Open mike 29/03/2019

84 comments on “Open mike 29/03/2019 ”

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1. Incognito 1

   29 March 2019 at 7:57 am

   All the identicons seem to have disappeared since yesterday!? Tried Edge and Chrome.
   • greywarshark 1.1

     29 March 2019 at 11:57 am

     lprent
     All our pretty colours have gone. We need some images to brighten our pages of stark considerations. Helpfully yours, greywarshark.
     • McFlock 1.1.1

       29 March 2019 at 12:30 pm

       It’s also a pretty good way of picking commenters I like to read as I scroll down OM.
   • te reo putake 1.2

     29 March 2019 at 3:14 pm

     Fixed. The identicon button was unchecked, though I don’t know why. As far as I know, the identicons don’t slow page loading or have any impact on the way pages look, so I guess it was entirely unintentional. Lprent will put me right in his usual style if I’ve got that wrong 😉
     • lprent 1.2.1

       29 March 2019 at 8:13 pm

       Good fix. I was bit busy.

       But probably just an accident.
2. Rosemary McDonald 2

   29 March 2019 at 8:27 am

   ” New Zealand is on track. One child dies in NZ as a result of abuse every five weeks.

   Three children are dead so far in New Zealand this year as a result of domestic violence and it is not even the end of March.

   In many cases they get fleeting news coverage and we may not even learn their names.

   Names matter. We refuse to speak the name of the mosque murderer in our search for non-violence. We won’t give him any air time – he was not us, says Prime Minister Jacinda Adern. He does not exist.

   But he did. He really did! And so do the children that are dying in New Zealand as a result of domestic violence occurring right here. We need to speak their names. We need to be just as outraged by their deaths as we are by the mosque killings.

   Yet we keep quiet about them because they are our national shame. We look the other way.

   Currently there is an almost obscene celebration of ourselves as New Zealanders.

   Adern has carefully crafted a response to a terrorist act in New Zealand so that tables have been completely turned and we have come up smelling of roses.

   The message is: ‘This is not us – it is just one individual who lost the plot’.

   Adern really is a good leader – she is doing well in protecting our national identity. National identities are important in a global economy.

   I think it is wrong that the world’s tallest building (in Dubai) is lit up with an image of Jacinda Adern when our own dying children in New Zealand get limited media coverage.

   Frankly, it’s tacky.”

   https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12215934

   I agree.

   And there’s not much more I can add….other than I won’t be celebrating our Our National Day of Unity until we sort this shit out.
   • greywarshark 2.1

     29 March 2019 at 2:34 pm

     So true Rosemary thanks for reminding us.

     Blurb on NZ standards from the government on-line:
     (How many people are employed in PR and seriously compromising their own integrity by writing this shit with a sure hand?)
     Family Life in New Zealand | New Zealand Now
     https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/why-choose-nz/family-friendly
     Nov 12, 2018 – But rest assured, New Zealand is a great place to bring up children. It’s why so many Kiwis living abroad come back home when it’s time to start nesting. … There are wonderful opportunities for young people to grow up with easy … Families in New Zealand get great support from a range of public services.

     Maori have numerous systems going and success. But society is up against television and its content that is probably more anti-social than positive, also drugs – alcohol, mj, other chemicals, lack of meaningful jobs with decent pay,
     peer pressure and modelling; also a general lack of respect from ignorant, snooty pakeha and middle-class whites who patronise and judge, is an observation of mine.

     There has been action also from the private sector generally, and not all just to get on the money bandwagon from government. Which is how some charter schools see things when bad, but not all charter schools are no good, government should ensure better standards, mentors and overview.

     Parents Centre –
     https://www.parentscentre.org.nz/lobyingandadvocacy/default.asp
     (Not always helped financially by government.)

     Helping parents shouldn’t be a vacuum that business jumps in to fill
     to sell their product.
     https://www.momentumlife.co.nz/stories/why-kids-should-have-chores
     About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance, Funeral insurance and Accident insurance in New Zealand.
     https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/about-us/news/2017/october/meet-the-grandparents-raising-their-grandchildren/
     Life insurance – retirement plans.

     Middle class working parent.
     https://thespinoff.co.nz/parenting/24-01-2018/working-mothers-make-great-employees-so-stop-being-an-asshole-about-them/

     http://www.homeandfamily.net.nz/about/ (120 years in Christchurch)
     https://www.theparentingplace.com/our-story/
     Ian and Mary Grant (Christian)
     https://www.iosis.org.nz/about-us/story/
     Baptist Christian – Mangere, Manurewa, Papakura.

     There is Thrive – which sounds good but with little information about the people running it, no names. Under Waves Trust, 7 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson.
     http://www.thrive.org.nz/contact/
     Our Vision
     Young parents and their children are able to reach their full potential by being connected and secure within their families and communities.
     Our Mission
     Thriving young people, parents and families.
     Mahi tahi
     We are a small team of social workers, support staff and volunteers who are committed to helping young teenage parents and their whānau flourish and thrive.
     What we do
     We offer a range of innovative one on one wrap around support along with various programmes that are tailored and targetted towards the needs, hopes and aspirations of teen parents.

