I must say that Joe B has had his work cut out. The Paid family leave and medical leave is gone and so is the proposed Tax on billionaires – Thanks Mauchin. But they are still not there yet – huge disappointment to the progressive members of both Senate and House, and the House has just postponed voting on it until next week.
House Democrats – again – postponed a vote on the $1 trillion Senate-approved infrastructure bill, pushing off its consideration until at least next week. The delay followed a visit to Capitol Hill by Biden, who asked House Democrats to support both the infrastructure plan and the separate social policy and climate change framework, saying: “We are at an inflection point. The rest of the world wonders whether we can function […] I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the House and Senate majorities – and my presidency – will be determined by what happens in the next week.” Progressive Democrats, however, blocked the scheduled vote, saying they wanted to review the written legislative text of the $1.75 trillion social spending outline – and receive assurances that Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema would vote for it, which neither have outright given.
Mixed messaging about the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine in pregnancy early in the pandemic had caused confusion, Cox said
I don't think mixed messaging about the vaccine is the main problem. I believe the problem is the very clear messaging from the moment a woman considers a pregnancy that anything she eats, drinks, breathes in that is not pure food or pure air will harm her baby. And if she does have that glass of wine, slice of brie or catches a whiff of exhaust fumes on her daily commute she alone is responsible for any perceived defect in her child.
A mother's guilt is never-ending. In a climate like that, she'd rather die than have any sense she may harm her child by deliberately injecting a vaccine into her pregnant body. Which of course makes no sense because the most harm a person who cares so much could do to her child is not be around for them.
Does Auckland stay in the current level system until all DHB's top to bottom have made it to 90% eligible 2 jabs? Or does Auckland have to get only their own DHB's, 3 – I think, to the target? Can someone please clarify.
When the 3 Auckland DHBs each individually reach 90% fully vaccinated, the Auckland region gets to the red light at the end of the tunnel, ie the traffic light system. Counties Manukau looks likely to be the last one to reach that target, somewhere around mid-December I'm guessing.
The hard border around the Auckland region will remain until all DHBs nationally reach the 90% double-vaccinated target. At which time the entire nation will change to the traffic light system. edit: It’s probably too soon to predict what might happen to the Auckland border at that time. It may remain in place if Auckland still has significant community transmission and the rest of the country doesn’t.
All of this is subject to change in response to changing circumstances (including simple political pressure).
Thanks for that Andre. I was concerned Auckland would have to stay locked down until heaven knows when the whole country hits the target. The end is in sight, at last, for our big apple. Stay strong Auckland.
Already I can see Covid getting out in every region, this will be the deciding factor. Lockdowns will be required when the health system is unable to cope, regardless of vaccination as antibodies wane or a new mutation overwhelms the vaccine. Vaccination is the only thing which can partially contain Covid without a lockdown.
Will Covid in every region occur before full vaccination reaches 90% for every DHB?
Everyone in New Zealand should expect to be exposed to the virus within a year or so. Even if we get to over 95% vaccination. The Auckland border won't stand much longer against the political pressure building to open it.
I find it infuriating that locking down with its attendant removal of four Bill of Right rights seems to be viewed with equanimity, but that imposing a few minor restriction and consequences on those that choose to exercise their right to refuse vaccination in a pandemic seems to be a no-go zone.
It's not a given that some new variant worse than Delta will arise. It's possible that the Delta spike protein is very close to the peak possible match to the ACE-2 receptor on the surface of human cells that it uses to get in. If that's the case, then a virus that evolves enough changes to its spike protein that the antibodies no longer attach, then that altered spike protein also won't be a good fit to the ACE-2 protein and the virus won't be very infectious. Which seems to be the case for that A.30 variant Cricklewood was bedwetting about yesterday.
The Right to Life trumps your BORA nonsense, and I assure you that there is copious public pressure from non-Aucklanders to keep that border closed.
So long as the external and internal borders remain closed, this outbreak will burn itself out (there are only so many unvaccinated muppets in Auckland). Point is, it will take a while.
BORA nonsense? Fuck off, asshole. Even within the Auckland borders we don't have freedom of movement, freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, or freedom of religion, as expressed in the Bill of Rights. At least partly because of some assholes fantasising that the right to refuse medical treatment also confers on them the right to be disease spreaders in workplaces and public spaces.
Advocating for locking down more than a third of the population for however long it takes a disease outbreak to burn out (which is never; it's going to become endemic) is an appalling disrespect for individual human rights. It's the kind of authoritarian thinking that I want nothing to do with. But it's sadly prevalent among large parts of "the left".
[RL: You have an argument – but it wasn’t made any better by the first sentence. Chill.]
[I just moderated another comment of yours for abuse, so adding to RL’s moderation here. Putting you in premod until I see an agreement from you to stop the abuse towards other commenters. If you are unclear on where the boundaries are, just ask, I’m happy to clarify the line between robust debate and abuse/flaming.
This is a heated, fast moving but long term conversation and my concern is resentment is building up over time betweem regulars. Mods don’t want to have to manage flame wars, so intervening now. See this from the Policy:
We encourage robust debate and we’re tolerant of dissenting views. But this site run for reasonably rational debate between dissenting viewpoints and we intend to keep it operating that way.
What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others.
I also suggest checking your comments because not all mods give a heads up about mod notices. – weka]
New Zealand is actually too small for the disease to become endemic, so long as the border remains shut. Influenza actually burns itself out each year in NZ, only to be imported fresh from overseas.
In this case, so long as the disease is confined to unvaccinated muppets (and there is good reason for thinking it is), it will burn itself out. We're seeing a Delta wave among a clearly defined subset of Auckland, not Auckland generally. At some point (maybe now-ish), the outbreak will peak, and start declining. The key being to keep it confined.
Yes, I'm authoritarian on this issue. I don't mind. I like not crashing the entire public health system.
FACT Aotearoa, a group formed to counter misinformation and conspiracy theories in New Zealand, lodged a formal complaint with the New Zealand Law Society against the Nelson-based lawyer on Monday.
Grey, who is co-leader of the NZ Outdoors Party, has a large following on social media and regularly posts anti-vaccine content, including false claims of Covid-19 deaths and promotion of alternative and unproven treatments. In its complaint FACT Aotearoa said the claim “falls below the high ethical standard of the legal profession and brings the profession into disrepute”.
