Open mike 30/09/2022
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6:00 am, September 30th, 2022 - 67 comments
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- Love, happiness, blur
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...5 hours ago - All I Want For Christmas
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...12 hours ago - The 1 Good Thing Left In Journalism
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...16 hours ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Monday, December 23
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...16 hours ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...1 day ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...2 days ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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- As Our Power Lessens: Published
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...2 days ago - By Any Other Name.
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...3 days ago
- Economic Bulletin December 2024
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- ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...4 days ago - Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...4 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
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The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...4 days ago
- The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...4 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...4 days ago
- Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...4 days ago - Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
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- GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...4 days ago
- Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
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- Wednesday 18 December
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...5 days ago
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The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...5 days ago
- Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...
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- Going Backwards
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Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...6 days ago
- December-24 AT Board Meeting
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...6 days ago
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Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...6 days ago - It could have been worse
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...6 days ago
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The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...6 days ago - Willis’ austerity strategy just isn’t working
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...6 days ago
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Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...6 days ago - Corrections is torturing prisoners again
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...6 days ago
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At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...6 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
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In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...7 days ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...7 days ago
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The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...7 days ago
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This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...7 days ago
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Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...1 week ago
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And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...1 week ago - A Lipstick Government
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...1 week ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...1 week ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 week ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...4 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...4 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...6 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...7 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...1 week ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...2 weeks ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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A really bad case of design hitting reality: Old Mangere Bridge replacement.
When designed a few years ago it was all about 'Safe, welcoming spaces", bringing together "the Onehunga and Mangere communities"
Investing in New Zealand: Old Māngere Bridge replacement | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (nzta.govt.nz)
When opened a month ago, voluminous streams of similar rhetoric about this numinous thing called community. Bounteous cornucopia of mana whenua partnership.
Ngā Hau Māngere connects communities across the harbour | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (nzta.govt.nz)
But within days of it opening, it was in reality an unsafe, unlit, no-camera dead end encouraging any lowlife to party hearty and fuck things up. Community formation, sure. A community of antisocial crime.
Fearful, frustrated Māngere Bridge locals block night traffic (1news.co.nz)
Now sure, many projects don't get design right first time. You adjust.
But this has got to be one of the larger 'why didn't we expect that' design disasters on a major new asset.
And who is going to be held responsible? The Council? The designers? The builders? The paper shufflers and beaurocrats who signed it off? The politicians? (Like The all the others around the country on so many projects).
Funny you mention accountability.
We are in the middle of an election for Auckland Council and its local boards, both of whom had plenty of input. Those locals who have their voting papers should get them in.
Alternatively the central government elections are next year, and here's one influential view of the government performance on transport:
The government's performance on transport – 5 years on – Greater Auckland
To call this a "disaster" is well over the top.
It looks like some extra policing on Friday and Saturday nights coupled with, maybe, a few new bollards or other minor design modifications, and this problem would be largely alleviated.
There is no perfect world out there-this is a societal problem not a transport design problem.
It is precisely the transport design that has caused it.
Whether it is rectified fast enough to get it off the TV1 news remains to be seen.
This is what local politics is.
You don't build community top down by constructing nice spaces. You let it evolve bottom up by making sure there is financial security for all.
Even worse the antisocial behavior was a feature of the old bridge so it's no suprise it returned as soon as the new one opened.
Massive planning fail.
There is an on-going design practice that assesses new builds and public builds for the encouragement or discouragement that these give to opportunities to commit crime (however we define it) It has been around since at least the mid 1980s. It was part of the 'broken windows' campaign.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory
Now a little discredited.
https://news.northeastern.edu/2019/05/15/northeastern-university-researchers-find-little-evidence-for-broken-windows-theory-say-neighborhood-disorder-doesnt-cause-crime/#:~:text=Do%20more%20broken%20windows%20mean,encourages%20further%20crime%20and%20disorder.
There are other elements that do have an effect on crime.