     Our first priority is the wellbeing of you and your unborn or new born baby, pepi. We work in partnership with teen parents to be or new teen parents, by ensuring that your voice is heard and that we speak with you and not for you.

     The aim of all that we do is based on working to break through and address any and all of the pressing issues that a young parent, young couple face as they look to strengthen and uphold their new roles as parents to be or new parents.

     Our highly skilled staff are there to guide, shape and assist every step of the way. We are have a strong reputation of building and maintaining a solid relationship with teen parents and their baby, pepi through an effective and continuous quality service provision.
     WHY?
     The team is focused on ensuring that you are given the necessary support, tools, and information that will improve the health and well-being of you and your child. Our commitment is based on teen parents reaching and fulfilling their potential and reaching their goals.

     (This is the work and the attitude about the social need, that the government should be showing itself not through a second party.)
     Then there is government’s Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children. I wonder how Maori feel they are getting on with their job? Can’t see an overview on that but I imagine there will be one.

     I have remembered more info that is valid for this and put it up further along the post.
     • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.1

       29 March 2019 at 3:45 pm

       Substance abuse. I wonder if substance use/abuse is recorded when a death or extreme neglect and abuse are investigated?

       Because I’ll bet that in the vast majority of cases alcohol use and abuse and/or legal or illegal drug use are significant factors.

       My happy day will be when alcohol use attracts the same degree of social opprobrium as tobacco smoking.
       • greywarshark 2.1.1.1

         29 March 2019 at 4:06 pm

         Yes, it is there like an unreliable cat waiting for the right moment to bite you on the ankle. So nice to look at, so innocent a pleasure, and so difficult to know how to protect yourself. I have avoided having that, but others I know have been bitten.

         The only thing about smoking is that it has become established. It is stupid not to notice how Prohibition went in the USA – it encouraged crime and now with tobacco becoming hard to obtain because of the price, it has gone up on the Bell curve of effectiveness from pricing to falling effectiveness because of the enhancement of the price raising the intrinsic value of the ciggies.
   • gsays 2.2

     29 March 2019 at 6:17 pm

     Hi Rosemary, I agree about the horrific rate we harm our vulnerable.

     It is simplistic click bait shenanagins to convolute Prime Minister Arderns response to the Mosque murders, with our harm of our tamariki.

     Our leader has already identified child poverty as the one issue she wants to address.
     • Rosemary McDonald 2.2.1

       29 March 2019 at 6:55 pm

       “… simplistic click bait shenanagins…”

       Really? When I read Tulloch’s piece it resonated.

       “What if we were to form a mass vigil for all the children who have died in New Zealand as a result of child abuse? One candle for every little life. Between 2010 and 2016 that was 66 lives.

       What if we demanded an adequate social welfare system within which children and families had wrap around care?

       What if we valued children so much in New Zealand that our leader Adern would raise the pay of our teachers in early childhood and schools to demonstrate the value of their work?

       But she didn’t. And we looked the other way. We did not call a mass uprising to say we wanted our teachers and schools supported. We did not yell loud enough and say ‘this is not us’.

       If the recent death of the child in Maketu doesn’t raise the hairs on your arms in the same way that the spine-chilling hakas did in the aftermath of the shootings it is because we have normalised it.

       Another child has died in suspicious circumstances in New Zealand and we are in no position to deny that we are a violent society.”

       All this ‘this is not us’ bullshit….I’m over it. It is us. We kill our kids.
3. JanM 3

   29 March 2019 at 8:56 am

   I agree we need to be making a huge fuss about it and start doing some serious research into why it is happening. And start to fix it.! There are lots of theories and ideas, of course, but in order to start making the first meaningful steps to stop these tragic happenings we need some serious data and a workable plan.
   • McFlock 3.1

     29 March 2019 at 12:45 pm

     We have most of the data already.

     The new IDI might be able to produce deeper information about relationships and generational issues, but there’s only so far one can go with probabilistic ID linkage between such diverse datasets.

     I suspect the main problem is that the numbers of mortality are too low to get real relationships from, and the gap between detecting non-lethal abuse/neglect and identifying it in the morgue is so wide. Even though health professionals are getting better at looking for it, there’d still be a massive underreporting of child injuries resulting from assault – often difficult to tell an arm broken by accident with an arm broken by dragging etc. So we see the ones who turn up dead, but you’d be lucky to see maybe a quarter of assault injuries attributed to something other than accident.

     So basically asfar as I can see the main thing we can do is lower family stress by reducing inequality and hardship, throwing more social workers at everyone, and then hoping that the upper-income sociopaths get outed by their kids at school.
   • One Two 3.2

     29 March 2019 at 1:10 pm

     Indeed, Rosemary…

     There is a twisted sense of self being presented around by ‘Nz’, from what I have observed…

     It is nothing new, as you well know…and from the experiences you share here…

     The most vulnerable are still treated poorly and seemingly not valued…

     Youth suicide rates…

     Bullying and abuse (from all sources)…

     NZ is not a united country…

     It is a severley damaged and deluded one…
     • Higherstandard 3.2.1

       29 March 2019 at 4:13 pm

       “It is a severley damaged and deluded one…”
       • WILD KATIPO 3.2.1.1

         29 March 2019 at 6:21 pm

         OOOOOH …. Eric Idle, – my absolute favourite of the Python team !

