Rules, Rights, and Resistance: The Battle Over TPP and TTIP Streamed live 5 hours ago
April 29, 2016 The New School live coverage of their conference titled “Rules, Rights, and Resistance: Joseph Stiglitz, Lori Wallach, and more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xptxLoPQZfo
April 29, 2016 afternoon session live mirror of The New School conference titled “Rules, Rights, and Resistance: The Battle Over TPP and TTIP – Session 2: Economy and Labor” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGMnyylJwyY
On Thursday and Friday John Campbell has been chasing the EQC down to try and get to the difference between what the enabling legislation says the EQC has to and what it has been doing. The problem is that the EQC is supposed to restoring property to a as new state, whereas they have been operating on the basis the property should only be restored to a pre-quake basis. The gap between those two standards is massive and there is a big difference in the amount of work required to be done and the costs of such work.
A stream of Home owners have supplied Campbell with documentation that shows that the EQC cited that the work was to be completed to pre-quake standard. On this basis EQC assessments of work would be coming in around the $30,00 to $45,000 level. On a disturbing number of instances this work budget would bounce around until after the 5th or 8th assessment the work budget would get up to $300,000 or even $600,000.
The EQC and Mr Brownlee both maintain that the EQC has consistently operated to the “as new” standard of repair despite there also being reams of internal documentation from the EQC saying that repairs were to be to a”pre-quake” standard.
Blatant lying but why?
The EQC has a cap limiting the amount of money it covers per event to $115,000. This figure is commonly referred to a “cap”. The goal of home owners appeared to be to get the EQC to agree that the repair work was “over cap” and at this point the insurance companies would be liable for the cost of repairs.
IMO there has been a political decision to manipulate repair assessments downwards by using a lower standard of repair not only to save money for EQC but also to save claims being made on insurance companies.
For a while after the quake insurance companies stopped issuing new house insurance. Without house insurance the banks will not issue a mortgage. Without mortgages the sale of houses would have rapidly diminished. The property bubble would have been stopped.
Trying to insulate the insurance companies from the costs to puts a new spin on the socialisation of risk. Here the corporate risk is pushed all the way back to the individuals rather than the usual Neo-Libs response of pushing it onto the general taxpayers.
I heard the Thursday broadcast and was disgusted by the EQC spokesperson’s stance and the whole matter is very worrying for house-owners living in an earthquake region, which is most of NZ.
IMO there has been a political decision to manipulate repair assessments downwards by using a lower standard of repair not only to save money for EQC but also to save claims being made on insurance companies.
That wouldn’t surprise me. If the insurance companies had actually paid out what was needed they would have gone broke.
Trying to insulate the insurance companies from the costs to puts a new spin on the socialisation of risk. Here the corporate risk is pushed all the way back to the individuals rather than the usual Neo-Libs response of pushing it onto the general taxpayers.
Putting it on to the taxpayers would have meant increasing the taxes upon the rich and there was no way that National was ever going to do that.
How on earth was it right, proper or lawful for Auckland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Auckland Transport, to make a by law on ELECTION SIGNAGE?
In my considered opinion, any by law on ‘election signage’ should be the responsibility of Auckland Council, and should not attempt to restrict election signage on private property to the 9 weeks of the ‘official’ election period.
I have formally notified Minister of Transport Simon Bridges of my intention to petition him to exercise his lawful authority under s.22AC of the Land Transport Act 1998 to ‘disallow’ Auckland Transport’s ‘Election Signage By Law 2013’ in its entirety, because of its ‘inconsistency’ with the following enactments:
The underpinning Land Transport Act 1998
The Local Government Act 2002 (s.155 (3) – Council By Laws cannot be inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act 1990)
The Bill of Rights Act 1990 (s.14 – Freedom of Expression)
Full credit to Minister of Transport Simon Bridges for his speed in taking action on this issue:
“Ms Bright has joined the fray, telling the council she will petition Transport Minister Simon Bridges to declare the bylaw – which comes under his portfolio – illegal.
She will seek support from other candidates and interested parties, and has urged candidates to defy the bylaw, by advertising from private property before the nine-week election period.
Auckland Transport’s election bylaw noted that it considered Bill of Rights issues, and believed it complied.
