is going to have to take a hit in order to make a less intensive model workable again…and my guess is it wont be the banks.
Just in case we think The Man In The High Castle was a silly little piece of fascist imaginary, yes Hitler really did have plans for the rest of the world’s Jews.
https://www.dw.com/en/book-shows-hitlers-holocaust-plans-for-canada-us/a-47251347
Nothing like the annual concentration camp liberation commemorations to focus the mind on saving endangered peoples in this world. It was two days ago.
https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-german-football-supporters-send-vital-message-on-holocaust-memorial-day/a-47256925
If anyone gets a moment, there’s a really good little Jewish memorial inside the Auckland War Memorial Museum on the third floor. Worth taking a moment there.
These are just numbers…
‘Rummel, a professor of political science at the University of Hawaii, estimates that between 1937 and 1945, the Japanese military murdered from nearly 3 to over 10 million people, most likely 6 million Chinese, Koreans, Malaysians, Indonesians, Filipinos and Indochinese, among others, including Western prisoners of war’
Yes, it appears that holocausts are actually quite common in modern times.
We’ve had several days overcast, plus drizzle the past two, here in Taranaki. For a gardener, welcome dampening of soil & relief from watering with hose. Young pumpkins & butternuts now sprouting on the vine. Decided I would need only a single courgette plant this summer and I was right – a month since I last watered that and still producing so many that I’ve taken some to a couple of local foodbanks (as well as supplying a couple of neighbours.
Also, had to stop watering the scarlet runner beans a couple of weeks ago due to excess production (a large handful every day) also over-supplying neighbours & foodbanks as well as me. Goes to show how much being Green in a practical sense could produce community reslience if more folks acquired the skills…
What are you talking about. I’m at the coal face here. Living on an upper North Island Dairy farm. So far this has been one of the best years we have had in the last 10 years. It’s normal for low rain to no rain at this time of year and we are getting some on a regular basis. Tommorow I’m having to help with hay bail collection that we use for dry stock, yearlings etc. Twice as good as other years, so my body isn’t looking forward to it.
Yes where I am it has averaged 37C since Christmas so my
water melons are each at least 90 kilos.
See a doctor quick 😊
Ice packs first, then the doctor.
Yes Ad, hasn’t taken long for things to get brittle with heat and wind. Perhaps farmers need to consider animals and crops which need less water and palms for feed. Land use needs to become Land improved. Rotation is proven.
WtB
Ad is referring to irrigation. Would this be a good time for farmers to put in some of those seepage ponds that have been referred to. Getting out on the tractor
early in the morning before the sun gets hot, and be off before say 11.30 when the Fire Service suggests that its dangerous to work in because of fire from sparks.?
And think Peter Andrews:
Superb doco gw.
Often think about this one when the Canterbury and Hawkes Bay farmers start whining about irrigation schemes. What are they doing to help themselves?
Yes a marvelous story. It was big news in Aus, it really stirred discussion.
Absolutely. This system and Yeomans Keyline irrigation hold the most promise for dairy. Real conversions would go for contoured swales, tree crops and dairy.
We really need to get trees back on our farms, it is a bloody travesty they’re mostly gone. Heat stress will lower production considerably, as will cold/wind.
As for this ‘drought’. I found mushrooms in two spots this morning as I carried a bucket of water down the back to help some new plantings I was worried about. Mushrooms, ha ha, water situation seems fine for now.
If you want to irrigate gardens but need to conserve water, drip is a good way to go. Turn on the tap and it’s working, nice. A friend installed them for new homes with central controllers and timers and sensors… could get really efficient (or wasteful) with a set-up like that.
Drip and mulch rules, so the water doesn’t evaporate after application and the soil is cooler for your plants. Overhead irrigation is extremely wasteful in hot weather.
The trick is to put the water in the ground, not the air.
Oh when will they learn.
The Kiwibuild fiasco is getting worse.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018680145/kiwibuild-boss-put-through-awful-few-months
Well, I’m halfway thro & doesn’t seem any worse yet. Thanks for the link, though, because he’s clarifying the problem sufficiently in general terms to give us insight into what went wrong.
So sounds like his role was project manager. That function is executive: it executes. It makes things happen. Actions produce outputs. You can imagine bureaucrats aghast at someone with a `know-how, can-do’ attitude being given the authority to get results. Obviously they had to stop him!
So classic leftist bureaucratic stonewalling of a rightist infiltrator, seems to me. The method they used was to manufacture personal complaints about his style of leadership. Clearly telling people what to do was unacceptable to them. It would have seemed autocratic. The idea that a leader issues instructions to subordinates in order to make an operation a success would have freaked them out. Not how the public service is meant to operate. Twyford got kneecapped accordingly. Will he learn from the experience? I doubt it. He’s Labour.