         There’s just something about his eyes, his face shape, his voice , mannerisms that perfectly suited his comic cheeky , cheerful persona, – Life of Brian , – speaking to the Roman guard … ” Nah – I’m only pullin’ your leg ,- its crucifixion really , yeah I know the way , out the door , one cross each, line on the left ”

         Hahahaa! – as if hes an old hand at being crucified and its just the same old , same old , humdrum routine …

         The guy used to have me in hysterics of laughter 🙂

         Monty Python – Crucifixion – YouTube
         
4. Kat 4

   29 March 2019 at 9:24 am

   Hoots ethos must be really feeling threatened, he slips the knife into Winston again over at the fish wrap this morning. 2020 is sure going to be an interesting election.
   • bwaghorn 4.1

     29 March 2019 at 11:58 am

     The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result.
   • Skunk Weed 4.2

     29 March 2019 at 12:18 pm

     Hootz and MSM still trying to drive the nail into Winnie ?
     • McFlock 4.2.1

       29 March 2019 at 12:46 pm

       Still haven’t figured out it requires a stake through the heart and earnest prayer.
       • cleangreen 4.2.1.1

         29 March 2019 at 2:47 pm

         Mcflock is anti Winnie so you would use a nail gun for sure.

         Winnie is legendary and the oldest sitting MP so don’t count him out as you will fail.
         • McFlock 4.2.1.1.1

           29 March 2019 at 3:24 pm

           Not particularly anti. It’s just that the dude has survived more announcements of his political demise than Christopher Lee turned to dust in all the Hammer Horrors combined.
5. vto 5

   29 March 2019 at 9:43 am

   Big ups to all those attending the service this morning in Hagley Park…

   An overly heavy weight fell upon the city, still rebuilding its strength post-eqs. You can almost touch it. It is on people’s faces. It will take time to dissipate.

   grim
   heavy
   burdensome

   (of course, the city is a minor bit-part and thoughts and wishes go first and foremost to the victims and their families and communities.)
   • CHCoff 5.1

     29 March 2019 at 6:29 pm

     It was a special event, an involving experience for everyone (& there were many), full of character and community; & a huge credit to all involved in putting together such a good display of NZ values of respect.
6. Kevin 6

   29 March 2019 at 11:53 am

   Americans must be getting pretty desperate for regime change in Venezuela now.

   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/venezuela-blackout-latest-news-maduro-sniper-prayers
   • Skunk Weed 6.1

     29 March 2019 at 12:19 pm

     Why does the USA have to poke it’s nose in everywhere, they need to tidy up the shambles they have at home ?
     • WeTheBleeple 6.1.1

       29 March 2019 at 12:32 pm

       Agreed. American leadership is so shite their citizens are openly embarrassed, and for some time now many travelling pretend to be Canadian to take the heat off.

       https://www.outsideonline.com/2201026/stop-telling-people-youre-canada

       How’s them eggs for national pride?
       • cleangreen 6.1.1.1

         29 March 2019 at 2:54 pm

         Wethe peole,

         you must be young saying that.

         I am a naturalised Canadian and Kiwi born too.

         I went to live in Canada in 1968 when the anti-Vietnam war riots were spreading around the US and US young were dogging the ‘draft’ to go to Vietnam so this is a historical event that happens every time politics changes rapidly,

         This time it’s Trump draining the ‘Washington swamp’ finally, so maybe some of the former ‘Washington intelligence staff’ are running away from being tracked as US citizens.
         • Higherstandard 6.1.1.1.1

           29 March 2019 at 4:15 pm

           ‘..dogging the draft…” 😆
           • cleangreen 6.1.1.1.1.1

             29 March 2019 at 6:15 pm

             higherstandard
             “dodging the draft”‘

             Not me, as I did my time in the NZ army in 1964.

             But the US kids were leaving US and coming over the border to Toronto where I was then as i bumped into several of them there.
       • Skunk Weed 6.1.1.2

         29 March 2019 at 3:39 pm

         Had some relations here from the UK recently who had been travelling through Asia and Australia, they said any Americans they met would say they are from the State they are from in the USA rather than the USA. Does that tell you something about how they feel about the USA and it’s International Relations ?
     • Kevin 6.1.2

       29 March 2019 at 2:56 pm

       ‘Cause Venezuela has ‘their’ oil.
   • Cinny 6.2

     29 March 2019 at 1:18 pm

     Russian troops have landed in Venezuela, no doubt that will making a few waves for trump.

     “The arrival of two Russian air force planes carrying nearly 100 Russian troops outside Caracas on Saturday has escalated the political crisis in Venezuela.”

     https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/trump-tells-russia-troops-venezuela-190327171525621.html
     • Skunk Weed 6.2.1

       29 March 2019 at 3:40 pm

       Cuba had to do the same thing in the 1960’s to protect itself from USA aggression ?
7. Observer Tokoroa 7

   29 March 2019 at 11:54 am

   Hooton decay

   Admittedly, Matthew is enmeshed in a rather abysmal lot. There is Hosking who daily writes about Hosking and little else.

