it is a wee bit confusing in the job market, – from a job vacancy ad on trademe jobs:
“We do not accept online applications if you wish to apply please email mxxxxxxd @ xxxx.net.nz.” (address edited for anonymity)
The breakdown by party support is interesting/amusing, with National Party supporters being the most “trusting” – or stupid, immoral, cognitively dissonant or whatever.
from Sunday on cycling;
two reporters left Te Atatu for TVNZ in the city, 13kms distance. With the motorist having to wait at the on-ramp for 20minutes and travel at approx 40km/h in traffic, find a park and walk the remainder, the cyclist arrived first travelling by cycle-way.
Aucklands transport problems according to Len Brown on Firstline require 60B investment, (under-investment for decades), with a 12B shortfall to be met by tolls, fuel tax proposals etc.
Although 600M could be invested in cycle-ways for Auckland, there would be a 20-1 long-term cost benefit according to cycle-safety specialist Glen Koorey.
from a cyclist-accident victim on the same article; “We have become such a mean-spirited nation…people used to say about Kiwis…” (encouraging things I imagine).
ahhh, missed it; what I haven’t missed are observations of the attitudes and emotions held by many motorists questioned by the media on their approach towards cyclists. freakin’ hicks.
The results of the Brain fade poll , reads as if the question asked was more like,
“Do you think John Key is a liar?”
That would explain the party split , nicely.
I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar”
Reids wouldn’t change the question , after the poll result, would they? Na
Wouldn’t it be great if when publishing/referencing a poll the media had to supply the actual poll data, including the questions. Even better than that would be a declaration of whomever had commissioned the poll in the first place.
yes lanthanide, i should have added that the noted article did include the reference to it being a TV3 poll but as a general rule we both know the identity of those commissioning polls is largely anonymous.
“I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar””
That is what they said, but they came back and corrected that the question asked of their partner was the polling question we are shown.
The dishonest and irresponsible work of Andrew Wakefield has claimed a victim
Wales has had low Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for some time … since about 1998, in fact, when Andrew Wakefield published his bogus study in the Lancet falsely linking the MMR vaccine to autism.
So what are you going to say when it comes out that the chronically sick 25 year old in question had already been immunised against measles?
By the way, according to the schedule the dead man should have been vaccinated years before the Wakefield study came out, as an infant, so I think its more likely that he had been immunised. Yet was so sick.
The point of vaccination is not just to protect yourself, but also to protect others.
How he contracted it in the first place is the real issue, not whether his particular jab didn’t work, or whether due to allergies he couldn’t get vaccinated, or whether his parents were nutty even before Wakefield’s fraud.
Bit of a climb down though innit joe, from has, to may! You get some credit, for the climb down, but its been sloppy from you lately, aer you ok?
No matter how hard McFlock tries to spin it, then pulls out the , * you should be guilty*, for not protecting others, what a legend you are McFlock /sarc!
What other illness did this unfortunate individual suffer from?
Article title:Measles Epidemic in Wales Has Roots in Antivax Movement.
Opening line of article: The measles outbreak in Wales may have claimed its first victim..
I never said “you should be guilty”.
I just think that people who refuse to vaccinate for no clear medical reason (e.g. egg allergy) are selfish idiots.
Population perspective: clear link.
Individual case perspective: who knows? There’s always the slim possibility he had some measles-like condition.
When attributing primary cause of mortality in individual cases there’s always oodles of theoretical wriggle room (from poor nutrition to undiagnosed heart problems), and you look set to use every inch of it. A bit like 50 years of tobacco industry wriggling – but then they were intentionally duplicitous, rather than wildly delusional, so I guess you’re not quite in their league.
Each year around Anzac Day, my electorate hosts a social event, the highlight of which is a lecture in memory of a popular former Labour MP who was killed in Crete in 1942. This year’s lecture was given by Nicky Hagar. The basis of the lecture was his latest book “Other People’s Wars”. It was gob-smacking stuff!
There were a number of former and even current senior military personnel – plus senior public servants – who were apparently only too willing to apprise Nicky of the behind the scenes activity particularly in relation to the war in Afghanistan. This was a measure of their profound concern for what they saw… and the blatant lies that we in New Zealand have been told about our involvement in that war. Politicians – on both sides of the fence and including Helen Clark – were tricked into believing we were there as peace keepers. The peace keeping played a role, but from all accounts it turned out not to be their primary function.
Add to that an over-all appraisal by Nicky about what he perceives is happening behind the political front, and I think there would be many here interested in what he had to say.
I know the lecture was recorded (sound-wise at least) and I think it might be possible for the Standard to seek to post that recording here. Labour MP, Phil Twyford would be the person to approach in the first instance, because he initiated the annual lectures and is still heavily involved.
Further to the above are two quotes from the book:
It would be nice for someone to pause and say, “Hell, we’re coming up to the 10th anniversary [Sept.11 attacks], are we better or are we worse?. I think the answer is we’re worse. How stupid are we to have allowed a reaction led by the United States that has actually made it worse for the world? – senior defence official.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or actively excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or
excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
I think that is a salient point Anne and I’ve repeated it for me and any others who have had naive ideas about politicians and what they are doing with their time and influence while in the House and having some power.
In the USA it may be that the control of the country has largely passed out of the hands of those elected representatives who take their role for the people seriously. Where there is money there is power, which does seem to be a correct saying, and the budget of the Defence there is astro-astronomical. Scary stuff for sincere democracy believers.
I’d recommend anyone (everyone) read the book even though it is a big read.
It makes it pretty clear that senior defence people were determined to go against explicit government foreign policy (and directives) in order to preserve – or resurrect – their contact and ‘relationships’ with the US, UK and Australia. Ever since the nuclear ship ban and the suspension of ANZUS, parts of the defence leadership ran a de facto military foreign policy at odds with government policy, especially in the 2000s.
There’s a word for that, and when you need to apply it to the defence forces it is particularly concerning.
I am shocked that Hager’s book has received so little journalistic follow-through. There are stories in there that I would have thought any journalist worth their salt would have given an arm and a leg to have the opportunity to run with (if that isn’t mixing too many metaphors).
I am shocked that Hager’s book has received so little journalistic follow-through.
A bit of jealousy mixed with narrow, establishment thinking and a naive desire to be part of the American military scenario? Most of the MSM seem happy to go along with the authoritarian and anti-democratic flow if they think that is where their best interests may lie…
But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.
“But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.”
It certainly is – but no matter how heartening, I don’t think that’s the point. After all, the military went its own way despite the integrity of these people and their desire for transparency. The lack of ‘follow through’ reinforces that fact.
As with so many issues, the point is not about individuals and their motives (for good or ill). It’s about structures and institutional processes that bias against (or for) certain kinds of behaviours and, therefore, in favour of certain kinds of people with certain kinds of views.
The historical interweaving of the NZ military with the UK and then US military (training, experience under command, etc.) I imagine meant (and still means) that those with pro-UK/US leanings will have formed the useful overseas connections and ‘upward’ connections within the already established hierarchy that ensure they rise through the ranks and assume positions of power.
That process is common to all institutions – those who align themselves with powerful interests within and around the ‘system’ do better in the ‘system’. It’s Chomsky and Hermann’s point about the media and who ends up being an editor – the very people who agree with the direction.
The older I get the more I think that the interesting questions are hardly ever about motives, character, personal integrity, etc.. They are about the uses that structures make of people.
I’d love to hear the speech on audio or video.
Tried to go to the speech but it was sold out days early. I think you’ll find there is a keen interest for independent voices like Nicky Hager and, if it’s possible, maybe book a larger venue next time.
Thank for your efforts Anne in getting people like Nicky H to speak.
Thanks Paul. The effort was really put in by others including Phil Twyford. Yes, we are going to have to find a bigger venue. We have been fortunate thus far in attracting excellent speakers and the word has got around. So much so, people who are not associated with the Labour Party also want to attend. I think the recording was audio only but still well worth listening to. I will try and contact Phil Twyford and see if it’s possible to have it posted here.
Also from he Sunday Star Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8605428/Talking-about-a-New-Zealand-constitution
You should have a look at their poll and see what you think about it. It seems to be quite balanced and requires a bit of thought. They have a space for 130 words about your ideas for NZ which they may tweet.
I went to a meeting in the weekend hosted by a Nelson group. My feelings are that the appointed commissioners seem to be standing aside and leaving the bringing information and discussion to each region which has to find people with something to say and who can project their ideas. The visiting commissioners seem more like window dressing, and there does not seem to be a plan for a tour of the country by informative speakers, the appointees just attend the arranged meeting and give a quick run down of their instructions. Then at our meeting the speakers were invited to make their individual points.
There was a speaker from the country’s numerous old, white anti-Maori bigots, who also were a vocal group in the audience. Overturning agreements already reached, limiting the Treaty to a historical document with narrow meanings, and overturning decisions made already by eminent people in favour of Maori seemed to be their unswerving and bigoted goal. There was the usual white patronising and demeaning attitude to Maori heard from such people, mainly white-haired and probably old age beneficiaries, and I am one of this age so I can be reasonably objective. (Their thinking at base being – Maori are undeserving, they haven’t a case for consideration of their rights and wrongs, and that the decisions made by eminent people in favour of Maori stand for nothing)
Unfortunately for me, the bigot was the second speaker not the last. The first was a criminal lawyer who does good work and is aware of the need of the law to serve the citizens, poor and rich, and I am asking for the right to be able to access his submission paper for The Standard readers. (I now have that okay but have to speak to my advisor on how to go about putting it up tonight.)
But when the second speaker began and started with what to me is poisonous, backward diatribe that would have an acidic effect on good relations between Maori and pakeha and our moves forward to a better future, I had to leave. This man Bruce Moon was a co-author with John Robinson, David Round, Mike Butler, Hugh Barr, Peter Cresswell of a book called Twisting the Treaty – A Tribal Grap for Wealth and Power with a related web page headed Treatygate – The Conning of a Country which pitches it against one called Healing our History by Robert and Joanna Consedine. The large number of biased authors writing for the Twisting book make for a whiteout on the subject, one whole page of google is taken up with headings from their individual comments and initiatives.
Some people who are focussed on one approach with a tunnel vision that pours all their energy on their chosen mission, are a horrible obstacle to gathering wide information and take up the precious time set aside for that purpose. I had better things to do. But I want to see healthy discussion on a good constitution. I don’t trust National to do anything good, they are increasingly adopting fascist, and anti-democratic policies.
My point that NZ government doesn’t care about families much and won’t support them is backed up by the Super Grans business. These people in power are self absorbed social climbers and wealthy isolated types. They could care about a fine racehorse with good breeding but ordinary people – no.
And budget advisory, that would admit there is a necessity, a demand for this, and in a climate where people have to apply for five jobs a day in a recession well there is a certain coherence if they just keep on denying reality.
Following on from some comments concerning the state of private aged care in NZ the other day, this article from ‘The Independent’ on the unfolding crisis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland might be of interest to some – particularly if there are jots to be joined or comparisons made with any debt burden among NZ’s private providers.
“part of a wider collapse in social care driven by spending cuts”. (sound familiar)
“solving the inevitably rocketing (fixed) costs of social care for the elderly and disabled is an issue expected to dog governments for decades to come”. (energy, food, wages, oh wait Ryman et al; will be able to pay lower wages).
Well, NZ Government is already working on the Euthanasia bill…… it will be introduced under the umbrella that there is too much suffering. Watch this space.
Canadian foreign minister John Baird is now a human rights champion!