Okay, I’ve listened to almost all and now I get where you’re coming from. I’ll give readers the context:
“The ousted boss of KiwiBuild says he has been put through an awful few months by the head of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Crisp. Stephen Barclay faces allegations about his management style but says he was given no chance to properly challenge them. He won’t detail the exact nature of the allegations but rules out bullying or any financial or sexual misconduct. Mr Barclay is also mystified that KiwiBuild is now missing its targets – saying they were on track when he was at the helm.”
He’s explained it as an interpersonal problem between him & Crisp. Seems to have been created as a result of the govt shifting the goalposts after he signed his contract. He signed up to operate the scheme more independently, then they gave Crisp either authority over him or enough leverage to interfere. So he ought to win his grievance case unless there’s stuff we aren’t being told. Twyford’s fault.
Twyford looks like he has not got a handle on one of the key planks of his ministerial portfolio. Also, according to Barclay, they were on track to meet the 1000 house target for this tear UNTIL his unit was absorbed in to the new ministry. That needs investigating further.
Yes, I was addressing that point while you posted that. I agree. Twyford is out of his depth. Has Labour got someone who can finesse the mandarin syndrome that seems to take over the minds of top public servants? If not, Ardern needs to do a cabinet reshuffle & give the job to Winston so he can do the necessary arse-kicking. We’re talking about the flagship coalition policy being derailed by typical Labour ineptitude. That’s unacceptable.
I agree that there needs to be some radical changes if this policy is to be rescued from failure. Appointing Peters would be a laugh in my opinion (not that I think he would do a bad job just that it would be a laugh). Obviously I think the policy is doomed given my ideological leanings but it does have a potential to deliver some wins for the government if done better and a potential for a colossal mess if done badly (which it looks like it is being done).
“Has Labour got someone who can finesse the mandarin syndrome that seems to take over the minds of top public servants?”
So far, it seems not @ Dennis although there appears to be some small changes in culture happening. It was always going to be that the biggest hurdle this coalition faced would be the senior and upper middle ranks in our PS.
I notice (for example) we’re starting to see some serious effort put into cracking down on exploitative employers – yet another case on RNZ/Stuff today. What prevented that happening four or five years ago when many/most of the same people were involved? Indeed one now feigns a concern when he was the very same person that was assuring us all that they had sufficient Labour Inspectors just before the election. (And now they wonder why no one wants to report exploitative arseholes).
Oh, and they even had the benefits then of having a private force in the form of T&C, as well as a few nudge nudge wink winks and Chinese whispers at play – not to mention a demographic spreadsheet or two.
Keeps them in an over-paid job though I guess
Who’s the genius who decided that any possible good could come from getting MBIE involved? Let alone putting them in charge.
Exactery @ Gabby. And especially after I L-G has been forced to go through some ‘learnings going forward’ when it comes to having to deal with them.
You know, it buggers my mind at times trying to understand a coalition with the best of intentions hasn’t yet come to learn where many of the roadblocks are. It has a stellar record of failure in everything from worker exploitation and immigration fuckups (which might as well have been decided on the basis of rolling a set of dice or an auction system), to shitty steel and building related failures, to radio spectrum interference.
Btw – have you ever had to try and deal with any of them directly?
It sounds to me like Twyford was knee-capped. I presume he was the one who appointed Barclay to the position. I know him well enough to believe he’s not the sort to be taking it lying down. He’s an astute politician and he will be staying out of it for a very good reason. We just don’t know what it is – yet. There will come a time when he will probably speak out, and maybe we’ll get the real deal about what went down.
The Public Service knows how to close ranks and rid themselves of perceived out-siders. They’ve had 150 plus years of practice. It would not surprise me if Twyford was coerced – or possibly even bullied – to change the goal posts. If so, it would have been motivated by self interest and a reluctance to concede power and authority.
There is also the possibility of political interference behind the scenes. If my past experiences of the P.S. are any indication, then the “bureaucrats” are more likely to be National supporters (not Labour) and they know how to undermine cabinet ministers and their perceived toadies. I’ve seen it first hand – albeit a long time ago.
Interesting view, thanks Anne. Nothing there I’d disagree with, so I’ll just add that the intent seems to be to defeat the coalition agenda. Your theory fits that fact better than mine – but it wouldn’t surprise me if the mandarins actually vote Labour and just feel that defending their traditional privilege is more important than serving the public. The mandarin syndrome is a privileged-class thing that goes back all the way to the rise of empires, and their need for admin.
The mandarin syndrome is a privileged-class thing that goes back all the way to the rise of empires, and their need for admin…
OMG yes!. They can become so blinded to reality, they actually end up by destroying their own positions. I saw it happen in one sector of the PS in the early 1990s.
Does Crispy strike you as a leftist frankie? Where’s he been working and what’s he been doing?