   There is Audrey Young who struggles in later life to know what a Topic is. Whether on Dan’s panel – Or Whatever. Although she is marginally more alive than Johnny Armstrong.

   So from the large Herald nursery, only about two writers cut the mustard with Fact and Humour and Balance.

   I punished myself today and read a bit of smooth Hooton dated 2004, where he was jacking up National in a bouquet of Flowers and Perfume – and a Brash of bright future. Oh Yeah.

   Hooton does nothing but unjack everyone – EXCEPT – his idols – Johnny Key, Frau Bennett and Billy English, each of whom gave New Zealand great wealth. Huge wealth. Incredible wealth. Tax Cuts Tax Cuts Tax Cuts.

   National have decided they must get rid of Winston Peters. He is too good to be allowed to stay alive. He is a threat to Simon. Equally a threat to “strange person of power” Papakura Collins. He is the enemy of excessive Wealth.

   Not a single Journalist of the Herald has ever written a word about the real people of New Zealand.

   The ones who go to work. Often two jobs a day. Both Parents. Struggling to pay for a bit of Fonterra’s bland cheese. Unhoused. Batted around by Dickensian Landlords.

   Hooton is in decay. Yes. But he is not the only one who has hated and destroyed the backbone of the real people of this our Nation.
   • soddenleaf 7.1

     29 March 2019 at 1:08 pm

     Home ownership keeps dropping. Kiwi paradise of renting forever must be maintain say Bridges. It’s the kiwi way to improvise more and more kiwis.
     • Skunk Weed 7.1.1

       29 March 2019 at 3:44 pm

       The Banks are not lending at present and are scared to lend on new building projects as the market may crash ?

       The Banks are in the business of making money for their shraeholders, they are not interested in economic growth or looking after New Zealanders.

       The NZ Banks are looking after their major shareholders in Australia and the USA.

       The Labour Government was stupid selling the BNZ to Fay Richwhite IMHO ?
       • patricia bremner 7.1.1.1

         29 March 2019 at 4:51 pm

         Michael Fay and David Richwhite infamous!! Yes and they hollowed it out sold shares to the workers in the bank branches complete with loans to buy their shonkey shares!!

         Luckily my eldest son needed our signature on the loan and we explained why we thought it was a bad idea. Son was so relieved. No job and a debt was how they left many having unloaded worthless shares.
         The bank folded and those people were left paying for fresh air. That pair went to Ireland and did similar over there.
         • Skunk Weed 7.1.1.1.1

           29 March 2019 at 5:43 pm

           Yep did the same thing to British Rail.
   • James 7.2

     29 March 2019 at 2:02 pm

     “Not a single Journalist of the Herald has ever written a word about the real people of New Zealand.

     The ones who go to work. Often two jobs a day. Both Parents. Struggling to pay for a bit of Fonterra’s bland cheese. Unhoused. Batted around by Dickensian Landlords.”

     Oh – so you mean your definition of ‘real people of new zealand’.

     Plenty of tea New Zealanders are going perfectly fine and dandy – they are real New Zealanders as well.
     • Skunk Weed 7.2.1

       29 March 2019 at 3:46 pm

       James yes agree all the “parasites” working for the overseas banks and corporates who are stripping NZ and it’s workers ?
     • Gabby 7.2.2

       29 March 2019 at 5:51 pm

       Sambimbo out, jimbo in.
   • cleangreen 7.3

     29 March 2019 at 3:07 pm

     100% OT. Well expressed.
   • Skunk Weed 7.4

     29 March 2019 at 3:41 pm

     Horeskin is infatuated with himself and his horeskin ?
8. cleangreen 8

   29 March 2019 at 11:56 am

   Latest NZ scientific climate change report today 29th March 2019.

   NZ P.M. Jacinda Ardern needs to read this NZ scientific report released today.

   Our NZ climate is now moving out of reach of changing it so this report from senior NZ scientists are warning the Labour coalition Government.

   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1903/S00049/global-state-of-the-cliate-2018-expert-reaction.htm

   SCOOP

   Global State of the Climate 2018 – Expert Reaction
   Friday, 29 March 2019, 9:17 am
   Press Release: Science Media Centre
   The physical signs and socio-economic impacts of climate change are accelerating according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
   In their 2018 State of the Global Climate report, they say 2018 saw record sea level rise and exceptionally high land and ocean temperatures over the past four years, continuing the warming trend observed over the past two decades.
   The statement also covers climate impacts on human populations over the past year, such as at climate hazards, displacements and food security.
   The SMC asked experts to comment, feel free to use these comments in your reporting.
   Professor James Renwick, climate scientist and Head of the VUW School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, comments:
   “The 25th annual State of the Climate report from the WMO is an excellent and accessible summary, but it makes for sobering reading. Carbon dioxide concentrations are at record levels, ocean heat content and sea levels are both at record highs, sea ice extent is well below normal in both hemisphere, glaciers and ice sheets are melting. On and on in the now-familiar litany of all the ways the climate is warming and changing around us. Even more worrying is the range of associated extreme weather events and impacts on human populations. World hunger is on the rise and we are now talking of millions of people displaced as a result of weather and climate extremes.
   “Ecosystems are being affected worldwide, on land and in the oceans, where acidification is associated with rising temperatures and loss of dissolved oxygen. The record heat in New Zealand and the Tasman Sea during summer 2017/18 is an example of what we can expect much more of in future years. With no action on climate change, that record warm summer in New Zealand would be counted as a cold summer in another 50 years. The associated increases in climate and weather extremes would displace hundreds of millions and would threaten the fabric of societies everywhere.