Wellington City Council has a design guideline against crime
https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/your-council/plans-policies-and-bylaws/district-plan/volume02/files/v2crime.pdf?la=en&hash=91AC90EF71E9FE2F0D0AE4693F2A88DED1BB9197
My view is that perhaps these new builds, public spaces builds need to be formally assessed for encouragement to commit crimes rather than just being monitored through a guideline. 'Shock, horror,' yet another central govt intervention like the Housing Intensification/Zoning and Three Waters for the fans of hands-off miniscule Govt to get their teeth into
Yes Minister…
Heh, what can you say…even Minister Nanaia has not received her Local Govt. Election voting papers!
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/09/local-government-minister-nanaia-mahuta-issues-please-explain-after-voting-papers-for-local-election-fail-to-turn-up.html
If we don't get to 20% of registered voters this election, there will need to be a ministerial inquiry.
It could start off with:
That's just a start.
If anyone can remember what Councils were actually accountable for prior to 1989, that's what it would take to bring democracy back.
It is rather obvious that the vast majority, if not all, of those declared elected soon after October 8 will be there on minority votes of a minority turnout, including the Supercity and Wellington Mayors.
The causes imo…
–Increasing shift from public participation in community affairs and collectivism generally, to individualism since the 80s. Including all the neo lib contracting out and LATE fiascos etc. which basically pummelled County Councils previous roles as providers of full time employment and responsibility for local infrastructure.
–Successive Govt.s make it quite clear that Local Government is pretty well despised by Central Govt. which plays into the hands of parochialism as 3 Waters illustrates.
–Local Govt. in the provinces is often seen by locals as crony based and full of local blowhards and reactionaries, the usual response for those trying to get by is to avoid, the comfortable vote for status quo.
–sinking lid postal system, removal of post boxes, shorter hours, apart from Couriers for online shopping. Who under 35 has ever mailed a letter except for student loans etc.?
–Transient renters–less likely to enrol or receive papers, alienated/switched off ditto.
What to do?
–Reverse the above!
–Online voting, and or a voting day public holiday. Cynics have decryed online voting on technical or potential tampering grounds, and given the last Census who could blame them in a way. But if online is good enough for finance capital to zing billions around the globe, surely it can be used for local democracy.
–Restore a Public Works Dept. with local depots, restore the mana of local Govt.
Tiger-agree that online voting is the way to go.
I think this should be used at general elections too though I'm aware of considerable pushback on this on TS, especially with regard to vote data security, which personally I don't see as a problem with the right safeguards/checks in place.
Another big issue with online voting is accessibility.
Access to Internet, computer literacy, disabilities, ID verification. All barriers to online-only.
Yes, there are ways around this. No, these are not reliably in place for everyday living, let alone once-every-3-years voting.
I'd say a hybrid solution (opt for online or print) might be a better way to go – but given that apparently they can't get voting papers to people reliably when there is only one option, it seems to be a recipe for disastrous voter exclusion.
Actually Belladonna, online voting as a Special Vote enabled me to vote in the last two General Elections as I have a disability.
I'm glad that online voting works for you.
However, digital exclusion is a real issue – and many disabled people are disproportionally affected by it.
https://www.digital.govt.nz/dmsdocument/170~digital-inclusion-user-insights-for-disabled-people/html
The idea is that you have the option to vote online OR by posting your vote. It is not an either/or.
Yes. However, given the reported failure in delivery of physical voting papers when that's the only option; I don't have confidence that a dual option will have a better success rate.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/475774/local-body-elections-undelivered-voting-papers-will-deter-some-official
Where do you get 20% from Ad? Sources please.
Most aren't yet at 10% turnout.
'Abysmal' early voter turnout raises questions around approach to local elections | RNZ
Hi Ad.
I have had a regular engagement with individual Auckland Councillors, a number of local boards, and the council bureaucracy over the past 3 years. With a few notable exceptions, I have found the 'machine' to be an oppressive beast.