The New Zealand Law Society – Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa said it was prevented by law from disclosing receipt of complaints or making any comment about concerns raised. “This is due to legal requirements placed on us by the Lawyers and Conveyancing Act 2006 which means that we would be breaking the law if we release information about specific complaints or concerns.”
Complaints received by the society are referred to an independent standards committee for investigation. Complaints deemed serious enough can be referred to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal.
The doctrine of minority rights is the sleeper in this issue. Lawyers bringing the profession into disrepute ain't nothing new, of course, and the default position of the establishment is to fudge the decision-making around a complaint as much as possible. Journos assuming truth instead of establishing it are likewise nothing new, but we ought not to side with the oppressed automatically because delusional thinking is widespread nowadays. Lawyer/politician Grey was on the hikoi which used the delusion of personal sovereignty to have a go defeating state sovereignty.
Heh! According to the article, "the cities were “judged against a criteria addressing topicality, unique experiences, ‘wow’ factor and sustainability”."
Spent Friday night at Piha, up and down the beach super-black sand with drizzly tropical rain, Pohutukawa cliffs on my right and burnt orange setting sun on my left.
I still cannot for the life of me see how the overall allocation process could regard the English netball team as being more deserving of a MIQ place than Bergen Graham, a pregnant New Zealand citizen whose request for an emergency spot in MIQ was turned down six times.
I suspect the decision was not actually made by the process, but by a bureaucrat. To err is human. Our public service has long been notorious for treating the public with contempt – notwithstanding all those public servants who try to do it right.
Suspicions regarding just how fair and justifiable MIQ’s operation has been in practice are compounded by the way the government has avoided having its allocation decisions scrutinised. On the two occasions that people who were refused emergency MIQ spots took their claims before the courts, previous decisions that they failed to meet the criteria were reversed mid-trial.
Well yes, Andrew, govt evasion of accountability is a traditional syndrome. The important thing is to protect the anonymity of delinquent public servants. The method used combines privilege with privacy law. Being a law prof means you can't tell the truth of course, so we get why you skip over this bit.
It may or may not be entirely coincidental that doing so had the consequence of putting the legal action to an end before the High Court had a chance to rule on the government’s actions. And now the government is busy moving the legal basis for making MIQ decisions from secondary legislation into a primary enactment. That this parliamentary move will have the effect of largely insulating the overall MIQ process from being judicially overturned at a time when it is being challenged in the High Court again may or may not be coincidental.
Yes, best to gamble 50c each way on the issue of coincidence. Correlation ain't causation. Fortunately pesky litigants will be eliminated.
And yet for 18 months MIQ has pretty much worked in terms of its over-riding objective – stopping Covid-positive people wandering off aeroplanes into the community. There have been only a handful of leaks with unfortunately the last one (Delta) proving ineradicable once it got out – mostly due to declining lockdown compliance.
And if you expect such a brutal but necessary system to be set up on the fly without producing numerous examples of injustice and the odd outright idiocy – where the hell have you been and what have you spent your life doing?
Still – it will be good to see the MIQ system wound down and that transition is starting. Though now the armchair critics like to point out that with community transmission in Auckland, Aucklanders now present a statistically greater risk than returning travelers, so we have inconsistent settings. Aside from the obvious fact that transitions are usually messy, the inconsistency argument is an odd one. Why would we create an additional risk for a still partially-vaccinated population, by weakening MIQ safeguards and adding a new source of infection as a nice little top-up to what is already going on in Auckland? Fortunately the government is not that silly.
For an undergraduate exam, I am going to be 'writing' about Maori and the vaccine rollout. I am just after specific examples of the government working with Maori to rollout the vaccine together.
Clearly, our national health depends upon the number and behaviour of unvaccinated individuals. How, then, do we confront them without condescension, anger or vilification? My answer rests on two observations. First, one must distinguish between non-vaxxers and anti-vaxxers. The former include those who are drug-addicted, mentally unstable, transient, desperately poor and suspicious of legal authority (criminals, overstayers). Individuals who inhabit one or more of these categories are immune to official health messages, government announcements and vaxathon initiatives. Second, anti-vaxxers are diverse and fragmented. If there was no pandemic and no vaccination campaign, they would have little in common.
What follows is a selection of anti-vaxxer archetypes. I may have missed some. If so, send them in, our national health depends on it. Bear in mind though that there is not necessarily a one-to-one correspondence between each archetype and a given person. Some anti-vaxxers may exhibit a combination of archetypes.
Very sensible & I commend him for using archetype theory appropriately. He describes seven, and seven is the magic number, so the effect on readers will be magical – but only if the invisible spell works. Regardless, Pythagoras would be proud.
1: Mostly, but apparently it's quite variable. Reports of second covid infections were happening before vaccinations started. Since then, reporting interest has shifted more to breakthrough infections. It's worth noting that even in places like the US, there are a lot more vaccinated people than there are covid survivors, so there's no useful info to be gained from just comparing numbers of second covid infections to numbers of breakthrough infections.
2: Up until recently, there appeared to be a consensus that vaccine-derived immunity was stronger and more reliable than infection-derived immunity. With Delta, that consensus doesn't appear quite as strong.
3: In New Zealand, very very few people have actually been exposed to the virus and derived immunity. So the only way NZers have immunity is through vaccination, so only going by vaccination numbers is not understating the level of immunity in our community.
Overseas, yes, there are likely to be significant numbers of the unvaccinated that have acquired immunity through infection. So although in this coming week, it is likely that the percentage of fully vaccinated NZers will pass that of Israel, UK, and Germany, we will still likely have less population immunity than those countries.
Kourtney Kardashian had Covid as an unvaccinated person and now has covid as a fully vaccinated person. I think the virus does as the virus likes and that the 'vaccines' at best give some protection against severe illness, but that is about all it does and only for a few month at best. Mask, physically distance, santize and don't got to large gatherings for the forseable future. Get tested, get jabbed and hope it is enough.
It is literally all it does. It does not prevent you from catching it, it does not prevent you from transmitting it, it will however in most cases prevent you from dying. If you find an issue with that, don't discuss this with me, but discuss this with more knowledgable people who are saying exactly the same.
So i repeat for those that have issues understanding how to behave in the times of the plague.