No idea re his political alignment, Gabby, but it looks like he was given authority over the project manager: “State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes says Crisp’s career includes 13 years in senior and executive leadership roles. He says he also has a deep understanding of the New Zealand housing system.”
“Crisp is currently the acting CEO at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, on secondment from his substantive role as CEO of Land Information New Zealand. Previously he was the deputy CEO of Building, Resources and Markets at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.”
https://www.interest.co.nz/property/97196/andrew-crisp-appointed-ceo-new-ministry-housing-and-urban-development-responsible
“Crisp holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University of Wellington and is a Chartered Accountant.” Glorified bean counter.
Sounds like he’s a professional roadblock frankie. Nothing happens until the title on his parking space is just so.
Dennis your bias is showing. Making sweeping generalisations is not your usual style.
They wanted Crisp and stonewalled, accused Steven Barclay of aggressive leadership and he was hamstrung. Public Service was manned by National for the 9 years prior to this, and had limited budgets. They probably spent all their energy on endless staffing reviews as National was aiming for less Government.
Suddenly, there is a plan, money for it and a leader. The undermanned service coped , were on track with the building but complained They brought the complaints up and from that day forward progress halted, to the point where Steven Barclay resigned and the Minister was left saying an internal employment issue was the problem. What is with your “They are Labour so they won’t learn”
I’ve been equally critical of both establishment parties since I realised I had to become neither left nor right in ’71. My conscience refused to allow me to fake it and pretend Labour were somehow the lesser of two evils. That’s my bias.
One final comment: in respect of his view that they had 600 houses contracted when he bailed out, it smells to me very much like a smoking gun. He seems genuinely mystified that Twyford’s told the public they won’t meet the target, and said that conflicts with the fact that the operation was on track to deliver the target of 1000 in the first year. So I must now endorse your view – the fiasco is indeed getting worse.
How the hell can they have 600 signed up, and then Twyford tells the media & public that they will only deliver 300? Can we please get someone in the media to demand an explanation?! If it’s just logistics, and builders don’t want to build houses fast enough to deliver in the required time-frame, say so! Okay, he did imply that, but he’s creating the impression that he feels no need to keep the public fully informed. Labour voters deserve more respect and accountability from the minister.
Hang on Dennis, he may well have reiterated the reason but it could have been edited out of the report that made it into the public arena. Nowadays most news items consist only of sound bites and the substance of an interview never sees the light of day. It happens all the time.
True – I saw that happen regularly when I was making news & current affairs stories for TVNZ. But the onus is then on the media manager of the party to rectify the impression in the public mind by issuing a follow-up…
I may be unduly cynical but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is an attempt by Twyford to shift all the blame onto Barclay and to set himself up as being the hero who improves things.
Barclay says he already had 600 houses scheduled before July 1. Twyford announces instead that there will only be 300. Who would I believe? Barclay over Twyford any day.
Imagine if they manage, and it will be a real stretch, to get to 500 or so. Twyford will claim that he took over, got rid of Barclay and then heroically improved the scheme from only producing 300 houses and got up to 500. Hip, hip hooray for Phil. He will of course ignore the fact that 500 is really an epic fail. The MSM will of course tell us what a great man Twyford is.
Still, he will say that it was only his intervention that got the number up from the phantom 300 that he will credit Barclay with. Twyford will be lying of course but he, along with the rest of the CoL, have never found this something they are uncomfortable with.
Or could it be that Barclay was a bully boy who through his toys out of the coat when pulled up for it and is know pulling numbers out of his arse to discredit his former boss.
It appears building stopped while the case of employment complaints was reviewed. Then Barclay resigned and left. Any shortfall is under Crisp’s watch? Barclay said they were up to date and on track when he left. He is suing HNZ for constructive dismissal. Twyford is at arms length as it is an employment matter.It will get sorted in court when the truth may then come out.
Well you lot on this 7 thread (with one or two exceptions eg Patricia) are all now off my 2019 Hanukkah card list*. You only have 10 months to redeem yourselves.
(*Or Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays list. I don’t do Christmas cards).
First, what a one dimensional pile-on on all public servants. As one for over 40 years, I really take offense (well a little). Not all of us are like that!!!!!
Two, I would not be so fast to make decisions on this situation from a role definition, power, and employment perspective.
The real situation is far from clear and certainly not as clearcut as Barclay is claiming.
Sacha and I had a late night conversation on this last night on OM 28 Jan (at 11 down). Won’t try to link but still easy to find.
As I commented at 11.1.1.1, I worked with/for Andrew Crisp some years ago and have utter respect for his integrity, management style etc and do not believe that he would have lost any of that over the years. He also has experience in sorting out messy CE employment situations such as this and is scrupulous in doing so. The fact that he has come out and said certain things about the Barclay situation strongly reinforces to me that Crisp has his ducks in a row.
Barclay is interesting though. Sure, he seems to have had a strong private sector background mostly in the building area, but also some other very different roles more recently.