Council itself uses it's enormous powers to fight against it's own citizens, rather than engaging in authentic conversations with them. There is an unhealthy level of 'tethering' of councillors (this is described by this piece by Chris Trotter) by the ironically named 'democracy services' division of Auckland Council (and I'm sure others). And then there's the 'consultation' process, that Aucklanders now realise is nothing more than a box ticking exercises designed to achieve a particular predetermined outcome.
I have found the LGOIMA process is one way to hold Council to account, but this is a time consuming and laborious process, particularly when some parts of the 'machine' (notably the Tūpuna Maunga Authority) behave in a secretive and belligerent manner. What is reassuring is that our current Ombudsman is very effective in unlocking the subterfuge.
I get the sense that Aucklanders are sick of being ignored by their own elected leadership, and are disengaging from the democratic process as a result. It's an irrational response, to be sure, but there it is.
I worked inside the machine for 5 years.
Elected members are less than .5% of what occurs there.
The disengagement is very strong.
Killing off democracy was in the design and very, very hard to bring back.
Thanks Ad.
We live in a low decile part of Papakura. We didn't receive our voting papers. Neither did our neighbours. My partner was convinced it was a voting suppression conspiracy. He phoned every agency he could, to find out what happened to our voting papers and could get no answers.
In the end we both went down to the Papakura Marae where a walk in voting booth had been set up. After showing our driver licence to prove who we were, the election official checked that our names were on the electoral roll. (And sure enough they were). Nothing had changed from last Local Body elections. But we both still had to fill out the forms to cast a 'Special Vote'.
Nanaia Mahuta didn’t receive her voting papers?
Half the people I saw diligently going to the effort to enroll to make a special vote were Maori.
Not just in Papakura. Family friends in Northcote – husband and wife, both in their 70s, lived in the same house for the last 40 years (so clearly electoral details haven't changed). He received his voting pack in the mail; her one never arrived.
Phone calls got nowhere. Finally, she had to go down and register for a special vote.
Luckily she's in active good health, and has the time and energy to follow up – as well as being a committed voter (no idea for what party, but believes it's her civic duty to vote).
I agree, Jenny, many people simply won't have bothered.
Impressive effort. Sacred right.
Does NZ have any funny comedians?
Watched a stand up comedy show last night on T.V….nothing.
Guy Williams can be amusing at times but 'names' like Urzilla Carson,Rhys Darby,Tom Sainsbury seem mediocre at best.
Well Blazer, you do pretty well here on The Standard, put some Converses on and give it a go!
“Funny Comedians”–think about it…
I actually prefer Urzilla Carson to Guy Williams. I think Paul Ego, Dai Henwood and Ben Hurley are quite good but I agree we do not have a great talent pool of comedians.
Try watching 8 out of 10 Cats do Countdown to see the British comedians. IMO they are far funnier and cleverer than our comedians.
Yup, they call themselves the National Party, led by a clown who thinks he can fly.
I know a few people that bought lifetime Ruapehu ski passes.
The ski pass that is the worst $4000 I've ever spent | Stuff.co.nz
Sic transit gloria mundi.
yay, sarcasm in Latin.
So do I. However, most have had their money's worth over 5-6 years. They live locally (or within a 3 hour drive) – so head down for weekends.
A reporter who bought her pass 6 years ago, and has lived overseas ever since – what did she expect?
But when the guy bought the pass in 2016 we'd already had 25 years of warnings about climate change. Was he about 12 at the time? If so, I'd sympathise. This morning – shock and horror about what's happening with the record hurricane in Florida – by now we've had 30 years of warnings. What the hell does it take?
I know someone who's well into a multi-unit chalet development in Ohakune.
Looking for an admirable, eloquent candidate in these local body elections?
This guy is genius!
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=426114809631081
Yes We need more like him!!
Primo linking 👍
Can't find much about Robert Guyton's election campaign online. Do you have a link to something?
For those who suggest not much is happening with housing and that they are just building ghettos for gang members.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/video/local-focus-more-social-housing-is-on-the-way/M77F2JEQW43I2JFFJV2H4BSP5Y/
That is uplifting and reaffirming. D.O.S. Thank you.