Ms Crone said any thought of legal action would come further down the track, and she had contacted the council today asking it to review its stance.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges said he had sought legal advice on the bylaw, as well as his powers as Transport Minister to disallow transport-related bylaws.
He said he had written to Auckland Transport asking them to clarify the original purpose of the bylaw and to advise how they believe the bylaw was consistent with the Land Transport Act 1998 and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. ”
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate
(‘Activists’ – get things done 😉
A most engaging interview with former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. Gives you an update on the Greece financial situation, a situation so bad you hope it never catches on here.. The interview is split over several videos https://youtu.be/EEgWvdnON28
“Conservatives argue we can’t afford advancements. Liberals argue a transition is possible, but we need bridge fuels or “All of the Above” to fund a slow transition. The Panama Papers show we have the money to transition right now, but it’s being looted by the global elite.”
A cute dog pic from facebook with a deeper! illustration of our present day life. I thought the two canines to be very photogenic, but the smaller one closer to the grassroots looks more thoughtful while the taller ones, with tongue hanging out in a cheerful way, seems above it all and unconcerned at having dirty feet. doggie don’t
A cute photo. Thanks gws. I thought the little fellow looked quite chuffed with him/herself while the golden retriever (I’ve had a couple of those in the past) was being his/her usual happy go lucky self.
G’day, Standardistas! A big, big thank you to all readers who have visited the Meat Workers Union’s support site jobsthatcount.org.nz. since Thursday. I’m told that T shirt sales have gone through the roof!
It’s not just the income that’s important, it’s the message of solidarity you send when you buy one as well. I know it’s much appreciated by the workers that The Standard stands with them.
Brian Fallow: Shh – don’t mention the pension
11:41 AM Friday Apr 29, 201615 comments
Quote: “The age of eligibility is 65, it is universal and not means-tested (though it is taxable) and it is indexed to the average wage, not CPI inflation.
The Government insists this is perfectly affordable.
And so it is, provided you are indifferent to the mounting cost, whether that takes the form of higher taxation or cuts to other things the Government spends money on.
The Treasury has done some thinking about what the options are for a fiscally sustainable approach to retirement income – just in case the Government ever moves on from John Key’s reckless commitment that the entitlement parameters for NZ Super will never change on his watch.” Quote End.
Of course, Brian Fallow will never have to worry about facing life in his cut down NZ super with a couple of hedge fund sinecures, some lucrative financial consultancy work and his NZ herald column.
Brian Fallow has found a good thing here in discussing old age government superannuation.
Always topical and of interest, can be left untilled for a period and then spring forth once again, with its foreboding tendrils with serrated edges promising to cut into our lives and wellbeing. It has a dark side that gives drama, holds all mature people’s attention and focus, unlike really important things like wages insufficient to live on, no better future to work for because there aren’t enough jobs and working hours to go around, no improvement in conditions for our young people and families, housing being rorted by the wealthy as the only thing of substance and reliability to invest in.
Such shitty economic management. But we must turn our eyes away from the execresence that is NZ life. Superannuation is the answer. Hold the changes over our heads like a Damocles sword. In fact it is subsidising the country’s economy, a regular injection of money from government that keeps us all from collapsing like an old balloon.
Wikipedia gives Fallow’s genetic strain. A fallow field is land that a farmer plows but does not cultivate for one or more seasons to allow the field to become more fertile again.
The practice of leaving fields fallow dates back to ancient times when farmers realized that using soil over and over again depleted its nutrients.
The big lie which is not talked about openly in NZ , is of course that super is completely affordable. So are schools , hospitals and all other essential services
The lies around debt and its servicing are being used as cover to degrade quality of life, by cutting
Those who talk about cuts should openly challenged
one has to wonder about the likes of this sort of leadership in light of the previous (and everything else)….these are not stupid people (in the main), but their actions foolhardy…..bizarre.
y’know, there’s still plenty of economic growth to be had in areas like people offering services and experiences to each other. It’s already happening, just think of how much more music gigs are happening now compared to say twenty or thirty years ago, for instance.
It’s just the ever increasing finite-resource-consuming need-more-toys kind of growth that needs to turn around.
Yager said she saw a recent map of oil and gas exploration leases in the region. “And oh my gosh, they’re just right there on top of where we think the reefs are.”
Z shares surged 10.5 per cent to $7.90 on the news, and are up by 50 per cent in the last year.