Barclay was chief executive of the 2013 America’s Cup defence in San Francisco. Sacha found and posted a link on the OM thread at 11 to an article about Barclay copping bitter criticism from both city politicians and media amid accusations the event had not delivered sufficiently for San Francisco, leading him to launch a parting broadside after the event had ended.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1901/S00241/housing-ministry-head-hints-he-acted-against-barclay.htm
So Barclay has form for badmouthing after leaving a role.
Between his San Fran role and moving to the Kiwibuild role, Barclay was (drumroll):
“Chief People and Transformation Officer at the Ministry of Health”.
Yes, I will not be upset if you say “What the Hell !!!!!!???” or similar. That one really is a mind-blower even to me.
So, lets wait and see what happens on that perspective. I won’t even dare speculate on how many houses will be built …
Yes Fletcher is from Rotorua, and well known to a past pupil who worked with him at Waiariki Polytech. Said he was amazing. The past pupil was amazing so….
@vv
I have always made it clear that my viewpoint regards the Public Service is based on my personal experiences and relates to only two agencies – more like one and a half. Your experiences were obviously different to mine.
Yes, there are very good public servants with plenty of integrity. There is also the other kind which I had the misfortune to come up against. To deny the second category doesn’t (or didn’t) exist is not facing up to reality. Perhaps the second kind is (was) more prevalent outside of Wellington.
Sure, my experiences date back 25 years so there may well have been a lot of improvement since.
I can also claim from the same experiences that personal political attitudes – lined up against Labour suppporters – was rife in my day. And there is plenty of recorded evidence to back up that claim.
Anne, I certainly don’t deny the existence of public servants such as the ones you have experienced, as I also have. And I fully support you in what you have discussed here many times and have done so many times in comments. Not all my experiences were good by any means, and I left of my own accord in the end due to those types of experiences.
Nevertheless, I will stand up and speak against some of the one dimensional, one size fits all approach of some here who take every opportunity to denigrate public servants – who cover a massive range of people, roles, political views, approaches to neutrality etc – and occupations.
As you may not have noted, my comments were also half tongue in cheek. After it was too late to edit, I realised that I had left you out of the exceptions, so my apologies for that. I know you have had experience of differing sorts as I have had.
However, when I see people denigrating/condemning someone who I have high regard for such as Andrew Crisp on the basis of very little information about them and the situation, I am not going to stay quiet. I am trying to keep an open mind about the whole situation until more is known, and my intent was primarily to suggest that others do the same and not rush to opinions, condemnations etc.
All good vv.
I’ve done it too. Made mistakes or haven’t explained something clearly but too late to edit. Tend to leave it and hope for the best.
I’ve also stood up for individuals who are being unfairly criticised. Take Phil Tywford. Some ignorant MSM twat tried to claim recently that he had no managerial skills. That is laughable. Anyone who knows Phil well can tell you about his brilliant managerial and organisational skills honed during previous occupations linked to the UN.
Thanks that is well said.
Fair enough, if he is indeed conscientious. And after learning he was indeed given authority over Barclay after the latter signed his contract, it looks like the blame ought to be allocated to either Twyford or SSC or both, eh?
Perhaps we leave ‘blame’ out of it until we know a lot more, Dennis.
I don’t know what process was used in appointing Barclay and who was involved in the process*. Presumably Twyford as Minister would not have been involved in any way … hopefully.
Perhaps some form of trial period such as the 90 day provisions should be applied to such high level contracts – rather than the types of employment they were applied to!!!!!!!!!! LOL.
* Actually I now remember seeing something to the effect that Barclay’s appointment was made by the head of MBIE. That was about midnight last night when I had been awake for 20 hours. Don’t have time for the next few hours to recheck but will see what I can find/refind re the appointment process.
** Crisp actually only formally became overall permanent head of the MInistry of Housing and Urban Development on 17 December 2018 – ie weeks after Barclay had been sent on garden leave while the investigation was undertaken. So the reporting structure (ie who Barclay formally reported to prior to that) is unclear. Crisp was seconded to the overall organisation earlier than Dec but I am unclear as to his secondment role and employment relationship to Barclay in that role. More research to do.
I guess that’s where a culture of secrecy and needtoknowism gets you veuty.
Sticking someone on paid leave for months seems a strategy of which urgency is not a key feature wouldn’t you agree veuty.
Crispy wanted to get the big granite sign right before wasting any time on those housey things.
Thanks Gabby.timely reminder of the previous priorities, like heated seats in the limos.
Crisp had nothing to do with the ridiculous spends on signs etc when MBIE was set up. He only moved to Housing recently, and this and Kiwibuild are now a separate Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which Andrew Crisp became Chief Executive of only on 17 Dec 2018. See my 7.2.4. LOL.