April 29, 2013
Liberals and human rights activists will welcome the news that the formerly hard right Canadian foreign minister John Baird has made a spectacular and sudden conversion to being a champion of human rights.
After a Canadian friend of mine yesterday damned Mr Baird as “a disgusting piece of sh!t”, and urged me to “Google the useless f+ck” I decided to follow his advice and do a little bit of research on him. What I have found tends to reinforce my friend’s observation.
John Baird has developed a reputation as an hysterical opponent of the Kyoto Protocols, and he has been roundly denounced by virtually everybody who has come into contact with him. After observing Baird’s irresponsible conservation policies, Al Gore called them “a complete and total fraud” and accused him of trying to “mislead the Canadian people”. Baird’s conservation policies have been damned by David Suzuki as a “sham”. Activists at the Cancun climate conference in 2010 were scathing of his environmental policies and awarded Canada three “Fossil” awards for disrupting and undermining U.N. climate talks.
When he is not trashing the environment, John Baird likes to hang out with soldiers. He spent Christmas 2006 in Afghanistan with Canadian occupation troops.
Baird is an aggressive and shameless supporter of the Likud party in Israel, and last year he made a widely condemned statement that Iran was “the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.”
Wow. He was a really cool guy. The nats gave him a hard time because he did not accord to their concepts of a parliamentarian but he was a very gracious person. On a marae he could not be matched and when talking to kiwis his ability to relate to them was phenomenal.
I had the pleasure of being at the Avondale Markets with him campaigning and I can honestly say that he was without his peers. Even though he was 400 kilometers from home it seemed he knew half the people. I was really, really impressed with his ability to relate to ordinary kiwis.
Labour MP and former Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia has died from health complications at his home in Tolaga Bay.
The 62-year-old, who is survived by three sons and one grandchild, was surrounded by family, friends and Parliamentary colleagues when he passed away a short time ago.
His condition deteriorated rapidly since his health problems were made public this morning.
The cause of his death has not been confirmed and his family has requested privacy.
RIP Parekura. Few would have a bad word to say about him. Shocking news.
Meanwhile, this piece of sh*t works for Auckland radio stations. I’ll be writing to them telling them what I think, and why I’ll be boycotting them and their ads – you may want to as well …
So Labour MP Parekura Horomia has passed away aged 62.
In unrelated news KFC's share price has dropped 20 points #toosoon
Jim Mora poses the Ironic Question of the Month
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 29 April 2013
Jim Mora, Jonathan Krebs, Tim Watkin
Today, due to unforeseen circumstances, host Jim Mora found himself in the position of having ten minutes at the end of the program to fill up somehow. Being an experienced and competent operator, this was no problem for him. “We have a spare ten minutes,” he told his two guests, “so we’ll just have a chat about various issues that have come up lately.”
First up, he read out an exceptionally foolish statement by an English chemical analysis, who after she had debunked the false claims that Syria has used chemical weapons, had gone on to claim that even if the “evidence” was entirely false, the “rebels” had done it because they were “desperate”.
The Panelists, including Mora, actually did a good job here, discussing the Syrian question with intelligence and a degree of responsibility—thank God that Panel regulars Dr Michael Bassett or Barry Corbett or Garth “Gaga” George were not on today—and mentioned that the “rebels” were largely Al Qaeda terrorists.
Then, in a deadly serious tone, Jim Mora asked the following question: “Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
To their credit, both Jonathan Krebs and Tim Watkin stifled the guffaws and pretended to ignore the screaming irony of that screamingly funny question.
DISCUSS:
Is Jim Mora the world’s most brilliant deadpan comic? Or did he simply forget, for a brief time this afternoon, that the guest Panelists on his show have included such Ignorami for the Ages as John Barnett, Graham Bell, Barry Corbett, Garth “Gaga” George, Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, Nevil “Breivik” Gibson, Claudette Hauiti, and Jordan Williams?
Here it is, one more time. Enjoy…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
Hah1. The ‘voice of the people’, the everyman’s best, bester, bestest EVER friend Jum’, the wordsmuth, the intellect…… it’s just so overwhelming.
Save yourself the stress Morissey. Best policy is to just ignore the gittus.
I had some conversation with the guy a few years ago. Back then he promised how he was going to rejuvinate things.
Instead ….. same old shit, same old hacks, same old yearning to be liked, same old kaka to be perceived as the voice of reason…..
(Same shit – different stink).
Not sure why the Slacks et al bother these days – perhaps they just like the same brand of CHardonnay.
IF RNZ ever consider its time for a shapkeup – it’s be Mora in the afternoon, closely followed by Kethluk Guuuuurl in the mourn
Yes Tim I agree. The Mora Borer Show has become almost unlistenable. Coast, Breeze, whatever, at least they deliver what they promise. Often in my car 4-5 pm weekdays. As a consciously careful and attentive driver over the 33 km to home Radio Live and other talkback is just too dangerous. Mora seemed the safe bet.
Unfortunately it’s now just Aunty Affable and his unconscionable gushing over a series of wankers (in the main) who fancy themselves “celebs”. Thus emboldening them in the ignorant mouthing off of which Morrissey complains. I think the name’s Chris Wikaira, an aggressive wahanui on everything who brews yuppie fucking beer for God’s Sake. He’s one of the worst. If that’s not him I apologise to the less offensive Chris Wikaira. Not to overlook Mrs Brassy Voyeur Private Investigator………forget her name, Julia double barrelled something. David Slack is one of the few exceptions. He’s genuinely wry as well.
I think the obnoxious brewer you are thinking of is actually Neil Miller. Your concerns about him are entirely justified.
Chris Wikaira is a National Party-sympathizing dope that manages to say nothing serious or interesting whenever he is on the programme. Last time he was on, his Soapbox contribution consisted of a rant about what he reckons is the poor quality of contributions to the Minecraft discussion boards.
Publicly funded radio fulfills a very important role in our society, but “Afternoons with Jim Mora” always leaves me wondering why we’re publicly funding what is essentially talkback radio.
The five year old whom the pakeha school bus passed on by. Surprisingly, never bitter. Lovely man living magnificent wairua.
In brief answer to Morrissey: yes, ugly mouthing is not merely a tendency, it is positively encouraged. It’s in the nature of an opiate for dullards, their spittle then harnessed by unscrupulous self-promoters and careerists.
man, this Auckland Transport problem is gonna cost; “a multi-billion dollar shortfall”
-tolls
-fuel tax
-rates rises
-possible public transport tax
-congestion tax
(any 2 or more of the above)
“even this is not a silver bullet”- Simon Lambourne.
The Christchurch rebuild needs 17000 more workers before 18 months time passes.
Heard Joyce talking of the need for flexibility from “officials” and “immigration” in the same sentence.
more migrant workers will be required.
Apparently, there is no guarantee of the entire “private investment” counted on by the government for Christchurch.
Anyway – Those that may bother to get out of their little spaces, and away from blogs and PC or laptop screens:
01 May 2013:
Labour Action against the owners of Pak’n Save supermarket, at Royal Oak, Manukau Road, Auckland (just near the roundabout), due to decision by that employer to introduce and accept the new youth wage rate at about $ 11 per hour, below the minimum wage of $ 13 something, close to $ 14, as it applies to adults! Also are there other employment issues of staff employed there, First Union have more info. AAAP and others are preparing to take action and present a picket there.
As far as I know they used to have a collective agreement, but only on that site, and it appears to be under threat.
I encourage all in the area to join and support the workers at that supermarket, especially the youth ones, 16 to 19. They are in award negotiations and need all support. Also consider doing your shopping somewhere else, at least for a time, until they have come to the party to pay staff what they deserve.
The minimum wage, also there paid to largely migrant workers, is not sufficient to survive on, and it is an insult as it is. A living wage would be better, but we are fighting to simply even defend the minimum legal wage for those that will likely be short changed!
Also on 01 May 2013:
Joe Carolan communicated that due to a breakdown in negotiations with Mc Donald’s, there will be a 01 May picket outside McDonald’s in Queen Street at 03:30 pm on Mayday.
If any have questions about Mayday, perhaps do a search, look up Wikipedia or else, it has tradition with workers being shot and killed in Chicago some many years ago, for standing up for their worker’s rights, but Mayday is a celebrated Worker’s Day in many countries, in Europe, some countries in Asia, and for some here in Aotearoa NZ.
Labour Day is another affair, but some of us think that Mayday is the day to stand up, take a stand, join others and make a point. So a couple of pickets at mentioned venues will serve the purpose to a degree, and all are asked and invited to join!
The action at Pak’ Save Royal Oak, Auckland is planned for 08:30 am on Wednesday (“benefit day” for the unemployed), 01 May 2013 – MAYDAY!
Unemployed be mindful, a new, harsh, draconian regime for yours and other beneficiaries will start 15 July this year, due to law changes, so be prepared. Also sick and disabled, the onslaught and harassment will hit you and force you to look for work, so show solidarity thanks!
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In the absence of a vaccine or a cure for a deadly disease, staying home in your bubble is what you do, the concept is not new. To the best of my knowledge last time we did this in NZ was for polio, in the years before a vaccine came ...
The following statement was released on March 28 by the National Network on Cuba, a coalition of 40 groups, based in the United States. In recent weeks, Cuba has deployed hundreds of medical providers to over a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, as well as to their neighbors in Latin ...
This has been a terrible summer for Hector’s dolphins. The first indication was very low numbers of dolphin sightings during late spring and early summer. The Otago University Marine Mammal Research Team has carried out routine dolphin surveys at Banks Peninsula for more than 30 years. In all that time, ...
On March 17, Finance Minister Grant Robertson was quick out of the blocks with an economic rescue package to help businesses through the inevitable recession resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Robertson had pulled together a scheme in short order that so far seems to have saved many jobs. In his ...
The purpose of the lockdown is to save lives, by reducing the spread of covid-19. We won't know if its really working for another week, but given the devastation that will result if it doesn't - 14,000 dead is the optimistic scenario - its definitely worth trying. But pausing the ...
. . March 30: Day five of living in lock-down… Woke up still in darkness. Alarm hadn’t gone off. Turn to radio clock; it’s a few minutes after 6am… I lie there in the dark, waiting to drift off to sleep… but it ain’t happening. Clock ticks over to 6.55 ...
The story of Les Gray, the public sector psychologist who told the truth about his use of cannabis and set off a storm, has a special place in the lore of cannabis reform in New Zealand.When Paul Shannon interviewed Gray for the 'Dope and Hope' issue of Planet magazine in ...
by Phil Duncan For Marxists, a key concern about social trends is their context – not just their causes, but why they happen when they do. Events and phenomena have causes, but they also are time or period-specific. While much of the left have capitulated recently to postmodernism, most notably ...
Since the lockdown began, we've all suddenly been reminded who the actually essential workers in our society are: not the people at the top who pay themselves the big bucks and rort the perks, but the people at the bottom they screw over and squeeze: cleaners, warehouse staff, truck drivers ...
Kia ora! As I've watched nearly all my remaining work vanish over the past couple of days, it has occured to me that one good way to keep me away from arguing with fools on Twitter all the time (in the knowledge that all we're really doing is processing our ...
Aotearoa New Zealand has committed to trying to extirpate the virus that causes COVID-19 from its shores. To do that, as a society we’ve moved to “Level 4”. That means adapting to unprecedented restrictions on our personal freedoms, particularly to our rights to move freely and associate with friends and ...
When the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency last week, she handed the police powers to enforce it. And almost immediately, we started hearing about heavy-handed, arbitrary "enforcement" by police who (at best) cared more about order than law, or (more likely) had no idea what the rules were ...