Commissioner Jill Walker’s view was that there was evidence co-ordination was already occurring in some markets, which the merger would further entrench.
Labour say “while it is some comfort that Z Energy is a New Zealand-owned company, it now owns around 50 per cent of all petrol outlets. Observers have noted it has consistently raised its prices earlier than its competitors.
“What’s more, this decision undermines the Commerce Commission’s own guidelines which highlight industry dominance of over 40 per cent as a red flag.”
Interesting comment from Maori Hekia Parata about why she does not think it should be a set part of schools’ curriculum to learn about our NZ history. Those of us who are interested have long known we need to know more about the early Maori and Pakeha relationship, the wars and the effect of colonisation. It is unfortunate that Affluenza has been caught by RW neo liberal Maori who have found it comfortable to be in the Gnats fold.
Education Minister Hekia Parata encourages schools to teach both sides of New Zealand history – the colonial and the Māori – but said she would not go as far as making it compulsory.
“Because that is not the New Zealand way, we do not compel specific things. I’m not requiring every school to teach coding even though there is a group who wants that to happen.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/302265/new-zealand%27s-other-wars
“Because that is not the NZ way, we do not compel specific things”. Since when, and who decided that? Oh then, the National Standards don’t exist, forcing everyone and their teachers to teach exactly to the curriculum that has been set, and all must comply to a set standard no matter what their readiness for that learning may be. Ensuring all know their country’s full history would do a lot to prevent the outbreaks of racism and mad rantings from the ignorant who often justify unfair behaviour against Maori on the basis of half-digested pap. As far as I can see education department strictures are very rigid and do compel. What twisted words and thinking from this elite Maori woman.
…twisted words and thinking from this elite Maori woman.
There’s nothing “elite” about Hekia Parata. She’s New Zealand’s Mrs Bucket Bouquet. I bet she also sticks out her little finger when holding a cup of tea…
Elitist yes… but an “elite Maori woman”? Not in my book. I can think of many Maori women, past and present, who have earned that title but not Hekia Parata.
I agree, I stand corrected. What I wish would be that we were all so, so wrong about her and other fellow travellers of the RW Maori persuasion.
But we aren’t.
This is our mantra these days so needs repeating regularly to remind us of our guiding principles.
As in “There are known knowns, there are things we know we know….” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_are_known_knowns
Fairly long and very dense; but even if the dynamic modelling leaves you behind, the underlying message remains clear: capitalism is inherently unstable. It cannot be reformed out of it.
Buzz from the Beehive Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. ...
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Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
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COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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, Friday 29 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
Rules, Rights, and Resistance: The Battle Over TPP and TTIP
Streamed live 5 hours ago
April 29, 2016 The New School live coverage of their conference titled “Rules, Rights, and Resistance: Joseph Stiglitz, Lori Wallach, and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xptxLoPQZfo
+1 TMM
April 29, 2016 afternoon session live mirror of The New School conference titled “Rules, Rights, and Resistance: The Battle Over TPP and TTIP – Session 2: Economy and Labor”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGMnyylJwyY
On Thursday and Friday John Campbell has been chasing the EQC down to try and get to the difference between what the enabling legislation says the EQC has to and what it has been doing. The problem is that the EQC is supposed to restoring property to a as new state, whereas they have been operating on the basis the property should only be restored to a pre-quake basis. The gap between those two standards is massive and there is a big difference in the amount of work required to be done and the costs of such work.
A stream of Home owners have supplied Campbell with documentation that shows that the EQC cited that the work was to be completed to pre-quake standard. On this basis EQC assessments of work would be coming in around the $30,00 to $45,000 level. On a disturbing number of instances this work budget would bounce around until after the 5th or 8th assessment the work budget would get up to $300,000 or even $600,000.
The EQC and Mr Brownlee both maintain that the EQC has consistently operated to the “as new” standard of repair despite there also being reams of internal documentation from the EQC saying that repairs were to be to a”pre-quake” standard.
Blatant lying but why?
The EQC has a cap limiting the amount of money it covers per event to $115,000. This figure is commonly referred to a “cap”. The goal of home owners appeared to be to get the EQC to agree that the repair work was “over cap” and at this point the insurance companies would be liable for the cost of repairs.
IMO there has been a political decision to manipulate repair assessments downwards by using a lower standard of repair not only to save money for EQC but also to save claims being made on insurance companies.