Thank Veutoviper, you have inside knowledge. So Crisp is not as Barclay painted him, and had total overarching responsibility. You know Crisp and value his expertise so I’d say you probably have it right. Cheers.
Anyone else shake their heads at Jessie Mulligan’s outburst on Dowie/JLR on the Project last night?
Can you sum it up?
Muggins is on the telly is he? Lovely.
“Climate Change, Not Border Security, Is The Real National Emergency”
Sure Greenwald isn’t saying anything new here, but it’s a good contrast.
And has a lovely cache of links.
https://theintercept.com/2019/01/28/border-wall-national-emergency-climate-change/
It’s a Kate Aronoff piece, for anyone else that didn’t click the link because they’ve come to the opinion that Greenwald’s become irrelevant and boring and doesn’t have anything new to say.
Greenwald is failing to entertain you? Habet, Hoc habet! Shall we send him to the lions?
Then again, maybe he’s fighting the same ‘boring’ fights because the same boring powers that be are doing the same boring stuff??
Y’know, I kinda feel sorry for Greenwald.
When Snowden’s stuff dropped in his lap he had a period when he was relevant, had things to say that people hadn’t heard before. He had the thrill of genuinely opening people’s eyes to shit that had been going on in the shadows.
But that was a while ago now. And the way The Intercept negligently mishandled the information Reality Winner gave them means any future whistleblower with any sense will likely use a different conduit to get their info out in the open.
So now Greenwald seems to be reduced to just writing day-late-and-dollar-short polemics against the mainstream media and Dems, ranting about shortcomings that other parts of the msm have already pointed out.
“ranting about shortcomings that other parts of the msm have already pointed out.” man you really are a joke.
MSM media still use Donna Brazile ffs…I could go on and find all the examples of all the pro Iraq war MSM presenters and/or journalists who still have their jobs and all the anti war ones who don’t in MSM…ie; all of them, but why bother, you obviously like what you hear on MSM.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/01/24/donna_brazile_on_kamala_harris_in_post-clinton_era_people_are_looking_for_someone_fresh_and_new.html
A great article. Not sure if anyone’s been following this story – pure gold 😀
Truth is the issues discussed in this article can be extrapolated to many things imo from the environment to peace.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/110223275/stop-talking-twaddle-and-get-stuck-in–russell-brand-under-fire-for-parenting
Maybe women should try actually letting men be parents. For the 1 in 5 who fit into the stay at home dad catagory I can say my partner who works hard is no different to how the “men” behave. What is it now in NZ? 45% are raised with no father.
The organising play dates thing is a resultant of underlining bigotry. There is no way in my daughters case that a random call by a strange man to one of her freinds mothers for a play date, or stay over is going to work.
My partner pretty much refuses to change shitty nappies. I’m the person who had to clean up the shit artwork, when my son decided to use poo for decoration.
It sounds like you’re being a parent. Well done, big pat on the back from me.
Best of luck Minister Twyford for Cabinet this morning.
For a second I thought he was declaring himself interim leader.
Ad, Twyford has moved mountains, Crisp needs looking at.
Crisp meaning?
Andrew Crisp does not need ‘looking at’, patricia. Or rather if you want to “look at” him, see my comment at 7.2.4 above and also at 7.1.1.1. on OM 28 Jan last night.
Both threads also cover Barclay’s previous history – it seems he has at least once before badmouthed former employers when they question whether or not he achieved the expected performance.
Oops, that was meant for Patricia. Sorry Ad.
On TVNZ 1 news online …..
“ arrest warrant has been issued for a 26-year-old man who was part of the group of unruly British travellers after he failed to appear in court today on three charges.
The man, who has name suppression, was on bail and failed to appear at the Auckland District Court for a bail hearing this morning.”
“It is not clear if the 26-year-old was with the group who had flown back to the UK.”
Why is it not clear, if immigration is doing their job right?
He has either gone through the airport or not, hasn,t he?
If he had taken out a Student Loan while he was here…
Why on earth would you assume Immigration were doing their job right?
From the ODT:
“Sarah Dowie’s short-lived political career looks all but over.
The Invercargill MP from 2014 is almost certain not to be a National Party candidate in the 2020 election – assuming she does not resign beforehand….
…Several members of Dowie’s electorate committee had resigned in recent months.
It is understood several members of Dowie’s staff have also resigned.
She is advertising for staff to work in her Wellington office.
Dowie was not answering her mobile phone yesterday or responding to a text message requesting comment.”
But all will be well because Simon and Paula see no hypocrisy in firing Jamie for infidelity while supporting Sarah for the same thing. (Paula should regret ever raising the matter in the first place.)
Ross was a “serial” infidel! He was also a bit of a traitor to his leader wasn’t he?
Kennedy Graham backs the TavaGreens.
I/S isn’t impressed.