   “The globe is currently running a temperature of about 1°C above pre-industrial levels. To rein in the warming at no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial, global emissions need to halve by 2030, and go to zero by 2050. Yet, emissions increased to record levels in 2018! Policy-makers must really take on board that climate change is an existential threat to global society, to the global economy, and to all ecosystems on earth. I hope the planned United Nations Climate Action Summit later this year really galvanises action by governments around the world.”
   No conflict of interest.
   Gregor Macara, climate scientist, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), comments:
   “In a week that has seen the highest 48-hour rainfall total ever in New Zealand, it seems fitting that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is highlighting the increasing impacts of climate change around the world.
   “New Zealand is far from immune and has experienced many of the indicators the WMO has concluded are becoming more pronounced globally.
   “These include:
   • New Zealand’s hottest ever month in January 2018 when the mean temperature was 20.3°C, a remarkable 3.1°C above average
   • At New Zealand climate stations over the past six years, for every record or near-record low monthly mean temperature there have been 12 record or near-record highs.
   • A hot March this year – higher temperatures than what it’s usually like in mid to late summer.
   • Marine heatwaves over the past two summers – likely a contributor to this week’s wettest 48 hours on record.
   • A near record 40-day dry spell in Nelson this summer which included significant wildfires.
   • 2018 coming in at NZ’s equal-second warmest year on record .” [High-res graph available here under creative commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)].
   No conflict of interest.
   Professor Jim Salinger, Visiting Scholar, Penn State University, comments:
   “The 25th Anniversary issue shows hastening climate warming globally. This was true for the New Zealand region, a combined land and marine area of 4 million sq. km (the size of the Indian subcontinent), with the warmest year on 150 years of land and sea records.
   “It is very alarming that the carbon dioxide levels reaching a highest 406 ppm – up from 280 ppm in the 19th century, and methane jumping unexpectedly by 25 ppb to a record 1850 ppb by 2017.
   “The extra 3.7 mm of sea level rise will be very significant for the coast of Australia, and especially New Zealand with its many seaside urban areas and long coasts.
   “The record warm summer ending in February 2019 produced the largest ice loss on the Southern Alps glaciers since the regular end of summer snowline surveys started 42 years ago.
   “We’ve seen Queensland Groper in the Bay of Islands, Northland, 3000 km out of range, snapper in Milford Sound in Fiordland, and massive mortality in the aquaculture fisheries of the Marlborough Sounds. These are a harbinger of climate in the latter part of the 20th century if we do not take action to reduce emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and the production of greenhouse gases from other sources such as waste and agriculture immediately.”
   No conflict of interest.
   ends
   Science Media Centre NZ

   Our aim is to promote accurate, evidence-based reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community.
   The Science Media Centre is New Zealand’s only trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to science. Thousands of news stories providing context from and quoting New Zealand researchers have been published as a direct result of our work.
   Contact Science Media Centre NZ
   • Website – http://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
   • Email – smc@sciencemediacentre.co.nz
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   • Postal Address – PO Box 598, Wellington 6140
   • A 8.1

     29 March 2019 at 12:04 pm

     Thanks CG! Would have missed it otherwise
     • Sacha 8.1.1

       29 March 2019 at 9:43 pm

       I’m so grateful to see the entire text of the media release faithfully pasted here including the contact details. That newfangled hyperlinking idea will never catch on. Off to scribe some papyrus and summon my faithful carrier pigeon.
   • soddenleaf 8.2

     29 March 2019 at 1:14 pm

     Basic science says planetary gas traps heat, so digging up and burning carbon would inevitably increase the temperature globally. Especially if nothing is done to stop the concentration of co2 in the atmosphere. It really does not matter whether we have past the tipping point, we have or we will if nothing changes. So let’s grow the co2 level some more…

     So we are running at the cliff, it looks now that we’ve run right off the top…
   • James 8.3

     29 March 2019 at 2:04 pm

     You know that you don’t need to post the entire thing after the link.

     You trying to channel Ed?
     • Sacha 8.3.1

       29 March 2019 at 9:45 pm

       Knowing what is relevant seems beyond some folk.
   • patricia bremner 8.4

     29 March 2019 at 5:11 pm

     PM Jacinda Ardern was at the Memorial Service this morning, Soon she flies for a one day meeting with China. She will probably read that Report on her way. I’m sure James Shaw will read it as well.

     Cleangreen, I know you didn’t mean to make it sound like she is neglectful, but it did rather read that way. Her plate is full.
     A terrorist Attack which killed 50 and injured as many more.
     A flight to China to salvage relations.
     Gun law changes.
     A Climate Change Tipping point Report.
     A budget being prepared.
     The ongoing repairs and replacements needed because of previous neglect.
     I so admire this young woman who has taken on that role with such aplomb and sincerity.
     She will do her level best for us all, and next election it is to be hoped we vote her a greater mandate to bring in change.
     • cleangreen 8.4.1

       29 March 2019 at 6:28 pm

       True that Patricia,

       I marched on that day and held two banners up saying save rail save a planet.