1. mask up
2. physically distance from others – 1 – 2 m while waiting in line for example
3. sanitize like your life depended on it, cause funnily enough it does.
4. if you are an essential worker or work in a high risk environment get tested regularly, like once a week.
5. if not already done, get jabbed
but keep in mind, that the 'vaccine' will not stop you from catching Covid, nor from transmitting it.
Immediately after a vaccination, the vaccinated person is 90% less likely to contract Covid. That appears to wane to about 50% over 6 months although it's not clear to me whether that's based on actual studies or antibodies. It's true that it doesn't prevent it completely, but 90% is still pretty good.
I did read that and thought maybe 2 different strains. Appears as though break through with Delta when vaccinated. Not being vaccinated when infectious with a previous strain it is unknown if break through would have occurred.
they have had break through cases all along. But it goes hand in hand as what was in then news yesterday via the BBC, namely that the jab will not prevent you from spreading it if you have it – this would be household cases for the most part as you would be isolating at home, nor would it prevent you from catching it if someone else brings it home or to the work place.
However, chances are that you will feel very little to no discomfort, and only in a few cases so far have serious illness or death happened in these break through cases.
And yes, new variants would make a breakthrough case easier i would assume.
From the studies I've seen, if you survive, and don't get Long Covid, then yes you develop a more effective natural immunity. But it's an unnecessary risk
Not sure if it was on Prime news or newshub this evening, schools in NSW have closed down after opening up recently and in the UK 9% of students have had Covid.
That's the accurate description, because when you look at the slogans the language is imported from the USA far right: "Don't tread on me", "The media is the virus", etc.
Oh, and Auckland's record high number of cases today. Irony is beyond these fools.
The footage of the protests is beyond parody. First, today of all days, they wave Tonga flags – so NZ should have more "freedom" to infect the poor Tongans?
Then they chant "Together as one" … solidarity, comrades? No, because "socialism is taking over". Four legs good, two legs better!
Spreading Covid is the issue and not an anti vaxers right to protest. Anti vaxers seem to think they have an entitlement to infect children and other people and to overwhelm the health system.
It has been approved or is in the process of being approved elsewhere on this planet. Medsafe is literally sleepwalking through a pandemic, but yeah, we have time, its not as if the virus ain't here.
Many people who are in no way "anti-vax" will need to have confidence that a decision is not taken by a government Minister just for a headline. For the sake of a few days it could undermine the entire vaccination programme. To say nothing of all future decisions (boosters, new variants etc)
Medsafe is fairly pedestrian. under resourced and under skilled having lost a large percentage of their more skilled assessors over the last 24 months.
They also lean heavily on offshore agencies in well regulated markets when making their decisions.
What Seymour has failed to realise is even if the government stepped in (they won't), the dose in 5-12yrs is only 1/3 of that in older cohorts and I believe we will need to order paediatric specific vaccine vials rather than utilising current stock at smaller volumes (I may be incorrect).
Additionally the utility of vaccinating children both for their own health and to limit spread of the virus vs. the risk posed is debatable.
I seem to recall some articles saying we were in discussions with Pfizer about the feasibility of using the stocks of adult vaccine we already have. The articles gave the impression that more dilution would be involved, but wasn't specific.
I've seen plenty of discussion pieces saying the risk/benefit for children is debatable, but the only risk I've seen alluded to in those "debates" is myocarditis. But allegedly myocarditis is a much lower risk in under 12s than it is in over 12s.
Meanwhile, "lower risk than adults" does not mean "no risk" or even "low enough risk to not be worth worrying about". Over 500 kids in the US have died from covid and a lot more have long-term issues. Scaled to NZ population, that still looks like enough harm to kids to take it very seriously.
It's not a given that some new variant worse than Delta will arise.
It is not a given that it will not arise. The reinfection of Covid with a different strain with or without vaccination, antibodies on the spike protein appear to have some weaknesses which need to be fully understood. Break through infection also needs to be fully understood as it might not have much to do with waining immunity.
How many people returning to NZ have long Covid or worsened health conditons due to Covid?
Recovery 29 is on Prime TV at 8.30 pm tonight. It was on Tuesday night, I will rewatch it. It is about going into the Pike River mine drift. Many details were covered, the cost, division in the community, the purpose of re entery.
The hunter/gatherer lifestyle is distant from many of us nowaday, so perhaps the PM & partner felt the need to reconnect with it. After all, it's the original evolutionary basis of humanity.
The Herald on Sunday has seen a raft of email exchanges between Pierson, Gayford and Ardern's electorate secretary Barbara Ward, which reveal how negotiations unravelled over the past few months.
No kidding!! Isn't that some kind of breach of confidentiality? Get Hager onto this leaked email story pronto. Just say the two words `dirty politics' & I reckon he'll get the angle in a fraction of a second.
In one, Pierson writes: "Clarke's intentions to provide wild venison for the menu – it is my understanding that this contravenes all food hygiene regulations."
Now that can't possibly be right. It would mean that all food hygiene regulations mention wild venison. I think someone fed him a little white lie.
Pierson continues to demand $5000, saying his venue on the outskirts of Gisborne was booked two years ago and the couple owe a cancellation fee. He admits his "feathers were ruffled" by Gordon doing the catering.
Bird-man? Evolutionary hybrids are quite rare but anything's possible.
In a final email to Ward, Pierson wrote: "I am no longer interested in responding to your continued false claims and assertions. Your offer of $1250 is not acceptable and I have attached a copy of my original invoice. Please pay asap to prevent this situation from getting even more pear-shaped."
Is it worth them paying 5k to end the harassment? I wouldn't. I reckon if he had a contract we'd know by now. It's bluff. Capital vs Labour. Next step: court case.
yes, and no. It also depends on the food control plan of that particular place. For example – any wild game will have specific requirements to be met in order to be usable and servable at this venue. If this particular venue has not set its food control plan up for this – due to restrictions and hassle to be honest, then it would mean that this particular venue would have to update its food control plan and pass this by the council for approval, at a cost bien sur.