. . Lock Down: Day 4 – A photo essay with observations . March 29: Usual wake up routine as RNZ snaps on my radio-clock. Jim Mora’s voice slowly enters my conciousness; there’s talk of a second wave of covid19 taking hold in South Korea; the week in Parliament – ...
Yesterday, New Zealand recorded its first Covid-19 related death on the West Coast. Unfortunately this is unlikely to be the only fatality, with the virus now being found in every region of the country.However despite the significant danger, people are still unfortunately breaching lockdown rules.There’s really only one main very ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... ‘Misinformation kills’: The link between coronavirus conspiracies and climate denialGrist / Rob Kim / Stringer / CSA Images Scientific ...
The kids did surprisingly well today – meltdown count was about 3, and mostly fairly short ones. (And a fourth while I was writing.) Game-wise I had a go at Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark. It’s a fairly standard RPG with turn-based combat and what they call a “mature storyline” (it ...
by Don Franks Hi David, Nice hearing from you, I’m glad to hear you’re getting by okay in these grim times. You asked how’s it going for us back here in New Zealand. You would have heard that the whole country is locked down and with breaks for exercise and ...
. . Lock Down: Day 3 – A photo essay with observations . March 28: First day of the first weekend in Lock Down. It feels like it’s been weeks since only Level 3 was declared last Tuesday, only four days ago. Woke up this morning to RNZ; coffee; toast, ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Mar 22, 2020 through Sat, Mar 28, 2020Articles Linked to on FacebookSun, Mar 22, 2020In Just 10 Years, Warming Has Increased the Odds of Disasters by Chelsea Harvey, ...
I’m here in lockdown with my flatmate and her two girls (6 and 2) and it. is. a time. They’re usually really active so to start with the only boardgame in the house is the copy of Guess Who that the 6 year old got for her birthday. Flatmate commented ...
The CV-19 (COVID) pandemic has seen the imposition of a government ordered national quarantine and the promulgation of a series of measures designed to spread the burden of pain and soften the economic blow on the most strategically important and most vulnerable sectors of society. The national narrative is framed ...
. . Lock Down: Day 2 – A photo essay with observations . March 27 – Day 2 of our Strange New World. The Park and Ride near my suburb, usually filled with hundreds of vehicles, had just… four; . . Another drive into Wellington City on a highway nearly ...
Fortune's Children: Under extraordinary pressure, the leader of the Government and the leader of the Opposition will each show us what they are made of. Have they been blessed with intelligence, grace, wit, poise, toughness, empathy and humour – and in what measure? More importantly, to what extent have they ...
If you’ve ever had the misfortune of having to rent a property on the open market in New Zealand, which is one of the most expensive in the entire world, you’ll likely be keenly aware of just how arrogant and entitled landlords and their real estate agents can be.Unfortunately for ...
Society-wise, aside from the specific morbidity shall we say of the medically-oriented aspects of this COVID-19 crisis, what is unfolding before the world is in more than one way an instructive study of humanity and reactions to a high intensity, high stress environment in real time. Friends, we are at ...
Right now low waged and insecure workers are feeling the economic brunt of the looming #Covid19 Recession. In response legal advocate Toby Cooper* and hospitality and worker’s rights advocate Chloe Ann-King, are putting together a series of legal blogs about your employment rights:In this legal blog we outline some ...
by Equipo Jurídico Pueblos and Gearóid Ó Loingsigh (25/03/2020) An escape plan in question On the night of March 21st and the early morning of the 22nd, the forces of the Colombian state stormed into the Modelo prison in Bogotá, murdering 23 prisoners and injuring 83, in response to the ...
When the government banned semi-automatic weapons in response to a terrorist atrocity, gun-nuts were outraged. Mired in toxic American gun culture, they thought owning weapons whose sole purpose was killing people was some sort of "constitutional right", a necessity for "defending themselves" against the government. Now, the Court of Appeal ...
Just before midnight on Wednesday March 25, Aotearoa New Zealand entered a countrywide alert level four lockdown. For at least the next four weeks, everyone who isn’t an essential worker is confined to their bubble. We are doing this to stop the explosive growth in people contracting and dying from ...
. . Lock Down: Day 1 – A photo essay with observations . Day one of the Level 4 nationwide lock-down (or, DefCon 4 as I sometimes cheekily call it) started at 11.59PM on 25 March. For a moment, most of the nation held it’s collective breath. In that brief ...
Broad, Sunlit Uplands: How those words fired my young imagination! Or, perhaps, it is more accurate to say: how those words fused, in my young mind, with the image printed on every packet of Fielder’s Cornflour. Always fascinated by history, especially modern history, I cannot hear Churchill’s wonderfully evocative words, even ...
. . 24 March 2020 9.46AM Number of covid19 cases in Aotearoa New Zealand: 102 . As of 11.59 on Thursday, most of New Zealand will go into “lock down”. People will be expected not to travel to work; not to socialise; and to stay home. I will not be ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections A respected research group, Project Drawdown, finds that deploying solutions consistent with meeting the Paris climate targets would cost tens of trillions of dollars globally. But crucially, those outlays would also yield long-term savings many times larger than the up-front costs. The new 2020 Drawdown ...
It will pass. What happens next? Not immediately, but longer term. There are many opinions, fewer certainties. Will it “change everything!” as many confidently, and contradictorily predict? In this post I look at how foresight can help bound some of the uncertainties so you can more objectively consider the future. ...
We’ve been meaning t write something on Cuba and the coronavirus but have just discovered a very good article on the subject in the US left publication Jacobin. The article looks at how Cuba, a poor country but one where capitalism has been done away with, is leading the way ...
In 2018, El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey - two British citizens who had purportedly been stripped of their citizenship by the British government - were captured while fighting for Isis in Syria. The British government then conspired to hand them over to the US, and agreed to provide evidence ...
Transformers: The disaster of the Great Depression was transformed into a new and fairer society by the democratic socialism of the First Labour Government. The disaster of the Covid-19 Pandemic offers a similar transformative possibility to the Labour-NZ First-Green Government. Seize the time, Jacinda! You will never have a better ...
Tamper with The System? Well, we already are. But there's a difference between accidentally trickling sand into a precision gearbox versus formulating a plan to alter it on the fly with improvements in mind. One action is more or less innocently unscrupulous, the other amenable to earning an easy ...
Associate Prof George Thomson, Louise Delany, Prof Nick WilsonWhile it is possible that New Zealand can use intense public health controls to eradicate COVID-19 from the country – we must also plan for other scenarios where thousands of New Zealanders are sick – including many urgently hospitalised.1 Better resilience ...
Kia ora my name is Chloe Ann-King* and I am the founder of Raise the Bar, a campaign and non-profit that gives free legal aid, advocacy and tautoko to hospitality workers in Aotearoa. Right now all over our country hospo workers are being fired at will, having shifts cut or being ...
We're about to do something unprecedented as a nation. We hope that by taking this extraordinary action before a single life in New Zealand has been lost to the deadly novel virus we will save tens of thousands of lives. Our lives. We'll do it together, in households, in isolation ...
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”So writes the author of Ecclesiastes, a book in the Old Testament that’s counted as a ‘wisdom’ book and written as if by an unnamed king of Jerusalem. But who would have thought there would be a time ...
I was surprised when the prime minister described the Economic Response to Covid-19 package as the ‘largest peacetime government spend in New Zealand's history’. Reflecting – checking through history – I realised that the term ‘spend’ was crucial and the package had no income tax cuts. Even so, it has ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says getting New Zealanders back home and other travellers out of the country is "a nightmare for our embassies, consuls, and staff around the world".Speaking to NewstalkZB's Mike Hosking, the Foreign Minister said that he gave a clear message to people travelling overseas that they ...
The domestic travel ban has been lifted for stranded foreign tourists trying to get to international airports to fly home, after the Coalition Government announced a plan to help the tens of thousands of foreigners stranded here. Foreign Minister Rt. Hon. Winston Peters spoke with RNZ's Susie Ferguson said foreign ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters believes the country is rediscovering its resilience and self-reliance through its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.He says he is heartened that the mass majority of New Zealanders are following lockdown rules and that the government looking at the future, including paying to keep much ...
New Zealand can emulate the success of the US after the Great Depression by exploiting our own resources to turn the economy around quickly, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. Mr. Peters told Magic Talk that New Zealand has an opportunity to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic a "superior, ...
All 45 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are either on their way back to New Zealand, or already in the country, according to Defence Minister Ron Mark."Twenty-eight personnel arrived back in New Zealand last week and are in isolation at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base in ...
The COVID-19 situation in New Zealand is moving fast - and to avoid what we've seen overseas - the Government's response must be to move fast too. We're committed to keeping New Zealanders safe and well-informed every step of the way. ...
We know people are feeling anxious about COVID-19. While the situation is serious, New Zealand has a world-class health system and we’re well-prepared to keep New Zealanders safe. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging New Zealanders overseas to stay where they are amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are reaching a point where the best option for most New Zealanders offshore is to shelter in place, by preparing to safely stay where they are.” "This includes following the instructions ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging the tens of thousands of New Zealanders travelling overseas to consider sheltering in place, in light of COVID-19. “Since 18 March, we have been warning New Zealanders offshore that the window for flying ...
Ground-breaking law has passed that will decriminalise abortion and ensure women and pregnant people seeking abortions have compassionate healthcare. ...
The Green Party says that the measures announced by the Government today will help families and businesses to prioritise our collective health and wellbeing in the response to COVID-19. ...
As New Zealanders brace for a global downturn due to Covid-19, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says his Coalition Government’s rescue package "more significant" than any other he's seen around the world. The Coalition is to reveal a multi-billion-dollar stimulus plan on Tuesday afternoon designed to cushion the economic blow ...
The Government’s plan to cushion the blow of COVID-19 by supporting incomes, jobs and businesses, and position the economy to recover has been backed by another international report. International credit rating agency Moody’s today reaffirmed its highest Aaa credit rating on New Zealand, saying the economy is expected to remain ...
National sports organisations have been given certainty of funding to ensure they can remain viable through the COVID-19 pandemic, Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “The global spread of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on sport and recreation in New Zealand, including the cancellation or postponement of ...
Changes have been made to allow butchers to process pork, only for supply to supermarkets or other processors or retailers that are open, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “We carefully weighed the risk of allowing butchers to open their shops for retail customers, but the risk of spreading COVID-19 ...
Essential workers who take leave from work to comply with public health guidance are being supported with a leave scheme to ensure they will continue to receive income, say the Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway and Minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni. A number of essential businesses ...
A Government WhatsApp channel has been launched to help make information more easily accessible and shareable in the fight against COVID-19. Govt.NZ, which is free to use on any mobile device, will carry information and news for the public, businesses, healthcare providers, not for profits and local government. It can ...
The Government has announced a plan to enable the safe, orderly exit of tens of thousands of stranded foreign nationals from New Zealand during the current COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said. “When we moved into lockdown a week ago, the ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says the Government is delivering on its commitment to support general practice doctors and nurses, and pharmacies on the front-line of our fight against COVID-19. "For us to overcome COVID-19, we need community health services such as general practice and community pharmacy to step up ...
Justice Susan Thomas has been appointed Chief High Court Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. She replaces Justice Geoffrey Venning who has resigned from the position. David Parker paid tribute to Justice Venning, who he said had stewarded the High Court very capably over the last five years. “On behalf ...
Businesses can start applying to their banks for loans under the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme set up to support the New Zealand economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re moving quickly to protect New Zealand businesses, jobs and the economy during this unprecedented global economic shock,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. ...