Nice.
In Whangārei recently 37 new homes and apartments will soon ready for occupation in Puriri Park Rd. An open day was held recently for neighbours to have a look. Local Labour MP Emily Henderson says 500 more are planned by Kainga Ora.
Yes, they are a nice selection of houses, all different sizes, complimentary but not cookie cutter.
Tough time to be a Russian soldier, surrounded in Lyman.
Maybe they hold out for a week, maybe they are overrun.
Either ain't pretty.
Even worse if last week you were a 52 year old tubby tractor driver from Tyuman who gets puffed walking up the stairs to his second floor apartment thinking of nothing more than how to mash the potatoes for dinner and this week you are sitting in a muddy hole in the rain in a dark forest with a rusty AK-47 that you haven't used in thirty years and with a whole bunch of battle hardened Ukrainians less than 200m away…
I think that (if you look at the map in the article below) the Russians were not over-run in Kharkiv as were led to believe by the western propaganda, but that they (largely) strategically withdrew. Putin seems to have decided to annex just the 4 provinces along the Russian frontier (see map-I think these are largely Russian speaking?) and call it a day. Peace talks to follow next year?
The problem is he still has to keep the war going to finish off conquering Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia-he has probably moved forces from Kharkiv to attack these.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/29/putin-to-sign-treaty-annexing-territories-in-ukraine-kremlin-says
Minsk outcome? but with much bloodshed and continuing outbreaks of violence into the future. Not to mention economic damage to EU.
Some people look at Ukraine today and see a rousing success for US policy. I see more than six months of propaganda like the world has never seen, of death and destruction, of economic fiasco in the EU, a vast military-industrial boondoggle, scary nuclear brinksmanship and escalatory spiral with the recent destruction of gas lines in international waters. The EU in particular is between a rock and a hard place.
Well said AJ
Serve him right for being a Putin supporter ( if he is of course, but at 98% approval the odds are good).
‘
Now here’s a great Idea. Even better, how about a permanent Climate War Crimes Tribunal, to hear evidence against all alleged climate war criminals for crimes against the climate?
I could think of a some New Zealanders who could be arraigned on this charge.
In comparison New Zealand's annual CO2 equivalent emissions are over 82.3 million tonnes, year in, year out. Those responsible for this shocking statistic would definitely be in the dock.
The capability to sabotage these pipelines narrows down the suspects.
My pick either the U.S Navy or the RN.
What about the motives?
Who gains?
Russia has just lost its leverage over an energy hungry Germany in particular.
Previously it had the option of turning gas on or off, (citing technical problems to give itself plausible deniability) now its lost that , probably for ever
Germany has lost, probably for ever , the cheapest form of presently available energy to fuel its economy
The US has just bolstered its expensive LNG sales and dealt a blow to both the Russian economy and the Eu.
I dunno,I just can't make my mind up …lol
No surprise that long time deniers of Assad's genocide and Putin's mass murder in Syria also support Putin's slaughter in Ukraine.
Well I'm going for the Swedish Assessment atm, who said that there were 2-3 Russian Special Operations Vessels (A more fancy/ upmarket name for a spy/covert ship) design for Grey Warfare Operations.
Who were in close proximity to were gas pipelines ruptures as they had their Transponders turned off & were caught/ spotted inside the Swedish EEZ.
Every other Tom, Dick & Harry had their Nav Transponders on apart from these larrikins.
Heck even the Norwegian's in the last 72hrs have picked up some dodgy shit since they've stepped up their Maritime Security/ Defence Posture in the Nth Sea which they can't explain either.
Just waiting for the Dane's & Finn's now who are more on ball than the Boxheads these days. IRT the coming & going on's in the Baltic To build up the intelligence picture.
Also there is not alot they can do about either, unless they catch whatever country in the act as most of what has or is happening is international waters & not ones EEZ where a Nation does have the right to search suspect vessels.
It occurred a long way from Russia.Would have thought submarines would be employed.