Also the food control plan will have a list of anyone authorized in the kitchen, front of house etc. The owner of the premises will have to have training records for everyone who is in that kitchen working. Any new person, requires thus training, updated records etc etc etc. Thanks Ministry of Business and Inovation
For example, i have a total exclusion of peanuts on my site, simply due to the allergen risk. This is in my food control plan. If someone were to bring locally foraged peanuts for a specific cake – a cake that was ordered but not specified as a peanut cake …., or a cake that would be peanuts and a brought in chef, i would have to train this chef on my food control plan, and update my food control plan, and only then were this person allowed to bake this peanut cake in my kitchen.
Now i totally understand that people are loath to critique the PM on anything, but in this case, if she had a contract, or a verbal agreement, and there are emails pertaining to this, then pay the 5 grand and go have your foraging and gathering wedding elsewhere.
This all seems very odd in a small town like Gisborne. Pierson's website says he's been there 20 years at least, in that time you'd have built up a fairly accurate reputation and people would know what you can do and can't. Clarke and family should have been able to have sussed the organisation and management out and management out and known what was coming.
It's pretty common for high level wedding events to include a celebrity chef and team. Venues here work around that and embrace it to enhance their reputation and often learn heaps. Some just have a very top end kitchen and the event organisers arrange the kitchen team. It sort of reads that Pierson was offered the dream gig and blew it.
As for wild game at a wedding, it's certainly a Southland tradition and is common in hunting circles. Have been to several weddings and flash places here where the groom and party have provided game and kai moana, once to the chef's specifications and it was a very enjoyable night, and foraging expeditions for the lads.
Any venue will have that in a contract. So if the PM and her husband to be have signed a binding agreement that they will use these premises i would suggest that they do the correct thing and pay the 5 grand. Its not as if it a lot of money to them. It is also called a Place holder fee. Once booked, and this was booked before covid, they would have refused any other occasion to happen at that time. And for what its worth, that email exchange can actually be proof of that agreement, and i would also like to point out that verbal agreements can be considered fully binding and legal.
But then, right, how dare these businesses inconvenience the most powerful women and hubby. Don't they know their limits and place?
The question is, why on earth would you want a lavish 150 people strong wedding during a pandemic where people aren't even allowed out of quarantine – vaxxed and covid free (per tests) to see a dying dad.
Fwiw, i have a cancellation fee of 30% of the sum total for any order as they days of work for these orders are booked in, and other orders at that time either will have to be done at a different time or refused.
I appreciate your insight into the situation Sabine, and it sounds like that scenario could apply as you suggest. However I suspect they didn't sign a contract. I think if they had they'd already have paid the cancellation fee.
Seems to me they were still negotiating the terms of the contract, and that negotiation which dragged on many months was what the email trail actually documents.
Re the 150/pandemic thing, yeah that's probably why it has dragged out so long. They've been stalled by Delta. Will Neve be bridesmaid in the new year? That's the question the women's mag editors will be pondering. Paparazzi alert!
As i said, if they had a verbal agreement, and the emails pertain to that, and if he can prove say that he refused other events for this timeframe, then he has a case.
In any case, this is petty, bullshitty and in the times of the plague in which hospitality businesses suffer just plain ugly.
My point being this guy is not pretending that someone booked his venue. Someone did. Someone told him a different cook was wanted. Someone told him wild food would be hunted and prepared on his premises by that cook etc etc etc.
So clearly there was an understanding that that would happen there, and sorry mate, but food control plan is food control plan. He breaks his plan he can lose his business.
And frankly i find the idea that some multi millionaires (and both fall in that category) would battle it out publicly over 5 grand is just plain sad. And it does not paint the venue owner in a sad light, but the PM and her husband to be.
Also, first you book and you state how many people etc etc etc and then you plan. Do not plan a wedding before you have the venue secured as you might find yourself without one.
Also Delta arrived in India in April and in NZ in July. so that too ain’t a good excuse.
The point is, if you cancel a booked venue expect a cancellation fee. If you cancel a booked venue because you need specially hunted food, specially gathered food, specially brought in cook/chefs then you pay the cancellation fee.
If the venue cancels on you, you would expect a total refund of what ever you paid to secure the venue.
Securing he venue is the first thing you do when holding such a schindig.
Last she is the PM, they would have a contract. Seriously, as she would not want to show up in her wedding gown, just to find someone else who booked with a contract holding their wedding.
You make a strong case – I can see why business owner/operators get so grumpy about regulations. One of my younger brothers is to the right of ACT and you ought to hear him go on about that stuff. He's built several businesses, thinks the Nats are a joke, watches only Fox News etc. I had to learn compassion – it's a sad fate when folks box themselves into a social niche so tight they can't get out.
These rules and regulations are in place so that you don't get salmonella, or food poisioning, or be served possum stew rather then the Osso Bucca you ordered. Can't help you there with your younger brother on that, he will have to live with the fact that rules exists and that people have to abide by them.
The reason i explained this is as people seem to really have no idea actually what goes into raising a successful eatery or fine restaurant. It is a lot of work, requires skilled and trained staff (even if they are migrants they are skilled and trained), and there are rules for everything, down to the point of how many times a day you have to check temperatures of your fridges and freezers.
So yes, you can hunt a wild deer, you can get it butchered by someone who knows what they do, and you can serve it in your back yard. But try to bring this into any legal lisenced premise that is not set up for it, or has a food control plan that does not allow for it, and it ain't a happening thing. Not because the business would not want too, but because it is too costly to make it so, and breaking the rules means to get fined many many dollars and lose business and reputation.
So they should pay the cancellation fee and have a back yard wedding with a famous chef, and hunted and gathered food. Non of this needs anymore publicity.
Some serious analysis is required on how vaccines are performing. Surely the vaccines are being tested on past strains and new strains which are emerging. Russia is going into the winter period in a month.
Not always, just every now and then for a few days. Usually that happens when there are links or to many but it is now doing it on standard comments with no links either.
If you copy text with links, right-click on them before posting & select unlink on each one. Sometimes I forget & mine end up in moderation/purgatory too.
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 25 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AThycGCakk&feature=emb_rel_end
Sorry wrong link above
https://youtu.be/L9eFABJqGTM
Not sure we should be taking existential cues from a dinosaur.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYXpRWHVIPE
Certainly not from the current DINOsaurs* like Manchin and Sinema.
*Reptilian Democrats In Name Only
If Dems can get Biden's BBB through, they will have passed nearly $5Trillion in domestic spending despite Manchin, Sinema and a skinny majority. Not bad.