Work is underway looking at measures to speed up consents for development and infrastructure projects during the recovery from COVID 19, to provide jobs and stimulate our economy. Environment Minister David Parker said the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis that will have a wide ranging and lasting impact ...
Advance payments will be made to transport construction industry contractors to retain the workforce and ensure it is ready to quickly gear up to build projects which will be vital to New Zealand’s COVID-19 economic recovery, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. He said keeping the workforce required to build ...
The Government has tasked a group of industry leaders to seek out infrastructure projects that are ready to start as soon as the construction industry returns to normal to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones say. The Infrastructure ...
Work to scale up the health system in preparation for COVID-19 was today outlined by Health Minister David Clark, as he reported back to the new Epidemic Response Committee. “We are well placed to contain the spread of COVID-19. We have taken early and decisive action at our borders, and ...
The Government is refining its COVID-19 essential business guidance to include the distribution of news publications for communities which are hard to reach. The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Kris Faafoi, said the move was in recognition of the importance for New Zealanders who might be harder to ...
The Government is ensuring supermarkets can open on Easter Sunday so we can buy groceries, but stay closed on Good Friday allowing workers to take a break. This provides a balanced approach and ensures we avoid large queues that two days closure may cause. “Supermarkets will be able to open ...
Following the successful conclusion of the Building Partner Capacity (BPC) mission at Taji, New Zealand defence personnel are returning to New Zealand from Iraq, in accordance with the Cabinet decision made in June 2019, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. “New Zealand is very ...
The State of National Emergency to help stop the spread of COVID-19 has been extended for a further seven days, Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare said. The initial declaration on March 25 lasted seven days and can be extended as many times as necessary. “Since we went into isolation ...
New Zealand’s ability to go hard and go early in the fight against COVID-19 has been underpinned by strong Government finances and the growing economy heading into this global pandemic, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Treasury today released the Crown financial statements for the eight months to the end ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says 36 new intensive care beds at Christchurch Hospital’s new Hagley building are being fast tracked so they are available for treatment of COVID-19 patients. The Ministry of Health is working with contractor CPB and Canterbury DHB to enable access to the hospital’s ICU, ...
The Government has fast-tracked up to $1 million to help Air New Zealand move urgent freight to and from New Zealand, with the first flight to Shanghai leaving tonight, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. Phil Twyford says it’s crucial that trade in vital goods such as medical supplies and ...
New Zealand will temporarily remove tariffs on all medical and hygiene imports needed for the COVID-19 response. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said today that the New Zealand Customs Service will apply tariff concessions to all diagnostic reagents and testing ...
Minister of Finance Grant Robertson has clarified that the changes to the wage subsidy scheme announced yesterday mean that employers should be passing on the full subsidy to workers, except in the case where the person’s normal income is less than the level of the subsidy. “We still want employers ...
Medical face masks from the national reserve supply are now being distributed to District Health Boards, while at the same time local production is being ramped up. Yesterday more than 640,000 masks were sent to DHBS – that is an immediate two week supply, with more to follow in coming ...
The Government has made modifications to the wage subsidy scheme to ensure people don’t lose their jobs during the national lockdown. These changes will soften the impact of COVID-19 on workers, families and businesses, and position them to exit the lockdown and look to recovery, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. ...
Farmers whose herds were culled in response to the outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis will be able to minimise the tax treatment of their income in some circumstances. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash says Cabinet has agreed to change the law. It means farmers may be eligible to spread their income over ...
A $27 million dollar package, effective immediately, is being provided to social sector services and community groups to ensure they can continue to provide essential support to communities as we stay at home as a nation to stop the spread of COVID-19, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced. “At ...
“The guilty plea today will provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered by what happened on March 15,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “These guilty pleas and conviction bring accountability for what happened and also save the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, ...
The Prime Minister is holding daily press conferences to update New Zealanders on the Government's response to COVID-19. Links to videos and transcripts of these updates below. These transcripts also include All of Government press conferences led by Director Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. 25 March: Live update from the Prime ...
Frontline Police numbers have broken through the 10,000 mark for the first time in history as officers step forward to keep the community safe during the COVID19 lockdown. “Two Police graduations in Auckland and Wellington in the past week have been conducted in unprecedented circumstances,” Police Minister Stuart Nash said. ...
Urgent legislation has been passed to support the package of economic and social measures needed to recover from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. “The COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Social Assistance Urgent Measures) Bill will cushion New Zealanders from the worst economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Revenue Minister ...
From tomorrow, Government support for farmers and growers affected by drought will be expanded and extended across the country, with access to Rural Assistance Payments (RAPS) available throughout the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chatham Islands, Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced. “These challenging conditions have ...
Parliament has passed amendments to legislation that give the Secretary of Education stronger powers to act in the fight to limit the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “They are part of a suite of changes passed under the COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Bill,” Chris ...
Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and Myanmar have joined forces with New Zealand and Singapore by committing to keep supply chains open and remove any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker today welcomed ...
Immediate freeze on rent increases Tenancies will not be terminated during the lock-down period, unless the parties agree, or in limited circumstances Tenants who had previously given notice can stay in their if they need to stay in the tenancy during the lock-down period Tenants will still be able to ...
As New Zealand unites to lock-down in the fight against COVID-19, the Finance Minister is urging all businesses and workers to stay connected over the next four weeks. “We understand the extreme pressure many businesses are under right now. I know most business owners think of their workers as family ...
A State of National Emergency has been declared across the country as the Government pulls out all the stops to curtail the spread of COVID-19. “Today we put in place our country’s second ever State of National Emergency as we fight a global pandemic, save New Zealanders’ lives and prevent ...
Mr Speaker I wish to make a Ministerial Statement under Standing Order 347 in relation to the recent declaration of a State of National Emergency. Having considered the advice of the Director Civil Defence Emergency Management, the Minister of Civil Defence declared a State of National Emergency for the whole of ...
People needing to travel on domestic flights, trains and Cook Strait ferries to get home before the country moves into level 4 lock-down tomorrow night will be able to continue using the passenger services until midnight on Friday, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. Domestic passenger services, particularly ferries, have ...
The Government, retail banks and the Reserve Bank are today announcing a major financial support package for home owners and businesses affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. The package will include a six month principal and interest payment holiday for mortgage holders and SME customers whose incomes have been ...
Minister of Transport Phil Twyford has today announced details of the Government’s support package to keep key air freight moving and ensure New Zealanders retain access to essential goods during the four-week level 4 lockdown. “The Government is working with airlines and air freight operators to ensure New Zealand’s key ...
Covid-19 testing of the wider population is on the cards as World Health Organisation research shows people are most contagious within their first few days of being infected Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says Covid-19 carriers are highly infectious when they show few signs of carrying the virus. People were ...
Z Energy is the latest company to cut its dividend payout and start talking to its banks about strengthening its finances. Chief executive Mike Bennetts said the company, the largest fuel retailer in the country, had been battered by a range of issues over the past 18 months, and was ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Kang, Associate professor, University of Technology Sydney Young people in Australia are among the fastest-growing group to contract COVID19. According to the Department of Health, there are now more cases in Australia among people aged 20 – 29 years than any ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Pattinson, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult at the best of times. But it can be even harder when you’re anxious or have something on your mind – a global pandemic, for example. ...
Journalist and Great Barrier Island resident Lindsay Wright reflects on outer gulf pandemic preparedness. Hardy locals can tough it out but Auckland bach owners and boaties should keep their distance. Aotea Great Barrier, the easternmost island in the Hauraki Gulf, are undergoing a Covid-19-inspired population flood. Great Barrier has scenery that makes ...
The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand is delighted that the government has moved quickly to provide an initial financial support package for pharmacy. The $15 million package was paid this week to pharmacy contract holders. Pharmaceutical Society president ...
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening.The following charts are based on numbers shared at the daily press conference and are "as of 9am" of the day. There were 71 new cases of Covid-19 in ...
A new poem by Wellington poet and bookseller Ash Davida Jane. washed up! it gets tiring pushing the fire alarm every nightbut things keep catching on fireor sometimes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Foster, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney Our earliest vertebrate (animals with backbones) ancestors laid eggs, but over millions of years of evolution, some species began to give birth to live young. There is a traditional dichotomy in vertebrate reproduction: species ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Foster, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney Our earliest vertebrate (animals with backbones) ancestors laid eggs, but over millions of years of evolution, some species began to give birth to live young. There is a traditional dichotomy in vertebrate reproduction: species ...
Welcome to the second edition of our lockdown Top 10s. A reminder that this chart has nothing to do with sales or launches or the publishing cycle; these are just books the Unity team love – and this week it’s westerns, full of big skies and long rides and showdowns.AUCKLANDAll ...
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster’s plan to cover revenue shortfalls through borrowing without cutting low priority spending is immoral, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . “Businesses and households across the country are meeting financial challenges ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin John Brophy, Emeritus Professor of Creative writing, University of Melbourne “Katrina, I had in mind a prayer, but only this came,” Bruce Dawe wrote to his infant daughter, new-born, in intensive care, her life in the balance, declaring as poets must ...
The shock closure of Bauer NZ – and with it all of the country’s current affairs magazines – is a stark reminder of the fragile state of local media, writes Mel Bunce, the author of a book on the subject.It is a dark week for journalism in New Zealand, with ...
Join Leonie Hayden as she works through the first four weeks of Scotty Morrison’s Māori Made Easy.Rāmere/FridayWe made it to the end of week one e te whānau. It wasn’t that hard! In fact it was… Māori made easy.To end our week of pronunciation practice we’re going to revisit everything we ...
India faces more challenges battling Covid-19 than any other country in the world. With 1.3 billion inhabitants, hundreds of different languages spoken, and an estimated 80% of the workforce daily wage earners currently without jobs, it could be a recipe for disaster.I’ve been living in India for more than three ...
By Sri Krishnamurthi of Pacific Media Watch The Vanuatu government is using the Covid-19 to impose draconian measures and authoritarian rule by end of last month. Wholesale censorship of all Covid-19 related content has been instituted. Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) took the extraordinary step to ...
People with lower credit scores increased their borrowing upon news of the lockdown, while those with higher scores dropped away. March data from the credit-reporting agency Centrix, which runs credit checks on behalf of banks, finance companies, online lenders, and buy now pay later schemes, showed credit inquiries dropped sharply ...
Small business owners say commercial rent relief is desperately needed if they are to survive past the Covid-19 disruptions. While the wage subsidy helped with staff costs, there is currently no government assistance for commercial rent - which typically accounts for 40 percent of a firm's fixed costs. Landlords and ...
SkyCity is making 200 staff redundant as part of cost cutting because of the Covid-19 virus. The casino operator said it had no choice but to cut the size of the workforce given that once business resumes it will be at much reduced level. Chief executive Graeme Stephens said it's ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Glikson, Earth and paleo-climate scientist, Australian National University At several points in the history of our planet, increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have caused extreme global warming, prompting the majority of species on Earth to die out. In ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand. Today’s contentMedia Henry Cooke (Stuff): There’s no easy way for Government to save media drowning. But a fast fix is ...
Just after midday a cyclist was killed on a straight road on a clear day, after being hit by a van in North Canterbury. Lucinda Rees from NZ School Speeds is asking for the mandatory cyclist/vulnerable road user passing gap, which is in consultation, ...
By Indra Singh in Suva Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says that if Fijians continue to disregard the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic directives from authorities, a nationwide 24-hour curfew could be imposed. His comments come as Fiji yesterday recorded its two latest coronavirus cases, taking the total to seven. Bainimarama said ...