“The problem isn’t that the Greens won’t work with National – they have done so in the past and have signalled their willingness to do so again. The problem is that National won’t work with the Greens. On environmental fundamentals – climate change, rivers, mining – National is utterly opposed to sustainability and Green policy.”
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/01/getting-problem-backwards.html
As I siad yesterday Robert If Tava builds credible team around him they the pure greens will be existential threat to the watermelons, no matter what hate is thrown at them personally, This to will just work in their favour It’s no point prattling on anout national, blue:green etc if this goes ahead they will be judged on thier policies alone and left right neutrality, what the hard left greens think will be irrelevant
A “credible” team crewing a sock puppet? Surely, operating a sock puppet strongly militates against credibility?
Bewildered (love the variable spellings you employ), I liken the formation of a political party to the building of crystals in a super-saturated solution – the crystal you get reflects the purity and form of the seed crystal. If Vernon is the genuine seed, his party will be stunning. That’s why I have no concerns.
Fat thumbs, poor eye sight and no time, not a good mix I am afraid, 😊
‘Pure’?
ahahaha
Hmmm, “hard left greens”, you say. Are those the undercooked Brussels sprouts that your kid leaves on their plate because they hate them? If so, maybe you could change your preparation and presentation to make them more palatable and turn them into yummy firm greens that will be left no more? What’d you say?
New Blue – Green Party is purely an angle to get into Government, they will have no say when the Natzi’s are elected in a Coalition with the New Greens & the New Conservative Party.
I doubt that very much, National will manage relationship to ensure 9 +years, they also know rwnj also care about the environment but want Governent based on responsibility not on virtue signalling and dying in a ditch on idealogy
You’re so sweet and innocent Bemildewed. Or thick,. I don’t know which.
A balmy 23.7c with 78% humidity.
https://screenshots.firefox.com/pvCqTTMbiTXumxPU/www.weatherwatch.co.nz
Pick your spot.
https://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/observations
Attacked by dogs, shot by rubber bullet, and teargassed:
Trump, Pompeo, Bolton, Abrams are all bloodyminded supporters of this.
https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
WATCH : A new #Israeli crime, by attacking directly a paramedic with a Gas bomb 💣, while helping wounded #Palestinians participating in the peaceful #GreatReturnMarch eastern Of #Gaza city. #ICC4Israel #GazaMassacre #SaveGaza #BDS pic.twitter.com/cgIw7j6lJu
— Dr. Basem Naim (@basemn63) January 26, 2019
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2019/01/25/great-return-march-news/
Idiot/Savant gets it right again on two counts:
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/01/getting-problem-backwards.html
Growth at ANY cost is not sustainable
and
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/01/climate-change-local-government-in.html
I guess we’ll have to wait and see after the next local body elections whether or not they should just be left to the whims of human-assisted Mother Nature’s fury or not.
Might change their tune when the insurance premium start rising
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12198025
Spot on
Jesus. Too visible one minute, not visible enough the next. Can’t win with the RWNJs.
If you don’t drink the kool aid around here like all the other zombies you must be a RWNJ. Lesson learnt. Sorry
lol the dipshit managed to call her a figurehead and say she was apparently finding that, with leadership, “the job is a little difficult”. Still pushing the “pretty woman out of her depth” meme – I guess she’s next on the probing round after Twyford. Full circle so soon, they must be so disappointed after the promising start they had with Curran.
That is a nasty attempt by a Nat lackey to undermine Jacinda Ardern.
1)Every PM since time immemorial has gone on holiday at Xmas and doesn’t return until the end of January. John Key used to disappear off to Hawaii and we saw or heard nothing from him until the end of the month.
2) She fronted at the first weekly post cabinet press conference of the year this afternoon.
3) Suggesting she is weak and has no ideas flies in the face of all the evidence to the contrary.
Just a pathetic and dirty attempt to undermine her. What a creep.
I was looking at Michael King’s book of photographs of Maori from early days to modern. He explains what they felt about being pictured and what was happening in their lives..
In the later years, there is the famous photo of Dame Whina Cooper, in her 80s, setting off with her grandchild on the long march in 1975, Then Bastion Point occupation – In 1977–78 a 506-day protest against a proposed Crown sale was held there. (Land was to be sold for high-value housing. The sections would have nice sea views I suppose.)
‘In 1978, largely in response to the protest at Bastion Point, the Government made a settlement with some of Ngati Whatua. The Crown returned only some of the land taken under the Public Works Act – the land which had not been used for the purpose for which it had been taken. The tribe was to pay $200,000 for its return.’ This was settled by the Waitangi Tribunal in 1987.
https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/publications-and-resources/school-resources/orakei/resolving-the-grievances-of-the-past/
In 1981 there was defiance against the Goverment over the Springbok Tour, protests and some violence and injuries. There were however only two games cancelled.