I must say that Joe B has had his work cut out. The Paid family leave and medical leave is gone and so is the proposed Tax on billionaires – Thanks Mauchin. But they are still not there yet – huge disappointment to the progressive members of both Senate and House, and the House has just postponed voting on it until next week.
I hear Jacinda and other politicians invoking the "rules based order" fairly often
Read this and consider how much we actually value our commitment to human rights
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/10/29/special-report-assumptions-vs-facts-how-the-assange-case-confronts-our-biases/
There's info in here from Selwyn Manning that was new to me
Thanks Francesca. Have been following this online.
Yay!!!
This article put up yesterday was an absolute mish mash of pregnant people (actually in the headline)interspersed with pregnant women
Today it has been edited with none of the nonsense pregnant people using pregnant women instead
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126805433/covid19-pregnant-women-delaying-getting-vaccinated-playing-russian-roulette
I don't think mixed messaging about the vaccine is the main problem. I believe the problem is the very clear messaging from the moment a woman considers a pregnancy that anything she eats, drinks, breathes in that is not pure food or pure air will harm her baby. And if she does have that glass of wine, slice of brie or catches a whiff of exhaust fumes on her daily commute she alone is responsible for any perceived defect in her child.
A mother's guilt is never-ending. In a climate like that, she'd rather die than have any sense she may harm her child by deliberately injecting a vaccine into her pregnant body. Which of course makes no sense because the most harm a person who cares so much could do to her child is not be around for them.
+1
Does Auckland stay in the current level system until all DHB's top to bottom have made it to 90% eligible 2 jabs? Or does Auckland have to get only their own DHB's, 3 – I think, to the target? Can someone please clarify.
When the 3 Auckland DHBs each individually reach 90% fully vaccinated, the Auckland region gets to the red light at the end of the tunnel, ie the traffic light system. Counties Manukau looks likely to be the last one to reach that target, somewhere around mid-December I'm guessing.
The hard border around the Auckland region will remain until all DHBs nationally reach the 90% double-vaccinated target. At which time the entire nation will change to the traffic light system. edit: It’s probably too soon to predict what might happen to the Auckland border at that time. It may remain in place if Auckland still has significant community transmission and the rest of the country doesn’t.
All of this is subject to change in response to changing circumstances (including simple political pressure).
Thanks for that Andre. I was concerned Auckland would have to stay locked down until heaven knows when the whole country hits the target. The end is in sight, at last, for our big apple. Stay strong Auckland.
Another 7 weeks of home detention with day release for work really isn't much of an "end in sight". Trust me on this.
Already I can see Covid getting out in every region, this will be the deciding factor. Lockdowns will be required when the health system is unable to cope, regardless of vaccination as antibodies wane or a new mutation overwhelms the vaccine. Vaccination is the only thing which can partially contain Covid without a lockdown.
Will Covid in every region occur before full vaccination reaches 90% for every DHB?
Everyone in New Zealand should expect to be exposed to the virus within a year or so. Even if we get to over 95% vaccination. The Auckland border won't stand much longer against the political pressure building to open it.
I find it infuriating that locking down with its attendant removal of four Bill of Right rights seems to be viewed with equanimity, but that imposing a few minor restriction and consequences on those that choose to exercise their right to refuse vaccination in a pandemic seems to be a no-go zone.
It's not a given that some new variant worse than Delta will arise. It's possible that the Delta spike protein is very close to the peak possible match to the ACE-2 receptor on the surface of human cells that it uses to get in. If that's the case, then a virus that evolves enough changes to its spike protein that the antibodies no longer attach, then that altered spike protein also won't be a good fit to the ACE-2 protein and the virus won't be very infectious. Which seems to be the case for that A.30 variant Cricklewood was bedwetting about yesterday.
The Right to Life trumps your BORA nonsense, and I assure you that there is copious public pressure from non-Aucklanders to keep that border closed.
So long as the external and internal borders remain closed, this outbreak will burn itself out (there are only so many unvaccinated muppets in Auckland). Point is, it will take a while.
BORA nonsense? Fuck off, asshole. Even within the Auckland borders we don't have freedom of movement, freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, or freedom of religion, as expressed in the Bill of Rights. At least partly because of some assholes fantasising that the right to refuse medical treatment also confers on them the right to be disease spreaders in workplaces and public spaces.
Advocating for locking down more than a third of the population for however long it takes a disease outbreak to burn out (which is never; it's going to become endemic) is an appalling disrespect for individual human rights. It's the kind of authoritarian thinking that I want nothing to do with. But it's sadly prevalent among large parts of "the left".
[RL: You have an argument – but it wasn’t made any better by the first sentence. Chill.]
[I just moderated another comment of yours for abuse, so adding to RL’s moderation here. Putting you in premod until I see an agreement from you to stop the abuse towards other commenters. If you are unclear on where the boundaries are, just ask, I’m happy to clarify the line between robust debate and abuse/flaming.
This is a heated, fast moving but long term conversation and my concern is resentment is building up over time betweem regulars. Mods don’t want to have to manage flame wars, so intervening now. See this from the Policy:
I also suggest checking your comments because not all mods give a heads up about mod notices. – weka]
New Zealand is actually too small for the disease to become endemic, so long as the border remains shut. Influenza actually burns itself out each year in NZ, only to be imported fresh from overseas.
In this case, so long as the disease is confined to unvaccinated muppets (and there is good reason for thinking it is), it will burn itself out. We're seeing a Delta wave among a clearly defined subset of Auckland, not Auckland generally. At some point (maybe now-ish), the outbreak will peak, and start declining. The key being to keep it confined.
Yes, I'm authoritarian on this issue. I don't mind. I like not crashing the entire public health system.
mod notes for you Andre.
The doctrine of minority rights is the sleeper in this issue. Lawyers bringing the profession into disrepute ain't nothing new, of course, and the default position of the establishment is to fudge the decision-making around a complaint as much as possible. Journos assuming truth instead of establishing it are likewise nothing new, but we ought not to side with the oppressed automatically because delusional thinking is widespread nowadays. Lawyer/politician Grey was on the hikoi which used the delusion of personal sovereignty to have a go defeating state sovereignty.
Bit left field.