In our new series The Lockdown Letters, some of New Zealand’s best writers tell us what they’ve been up to in the days of Covid-19 alert level four. Today, Ōtaki author Renée.Yes, a few cyclists out and about. I remember my first bike bought from Farmers around 1942, five shillings a ...
Internal memos from NZ’s biggest magazine company, which announced its sudden closure yesterday, state they were lobbying to change a ban on publication. But the minister responsible, Kris Faafoi, has doubled down on rejecting that position, calling those internal communications ‘contradictory’ to what they said to him directly.Magazine publishing giant ...
Up to 100,000 foreigners could be seeking to leave the country in coming weeks, now the Government has relaxed domestic travel restrictions for them. ...
The loss of a loved one can be difficult in the best of times. But it’s even more painful when the planes are grounded.Late on Saturday night, three days into New Zealand’s level four lockdown, Harish got a call from his sister in India telling him that his father had ...
Health Minister David Clark has flouted the Government's advice to exercise locally after confirming he drove to a park to go mountain biking on Thursday. ...
Covid-19 cases top 1m; Trump brags he's #1 on Facebook and says he knows about the virus because a 'friend' got it; UK testing scandal grows; Cats more vulnerable to virus than dogsTicking up to a million cases: A gruesome landmark was passed today when we go over one million ...
“So do not fear, I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10 COVID-19 - Lock down: one week on Welcome to the latest Policy Watch ...
Workers at the Port of Lyttelton are resisting the introduction of casual cargo handlers due to concerns about COVID19. RMTU South Island Organizer John Kerr says there is concern about a Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) proposal to "bring in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Strangio, Associate Professor of Politics, Monash University One of Australia’s preeminent historians, Stuart Macintyre, once observed of John Curtin, the Labor Party leader revered for navigating this nation through the dangers of the second world war, that he would have ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Adelaide New research the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that SARS CoV 2, which causes the disease known as COVID-19 coronavirus, is more stable on plastic and stainless steel than on cardboard or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW The Australian government’s JobKeeper wage subsidy, estimated to cost A$130 billion, is a crucial measure to help keep the economy from completely cratering. But, even if COVID-19 is sufficiently under control for the economy to return ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gordon Menzies, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Technology Sydney During this pandemic, our twin health and economic crises require two different types of concern, and they operate differently. For the health crisis, a high level of concern is necessary. Saving lives ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harriette Richards, University of Melbourne Times of instability and crisis produce increased nostalgia for the past. We long for a time that no longer exists, or never existed. Like melancholy, nostalgia is a sentiment of loss – one that’s particularly familiar to ...
RBNZ bans bank dividends; Who is next after Bauer's shock closure? Vital plan blocked; Commission wins in real estate price fixing case; Softbank walks out WeWorkNo you won’t: The Reserve Bank took the unprecedented step of prohibiting the banks from paying dividends during the coronavirus crisis or redeeming any ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Media reels after horror week, Wellington Council facing massive budget crunch, and highest single day of new Covid-19 cases.It had always been clear that this was going to be a difficult time for the media, with the Covid-19 downturn hitting ...
Former National Finance Ministers Steven Joyce and Bill English question the severity of the Covid-19 lockdown and ask whether the Government has an exit strategy. Andrew Patterson reports. Steven Joyce and Bill English have seen their fair share of financial crises and natural disasters as the last National Government's finance ...
There is no sign the government will tighten quarantine controls for those arriving at the border, in response to calls from the Opposition to quarantine and test everyone. ...
Two new cases of Covid-19 have been identified in Fiji, prompting a lockdown of its capital. Teuila Fuatai reports. Fijian health authorities are scrambling to identify close contacts of its latest two Covid-19 cases. The couple, from Nabua, Suva, appear unrelated to the country’s previous five. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama ...
Christchurch is a city of contrasts, as some stretch their legs with smiles and others with suspicion. David Williams reports It was no surprise it happened in Christchurch’s student quarter. The smiles of those standing at their gates in Ilam Road broadened as a baby kayak strapped to a skateboard ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level four. The country is shut down, apart from essential services. For updated official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The ...
Suzanne McFadden speaks to two Kiwi 'bubbles' who have unanticipated - but serendipitous - housemates. Sue Bremner has found a silver lining to the brooding cloud of lockdown – it’s meant getting to know the sister who never knew she existed for almost 65 years. Englishwoman Bremner has found herself holed ...
As the walls go up around the world, global trade is feeling the effects. But beyond the short-term pain, what systemic change might we see? Sam Sachdeva reports. International trade was already facing headwinds before the spread of coronavirus - but the pandemic has knocked it well and truly off-course. ...
The decisions by German media giant Bauer to shut its New Zealand magazine operation and NZME’s axing of Radio Sport have been precipitated by the coronavirus. But, as Mark Jennings and Tim Murphy write, the closures are also due to the deeper problems of the local media industry. The sudden announcement ...
How long does it take to recover, how do you know you’ve recovered and can you catch Covid-19 twice? If you’ve had Covid-19 when are you officially recovered? Turns out there’s no test in New Zealand. It's judged by time of onset and last symptoms. How do I tick the ...
The first thing to note about the partying Queenstown backpackers is these acts of youthful rebellion are not an isolated phenomenon. As I write this on April 1, The Guardian is reporting on a group of people in their 20s who took the opportunity to celebrate Spring Break in the ...
Every Friday of lockdown, LockerRoom will share posts from Kiwi sportswomen who've caught our eye with novel ways of keeping on top of their game at home. This week we have Black Ferns making their own training equipment, a Kiwi professional cyclist virtually racing against riders around the world, and ANZ Premiership netballers calling their ...
Steve Braunias pays tribute to the Listener, closed yesterday in the wake of Covid-19's devastation of the economy. This piece to mark the end of the Listener is exactly how I started writing for the Listener: late at night, with instant coffee, in a state of shock. The shock then ...
The shockingly fast collapse of Bauer presents the government with a momentous choice, says Duncan Greive. Will it save the media industry, or concentrate on its own?This moment was always coming. The long, steady flow of advertising revenue to the tech giants has left the private sector media gaunt, much ...
A new app unveiled by the Government to dispense information about Covid-19 can be scaled up to help with pandemic tracking and diagnosing the illness, Marc Daalder reportsA Government WhatsApp channel revealed today will help carry information pertinent to the Covid-19 pandemic to the nation's smartphones - but that's ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As the COVID-19 transforms our individual lives, we are learning a few new things about ourselves as a society. We’ve known Australians suspect authority and, like other Western countries, have come to trust government less ...
About those handles and rails and communal areas …The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 crisis is only possible because of the support of members. If you can, please consider joining Spinoff Members here.As Aotearoa enters week two of lockdown, it’s clear we’re all still working out what our “bubbles” look ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Quinn, Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is changing how we live. With a rapid increase in cases, we are now isolating in our homes to “flatten the curve”. However, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In this special hour long podcast presented by Mark Evans, professor of governance and director of Democracy 2025, the panel discusses Australian democracy with Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb and Michelle Grattan. The panel dissects the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government will provide free child care in a move aimed at ensuring parents, especially in essential services, are able to keep working. More than 945,000 families with 1.3 million children will benefit. The new ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Jackson, Education Policy Lead, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced free childcare for more than one million families, with a funding boost that aims to keep more than 13,000 childcare services across Australia open. In doing so, ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin What is Money?Keith Rankin.Money is a mystery. To most of us we receive it, we spend it, we save it, we borrow it. And if we don’t have enough, we are in trouble. Many of us think of money as if it is tangible, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, La Trobe University To control the spread of COVID-19 we need to identify as many people with the virus as possible. If we know who has it, we can isolate them so they can’t infect others and quarantine ...
By RNZ News New Zealand has had its biggest increase in one day as the Health Ministry confirms 89 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases to 797. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today 92 people had now recovered from the coronavirus. Thirteen people ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhiamie Williamson, Research Associate & PhD Candidate, Australian National University The catastrophic bushfire season is officially over, but governments, agencies and communities have failed to recognise the specific and disproportionate impact the fires have had on Aboriginal peoples. Addressing this in bushfire ...
PACIFIC UPDATE:By Barbara Dreaver of TVNZ There are now 147 positive cases across seven countries in the Pacific region and four deaths. In Guam, cases continue to grow, with the count now at 77, five of them health workers. The island nation is facing its own crisis on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Jin Kang, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University With #StayAtHome and social distancing now becoming a way of life, an increasing number of people are relying on the internet for work, education and entertainment. This has placed greater demand on our network infrastructure, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Klein, Professor, UNSW The spectre of large ships with people desperate to come ashore is not a new sight in Australia. In 2001, the MV Tampa infamously sought to enter Australian waters off Christmas Island to discharge more than 400 asylum ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Holden, Senior Lecturer in Dental Ethics, Law and Professionalism, University of Sydney The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we access health care, and dental care is no exception. Dentists are no longer allowed to provide a raft of care, such ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Kirstin Mead from the Regional Business Partners’ Network.Business owners around the country will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Roberts, Associate professor (Curriculum Inquiry / Rural Education), University of Canberra Schools have been progressively moving classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there is uncertainty over what the next months may bring. This has thrown many year 12 students’ ...
The fourth in our new series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall, covering the Covid-19 epidemic within New Zealand. We’ll publish the latest set each day on The Spinoff.This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff MembersInformation about confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 ...
Employers in essential services and foreigners trying to leave New Zealand were the targets of Government announcements on Thursday afternoon Essential services who employ workers who can't go to work due to Covid-19 will be able to access the Government's funds to pay them. The scheme would allow employers in "essential services" ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Stephens, ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor of Cultural Studies, The University of Queensland Australia’s coronavirus public health messaging has been criticisedasconfusing during a time when health guidelines and regulations are changing rapidly, and educating the public about health ...
The longer we wait to restore broader economic activity, the greater the long-term loss of economic capability. We need to start thinking about 'virus-proof' workplaces and practices, says Rod Oram So far our physical economy is holding up remarkably well considering the stunning shocks we and the virus are hurling ...