In 1984 Ernie Abbott was blown up at the Trades Hall by a bomb in a suitcase.
Later the USS Buchanan was forbidden a berth as a protest against the USA’s use of nuclear power coming in to our ports. The Rainbow Warrior was blown up by French security agents with a loss of life as a result of protest against nuclear testing.
1985 Roger Douglas began the economic changes of Lange’s government.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/john-minto/692334/Douglass-reforms-were-an-economic-disaster-for-the-country
The scale of the disaster is apparent from an OECD (Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development) report, Growing Unequal, which was released last week….The report’s title refers to the dramatic growth in inequality in OECD countries and New Zealand in particular from 1985 to 2005.
The gap between rich and poor widened rapidly.
Roger Douglas told us there was no alternative to his reforms and there would be no gain without pain. What he neglected to say was that the gains would be for the wealthy and the pain for the poor. And so it was.
We have finally reached the top of the OECD but for the wrong reasons. We are second to none for growth in income inequality from 1985 to 2005 and we are also close to the top for the sharpest increase in poverty over the same 20-year period.
This was a bit like our Brexit. We had no idea of what was to come, innocent bunnies that we were.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Douglas
David Caygill, who was also Minister of Trade and Industry, and Richard Prebble, who was also Minister of Transport.[36] Douglas and his associate ministers became known as the “Treasury Troika” or the “Troika”.[37]
The 1984 budget was a radical departure from Labour’s established approach to economic management. Douglas answered criticism that the government’s intentions had not been made clear to the electorate by saying that he had spelled out his whole programme to the Policy Council, which, he said, had understood and endorsed his intentions. He maintained that the detail was not made available to the public because it did not have the capacity to absorb it in the short time available.[45]
The budget owed almost nothing to Labour’s manifesto. Its content closely matched the Treasury view set out in Economic Management.[46] Douglas’s identification with Treasury was complete by 1985. Treasury initiatives adopted by the government that were not signalled before the 1984 election included the introduction of a comprehensive tax on consumption (GST), the floating of the dollar (which Douglas opposed until 1984) and the corporatisation of the government’s trading activities, announced at the end of 1985….
The juxtaposition of the preceding years on the 1985 economic reforms had never occurred to me. I think the wealthy whites were taking fright at the idea of Maori getting control of government, and that they had to act swiftly while they still had a chance. Our finances were already in flux, internationally also. So seize the day.
Please keep the respect of the human rights of your citizens at the forefront in the sorting out of your political problems.
Good luck & success
New Zealand
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/29/venezuela-crisis-new-zealand-guaido-interim-president
Interesting about the horticulture industry crying out for workers. – what a load of crock. My 18 year old has been trying to get fruit picking or other similar work and applied for lots of jobs but heard nothing or they don’t want them because they want migrants or people back packing or a particular gender. Accommodation is expensive or difficult to get if you don’t have a car. Here is a physically fit young person who is keen to work and is now giving up and looking at retail work. What the industry means is they want to be able to exploit migrant labour because my kid knows their rights.
Here is a story that say Australia can be run on renewable energy that use less water is better for the environment and more cost effective that carbon based energy
Our electricity system of the future could be powered by sun, wind and waves However, the big four banks and the big three energy companies are not having a bar of it. Indeed the majority of Australia’s energy companies are working towards a very different future for the country’s energy system, a future powered by clean, renewable energy.
There are now at least nine studies conducted during the decade that have analysed how Australia can move from an electricity system based on polluting coal and gas to one powered by the sun, wind and waves.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – the body tasked with making sure we have energy when we need it – found there were “no fundamental limits to 100% renewables”, and that the current standards of the system’s security and reliability would be maintained.
These studies show different pathways towards 100% renewable energy, but what they all agree on is that it can be achievedhe Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – the body tasked with making sure we have energy when we need it – found there were “no fundamental limits to 100% renewables”, and that the current standards of the system’s security and reliability would not be lost.
1. Big on wind and solar
In future, the bulk of our electricity will come from the most affordable technologies – wind and solar photovoltaic (PV). In areas with the best renewable resources, big wind and solar projects connected to transmission lines will generate electricity to power Australia’s industry, transport, cities and exports.
Modelling by the University of New South Wales suggests that wind generation could supply up to 70% of Australia’s electricity needs, while modelling by CSIRO and Energy Networks Australia found that wind and solar could provide nearly all generation in future. UNSW’s analysis, backed up by AEMO’s Integrated System Plan, also found that many of the best solar and wind sites in Australia were in remote locations – renewable energy zones, needing new transmission investments to harvest these amazing resources e supply gaps will then be filled with a range of on-demand renewables and storage, such as concentrating solar thermal with storage, pumped hydro, batteries (grid and domestic), sustainable bioenergy and more.
A study by Andrew Blakers at Australian National University found that pumped hydro could provide enough backup for a grid entirely powered by wind and solar power.