Having been to Auckland don't get it. And can't go there, but a bit weird timing
"Auckland, closed to the world by Covid, tops Lonely Planet’s list of best cities to visit"
Last time I checked it was about 3 dollars for a game of pool. Frankly that auto puts places on my no go list.
That and the dire public transport.
Hey. Nice people though. /Big ups there. I still love yus kiwi brothers and brothettes. 🙂
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/29/auckland-closed-to-the-world-by-covid-tops-lonely-planets-list-of-best-cities-to-visit
Heh! According to the article, "the cities were “judged against a criteria addressing topicality, unique experiences, ‘wow’ factor and sustainability”."
Spent Friday night at Piha, up and down the beach super-black sand with drizzly tropical rain, Pohutukawa cliffs on my right and burnt orange setting sun on my left.
And I was the only person there.
If the tourists could just hold off for a bit ………
Fish and chip shop still operating ?
Closest is Titirangi.
Andrew Geddis:
I suspect the decision was not actually made by the process, but by a bureaucrat. To err is human. Our public service has long been notorious for treating the public with contempt – notwithstanding all those public servants who try to do it right.
Well yes, Andrew, govt evasion of accountability is a traditional syndrome. The important thing is to protect the anonymity of delinquent public servants. The method used combines privilege with privacy law. Being a law prof means you can't tell the truth of course, so we get why you skip over this bit.
Yes, best to gamble 50c each way on the issue of coincidence. Correlation ain't causation. Fortunately pesky litigants will be eliminated.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/29-10-2021/andrew-geddis-our-miq-system-is-at-a-legal-and-humanitarian-tipping-point/
Sport vs pregnant woman. The one is a profit center the other is a cost center.
And yet for 18 months MIQ has pretty much worked in terms of its over-riding objective – stopping Covid-positive people wandering off aeroplanes into the community. There have been only a handful of leaks with unfortunately the last one (Delta) proving ineradicable once it got out – mostly due to declining lockdown compliance.
And if you expect such a brutal but necessary system to be set up on the fly without producing numerous examples of injustice and the odd outright idiocy – where the hell have you been and what have you spent your life doing?
Still – it will be good to see the MIQ system wound down and that transition is starting. Though now the armchair critics like to point out that with community transmission in Auckland, Aucklanders now present a statistically greater risk than returning travelers, so we have inconsistent settings. Aside from the obvious fact that transitions are usually messy, the inconsistency argument is an odd one. Why would we create an additional risk for a still partially-vaccinated population, by weakening MIQ safeguards and adding a new source of infection as a nice little top-up to what is already going on in Auckland? Fortunately the government is not that silly.
The big dumps like over seas, no thanks. The nice little top ups are bad enough.
For an undergraduate exam, I am going to be 'writing' about Maori and the vaccine rollout. I am just after specific examples of the government working with Maori to rollout the vaccine together.
Why was my question about the government working with Maori to rollout the vaccine together removed?
all first time commenter comments get held back to be release manually to prevent spam.
Wayne Hope's analysis on TDB is worth a read.
Very sensible & I commend him for using archetype theory appropriately. He describes seven, and seven is the magic number, so the effect on readers will be magical – but only if the invisible spell works. Regardless, Pythagoras would be proud.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/10/30/anti-vaxxers-a-users-guide/
Hoo boy, that cover.
https://twitter.com/Newsweek/status/1453314681653927945
https://www.newsweek.com/2021/11/05/covid-now-major-cause-death-kids-many-parents-remain-hesitant-vaccine-1642720.html
First question: Do the unvaccinated who contract covid19 and survive develop natural immunity?
Second question: Is that natural immunity more reliable than vaccine generated immunity?
Third question: Is the reporting of vaccine numbers actually understating the true level of immunity in the community?
1: Mostly, but apparently it's quite variable. Reports of second covid infections were happening before vaccinations started. Since then, reporting interest has shifted more to breakthrough infections. It's worth noting that even in places like the US, there are a lot more vaccinated people than there are covid survivors, so there's no useful info to be gained from just comparing numbers of second covid infections to numbers of breakthrough infections.
2: Up until recently, there appeared to be a consensus that vaccine-derived immunity was stronger and more reliable than infection-derived immunity. With Delta, that consensus doesn't appear quite as strong.
3: In New Zealand, very very few people have actually been exposed to the virus and derived immunity. So the only way NZers have immunity is through vaccination, so only going by vaccination numbers is not understating the level of immunity in our community.
Overseas, yes, there are likely to be significant numbers of the unvaccinated that have acquired immunity through infection. So although in this coming week, it is likely that the percentage of fully vaccinated NZers will pass that of Israel, UK, and Germany, we will still likely have less population immunity than those countries.
Kourtney Kardashian had Covid as an unvaccinated person and now has covid as a fully vaccinated person. I think the virus does as the virus likes and that the 'vaccines' at best give some protection against severe illness, but that is about all it does and only for a few month at best. Mask, physically distance, santize and don't got to large gatherings for the forseable future. Get tested, get jabbed and hope it is enough.
The vaccines only give some protection against severe illness? Well I suppose that's good enough reason for some to not have anyone vaccinated.
It is literally all it does. It does not prevent you from catching it, it does not prevent you from transmitting it, it will however in most cases prevent you from dying. If you find an issue with that, don't discuss this with me, but discuss this with more knowledgable people who are saying exactly the same.
So i repeat for those that have issues understanding how to behave in the times of the plague.
1. mask up
2. physically distance from others – 1 – 2 m while waiting in line for example
3. sanitize like your life depended on it, cause funnily enough it does.
4. if you are an essential worker or work in a high risk environment get tested regularly, like once a week.
5. if not already done, get jabbed
but keep in mind, that the 'vaccine' will not stop you from catching Covid, nor from transmitting it.
Behave accordingly.
Immediately after a vaccination, the vaccinated person is 90% less likely to contract Covid. That appears to wane to about 50% over 6 months although it's not clear to me whether that's based on actual studies or antibodies. It's true that it doesn't prevent it completely, but 90% is still pretty good.
I did read that and thought maybe 2 different strains. Appears as though break through with Delta when vaccinated. Not being vaccinated when infectious with a previous strain it is unknown if break through would have occurred.
they have had break through cases all along. But it goes hand in hand as what was in then news yesterday via the BBC, namely that the jab will not prevent you from spreading it if you have it – this would be household cases for the most part as you would be isolating at home, nor would it prevent you from catching it if someone else brings it home or to the work place.