Open mike 29/04/2013 
In order to meet our 2050 carbon target and do our bit to avoid making the Earth uninhabitable, New Zealand needs to decarbonise our economy, replacing fossil fuels with electricity in the energy, industrial and transport sectors. The good news is that it will mean cheaper power for all of ...2 hours ago
For those folk who find my other Lock-Down Diary versions too “negative” or otherwise unpalatable… Here’s a photo of a pretty flower, . . Better? Tomorrow’s Sanitised Version: a cute animal video. . . . =fs= ...3 hours ago
As Aotearoa enters week two of lockdown, it’s clear we’re all still working out what our “bubbles” look like and how to stay in them to stop the spread of Covid-19. New to the government’s Covid-19 website is some good guidance for people living in apartment blocks. Recent decades have ...6 hours ago
Yesterday was the day the consequences of the lockdown suddenly got very real for many. Firms have been closing and laying people off since the outset of the quarantine but this has mostly been happening out of the public eye. The mass closure of a number of iconic New Zealand ...7 hours ago
Resuming Normal Service: The Republican Party's nominee for in 1920, Warren Harding, promised the American people: “not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration”. If she wishes to remain our prime minister, then Jacinda Ardern will offer New Zealanders the same.HOW EDUCATED AMERICA snickered when the ...8 hours ago
by Daphna Whitmore A third of the world is under lockdown and a clear assessment of this measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 is urgently needed. With any high-stakes decisions it has to be asked what are we dealing with here? Are the measures warranted? Will they achieve their ...14 hours ago
I haven’t done a huge amount in the last few days. I’m reading The Poppy War and I’ve sort of poked at a couple of games – I started SOMA but I’m a wimp and I quit while in the first room after the brain scan. I might try it ...18 hours ago
Much has been written about the importance of discretion in an emergency situation, and the concerns raised by the potential for it to be exercised arbitrarily. Given the quality of the discussion, there seemed little point in adding to it at any length. In particular, I point to the evidence ...20 hours ago
46 Articles Physical science of global warming & effects Global response of evapotranspiration ratio to climate conditions and watershed characteristics in a changing environment Greenhouse effect: the relative contributions of emission height and total absorption Observations & observational methods of global warming & effects Climate change induced a ...2 days ago
Image credit: Diamond Harbour School Blogs I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or ... 2 days ago
The Covid-19 saga will no doubt produce many twists and turns for us before it is finally brought to an end. But one thing it has shown us – and what comfort it should bring us – is that our country’s government is in good hands. I am not thinking ...2 days ago
The following statement was released on March 28 by the National Network on Cuba, a coalition of 40 groups, based in the United States. In recent weeks, Cuba has deployed hundreds of medical providers to over a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, as well as to their neighbors in Latin ...3 days ago
Yesterday, New Zealand recorded its first Covid-19 related death on the West Coast. Unfortunately this is unlikely to be the only fatality, with the virus now being found in every region of the country.However despite the significant danger, people are still unfortunately breaching lockdown rules.There’s really only one main very ...4 days ago
The CV-19 (COVID) pandemic has seen the imposition of a government ordered national quarantine and the promulgation of a series of measures designed to spread the burden of pain and soften the economic blow on the most strategically important and most vulnerable sectors of society. The national narrative is framed ...6 days ago
Society-wise, aside from the specific morbidity shall we say of the medically-oriented aspects of this COVID-19 crisis, what is unfolding before the world is in more than one way an instructive study of humanity and reactions to a high intensity, high stress environment in real time. Friends, we are at ...7 days ago
Right now low waged and insecure workers are feeling the economic brunt of the looming #Covid19 Recession. In response legal advocate Toby Cooper* and hospitality and worker’s rights advocate Chloe Ann-King, are putting together a series of legal blogs about your employment rights: In this legal blog we outline some ...7 days ago
Kia ora my name is Chloe Ann-King* and I am the founder of Raise the Bar, a campaign and non-profit that gives free legal aid, advocacy and tautoko to hospitality workers in Aotearoa. Right now all over our country hospo workers are being fired at will, having shifts cut or being ...1 week ago
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says getting New Zealanders back home and other travellers out of the country is "a nightmare for our embassies, consuls, and staff around the world". Speaking to NewstalkZB's Mike Hosking, the Foreign Minister said that he gave a clear message to people travelling overseas that they ...1 hour ago
The COVID-19 situation in New Zealand is moving fast - and to avoid what we've seen overseas - the Government's response must be to move fast too. We're committed to keeping New Zealanders safe and well-informed every step of the way. ...6 days ago
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The scale of what we face right now is unlike anything we have ever seen before. Overcoming it is our common purpose. ...1 week ago
The Government’s plan to cushion the blow of COVID-19 by supporting incomes, jobs and businesses, and position the economy to recover has been backed by another international report. International credit rating agency Moody’s today reaffirmed its highest Aaa credit rating on New Zealand, saying the economy is expected to remain ...3 hours ago
Covid-19 testing of the wider population is on the cards as World Health Organisation research shows people are most contagious within their first few days of being infected Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says Covid-19 carriers are highly infectious when they show few signs of carrying the virus. People were ...12 mins ago
Z Energy is the latest company to cut its dividend payout and start talking to its banks about strengthening its finances. Chief executive Mike Bennetts said the company, the largest fuel retailer in the country, had been battered by a range of issues over the past 18 months, and was ...15 mins ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Kang, Associate professor, University of Technology Sydney Young people in Australia are among the fastest-growing group to contract COVID19. According to the Department of Health, there are now more cases in Australia among people aged 20 – 29 years than any ...22 mins ago
Journalist and Great Barrier Island resident Lindsay Wright reflects on outer gulf pandemic preparedness. Hardy locals can tough it out but Auckland bach owners and boaties should keep their distance. Aotea Great Barrier, the easternmost island in the Hauraki Gulf, are undergoing a Covid-19-inspired population flood. Great Barrier has scenery that makes ...31 mins ago
The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand is delighted that the government has moved quickly to provide an initial financial support package for pharmacy. The $15 million package was paid this week to pharmacy contract holders. Pharmaceutical Society president ...50 mins ago
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening. The following charts are based on numbers shared at the daily press conference and are "as of 9am" of the day. There were 71 new cases of Covid-19 in ...1 hour ago
A new poem by Wellington poet and bookseller Ash Davida Jane. washed up! it gets tiring pushing the fire alarm every night but things keep catching on fireor sometimes ...2 hours ago
Vodafone says its continuing to see significant increases in calls and data on its networks after the first week of level 4 lockdown. ...2 hours ago
The Opposition says the government should be more generous with its wage and business subsidies to help companies survive the economic shutdown. ...3 hours ago
People with lower credit scores increased their borrowing upon news of the lockdown, while those with higher scores dropped away. March data from the credit-reporting agency Centrix, which runs credit checks on behalf of banks, finance companies, online lenders, and buy now pay later schemes, showed credit inquiries dropped sharply ...4 hours ago
Small business owners say commercial rent relief is desperately needed if they are to survive past the Covid-19 disruptions. While the wage subsidy helped with staff costs, there is currently no government assistance for commercial rent - which typically accounts for 40 percent of a firm's fixed costs. Landlords and ...4 hours ago
SkyCity is making 200 staff redundant as part of cost cutting because of the Covid-19 virus. The casino operator said it had no choice but to cut the size of the workforce given that once business resumes it will be at much reduced level. Chief executive Graeme Stephens said it's ...4 hours ago
Up to 100,000 foreigners could be seeking to leave the country in coming weeks, now the Government has relaxed domestic travel restrictions for them. ...6 hours ago
Health Minister David Clark has flouted the Government's advice to exercise locally after confirming he drove to a park to go mountain biking on Thursday. ...6 hours ago
Covid-19 cases top 1m; Trump brags he's #1 on Facebook and says he knows about the virus because a 'friend' got it; UK testing scandal grows; Cats more vulnerable to virus than dogs Ticking up to a million cases: A gruesome landmark was passed today when we go over one million ...6 hours ago
RBNZ bans bank dividends; Who is next after Bauer's shock closure? Vital plan blocked; Commission wins in real estate price fixing case; Softbank walks out WeWork No you won’t: The Reserve Bank took the unprecedented step of prohibiting the banks from paying dividends during the coronavirus crisis or redeeming any ...7 hours ago
Former National Finance Ministers Steven Joyce and Bill English question the severity of the Covid-19 lockdown and ask whether the Government has an exit strategy. Andrew Patterson reports. Steven Joyce and Bill English have seen their fair share of financial crises and natural disasters as the last National Government's finance ...8 hours ago
Two new cases of Covid-19 have been identified in Fiji, prompting a lockdown of its capital. Teuila Fuatai reports. Fijian health authorities are scrambling to identify close contacts of its latest two Covid-19 cases. The couple, from Nabua, Suva, appear unrelated to the country’s previous five. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama ...8 hours ago
Christchurch is a city of contrasts, as some stretch their legs with smiles and others with suspicion. David Williams reports It was no surprise it happened in Christchurch’s student quarter. The smiles of those standing at their gates in Ilam Road broadened as a baby kayak strapped to a skateboard ...9 hours ago
Suzanne McFadden speaks to two Kiwi 'bubbles' who have unanticipated - but serendipitous - housemates. Sue Bremner has found a silver lining to the brooding cloud of lockdown – it’s meant getting to know the sister who never knew she existed for almost 65 years. Englishwoman Bremner has found herself holed ...9 hours ago
As the walls go up around the world, global trade is feeling the effects. But beyond the short-term pain, what systemic change might we see? Sam Sachdeva reports. International trade was already facing headwinds before the spread of coronavirus - but the pandemic has knocked it well and truly off-course. ...9 hours ago
The decisions by German media giant Bauer to shut its New Zealand magazine operation and NZME’s axing of Radio Sport have been precipitated by the coronavirus. But, as Mark Jennings and Tim Murphy write, the closures are also due to the deeper problems of the local media industry. The sudden announcement ...9 hours ago
How long does it take to recover, how do you know you’ve recovered and can you catch Covid-19 twice? If you’ve had Covid-19 when are you officially recovered? Turns out there’s no test in New Zealand. It's judged by time of onset and last symptoms. How do I tick the ...9 hours ago
The first thing to note about the partying Queenstown backpackers is these acts of youthful rebellion are not an isolated phenomenon. As I write this on April 1, The Guardian is reporting on a group of people in their 20s who took the opportunity to celebrate Spring Break in the ...9 hours ago
Every Friday of lockdown, LockerRoom will share posts from Kiwi sportswomen who've caught our eye with novel ways of keeping on top of their game at home. This week we have Black Ferns making their own training equipment, a Kiwi professional cyclist virtually racing against riders around the world, and ANZ Premiership netballers calling their ...9 hours ago
Steve Braunias pays tribute to the Listener, closed yesterday in the wake of Covid-19's devastation of the economy. This piece to mark the end of the Listener is exactly how I started writing for the Listener: late at night, with instant coffee, in a state of shock. The shock then ...9 hours ago
A new app unveiled by the Government to dispense information about Covid-19 can be scaled up to help with pandemic tracking and diagnosing the illness, Marc Daalder reports A Government WhatsApp channel revealed today will help carry information pertinent to the Covid-19 pandemic to the nation's smartphones - but that's ...10 hours ago
Employers in essential services and foreigners trying to leave New Zealand were the targets of Government announcements on Thursday afternoon Essential services who employ workers who can't go to work due to Covid-19 will be able to access the Government's funds to pay them. The scheme would allow employers in "essential services" ...21 hours ago
The longer we wait to restore broader economic activity, the greater the long-term loss of economic capability. We need to start thinking about 'virus-proof' workplaces and practices, says Rod Oram So far our physical economy is holding up remarkably well considering the stunning shocks we and the virus are hurling ...22 hours ago
it is a wee bit confusing in the job market, – from a job vacancy ad on trademe jobs:
“We do not accept online applications if you wish to apply please email mxxxxxxd @ xxxx.net.nz.” (address edited for anonymity)
Poll on public attitudes to “brain fades”.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10880335
The breakdown by party support is interesting/amusing, with National Party supporters being the most “trusting” – or stupid, immoral, cognitively dissonant or whatever.
from Sunday on cycling;
two reporters left Te Atatu for TVNZ in the city, 13kms distance. With the motorist having to wait at the on-ramp for 20minutes and travel at approx 40km/h in traffic, find a park and walk the remainder, the cyclist arrived first travelling by cycle-way.
Aucklands transport problems according to Len Brown on Firstline require 60B investment, (under-investment for decades), with a 12B shortfall to be met by tolls, fuel tax proposals etc.
Although 600M could be invested in cycle-ways for Auckland, there would be a 20-1 long-term cost benefit according to cycle-safety specialist Glen Koorey.
from a cyclist-accident victim on the same article; “We have become such a mean-spirited nation…people used to say about Kiwis…” (encouraging things I imagine).
ghost
There was an interesting discussion on transport in the city on radionz soon after 9am today.
ahhh, missed it; what I haven’t missed are observations of the attitudes and emotions held by many motorists questioned by the media on their approach towards cyclists. freakin’ hicks.
Yup TPTB (the backers of them at least), can’t wait to get tolls on roads all over AKL.