For a while after the quake insurance companies stopped issuing new house insurance. Without house insurance the banks will not issue a mortgage. Without mortgages the sale of houses would have rapidly diminished. The property bubble would have been stopped.
Trying to insulate the insurance companies from the costs to puts a new spin on the socialisation of risk. Here the corporate risk is pushed all the way back to the individuals rather than the usual Neo-Libs response of pushing it onto the general taxpayers.
I heard the Thursday broadcast and was disgusted by the EQC spokesperson’s stance and the whole matter is very worrying for house-owners living in an earthquake region, which is most of NZ.
i agree gristle, from a distance, the whole christchurch/insurance/rebuild/state mix has had a stench to it.
That wouldn’t surprise me. If the insurance companies had actually paid out what was needed they would have gone broke.
Putting it on to the taxpayers would have meant increasing the taxes upon the rich and there was no way that National was ever going to do that.
Why Insurance Should be a State Monopoly
How on earth was it right, proper or lawful for Auckland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Auckland Transport, to make a by law on ELECTION SIGNAGE?
In my considered opinion, any by law on ‘election signage’ should be the responsibility of Auckland Council, and should not attempt to restrict election signage on private property to the 9 weeks of the ‘official’ election period.
I have formally notified Minister of Transport Simon Bridges of my intention to petition him to exercise his lawful authority under s.22AC of the Land Transport Act 1998 to ‘disallow’ Auckland Transport’s ‘Election Signage By Law 2013’ in its entirety, because of its ‘inconsistency’ with the following enactments:
The underpinning Land Transport Act 1998
The Local Government Act 2002 (s.155 (3) – Council By Laws cannot be inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act 1990)
The Bill of Rights Act 1990 (s.14 – Freedom of Expression)
Full credit to Minister of Transport Simon Bridges for his speed in taking action on this issue:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/302649/mayoral-candidate-defies-billboard-ban
“Ms Bright has joined the fray, telling the council she will petition Transport Minister Simon Bridges to declare the bylaw – which comes under his portfolio – illegal.
She will seek support from other candidates and interested parties, and has urged candidates to defy the bylaw, by advertising from private property before the nine-week election period.
Auckland Transport’s election bylaw noted that it considered Bill of Rights issues, and believed it complied.
Ms Crone said any thought of legal action would come further down the track, and she had contacted the council today asking it to review its stance.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges said he had sought legal advice on the bylaw, as well as his powers as Transport Minister to disallow transport-related bylaws.
He said he had written to Auckland Transport asking them to clarify the original purpose of the bylaw and to advise how they believe the bylaw was consistent with the Land Transport Act 1998 and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. ”
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate
(‘Activists’ – get things done 😉
Go Penny GO!
Most aucklanders would agree….
A most engaging interview with former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. Gives you an update on the Greece financial situation, a situation so bad you hope it never catches on here.. The interview is split over several videos
https://youtu.be/EEgWvdnON28
+1 gives great clarity on the different ideologies and who is actually driving the madness
Sadly, though obvious for some time now he won’t be heeded….just as they dismissed him when Minister…..logic has nothing to do with it.
a plan for Bill
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/302677/royal-society-suggests-fuel-for-change
“New Zealand’s 90 percent target by 2025 is technically and economically possible, and could even be higher”
90% of what? Are they talking about all GHG emissions? (I assume not).
no, the 90% refers to electricity from renewables by 2025
they only have the power we allow them…….unfortunately we do.
Not for much longer.
+1
And, yeah, that power will be taken back sooner or later. If it’s later it will be more abrupt.
You Never Put An Investment Banker On The Board Of A Pension Fund!
And that is exactly what happened when they put Ira Bing took a seat on the board of the Cullen fund
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnATTosS-SY
A cute dog pic from facebook with a deeper! illustration of our present day life. I thought the two canines to be very photogenic, but the smaller one closer to the grassroots looks more thoughtful while the taller ones, with tongue hanging out in a cheerful way, seems above it all and unconcerned at having dirty feet.
doggie don’t
A cute photo. Thanks gws. I thought the little fellow looked quite chuffed with him/herself while the golden retriever (I’ve had a couple of those in the past) was being his/her usual happy go lucky self.