However, chances are that you will feel very little to no discomfort, and only in a few cases so far have serious illness or death happened in these break through cases.
And yes, new variants would make a breakthrough case easier i would assume.
https://news.yale.edu/2021/09/07/study-examines-severe-breakthrough-cases-covid-19
From the studies I've seen, if you survive, and don't get Long Covid, then yes you develop a more effective natural immunity. But it's an unnecessary risk
Not sure if it was on Prime news or newshub this evening, schools in NSW have closed down after opening up recently and in the UK 9% of students have had Covid.
Another Trumpy protest in central Auckland today.
That's the accurate description, because when you look at the slogans the language is imported from the USA far right: "Don't tread on me", "The media is the virus", etc.
Oh, and Auckland's record high number of cases today. Irony is beyond these fools.
So another bump in ak cases in a week or 3
The footage of the protests is beyond parody. First, today of all days, they wave Tonga flags – so NZ should have more "freedom" to infect the poor Tongans?
Then they chant "Together as one" … solidarity, comrades? No, because "socialism is taking over". Four legs good, two legs better!
Newmarket, from Herald coverage
Spreading Covid is the issue and not an anti vaxers right to protest. Anti vaxers seem to think they have an entitlement to infect children and other people and to overwhelm the health system.
Portia Woodman isn't named in the Black Ferns! Is! nothing! sacred!?
(hope you mend that injury soon)
https://www.twitter.com/NewshubPolitics/status/1454245810854531075
Because the best way to convince nervous parents is to ignore Medsafe's independence? They will be reassured by Dr Seymour instead?
It's highly irresponsible, and of course he knows it and he doesn't care. Easy headlines are all that matters.
Six months Time
Seymour railes at govt for not waiting for medsafe approval!!!!!
Really stupid he is quoted as saying!
It has been approved or is in the process of being approved elsewhere on this planet. Medsafe is literally sleepwalking through a pandemic, but yeah, we have time, its not as if the virus ain't here.
It has been approved in the US, and maybe that is why the Hologram is asking government to approve here too. But then maybe US American humans are different to NZ humans.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-advisory-panel-oks-pfizer-vaccine-kids-5-11-rcna3726
Medsafe is not sleepwalking, literally or figuratively.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/29/covid-19-vaccine-approved-children-latest
Many people who are in no way "anti-vax" will need to have confidence that a decision is not taken by a government Minister just for a headline. For the sake of a few days it could undermine the entire vaccination programme. To say nothing of all future decisions (boosters, new variants etc)
Let's agree to have a different opinion on that.
Doesn't look like an application has been made yet: https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/status-of-applications.asp
Medsafe is fairly pedestrian. under resourced and under skilled having lost a large percentage of their more skilled assessors over the last 24 months.
They also lean heavily on offshore agencies in well regulated markets when making their decisions.
What Seymour has failed to realise is even if the government stepped in (they won't), the dose in 5-12yrs is only 1/3 of that in older cohorts and I believe we will need to order paediatric specific vaccine vials rather than utilising current stock at smaller volumes (I may be incorrect).
Additionally the utility of vaccinating children both for their own health and to limit spread of the virus vs. the risk posed is debatable.
I seem to recall some articles saying we were in discussions with Pfizer about the feasibility of using the stocks of adult vaccine we already have. The articles gave the impression that more dilution would be involved, but wasn't specific.
I've seen plenty of discussion pieces saying the risk/benefit for children is debatable, but the only risk I've seen alluded to in those "debates" is myocarditis. But allegedly myocarditis is a much lower risk in under 12s than it is in over 12s.
Meanwhile, "lower risk than adults" does not mean "no risk" or even "low enough risk to not be worth worrying about". Over 500 kids in the US have died from covid and a lot more have long-term issues. Scaled to NZ population, that still looks like enough harm to kids to take it very seriously.
It's not a given that some new variant worse than Delta will arise.
It is not a given that it will not arise. The reinfection of Covid with a different strain with or without vaccination, antibodies on the spike protein appear to have some weaknesses which need to be fully understood. Break through infection also needs to be fully understood as it might not have much to do with waining immunity.
How many people returning to NZ have long Covid or worsened health conditons due to Covid?
Reply to Andre @ 4.1.2.1.
Recovery 29 is on Prime TV at 8.30 pm tonight. It was on Tuesday night, I will rewatch it. It is about going into the Pike River mine drift. Many details were covered, the cost, division in the community, the purpose of re entery.
The hunter/gatherer lifestyle is distant from many of us nowaday, so perhaps the PM & partner felt the need to reconnect with it. After all, it's the original evolutionary basis of humanity.
No kidding!! Isn't that some kind of breach of confidentiality? Get Hager onto this leaked email story pronto. Just say the two words `dirty politics' & I reckon he'll get the angle in a fraction of a second.
Now that can't possibly be right. It would mean that all food hygiene regulations mention wild venison. I think someone fed him a little white lie.
Bird-man? Evolutionary hybrids are quite rare but anything's possible.
Is it worth them paying 5k to end the harassment? I wouldn't. I reckon if he had a contract we'd know by now. It's bluff. Capital vs Labour. Next step: court case.
AFAIK you can't sell your catch but you can serve it to non-paying family/guests if it's professionally butchered .
yes, and no. It also depends on the food control plan of that particular place. For example – any wild game will have specific requirements to be met in order to be usable and servable at this venue. If this particular venue has not set its food control plan up for this – due to restrictions and hassle to be honest, then it would mean that this particular venue would have to update its food control plan and pass this by the council for approval, at a cost bien sur.
Also the food control plan will have a list of anyone authorized in the kitchen, front of house etc. The owner of the premises will have to have training records for everyone who is in that kitchen working. Any new person, requires thus training, updated records etc etc etc. Thanks Ministry of Business and Inovation
For example, i have a total exclusion of peanuts on my site, simply due to the allergen risk. This is in my food control plan. If someone were to bring locally foraged peanuts for a specific cake – a cake that was ordered but not specified as a peanut cake …., or a cake that would be peanuts and a brought in chef, i would have to train this chef on my food control plan, and update my food control plan, and only then were this person allowed to bake this peanut cake in my kitchen.