Just look at the mess that the nothern tunnel toll road has become!
NZ has become a *mean spirited nation* – Thats the result of being used as an experiment!
It seems the whale and his followers have been involved in a stoush over a Facebook page aiming at generating discussion over the (non) merits of Charter Schools. Here’s the page owner’s take on it.
http://howmelulaterseesit.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/beware-bullies-who-dont-want-you-to.html?spref=fb
an interesting read at the link
And this is what they teach in charter schools. Can you imagine that child ever being employable if they keep on believing that bullshit?
plenty of Exclusive Brethren employers dotted all through-out New Zealand.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Internet Blogger
The results of the Brain fade poll , reads as if the question asked was more like,
“Do you think John Key is a liar?”
That would explain the party split , nicely.
I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar”
Reids wouldn’t change the question , after the poll result, would they? Na
Wouldn’t it be great if when publishing/referencing a poll the media had to supply the actual poll data, including the questions. Even better than that would be a declaration of whomever had commissioned the poll in the first place.
This was part of the standard TV3 Reid Research poll, so we know who commissioned it.
yes lanthanide, i should have added that the noted article did include the reference to it being a TV3 poll but as a general rule we both know the identity of those commissioning polls is largely anonymous.
Actually for the main political polling, it’s done by the newspapers or the TV networks or Roy Morgan.
Not sure why you’d want individual names for those polls.
Now for other polling, sure, we don’t necessarily know. But other polling doesn’t tend to be national-level political polls.
“I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar””
That is what they said, but they came back and corrected that the question asked of their partner was the polling question we are shown.
So no conspiracy here, sorry.
Reids have done well to link Shearer with Keys’ lies.
The ambiguous question, helped in this regard . (that and Shearers memory)
Most ,surely would have answered that question ,with Key in mind.
That would explain party split
Would have been interesting if to know what angle the MSM would taken ,if Shearers’ memory hadn’t let him down.
The dishonest and irresponsible work of Andrew Wakefield has claimed a victim
Wales has had low Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for some time … since about 1998, in fact, when Andrew Wakefield published his bogus study in the Lancet falsely linking the MMR vaccine to autism.
So what are you going to say when it comes out that the chronically sick 25 year old in question had already been immunised against measles?
By the way, according to the schedule the dead man should have been vaccinated years before the Wakefield study came out, as an infant, so I think its more likely that he had been immunised. Yet was so sick.
The dishonest and irresponsible work of Andrew Wakefield
hasmay have claimed a victim.has most likely claimed a victim
The point of vaccination is not just to protect yourself, but also to protect others.
How he contracted it in the first place is the real issue, not whether his particular jab didn’t work, or whether due to allergies he couldn’t get vaccinated, or whether his parents were nutty even before Wakefield’s fraud.
Bit of a climb down though innit joe, from has, to may! You get some credit, for the climb down, but its been sloppy from you lately, aer you ok?
No matter how hard McFlock tries to spin it, then pulls out the , * you should be guilty*, for not protecting others, what a legend you are McFlock /sarc!
What other illness did this unfortunate individual suffer from?
Article title:Measles Epidemic in Wales Has Roots in Antivax Movement.
Opening line of article: The measles outbreak in Wales may have claimed its first victim..
I never said “you should be guilty”.
I just think that people who refuse to vaccinate for no clear medical reason (e.g. egg allergy) are selfish idiots.
Population perspective: clear link.
Individual case perspective: who knows? There’s always the slim possibility he had some measles-like condition.
When attributing primary cause of mortality in individual cases there’s always oodles of theoretical wriggle room (from poor nutrition to undiagnosed heart problems), and you look set to use every inch of it. A bit like 50 years of tobacco industry wriggling – but then they were intentionally duplicitous, rather than wildly delusional, so I guess you’re not quite in their league.
Each year around Anzac Day, my electorate hosts a social event, the highlight of which is a lecture in memory of a popular former Labour MP who was killed in Crete in 1942. This year’s lecture was given by Nicky Hagar. The basis of the lecture was his latest book “Other People’s Wars”. It was gob-smacking stuff!
There were a number of former and even current senior military personnel – plus senior public servants – who were apparently only too willing to apprise Nicky of the behind the scenes activity particularly in relation to the war in Afghanistan. This was a measure of their profound concern for what they saw… and the blatant lies that we in New Zealand have been told about our involvement in that war. Politicians – on both sides of the fence and including Helen Clark – were tricked into believing we were there as peace keepers. The peace keeping played a role, but from all accounts it turned out not to be their primary function.
Add to that an over-all appraisal by Nicky about what he perceives is happening behind the political front, and I think there would be many here interested in what he had to say.
I know the lecture was recorded (sound-wise at least) and I think it might be possible for the Standard to seek to post that recording here. Labour MP, Phil Twyford would be the person to approach in the first instance, because he initiated the annual lectures and is still heavily involved.
Further to the above are two quotes from the book:
It would be nice for someone to pause and say, “Hell, we’re coming up to the 10th anniversary [Sept.11 attacks], are we better or are we worse?. I think the answer is we’re worse. How stupid are we to have allowed a reaction led by the United States that has actually made it worse for the world? – senior defence official.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or actively excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
Thanks, Anne. It is significant stuff, and I would be interested to see or read Hager’s latest lecture.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or
excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
I think that is a salient point Anne and I’ve repeated it for me and any others who have had naive ideas about politicians and what they are doing with their time and influence while in the House and having some power.
In the USA it may be that the control of the country has largely passed out of the hands of those elected representatives who take their role for the people seriously. Where there is money there is power, which does seem to be a correct saying, and the budget of the Defence there is astro-astronomical. Scary stuff for sincere democracy believers.
Eisenhowers departure speech warning of the dangers of the military industrial complex
I’d recommend anyone (everyone) read the book even though it is a big read.
It makes it pretty clear that senior defence people were determined to go against explicit government foreign policy (and directives) in order to preserve – or resurrect – their contact and ‘relationships’ with the US, UK and Australia. Ever since the nuclear ship ban and the suspension of ANZUS, parts of the defence leadership ran a de facto military foreign policy at odds with government policy, especially in the 2000s.
There’s a word for that, and when you need to apply it to the defence forces it is particularly concerning.
I am shocked that Hager’s book has received so little journalistic follow-through. There are stories in there that I would have thought any journalist worth their salt would have given an arm and a leg to have the opportunity to run with (if that isn’t mixing too many metaphors).
A bit of jealousy mixed with narrow, establishment thinking and a naive desire to be part of the American military scenario? Most of the MSM seem happy to go along with the authoritarian and anti-democratic flow if they think that is where their best interests may lie…
But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.
“But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.”
It certainly is – but no matter how heartening, I don’t think that’s the point. After all, the military went its own way despite the integrity of these people and their desire for transparency. The lack of ‘follow through’ reinforces that fact.
As with so many issues, the point is not about individuals and their motives (for good or ill). It’s about structures and institutional processes that bias against (or for) certain kinds of behaviours and, therefore, in favour of certain kinds of people with certain kinds of views.
The historical interweaving of the NZ military with the UK and then US military (training, experience under command, etc.) I imagine meant (and still means) that those with pro-UK/US leanings will have formed the useful overseas connections and ‘upward’ connections within the already established hierarchy that ensure they rise through the ranks and assume positions of power.
That process is common to all institutions – those who align themselves with powerful interests within and around the ‘system’ do better in the ‘system’. It’s Chomsky and Hermann’s point about the media and who ends up being an editor – the very people who agree with the direction.
The older I get the more I think that the interesting questions are hardly ever about motives, character, personal integrity, etc.. They are about the uses that structures make of people.
You have hit the nail, on the head!
Structure exists to ensure a couple of things, primarily:
1: Control
2: To ensure that the structure which are necessary to support society, and humanity’s best social interests, remain broken!
To what end!
I’d love to hear the speech on audio or video.
Tried to go to the speech but it was sold out days early. I think you’ll find there is a keen interest for independent voices like Nicky Hager and, if it’s possible, maybe book a larger venue next time.
Thank for your efforts Anne in getting people like Nicky H to speak.
Thanks Paul. The effort was really put in by others including Phil Twyford. Yes, we are going to have to find a bigger venue. We have been fortunate thus far in attracting excellent speakers and the word has got around. So much so, people who are not associated with the Labour Party also want to attend. I think the recording was audio only but still well worth listening to. I will try and contact Phil Twyford and see if it’s possible to have it posted here.
See Anne at 9 above concerning Nicky Hager’s speech.
Message for Paul, karol, prism, Puddleglum, muzza and anyone else who is interested:
Phil Twyford will be posting the Hagar lecture on Red Alert as soon as he’s received it. Will keep you posted.
Mark Steel on the demonisation of the poor and the dickensian meanness of neoliberalism plus an extra on the french revolution.
On the present submission time for a constitution. First Chris Trotter makes important points.
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/not-debating-constitution.html
Also from he Sunday Star Times
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8605428/Talking-about-a-New-Zealand-constitution
You should have a look at their poll and see what you think about it. It seems to be quite balanced and requires a bit of thought. They have a space for 130 words about your ideas for NZ which they may tweet.
I went to a meeting in the weekend hosted by a Nelson group. My feelings are that the appointed commissioners seem to be standing aside and leaving the bringing information and discussion to each region which has to find people with something to say and who can project their ideas. The visiting commissioners seem more like window dressing, and there does not seem to be a plan for a tour of the country by informative speakers, the appointees just attend the arranged meeting and give a quick run down of their instructions. Then at our meeting the speakers were invited to make their individual points.
There was a speaker from the country’s numerous old, white anti-Maori bigots, who also were a vocal group in the audience. Overturning agreements already reached, limiting the Treaty to a historical document with narrow meanings, and overturning decisions made already by eminent people in favour of Maori seemed to be their unswerving and bigoted goal. There was the usual white patronising and demeaning attitude to Maori heard from such people, mainly white-haired and probably old age beneficiaries, and I am one of this age so I can be reasonably objective. (Their thinking at base being – Maori are undeserving, they haven’t a case for consideration of their rights and wrongs, and that the decisions made by eminent people in favour of Maori stand for nothing)
Unfortunately for me, the bigot was the second speaker not the last. The first was a criminal lawyer who does good work and is aware of the need of the law to serve the citizens, poor and rich, and I am asking for the right to be able to access his submission paper for The Standard readers. (I now have that okay but have to speak to my advisor on how to go about putting it up tonight.)
But when the second speaker began and started with what to me is poisonous, backward diatribe that would have an acidic effect on good relations between Maori and pakeha and our moves forward to a better future, I had to leave. This man Bruce Moon was a co-author with John Robinson, David Round, Mike Butler, Hugh Barr, Peter Cresswell of a book called Twisting the Treaty – A Tribal Grap for Wealth and Power with a related web page headed Treatygate – The Conning of a Country which pitches it against one called Healing our History by Robert and Joanna Consedine. The large number of biased authors writing for the Twisting book make for a whiteout on the subject, one whole page of google is taken up with headings from their individual comments and initiatives.
Some people who are focussed on one approach with a tunnel vision that pours all their energy on their chosen mission, are a horrible obstacle to gathering wide information and take up the precious time set aside for that purpose. I had better things to do. But I want to see healthy discussion on a good constitution. I don’t trust National to do anything good, they are increasingly adopting fascist, and anti-democratic policies.