       I am nervous as the murders have shifted the spotlight off the most serious issue we now face for us and our children’s future.

       I am 75 so don’t feel personally threatened as my life is now limited but when I look at my 7yr old grandson I almost cry at what he will face going forward so Jacinda must feel this too with a very young Girl under a year old.

       We must keep up the pressure for change now.
       • patricia bremner 8.4.1.1

         29 March 2019 at 8:21 pm

         Yes Cleangreen, at 77 I feel the same. Cheers.
9. Macro 9

   29 March 2019 at 12:20 pm

   In case you have missed it –
   Face book is banning all white nationalist content.
   https://www.vox.com/technology/2019/3/27/18284319/facebook-instagram-white-nationalism-ban

   Facebook is finally banning white nationalist content
   The new ban, which will also apply to content supporting white separatism, comes after months of advocacy from civil rights groups.

   Facebook has announced a ban on content that includes “praise, support and representation of white nationalism and separatism” — a significant policy shift that comes after months of criticism from civil rights groups.

   The change, which was first reported Wednesday by Motherboard, will go into effect next week and will also apply to Instagram. The platform will also direct users who try to post this content to Life After Hate, an organization that helps people leave hate groups.

   In a blog post published on Wednesday, Facebook explained its decision, noting that the new policy is the result of months of discussions between Facebook and outside groups. Previously, Facebook had banned content promoting white supremacy (generally, the belief that whites are superior to other races).

   But the platform allowed white nationalist content (which promotes a belief that a white majority should control the social and political direction of predominantly white countries) and white separatist content (which argues that whites should create a separate ethnostate devoid of people of color). While their proponents argue that these ideologies are very different, groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center argue that the latter two often express a belief in white supremacy, making them all very similar.

   Facebook says additional conversations with civil rights groups and experts “confirmed that white nationalism and separatism cannot be meaningfully separated from white supremacy and organized hate groups,” leading the social media platform to expand its policy on hate language.

   Meanwhile:
   Twitter is considering labeling Trump tweets that violate its rules:
   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/28/tech/trump-twitter-rules-label/index.html

   Twitter is considering labeling tweets that violate its rules but should remain on the platform because they’re in the public interest.

   Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s head of legal, policy and trust made the announcement during an on-stage interview with the Washington Post on Wednesday.
   The social media company is trying to find a way of maintaining its standards while adding context to tweets from politicians and other figures that may be offensive but are important for public debate.
   Twitter has come under fire from some critics who say President Donald Trump’s tweets often violate its rules against bullying, dehumanization and threatening harm.

   Well I guess even that little step is something on the way to cleaning up the garbage tip that these ‘social media’ sites have created over the past decade.

   There is still a long way to go.
   • Peter Christchurch NZ 9.1

     29 March 2019 at 12:32 pm

     Well I hope that Twitter applies some consistency and removes the hate speech of Ahmed Bhamji, chairman of the Mt Roskill Masjid E Umar Mosque.

     Hate speech and conspiracy theories like his recent rant in Aotea Square have helped radicalize so many, whether Muslim, Jewish, white supremacists or whoever. It has no place in NZ.

     https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/03/jews-outraged-after-mosque-leader-blames-mossad-for-christchurch-attack.html
     • Wensleydale 9.1.1

       29 March 2019 at 1:43 pm

       I’m no fan of Netanyahu and his extremist mates, but that guy’s just really irresponsible. Unless you’ve got solid evidence to suggest Mossad had anything to do with this (and good luck with that), ranting like an unhinged lunatic about Zionist conspiracy theories is just pathetic. He’s just tipping the scales in the other direction, and it’s helping no one, least of all NZ’s Muslim community.
     • Skunk Weed 9.1.2

       29 March 2019 at 3:48 pm

       Has there been any evidence of Israeli involvement with the Christchurch Massacre ?
       • Peter Christchurh nz 9.1.2.1

         29 March 2019 at 3:59 pm

         No. Zero evidence. He is just trying to import all the hate and bigotry that prevails in the ME to our country.
         • Sabine 9.1.2.1.1

           29 March 2019 at 6:35 pm

           it is already here , that is why we have 50 dead in christchurch.
         • patricia bremner 9.1.2.1.2

           29 March 2019 at 8:24 pm

           So we call out that rubbish no matter who spouts it. ” It is not welcome here” to quote our Pm.
   • WeTheBleeple 9.2

     29 March 2019 at 12:34 pm

     It is significant that Trump has been identified as symptomatic of what’s wrong with twitter.

     Chief Troll. He’s even got the haircut.
     • Peter Christchurch NZ 9.2.1

       29 March 2019 at 12:38 pm

       And a Trolls orange skin.
   • arkie 9.3

     29 March 2019 at 1:03 pm

     Paul Brislenon RNZ says:

     If all this sounds familiar, it’s because sadly it is. This is not the first time Facebook has declared it will take action in this way.