Now i totally understand that people are loath to critique the PM on anything, but in this case, if she had a contract, or a verbal agreement, and there are emails pertaining to this, then pay the 5 grand and go have your foraging and gathering wedding elsewhere.
This all seems very odd in a small town like Gisborne. Pierson's website says he's been there 20 years at least, in that time you'd have built up a fairly accurate reputation and people would know what you can do and can't. Clarke and family should have been able to have sussed the organisation and management out and management out and known what was coming.
It's pretty common for high level wedding events to include a celebrity chef and team. Venues here work around that and embrace it to enhance their reputation and often learn heaps. Some just have a very top end kitchen and the event organisers arrange the kitchen team. It sort of reads that Pierson was offered the dream gig and blew it.
As for wild game at a wedding, it's certainly a Southland tradition and is common in hunting circles. Have been to several weddings and flash places here where the groom and party have provided game and kai moana, once to the chef's specifications and it was a very enjoyable night, and foraging expeditions for the lads.
It is called a cancelation fee.
Any venue will have that in a contract. So if the PM and her husband to be have signed a binding agreement that they will use these premises i would suggest that they do the correct thing and pay the 5 grand. Its not as if it a lot of money to them. It is also called a Place holder fee. Once booked, and this was booked before covid, they would have refused any other occasion to happen at that time. And for what its worth, that email exchange can actually be proof of that agreement, and i would also like to point out that verbal agreements can be considered fully binding and legal.
But then, right, how dare these businesses inconvenience the most powerful women and hubby. Don't they know their limits and place?
The question is, why on earth would you want a lavish 150 people strong wedding during a pandemic where people aren't even allowed out of quarantine – vaxxed and covid free (per tests) to see a dying dad.
Fwiw, i have a cancellation fee of 30% of the sum total for any order as they days of work for these orders are booked in, and other orders at that time either will have to be done at a different time or refused.
I appreciate your insight into the situation Sabine, and it sounds like that scenario could apply as you suggest. However I suspect they didn't sign a contract. I think if they had they'd already have paid the cancellation fee.
Seems to me they were still negotiating the terms of the contract, and that negotiation which dragged on many months was what the email trail actually documents.
Re the 150/pandemic thing, yeah that's probably why it has dragged out so long. They've been stalled by Delta. Will Neve be bridesmaid in the new year? That's the question the women's mag editors will be pondering. Paparazzi alert!
As i said, if they had a verbal agreement, and the emails pertain to that, and if he can prove say that he refused other events for this timeframe, then he has a case.
In any case, this is petty, bullshitty and in the times of the plague in which hospitality businesses suffer just plain ugly.
My point being this guy is not pretending that someone booked his venue. Someone did. Someone told him a different cook was wanted. Someone told him wild food would be hunted and prepared on his premises by that cook etc etc etc.
So clearly there was an understanding that that would happen there, and sorry mate, but food control plan is food control plan. He breaks his plan he can lose his business.
And frankly i find the idea that some multi millionaires (and both fall in that category) would battle it out publicly over 5 grand is just plain sad. And it does not paint the venue owner in a sad light, but the PM and her husband to be.
Also, first you book and you state how many people etc etc etc and then you plan. Do not plan a wedding before you have the venue secured as you might find yourself without one.
Also Delta arrived in India in April and in NZ in July. so that too ain’t a good excuse.
The point is, if you cancel a booked venue expect a cancellation fee. If you cancel a booked venue because you need specially hunted food, specially gathered food, specially brought in cook/chefs then you pay the cancellation fee.
If the venue cancels on you, you would expect a total refund of what ever you paid to secure the venue.
Securing he venue is the first thing you do when holding such a schindig.
Last she is the PM, they would have a contract. Seriously, as she would not want to show up in her wedding gown, just to find someone else who booked with a contract holding their wedding.
You make a strong case – I can see why business owner/operators get so grumpy about regulations. One of my younger brothers is to the right of ACT and you ought to hear him go on about that stuff. He's built several businesses, thinks the Nats are a joke, watches only Fox News etc. I had to learn compassion – it's a sad fate when folks box themselves into a social niche so tight they can't get out.
These rules and regulations are in place so that you don't get salmonella, or food poisioning, or be served possum stew rather then the Osso Bucca you ordered. Can't help you there with your younger brother on that, he will have to live with the fact that rules exists and that people have to abide by them.
The reason i explained this is as people seem to really have no idea actually what goes into raising a successful eatery or fine restaurant. It is a lot of work, requires skilled and trained staff (even if they are migrants they are skilled and trained), and there are rules for everything, down to the point of how many times a day you have to check temperatures of your fridges and freezers.
So yes, you can hunt a wild deer, you can get it butchered by someone who knows what they do, and you can serve it in your back yard. But try to bring this into any legal lisenced premise that is not set up for it, or has a food control plan that does not allow for it, and it ain't a happening thing. Not because the business would not want too, but because it is too costly to make it so, and breaking the rules means to get fined many many dollars and lose business and reputation.
So they should pay the cancellation fee and have a back yard wedding with a famous chef, and hunted and gathered food. Non of this needs anymore publicity.
Fuck these people suffer.
https://twitter.com/juliaioffe/status/1454291962023092225
https://twitter.com/juliaioffe/status/1454295678511947777
https://meduza.io/news/2021/10/29/rosstat-za-devyat-mesyatsev-v-rossii-umerli-299-tysyach-chelovek-s-koronavirusom
google translate
Some serious analysis is required on how vaccines are performing. Surely the vaccines are being tested on past strains and new strains which are emerging. Russia is going into the winter period in a month.
"vaccinating the world should remain the priority."
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2665-9913%2821%2900330-1
Is there are reason my comments fall into moderation?
Not that I am aware of. But I will have a look at the next one that does.
Not always, just every now and then for a few days. Usually that happens when there are links or to many but it is now doing it on standard comments with no links either.
cheers.
If you copy text with links, right-click on them before posting & select unlink on each one. Sometimes I forget & mine end up in moderation/purgatory too.
These are comments without links. And i usually unlink before posting to facilitate posting. It's just a wee glitch in the matrix. 🙂
there was a word in the filter that you use a lot. It's been removed, so you shouldn't have a problem now.
what word is it?
Sabine uses one of the words in the filter a lot, but I see you've had a clean out 🙂