There is an academic Dr Paul Moon at AUT so don’t confuse the two. This link has something about him.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/auckland-city-harbour-news/8382933/Key-bits-of-history
‘neonicotinoids’ may yet Bee banned’
so much for “SuperGrans” to the rescue…
and don’t expect the Army to be able to afford picking up the pieces
My point that NZ government doesn’t care about families much and won’t support them is backed up by the Super Grans business. These people in power are self absorbed social climbers and wealthy isolated types. They could care about a fine racehorse with good breeding but ordinary people – no.
And budget advisory, that would admit there is a necessity, a demand for this, and in a climate where people have to apply for five jobs a day in a recession well there is a certain coherence if they just keep on denying reality.
Thoughts and prayers to Parekura Horomia and his whanau.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10880438
Yes. Best wishes to Parekura and his whanau and friends.
Na, kia noho te Atua o te rangimarie ki a koutou katoa, Amene.
Following on from some comments concerning the state of private aged care in NZ the other day, this article from ‘The Independent’ on the unfolding crisis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland might be of interest to some – particularly if there are jots to be joined or comparisons made with any debt burden among NZ’s private providers.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-5bn-care-home-crisis-that-is-seeing-record-numbers-of-providers-close-their-doors-8591849.html
“part of a wider collapse in social care driven by spending cuts”. (sound familiar)
“solving the inevitably rocketing (fixed) costs of social care for the elderly and disabled is an issue expected to dog governments for decades to come”. (energy, food, wages, oh wait Ryman et al; will be able to pay lower wages).
Well, NZ Government is already working on the Euthanasia bill…… it will be introduced under the umbrella that there is too much suffering. Watch this space.
Canadian foreign minister John Baird is now a human rights champion!
April 29, 2013
Liberals and human rights activists will welcome the news that the formerly hard right Canadian foreign minister John Baird has made a spectacular and sudden conversion to being a champion of human rights.
After a Canadian friend of mine yesterday damned Mr Baird as “a disgusting piece of sh!t”, and urged me to “Google the useless f+ck” I decided to follow his advice and do a little bit of research on him. What I have found tends to reinforce my friend’s observation.
John Baird has developed a reputation as an hysterical opponent of the Kyoto Protocols, and he has been roundly denounced by virtually everybody who has come into contact with him. After observing Baird’s irresponsible conservation policies, Al Gore called them “a complete and total fraud” and accused him of trying to “mislead the Canadian people”. Baird’s conservation policies have been damned by David Suzuki as a “sham”. Activists at the Cancun climate conference in 2010 were scathing of his environmental policies and awarded Canada three “Fossil” awards for disrupting and undermining U.N. climate talks.
When he is not trashing the environment, John Baird likes to hang out with soldiers. He spent Christmas 2006 in Afghanistan with Canadian occupation troops.
Baird is an aggressive and shameless supporter of the Likud party in Israel, and last year he made a widely condemned statement that Iran was “the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.”
Oh! There is one person who thinks that Baird is all right. He has been praised for his “bold leadership” by THIS fellow….
http://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/netanyahu-bomb-un.jpg
But all this has changed suddenly! John Baird has now joined the struggle for human rights!
Read the following and cheer….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22322999
In terms of guise and process alone and mark it, not personal at all, shades of last appointment of Race Relations Commissioner ?
RIP Parekura Horomia.
RIP.
Wow. He was a really cool guy. The nats gave him a hard time because he did not accord to their concepts of a parliamentarian but he was a very gracious person. On a marae he could not be matched and when talking to kiwis his ability to relate to them was phenomenal.
I had the pleasure of being at the Avondale Markets with him campaigning and I can honestly say that he was without his peers. Even though he was 400 kilometers from home it seemed he knew half the people. I was really, really impressed with his ability to relate to ordinary kiwis.
Best wishes to his whanau.
Labour MP and former Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia has died from health complications at his home in Tolaga Bay.
The 62-year-old, who is survived by three sons and one grandchild, was surrounded by family, friends and Parliamentary colleagues when he passed away a short time ago.
His condition deteriorated rapidly since his health problems were made public this morning.
The cause of his death has not been confirmed and his family has requested privacy.
Read more: Labour MP Parekura Horomia dies, age 62 – Story – Politics – 3 News http://www.3news.co.nz/Labour-MP-Parekura-Horomia-dies-age-62/tabid/1607/articleID/295933/Default.aspx#ixzz2RpOsKktE
Very sad. A good man with a big heart.
A very sad loss. May he rest in peace.
RIP Parekura. Few would have a bad word to say about him. Shocking news.
Meanwhile, this piece of sh*t works for Auckland radio stations. I’ll be writing to them telling them what I think, and why I’ll be boycotting them and their ads – you may want to as well …
Speaking of wankers, the wankers at David Farrar’s troll farm are comparing him to Thatcher.
Who is rikdog?
So sad to read of the passing of Parekura Horomia. R.I.P
Jim Mora poses the Ironic Question of the Month
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 29 April 2013
Jim Mora, Jonathan Krebs, Tim Watkin
Today, due to unforeseen circumstances, host Jim Mora found himself in the position of having ten minutes at the end of the program to fill up somehow. Being an experienced and competent operator, this was no problem for him. “We have a spare ten minutes,” he told his two guests, “so we’ll just have a chat about various issues that have come up lately.”
First up, he read out an exceptionally foolish statement by an English chemical analysis, who after she had debunked the false claims that Syria has used chemical weapons, had gone on to claim that even if the “evidence” was entirely false, the “rebels” had done it because they were “desperate”.
The Panelists, including Mora, actually did a good job here, discussing the Syrian question with intelligence and a degree of responsibility—thank God that Panel regulars Dr Michael Bassett or Barry Corbett or Garth “Gaga” George were not on today—and mentioned that the “rebels” were largely Al Qaeda terrorists.
Then, in a deadly serious tone, Jim Mora asked the following question: “Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
To their credit, both Jonathan Krebs and Tim Watkin stifled the guffaws and pretended to ignore the screaming irony of that screamingly funny question.
DISCUSS:
Is Jim Mora the world’s most brilliant deadpan comic? Or did he simply forget, for a brief time this afternoon, that the guest Panelists on his show have included such Ignorami for the Ages as John Barnett, Graham Bell, Barry Corbett, Garth “Gaga” George, Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, Nevil “Breivik” Gibson, Claudette Hauiti, and Jordan Williams?
Here it is, one more time. Enjoy…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hah1. The ‘voice of the people’, the everyman’s best, bester, bestest EVER friend Jum’, the wordsmuth, the intellect…… it’s just so overwhelming.
Save yourself the stress Morissey. Best policy is to just ignore the gittus.
I had some conversation with the guy a few years ago. Back then he promised how he was going to rejuvinate things.
Instead ….. same old shit, same old hacks, same old yearning to be liked, same old kaka to be perceived as the voice of reason…..
(Same shit – different stink).
Not sure why the Slacks et al bother these days – perhaps they just like the same brand of CHardonnay.
IF RNZ ever consider its time for a shapkeup – it’s be Mora in the afternoon, closely followed by Kethluk Guuuuurl in the mourn
Yes Tim I agree. The Mora Borer Show has become almost unlistenable. Coast, Breeze, whatever, at least they deliver what they promise. Often in my car 4-5 pm weekdays. As a consciously careful and attentive driver over the 33 km to home Radio Live and other talkback is just too dangerous. Mora seemed the safe bet.
Unfortunately it’s now just Aunty Affable and his unconscionable gushing over a series of wankers (in the main) who fancy themselves “celebs”. Thus emboldening them in the ignorant mouthing off of which Morrissey complains. I think the name’s Chris Wikaira, an aggressive wahanui on everything who brews yuppie fucking beer for God’s Sake. He’s one of the worst. If that’s not him I apologise to the less offensive Chris Wikaira. Not to overlook Mrs Brassy Voyeur Private Investigator………forget her name, Julia double barrelled something. David Slack is one of the few exceptions. He’s genuinely wry as well.
Helpful redirection would be appreciated.
I think the obnoxious brewer you are thinking of is actually Neil Miller. Your concerns about him are entirely justified.
Chris Wikaira is a National Party-sympathizing dope that manages to say nothing serious or interesting whenever he is on the programme. Last time he was on, his Soapbox contribution consisted of a rant about what he reckons is the poor quality of contributions to the Minecraft discussion boards.
That horrible P.I. is Julia Hartley-Moore.
Indeed North.
Publicly funded radio fulfills a very important role in our society, but “Afternoons with Jim Mora” always leaves me wondering why we’re publicly funding what is essentially talkback radio.
Respects for Parekura Horomia.
The five year old whom the pakeha school bus passed on by. Surprisingly, never bitter. Lovely man living magnificent wairua.
In brief answer to Morrissey: yes, ugly mouthing is not merely a tendency, it is positively encouraged. It’s in the nature of an opiate for dullards, their spittle then harnessed by unscrupulous self-promoters and careerists.
Haere ra Parekura Horomia, takoto mai, e koro.
man, this Auckland Transport problem is gonna cost; “a multi-billion dollar shortfall”
-tolls
-fuel tax
-rates rises
-possible public transport tax
-congestion tax
(any 2 or more of the above)
“even this is not a silver bullet”- Simon Lambourne.
The Christchurch rebuild needs 17000 more workers before 18 months time passes.
Heard Joyce talking of the need for flexibility from “officials” and “immigration” in the same sentence.
more migrant workers will be required.
Apparently, there is no guarantee of the entire “private investment” counted on by the government for Christchurch.
Brian Easton will have a few words to say on the austerity program in the economy on radionz between 8.30 and 9 I think.
No Combrendo, still, aye, Standardistas?
Anyway – Those that may bother to get out of their little spaces, and away from blogs and PC or laptop screens:
01 May 2013:
Labour Action against the owners of Pak’n Save supermarket, at Royal Oak, Manukau Road, Auckland (just near the roundabout), due to decision by that employer to introduce and accept the new youth wage rate at about $ 11 per hour, below the minimum wage of $ 13 something, close to $ 14, as it applies to adults! Also are there other employment issues of staff employed there, First Union have more info. AAAP and others are preparing to take action and present a picket there.
As far as I know they used to have a collective agreement, but only on that site, and it appears to be under threat.
I encourage all in the area to join and support the workers at that supermarket, especially the youth ones, 16 to 19. They are in award negotiations and need all support. Also consider doing your shopping somewhere else, at least for a time, until they have come to the party to pay staff what they deserve.
The minimum wage, also there paid to largely migrant workers, is not sufficient to survive on, and it is an insult as it is. A living wage would be better, but we are fighting to simply even defend the minimum legal wage for those that will likely be short changed!
Also on 01 May 2013:
Joe Carolan communicated that due to a breakdown in negotiations with Mc Donald’s, there will be a 01 May picket outside McDonald’s in Queen Street at 03:30 pm on Mayday.
If any have questions about Mayday, perhaps do a search, look up Wikipedia or else, it has tradition with workers being shot and killed in Chicago some many years ago, for standing up for their worker’s rights, but Mayday is a celebrated Worker’s Day in many countries, in Europe, some countries in Asia, and for some here in Aotearoa NZ.
Labour Day is another affair, but some of us think that Mayday is the day to stand up, take a stand, join others and make a point. So a couple of pickets at mentioned venues will serve the purpose to a degree, and all are asked and invited to join!
Thank you.
The action at Pak’ Save Royal Oak, Auckland is planned for 08:30 am on Wednesday (“benefit day” for the unemployed), 01 May 2013 – MAYDAY!
Unemployed be mindful, a new, harsh, draconian regime for yours and other beneficiaries will start 15 July this year, due to law changes, so be prepared. Also sick and disabled, the onslaught and harassment will hit you and force you to look for work, so show solidarity thanks!