G’day, Standardistas! A big, big thank you to all readers who have visited the Meat Workers Union’s support site jobsthatcount.org.nz. since Thursday. I’m told that T shirt sales have gone through the roof!
It’s not just the income that’s important, it’s the message of solidarity you send when you buy one as well. I know it’s much appreciated by the workers that The Standard stands with them.
http://www.watchme.co.nz/entertainment/like-mike/whats-wrong-with-labour/
Topical and typical. Good satire. Drivers of European cars beware- you have nothing to lose but your socks.
hmmmm – and chicken are coming home to roost
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/best-of-business-analysis/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501241&objectid=11630406
Brian Fallow: Shh – don’t mention the pension
11:41 AM Friday Apr 29, 201615 comments
Quote: “The age of eligibility is 65, it is universal and not means-tested (though it is taxable) and it is indexed to the average wage, not CPI inflation.
The Government insists this is perfectly affordable.
And so it is, provided you are indifferent to the mounting cost, whether that takes the form of higher taxation or cuts to other things the Government spends money on.
The Treasury has done some thinking about what the options are for a fiscally sustainable approach to retirement income – just in case the Government ever moves on from John Key’s reckless commitment that the entitlement parameters for NZ Super will never change on his watch.” Quote End.
Of course, Brian Fallow will never have to worry about facing life in his cut down NZ super with a couple of hedge fund sinecures, some lucrative financial consultancy work and his NZ herald column.
Brian Fallow has found a good thing here in discussing old age government superannuation.
Always topical and of interest, can be left untilled for a period and then spring forth once again, with its foreboding tendrils with serrated edges promising to cut into our lives and wellbeing. It has a dark side that gives drama, holds all mature people’s attention and focus, unlike really important things like wages insufficient to live on, no better future to work for because there aren’t enough jobs and working hours to go around, no improvement in conditions for our young people and families, housing being rorted by the wealthy as the only thing of substance and reliability to invest in.
Such shitty economic management. But we must turn our eyes away from the execresence that is NZ life. Superannuation is the answer. Hold the changes over our heads like a Damocles sword. In fact it is subsidising the country’s economy, a regular injection of money from government that keeps us all from collapsing like an old balloon.
Wikipedia gives Fallow’s genetic strain.
A fallow field is land that a farmer plows but does not cultivate for one or more seasons to allow the field to become more fertile again.
The practice of leaving fields fallow dates back to ancient times when farmers realized that using soil over and over again depleted its nutrients.
The big lie which is not talked about openly in NZ , is of course that super is completely affordable. So are schools , hospitals and all other essential services
The lies around debt and its servicing are being used as cover to degrade quality of life, by cutting
Those who talk about cuts should openly challenged
Workers have never been more productive,
Society has never been wealthier,
Super has never been more affordable.
We just gotta tax the rich to pay for it.
Just getting ’em to pay the tax they owe might be a good start.
+1
If the Left continues to support our reliance on a debt based money supply then of course we can never afford good things for Kiwis.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/30/daytime-cooking-ban-in-india-as-heatwave-claims-300-lives
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/29/climate-change-refugees-arctic-obama-administration-warning
not to worry…we have all the time in the world.
Sure, why not, I feel like putting on my GrumpyCat face too.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/climate-change-oxygen-loss-oceans_us_57226e80e4b0f309baf0499e?cps=gravity_2445_9083396357459874485
Now we just need Robert Atack to join in…
hmmm…another factor to add….one i hadn’t until now known about….grumpycat face dosnt really cover it.
It’ll all be fine…if we all acquire a taste for jellyfish. They seem to do ok in low-oxygen acidic conditions.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/17/imf-urges-spending-boost-growth
one has to wonder about the likes of this sort of leadership in light of the previous (and everything else)….these are not stupid people (in the main), but their actions foolhardy…..bizarre.
y’know, there’s still plenty of economic growth to be had in areas like people offering services and experiences to each other. It’s already happening, just think of how much more music gigs are happening now compared to say twenty or thirty years ago, for instance.
It’s just the ever increasing finite-resource-consuming need-more-toys kind of growth that needs to turn around.
“t’s just the ever increasing finite-resource-consuming need-more-toys kind of growth that needs to turn around.”
curiously they don’t make that distinction…..go figure
‘
World Thrilled To Discover New Coral Reef To Destroy
The above is satire, but only barely.