Not sure how Russia benefits from this.
Of course—-'
ABC News (2/7/2022): Pres. Biden: "If Russia invades…then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it." Reporter: "But how will you do that, exactly, since…the project is in Germany's control?" Biden: "I promise you, we will be able to do that."
That is quite a definitive statement from the U.S President.
It occurred in the vicinity of Baltic Fleet bases in Kaliningrad, Leningrad and Saint Petersburg.
You need to bush up on your geography sport & while you are doing that read up on the USSR Covert activities in Baltic during the Cold War in-particular in the Swedish EEZ including inside it's 12m limit.
The Swedish Military weren't dropping live depth charges for shits & giggles either.
You need to bush up on your geography sport & while you are doing that read up on the USSR Covert activities in Baltic during the Cold War in-particular in the Swedish EEZ including inside it's 12m limit.
The Swedish Military weren't dropping live depth charges for shits & giggles either.
Oh btw the Baltic Sea is just as busy as the Channel in terms of Shipping Volume. Turning off your Navigation Transponder is a rather a idiotic & stupid thing to do in Peacetime as it has the potential to put countless lives at risk & let alone the potential environmental damage within the Baltic Sea.
Pretty short. short list there Blazer. What are you trying to say?
That Russia doesn't have this capability?
Or just venting your one eyed partisan support for the Russian aggressor?
Not sure I understand the tactical advantage of Russia attacking it’s own pipeline which was its biggest bargaining chip with the EU
Does this not make the US the largest LNG producer?
Machiavelli was Italian, not Russian.
Nord Stream 2 was developed and is operated by Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of the Russian state energy company Gazprom. Nord Stream 2 AG filed for bankruptcy on 1 March 2022. Half the costs of Nordstrom Stream 2 was financed via a loan from Uniper, Wintershall Dea, OMV, Engie, and Royal Dutch Shell.
Presumably Gazprom will not being paying the loan back. And presumably they are now looking to supply gas to others via other pipelines.
Numerous Gazprom connected businessmen have met sticky ends this year.
Trashing assets and walking away from debt would tidy things up rather nicely.
Read this and…w..
ABC News (2/7/2022): Pres. Biden: "If Russia invades…then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it." Reporter: "But how will you do that, exactly, since…the project is in Germany's control?" Biden: "I promise you, we will be able to do that."
That is quite a definitive statement from the U.S President.
Probably not as hard as you think – they're only 500m down – any modern trawler could drop gear on them.
More likely torpedoed, as the shock wave from some sort of underwater detonation, was picked by onshore seismic monitoring.
Why would Russia torpedo the gas pipeline?
For the same reason Russia would use a tactical nuclear weapon
Because they can.
Thrashing around like some wounded monster the Russian Federation is lashing out where ever they can however they can.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/swedish-seismic-network-registers-blasts-near-baltic-natgas-pipeline-leaks-01664292442
Scotland Today online
https://scotlandtoday.online/gas-leaks-in-russian-pipelines-to-europe-point-to-possible-sabotage-by-the-united-states
For my own part, I would expect a mine. Easier to place by a static target, I think, though there may be a bit of current through there.
Motives are curious things – I'm sure Putin didn't invade Ukraine to destroy his army and force himself out of power – history may attribute just such a motive to him however, because it seems to be what he has achieved.
Ki te aha whano.
Well I tryed must best to use other avenues to get a message to the sandflys bosses but one cannot get a direct ph to contact them.
As I can see there are consequences from using Eco Maori blog??????.
Sandflys bosses this is my message tell your boys to stop stuffing with my Daughters and my mokopuna.
You see whanau they don't care that they are affecting my mokopuna negatively just some bloody Maori in their small minds i can see the negative effects on all 3 of my daughter so get your boys to heel or there will be consequences.
I know how they work cheat do what ever they want they know the bosses will cover it all up can't have negative news about the popo.
Just have as much negative as much news about Tangata Whenua as they can get away with.
Ka kite Ano