     In April 2016, Robert Godwin, a 74-year-old grandfather, was shot and killed in Cleveland, Ohio having been chosen at random by a killer who broadcast it live on Facebook.

     At the time CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Facebook’s annual developer conference, “We have a lot of work [to do], and we will keep doing all we can to prevent tragedies like this from happening”. In May of 2017 the company announced plans to add 3000 more staff to review user content to help battle violent videos.

     Not much has changed. Today’s announcement sounds awfully hollow in light of the lack of action since 2016 and does little to assuage anyone’s concerns about the company and its ability to self-regulate.
     • greywarshark 9.3.1

       29 March 2019 at 2:49 pm

       Have people seen the film The Cleaners?
       It sounds relevant
       https://www.nziff.co.nz/2018/auckland/the-cleaners/
       A thoroughly unnerving picture of our times, this gripping doco immerses us in the surreal world of the content moderators who decide what we see (or don’t see) on social media.
10. cleangreen 10

    29 March 2019 at 1:19 pm

    A thanks on 8.1 – – Thanks CG! Would have missed it otherwise

    Soddenleaf

    I agree with your point that we have no time here so we need to plan for the event now also. build less use of carbon emissions to slow the rate of destruction.

    Yes Climate change updates like mine on 8 should be a subject that stays on the radar every day no matter what else goes on today.

    As Climate change is about to kill at random many people who are also innocent in our communities as sea level rise and warming/ melting of our glaciers will flood many regions.

    We saw this happen at the Franz Josef Glacier and all the flooding down at properties flooded at Hokitika perhaps from the melting of the glaciers there also?

    How much pain and suffering does it take before the Government moves ‘decisively’ now?

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1903/S00049/global-state-of-the-cliate-2018-expert-reaction.htm
11. WeTheBleeple 11

    29 March 2019 at 2:32 pm

    We impatiently await James report, and hope like hell we have consensus on real change.

    In the interim planting trees is a no brainer – soon as we (I) get some rains to support them…

    The heat island effect in cities will only be exacerbated in future unless we take steps now to offset temperatures with the evaporative cooling and shading effect of trees. In addition trees perform many functions to enhance urban living.

    Food, shade, shelter, habitat, aesthetic beauty, carbon capture, biodiversity, rain capture and transpiration, air cleaning, oxygen production…

    To build resilience in communities we should get started, not wait on governments, though obviously we are… all hands on deck!

    I put trees in recently that’ll take nearly a decade to bear food. Trees are a vote for the future. Start now.
12. greywarshark 12

    29 March 2019 at 2:40 pm

    Thinking about better outcomes for young children and teenagers and when they become young parents. This is heartening, and should be the norm now but probably not.

    This gives an example of the background of the why of NZ’s poor record with parents and children on world statistical tables.
    https://www.efworld.org/uploads/files/75555390665357702-susancavebaragwanath.pdf

    Dr Susan Baragwanath was the instigator of about 11 schools for teenage mothers, who the careless, condemning conformists with cold-blooded puritan minds were freezing out from society, and this was when the true facts about NZ early sexuality exploration and its effects were known – (by such as Jenny Shipley and the superior types in National Party).

    Founder, He Huarahi Tamariki Schools
    Dr. Susan Cave Baragwanath believes her fellowship came about because she had a problem, and she could not find anyone in New Zealand to help her solve it. She was a career secondary school teacher and administrator who had taught internationally. When she returned permanently to New Zealand in 1989 after 20 years away, she accepted a position as a deputy principal in one of the country’s poorest schools.

    In the first week, she found a 14-year-old girl giving birth to a child in the school toilets. Baragwanath contacted the authorities about her continuing education, and she was told to forget about it. Baragwanath looked up New Zealand’s domestic law; there it was, in black and white, “every child is entitled to have a free basic formal education until the age of 19 years”. The only education available to this student, if she did not return to school (and she couldn’t as there were no childcare facilities), was distance learning. Her family did not own a phone, so she could not call her tutor, and she waited weeks for her school work to be delivered by mail. As a result, she quickly fell out of the system.

    The pattern in New Zealand was for teenagers to have multiple pregnancies before age 21 and become state beneficiaries for life. Without proper research and a concrete plan going forward there seemed to Baragwanath no escape from this pattern continuing.

    Maori focus:
    Maori and teenage parents – Report on research. 2012
    Marginalising Māori Parents
    by Elizabeth Strickett and Helen Moewaka-Barnes
    Massey University
    Marginalising Maori Parents – for Massey University
    http://www.maramatanga.ac.nz/sites/default/files/12-IN-10%20Web%20ready%20%283%29.pdf
    (p.10 gives information about difficulties for young fathers)

    https://www.islandchild.org.nz/
    This sounds a good initiative.

    But if government could push the InZone style with good funding for it, I guess as a charter school with good overview, so that it can be offered to young parents – there would be immediate improvements and a dramatic rise in successful young people handling their lives well, whether they had a job, apart from parenting or not. But some in government might feel that sort of result really isn’t their thing

    In the link it says that the doco shown in 2018 can be viewed on tv on demand. So if you can, very good, worth a look.
    https://inzoneeducation.org.nz/media-coverage/
    • millsy 12.1

      29 March 2019 at 7:54 pm

      Better off fixing up out current schools.

      Hopefully the hubs will sort the problem, however they need to be rammed through at all cost.
13. Macro 13

    29 March 2019 at 2:40 pm

    Check out the “Swamp Monster” in the background!
    Talk about draining the swamp. lol

    Look in the background during Interior Secretary Nominee David Bernhardt's opening statement.

    Watch LIVE on C-SPAN3 https://t.co/i3oegv9okf pic.twitter.com/UiiaVfV8h2

    — CSPAN (@cspan) March 28, 2019
14. cleangreen 14

    29 March 2019 at 3:09 pm

    Hi marks for lprent for restoring our colours.
    • te reo putake 14.1

      29 March 2019 at 3:19 pm

      Ahem … t’was I. I’ve turned them back on, and I’m not sure how they came to be off. If there is a technical issue, I’m sure Lprent will let us know. In the mean time, enjoy the rainbow.
      • greywarshark 14.1.1

        29 March 2019 at 4:00 pm

        Thanks TRP.

        A rainbow – couldn’t resist. Need a laugh.
        
        • te reo putake 14.1.1.1

          29 March 2019 at 4:11 pm

          Ha! And here’s a nice note to end the working week on:
          • Macro 14.1.1.1.1

            29 March 2019 at 8:31 pm

            Awww thanks for that.
            I always remember Sir Paul Reeves being interviewed some years back on Nat Radio on a Sat Morning by Kim Hill and she had a slot then when she would invite some well known person on to give a playlist of their favourite music and to talk about what it meant for them. This was a favourite of his – he particularly like the backing of the Uke and the soft way it was sung. He had first heard it Hawaii IIRC and it was one of his favourite songs. I admit on hearing itI fell for it as well – but I was never able to find it – I just remembered it. I think the singer was a little younger then by the sound of it also – but still beautiful.
            Thanks once again. I’ve stored it on my youtube.
      • patricia bremner 14.1.2

        29 March 2019 at 5:16 pm

        Te reo putake “Twas you” Brilliant Cheers.
      • KJT 14.1.3

        29 March 2019 at 8:35 pm
15. WeTheBleeple 15

    29 March 2019 at 5:11 pm

    I pointed out an article on great farming practice in the Kaipara recently, and now, in Southland, a catchment wide initiative involving more than 600 farms.

    They’re treating each farm individually (smart!) and collecting massive data as they go on all manner of systems and processes. This is commendable work, and it seems they’ve done their homework.

    I hope some of the trial farms involve earthworks and water retention.

    But… yay for this initiative.

    I also like the links on the side of the page. Get involved – Become a Citizen Scientist – etc.

    Good onya whoever set up that page.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-vision-is-clear/news/article.cfm?c_id=1504591&objectid=12214443
16. Sacha 16

    29 March 2019 at 5:53 pm

    Blubberboy and friends sure burned through the cash https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12217589
    • phantom snowflake 16.1

      29 March 2019 at 7:22 pm

      Time to pass the (digital) hat around and present an offer for the blog to the liquidator!
    • Skunk Weed 16.2

      30 March 2019 at 8:33 am

      Big spender of OPM ?
17. Observer Tokoroa 17

    29 March 2019 at 7:10 pm

    Hi Cleangreen

    You are Right.

    Climate, to some odd people, is an enormous black hole.

    One such odd person being the Honourable Simon Bridges and the other his idol, the Honourable Donald Trump.

    Neither of whom have ever shown any glimpse of Reality.

    The ultimate Goofs in Goofs clothing.

    But as long as they can sell today’s youth off into Slums – without hope of housing or a fair slice of Life – Bridges and Trump will have achieved their Monstrous aims.

    I took a drive through Panmure the other day. It was Tuesday. Its the Neighbour of expensive Remuera.

    Panmure is the sort of filth Simon wants. It is dreadful. Few townships in the entire world could be as sick. Long Live dead head Simon. Long live mexicop Trump.
18. Grey Area 18

    29 March 2019 at 8:22 pm

    I don’t know if we’re all extras in an antipodean version of Counterpart but I find myself agreeing with John Armstrong – weird.

    Where was the royal family?
19. Jenny - How to get there? 19

    30 March 2019 at 3:07 am

    \Winston Peters has carved a career out of race baiting immigrants.

    But at least he finally has the grace to admit he was wrong to have done so. (sort of)

    Maybe, just maybe, Winston Peters has sensed the wind of change blowing through the nation’s psyche.

    “If you want to look at someone who’s had the longest political career of anybody in this parliament, and you think that I would claim that I’m blameless over that long career. Well, you might but I don’t assume such a thing, and I never will.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/28/destruction-earth-crime-polly-higgins-ecocide-george-monbiot
    • Skunk Weed 19.1

      30 March 2019 at 8:43 am

      Jenny I think the media has miss reported Winston on a number of occasions, he has been critical of the quality of the immigrants we are bringing in ie the Christchurch Mosque Shooter and the share number of Asians entering the country when we do not have the housing stock and Infrastructure to support this level of Immigration.

      Labour are continuing down this track of bringing in large numbers of Immigrants which is putting pressure on ordinary New Zealanders. ie housing and social services ?

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