Discovery Of Amazon Coral Reef Surprises And Delights Scientists
AA warns Z Energy’s Caltex takeover could lead to higher petrol prices
The AA is particularly concerned about 95 octane, with Z and Caltex the only suppliers in North Island cities.
“That means Z will be able to control the price of it. There will be no price competition.”
Commerce Commission chairman Mark Berry said the watchdog had “laboured long and hard” over the decision.
It did not believe competition would be substantially changed.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/79420290/aa-warns-z-energys-caltex-takeover-could-lead-to-higher-petrol-prices
Z shares surged 10.5 per cent to $7.90 on the news, and are up by 50 per cent in the last year.
Commissioner Jill Walker’s view was that there was evidence co-ordination was already occurring in some markets, which the merger would further entrench.
Thoughts?
Labour say “while it is some comfort that Z Energy is a New Zealand-owned company, it now owns around 50 per cent of all petrol outlets. Observers have noted it has consistently raised its prices earlier than its competitors.
“What’s more, this decision undermines the Commerce Commission’s own guidelines which highlight industry dominance of over 40 per cent as a red flag.”
http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/5/250161
It was only the other day Housing NZ was ticked off for failing to tender six major contracts in breach of the agency’s own procurement rules.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/5/250154
Interesting comment from Maori Hekia Parata about why she does not think it should be a set part of schools’ curriculum to learn about our NZ history. Those of us who are interested have long known we need to know more about the early Maori and Pakeha relationship, the wars and the effect of colonisation. It is unfortunate that Affluenza has been caught by RW neo liberal Maori who have found it comfortable to be in the Gnats fold.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/302265/new-zealand%27s-other-wars
“Because that is not the NZ way, we do not compel specific things”. Since when, and who decided that? Oh then, the National Standards don’t exist, forcing everyone and their teachers to teach exactly to the curriculum that has been set, and all must comply to a set standard no matter what their readiness for that learning may be. Ensuring all know their country’s full history would do a lot to prevent the outbreaks of racism and mad rantings from the ignorant who often justify unfair behaviour against Maori on the basis of half-digested pap. As far as I can see education department strictures are very rigid and do compel. What twisted words and thinking from this elite Maori woman.
…twisted words and thinking from this elite Maori woman.
There’s nothing “elite” about Hekia Parata. She’s New Zealand’s Mrs
BucketBouquet. I bet she also sticks out her little finger when holding a cup of tea…I think “elitist” is the entirely appropriate adjective to describe Parata and many of her fellow National MPs.
Elitist yes… but an “elite Maori woman”? Not in my book. I can think of many Maori women, past and present, who have earned that title but not Hekia Parata.
I agree, I stand corrected. What I wish would be that we were all so, so wrong about her and other fellow travellers of the RW Maori persuasion.
But we aren’t.
Indeed, sometimes it would be nice to be wrong about something or somebody.
On a related note, have you seen this article CV of failures: Princeton professor publishes résumé of his career lows?
So there’s a national security “D Notice” or DA Notice out on the NZ Media. Anyone have any clues as to what it concerns?
if there is a d notice how do you know theres a d notice?
I know lots of things I should know.
That we all should know.
as you ask what its about it would appear there is something you don’t know
Gossip is a great revealer and double-checker.
Let’s all ask around then check back. 😛
This is our mantra these days so needs repeating regularly to remind us of our guiding principles.
As in “There are known knowns, there are things we know we know….”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_are_known_knowns
Do you know which agency issued the notice?
Something to do with the imminent arrival of the French Prime Minister?
Eugenie Sage @EugenieSage 11h11 hours ago
“The cairn is a monument to our stupidity.” Murray Rodgers @ 6 yr anniversary of loss of regional democracy at ECAN.
Fuck.
https://twitter.com/EugenieSage/status/726205295769210880
For the Steven Keen followers:
http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/2016/04/18/transcending-the-lucas-critique-simple-dynamic-modelling-with-minsky/
Fairly long and very dense; but even if the dynamic modelling leaves you behind, the underlying message remains clear: capitalism is inherently unstable. It cannot be reformed out of it.
Do they present any solutions?
Keen has developed computer modeling tools which are able to help economists generate far better and more realistic answers.
Further his ideas like a debt jubilee and rental based mortgages provide important alternatives to today’s major economic problems.