Hold on … hydropower in the dry continent of Australia? Yes, they have identified 22,000 potential sites, mainly off-river reservoirs in hilly terrain or abandoned mine sites, and just 0.1% of those could meet all of Australia’s storage needs in a 100% renewable grid.
This means we will move from a power system paradigm of baseload (big thermal generators) and peaking plants (quick-start gas) to one where our bulk energy is supplied by variable renewables and dispatchable renewables, and storage will fill the gaps.
3. Small, so everyone can benefit
According to CSIRO and Energy Networks Australia, between 30% and 45% of the country’s future energy generation will be local and customer-owned – in homes, businesses and communities. This means solar panels on every sunny roof, and batteries in households and commercial buildings. In apartment blocks, there will be microgrids powered by solar and batteries. Renters will join community solar projects and landlords will be required to make properties more energy efficient. When you go to the shopping centre and plug in your electric car, it will be shaded by solar panels
Ka kite ano links below
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/28/what-would-australia-look-like-powered-by-100-renewable-energyhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1kUE0BZtTRc
Links to the above post just trying to get use to a tablet my other computer crashed some how ?????????????????????????
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1kUE0BZtTRc
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/28/what-would-australia-look-like-powered-by-100-renewable-energy Ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub Jenna Phil was baited with that question and I don’t think it was respectful doing that to him. It’s not as hot today as it was yesterday all tho ECO has put up and repair some more shade but records are being broken all around Papatuanukue. simon that’s just a spinning ap
There some fools who have broken into the blue penguin whare and stole them Its a stunt leave our wild life be.
That’s cool the seal population at Kaikorua has started booming after the Rua moko quake their and the authorities have built car parks so people can watch them from a safe distance Ka pai. I have just read that a court has ruled that the authoritie that allocated the water in the Murray Darling basin the Wai water was supposed to be allocated and managed with the environment first but the allocation was giving business needs over the environment that is why there are millions of fish dying in the Murray Darling river. It gets hot in Alexander Alex Alot of times they have the countrys highest temperature.
One day I will go fishing with Matt Watson that’s a cool way to tag fish instead of killing it yes Times Are Changing. That person killed his wife in front of there child was alcohol a factor????? Ka kite ano
The big picture is its is cool that the voices are finally getting out through the media that people with more money than they could spend in a life time is outrageous when we have people dieing of starvation around the world . The billionaire have to be pressured into paying more money back to the society that they got the wealth from and Eco Maori can see that happening now. The new currency the hitts on the net and + AND – hitts will give all peoples a conscience and then equality will BOOM.
After the panel Bregman tweeted a link to a opinion piece he wrote for the Guardian in 2017, saying “most wealth is not created at the top, but merely devoured there
Historian berates billionaires at Davos over tax avoidance
Rutger Bregman tells panel that the real issue is the rich not paying their fair share
A discussion panel at the Davos World Economic Forum has become a sensation after a Dutch historian took billionaires to task for not paying taxes.
In a video shared tens of thousands of times, Rutger Bregman, author of the book Utopia for Realists, bemoans the failure of attendees at the recent gathering in Switzerland to address the key issue in the battle for greater equality: the failure of rich people to pay their fair share of taxes.
Noting that 1,500 people had travelled to Davos by private jet to hear David Attenborough talk about climate change, he said he was bewildered that no one was talking about raising taxes on the rich.
Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion.
Rutger Bregman
“I hear people talking the language of participation, justice, equality and transparency but almost no one raises the real issue of tax avoidance, right? And of the rich just not paying their fair share,” Bregman tells the Time magazine panel on inequality.
“It feels like I’m at a firefighters conference and no one’s allowed to speak about water.”
Industry had to “stop talking about philanthropy and start talking about taxes”, he said, and cited the high tax regime of 1950s America as an example to disprove arguments by businesspeople at Davos such as Michael Dell that economies with high personal taxation could not succeed. “That’s it,” he says. “Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion.”
Davos 2019: the yawning gap between rhetoric and reality
Larry Elliott
Read more
A member of the audience, former Yahoo chief financial officer Ken Goldman, challenged his comments and said it was a “one-sided panel”. He argued the fiscal settings across the global economy had been successful and had created record employment.
But another panel member, Winnie Byanyima, an Oxfam executive director, took up the fight and said high employment was not a good thing in itself because many people found themselves in exploitative work. She cited the example of poultry workers in the US who had to wear nappies (diapers) because they were not allowed toilet breaks.
“That’s not a dignified job,” she said. “those are the jobs we’ve been told about, that globalisation is bringing jobs. The quality of the jobs matter. In many countries workers no longer have a voice. Ka kite ano links below P.S its hard finding good vides on this subject $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ distorting our reality once again
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/30/historian-berates-billionaires-at-davos-over-tax-avoidance
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute