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
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”
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
“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.
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The Green Party is calling on the Government to withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation which strips away independence and fails to put children at the heart. ...
As New Zealand reconnects with the world, we’re making the most of every opportunity to show we’re a great place to visit, trade with and invest in as part of our plan to grow our economy and build a secure future for all Kiwis. Just this week we saw further ...
At today’s commemoration of the start of the Korean War, Veterans Minister Meka Whaitiri has paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of our New Zealand veterans, their families and both nations. “It’s an honour to be with our Korean War veterans at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to commemorate ...
Matariki tohu mate, rātou ki a rātou Matariki tohu ora, tātou ki a tātou Tīhei Matariki Matariki – remembering those who have passed Matariki – celebrating the present and future Salutations to Matariki I want to begin by thanking everyone who is here today, and in particular the Matariki ...
Oho mai ana te motu i te rangi nei ki te hararei tūmatanui motuhake tuatahi o Aotearoa, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki, me te hono atu a te Pirīmia a Jacinda Ardern ki ngā mahi whakanui a te motu i tētahi huihuinga mō te Hautapu i te ata nei. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker will represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the second United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, which runs from 27 June to 1 July. The Conference will take stock of progress and aims to galvanise further action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, to "conserve and sustainably use ...
The Government is boosting its partnership with New Zealand’s dairy sheep sector to help it lift its value and volume, and become an established primary industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “Globally, the premium alternative dairy category is growing by about 20 percent a year. With New Zealand food ...
The Government is continuing to support the Buller district to recover from severe flooding over the past year, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today during a visit with the local leadership. An extra $10 million has been announced to fund an infrastructure recovery programme, bringing the total ...
“The Government has undertaken preparatory work to combat new and more dangerous variants of COVID-19,” COVID-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall set out today. “This is about being ready to adapt our response, especially knowing that new variants will likely continue to appear. “We have undertaken a piece of work ...
The Government’s strong trade agenda is underscored today with the introduction of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill to the House, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “I’m very pleased with the quick progress of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill being introduced ...
A ministerial advisory group that provides young people with an opportunity to help shape the education system has five new members, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins said today. “I am delighted to announce that Harshinni Nayyar, Te Atamihi Papa, Humaira Khan, Eniselini Ali and Malakai Tahaafe will join the seven ...
Austria Centre, Vienna [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] E ngā mana, e ngā reo Tēnā koutou katoa Thank you, Mr President. I extend my warm congratulations to you on the assumption of the Presidency of this inaugural meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. You ...
The Government is taking action to make sure homecare and support workers have the right to take a pay-equity claim, while at the same time protecting their current working conditions and delivering a pay rise. “In 2016, homecare and support workers – who look after people in their own homes ...
A law change passed today streamlines the process for allowing COVID-19 boosters to be given without requiring a prescription. Health Minister Andrew Little said the changes made to the Medicines Act were a more enduring way to manage the administration of vaccine boosters from now on. “The Ministry of Health’s ...
New powers will be given to the Commerce Commission allowing it to require supermarkets to hand over information regarding contracts, arrangements and land covenants which make it difficult for competing retailers to set up shop. “The Government and New Zealanders have been very clear that the grocery sector is not ...
Ministerial taskforce of industry experts will give advice and troubleshoot plasterboard shortages Letter of expectation sent to Fletcher Building on trademark protections A renewed focus on competition in the construction sector The Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods has set up a Ministerial taskforce with key construction, building ...
Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson and Minister for Māori Crown Relations Te Arawhiti Kelvin Davis announced today the inaugural Matariki public holiday will be marked by a pre-dawn hautapu ceremony at Te Papa Tongarewa, and will be a part of a five-hour broadcast carried by all major broadcasters in ...
Volunteers from all over the country are being recognised in this year’s Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, just announced at an event in Parliament’s Grand Hall. “These awards celebrate and recognise the thousands of dedicated health and disability sector volunteers who give many hours of their time to help other ...
New Zealand’s trade agenda continues to build positive momentum as Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor travels to Europe, Canada and Australia to advance New Zealand’s economic interests. “Our trade agenda has excellent momentum, and is a key part of the Government’s wider plan to help provide economic security for ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will leave this weekend to travel to Europe and Australia for a range of trade, tourism and foreign policy events. “This is the third leg of our reconnecting plan as we continue to promote Aotearoa New Zealand’s trade and tourism interests. We’re letting the world know ...
[CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Nga mihi ki a koutou. Let me start by acknowledging the nuclear survivors, the people who lost their lives to nuclear war or testing, and all the peoples driven off their lands by nuclear testing, whose lands and waters were poisoned, and who suffer the inter-generational health ...
New Zealand’s leadership has contributed to a number of significant outcomes and progress at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which concluded in the early hours of Friday morning after a week of intense negotiations between its 164 members. A major outcome is a new ...
The Government has delivered on its commitment to roll out the free methamphetamine harm reduction programme Te Ara Oranga to the eastern Bay of Plenty, with services now available in Murupara. “We’re building a whole new mental health system, and that includes expanding successful programmes like Te Ara Oranga,” Health ...
Kura and schools around New Zealand can start applying for Round 4 of the Creatives in Schools programme, Minister for Education Chris Hipkins and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni said today. Both ministers were at Auckland’s Rosehill Intermediate to meet with the ākonga, teachers and the professional ...
It is my pleasure to be here at MEETINGS 2022. I want to start by thanking Lisa and Steve from Business Events Industry Aotearoa and everyone that has been involved in organising and hosting this event. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to welcome you all here. It is ...
Aotearoa New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, met in Wellington today for the biannual Australia - Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations. Minister Mahuta welcomed Minister Wong for her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand ...
The volatile global situation has been reflected in today’s quarterly GDP figures, although strong annual growth shows New Zealand is still well positioned to deal with the challenging global environment, Grant Robertson said. GDP fell 0.2 percent in the March quarter, as the global economic trends caused exports to fall ...
More than a million New Zealanders have already received their flu vaccine in time for winter, but we need lots more to get vaccinated to help relieve pressure on the health system, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Getting to one million doses by June is a significant milestone and sits ...
It’s a pleasure to be here today in person “ka nohi ke te ka nohi, face to face as we look back on a very challenging two years when you as Principals, as leaders in education, have pivoted, and done what you needed to do, under challenging circumstances for your ...
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is successfully creating jobs and boosting regional economic growth, an independent evaluation report confirms. Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash announced the results of the report during a visit to the Mihiroa Marae in Hastings, which recently completed renovation work funded through the PGF. ...
Travellers to New Zealand will no longer need a COVID-19 pre-departure test from 11.59pm Monday 20 June, COVID-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “We’ve taken a careful and staged approach to reopening our borders to ensure we aren’t overwhelmed with an influx of COVID-19 cases. Our strategy has ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Rwanda this week to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali. “This is the first CHOGM meeting since 2018 and I am delighted to be representing Aotearoa New Zealand,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “Reconnecting New Zealand with the ...
We, the Ministers for trade from Costa Rica, Fiji, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, welcome the meeting of Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) partners on 15 June 2022, in Geneva to discuss progress on negotiations for the ACCTS. Our meeting was chaired by Hon Damien O’Connor, New Zealand’s Minister for ...
Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti has today announced Caroline Flora as the new Chief Censor of Film and Literature, for a three-year term from 20 July. Ms Flora is a senior public servant who has recently held the role of Associate Deputy‑Director General System Strategy and Performance at the Ministry ...
Eleven projects are being funded as part of the Government’s efforts to prevent elder abuse, Minister for Seniors Dr Ayesha Verrall announced as part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. “Sadly one in 10 older people experience elder abuse in New Zealand, that is simply unacceptable,” Ayesha Verrall said. “Our ...
More New Zealand homes, businesses and communities will soon benefit from fast and reliable connectivity, regardless of where they live, study and work,” Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, David Clark said today. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us time and again how critical a reliable connection is for ...
Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Twyford will lead Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) First Meeting of States Parties in Austria later this month, following a visit to the Netherlands. The Nuclear Ban Treaty is the first global treaty to make nuclear ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will this week welcome Australian Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong on her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand as Foreign Minister. “I am delighted to be able to welcome Senator Wong to Wellington for our first in-person bilateral foreign policy consultations, scheduled for ...
State schools have made thousands of site, infrastructure and classroom improvements, as well as upgrades to school sports facilities and playgrounds over the past two and a half years through a major government work programme, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. The School Investment Package announced in December 2019 gave ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had a warm and productive meeting with Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa in Wellington, today. The Prime Ministers reflected on the close and enduring relationship the two countries have shared in the 60 years since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, and since Samoa ...
“Food price data shows New Zealanders pay too much for the basics and today’s figures provide more evidence of why we need to change the supermarket industry, and fast," Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark says. Stats NZ figures show food prices were 6.8% higher in May 2022 compared ...
An independent body to strengthen and protect the integrity of the sport and recreation system is to be established. “There have been a number of reports over the years into various sports where the athletes, from elite level to grassroots, have been let down by the system in one way ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Prudence Flowers, Senior Lecturer in US History, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Flinders University The United States Supreme Court has handed down a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that found there was a constitutional right to ...
Analysis - A health 'crisis' is the latest of the government's cascading problems, the Gib board shortage is elevated to ministerial taskforce level and the new police minister gets to work. ...
Comment - The concern about gangs and gang-related violence in New Zealand continues to be highly politicised. The problem is these debates often lack history, context or vision. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Thompson, Associate professor, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock Protecting people from floods requires many technical professionals to make good predictions and decisions. Meteorologists predict the risk of extreme rainfall. Hydrologists translate this rainfall into predictions about what ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Professor Chris Wallace discuss the week in politics. They canvass the Albanese government’s reaction to Sri Lankan people smugglers trying to reactivate their trade. Meanwhile, the Prime ...
The imminent resignation of National Party President Peter Goodfellow marks a significant shift in the party leadership, after years of triumph and of great turmoil, writes RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Deem, Lecturer – Law, CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his new government have committed to enshrining a First Nations Voice in the Australian Constitution. To do so, a majority of Australians in a majority of states ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Mitchell Lee, PhD Candidate, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The ill-fated nineteen: the only known photo of the Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood members who went to Yugoslavia in 1972.Wikimedia Fifty years ago this month, in June 1972, Yugoslavia’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Mitchell Lee, PhD Candidate, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The ill-fated nineteen: the only known photo of the Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood members who went to Yugoslavia in 1972.Wikimedia Fifty years ago this month, in June 1972, Yugoslavia’s ...
Buzz from the Beehive Fresh news – since our previous Buzz – comes from Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker. He has announced he will represent New Zealand at the second United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, which runs from 27 June to 1 July. Other ministers presumably have gone home for ...
RNZ News Today’s Matariki celebrations signal the maturing of Aotearoa New Zealand, says Māori leader Sir Pou Temara. A ceremony attended by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other dignitaries was held in Wellington to mark the first national public holiday in New Zealand for Matariki. On a still Wellington morning ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hans Westerbeek, Professor of International Sport Business, Head of Sport Business Insights Group, Victoria University Organisers of Wimbledon, the main draw of which begins on June 27, have found themselves in a quandary over their controversial decision to ban Russian and Belarusian ...
ANALYSIS:By Mike Lee, University of Auckland Aotearoa New Zealand will enjoy a new official public holiday on June 24, with the country marking Matariki — the start of the Māori New Year. But with it comes the temptation for businesses to use the day to drive sales. Some Māori ...
Pacific Media Centre newsdesk A new Asia Pacific social justice research and publication nonprofit has awarded a diversity communications trophy to a West Papuan postgraduate student who has advocated for the education and welfare of his fellow students. Several dozen Papuan students trying to complete their studies were stranded in ...
By Claudia Tally in Port Moresby The impartiality of officials who have been appointed to manage polling in the National Capital District during the Papua New Guinea general election next month has been questioned. In a first of its kind meeting in Port Moresby yesterday, candidates, police and the election ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mike Gardner, Flinders University Mike Gardner, Author provided Ever wondered about the secret to a long life? Perhaps understanding the lifespans of other animals with backbones (or “vertebrates”) might help us unlock this mystery. You’ve probably heard turtles live a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Patulny, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Wollongong Shutterstock Despite widespread access to social media and videoconferencing technology, many Australians experienced heightened loneliness during COVID lockdowns, and continue to do so. We surveyed more than 2,000 Australians during 2020-21 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathomi Gatwiri, Senior lecturer, Southern Cross University Shutterstock For Black African young people in Australia, social media can be especially fraught – a place they witness footage of anti-Black violence, contend with an “othering” gaze and encounter racist trolling, posts ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor, Nursing and Deputy Head (Learning & Teaching), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University Shutterstock We’re now pretty used to swabbing our nose to test for COVID when we have a scratchy throat or new ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bjorn Sturmberg, Research Leader, Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Shutterstock The Black Summer bushfires devastated parts of the Eurobodalla region in New South Wales. Then earlier this year, the area was hit by floods. As climate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Levido, Research Fellow – Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Recent outrage surrounding a young children’s toy “vlogger” set echoes moral panics of the past, particularly when words such as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Warwick Smith, Research economist, The University of Melbourne Australia’s new federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, spoke regularly in opposition about a well-being budget and the need to measure more than just the traditional economic indicators. He was even mocked for it by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Sunter, PhD Student, University of Adelaide Cybele O’Brien/ Getty Recently screened at the Sydney Film Festival, Fire Island is a rom-com inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the film breaking traditional conventions to feature gay romance as the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Anthony Albanese will be on the international road again next week. He’ll be at the NATO summit in Madrid, where the war in Ukraine will obviously dominate the discussions, which will also canvass China and ...
The Crown has described the New Zealand First Foundation's founding document "a sham", as it closes its case against two men accused of mishandling political donations. ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t want this changedPolitical scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. The current New Zealand First Foundation trial in the High Court continues to show why reform is required when it comes to money in politics. The ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. The charts below are all to the same scale. Strictly speaking, they show seasonal mortality rather than excess mortality. The zero percent baseline represents low-season mortality rather than average mortality. FranceChart by Keith Rankin. French mortality data shows a big covid ‘spike’ in March 2020, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne A major new climate case to stop Woodside’s controversial Scarborough gas project going ahead has been filed by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) in the federal court this week. ACF lawyers argue ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gail Iles, Senior Lecturer in Physics, RMIT University Steve Gale (pilot) and Gail Iles (right) next to the Marchetti jet.Kieran Blair, Author provided Last Saturday, a two-seater SIAI-Marchetti S.211 jet took off from Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne with an expert ...
New Zealand’s dairy industry, which is proving again it is the backbone of the country’s export industries, has been given fresh encouragement with the big co-op Fonterra signalling a record milk price for the season that has just opened. It comes as the payout for the just-finished season stands as ...
Buzz from the Beehive Damien O’Connor scored twice – he issued one statement as Minister of Trade and another as Minister of Agriculture – while rookie Emergency Relief Minister Kieran McNulty broke his duck, announcing flood relief for the West Coast. Covid-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall put more runs on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is facing extradition to the United States after this was given the green light by the British Government. Assange faces charges of espionage over the publication of classified information ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images The concern about gangs and gang-related violence in New Zealand continues to be highly politicised. Government ministers are under constant media scrutiny and political pressure, with both sides trying to ...
The New Zealand Parliament has significantly limited people’s ability to take part in the only public consultation on Three Waters reform by refusing to accept email submissions. Instead of enabling people to submit via one of the simplest and ...
Shortages of nursing and social work staff in Aotearoa can only be met with strong training programmes. However, current moves to consolidate the curriculum in the new network of vocational education provision – Te Pūkenga - will fall short of ...
A View from Afar – In this podcast, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning examine in detail what to expect from the NATO leaders’ summit, which includes addresses from the prime ministers of Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Why is NATO including addresses of NATO partners in this ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angela Conquet, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Abby Murray/Rising Three years in the making, Rising’s much-anticipated first edition brought to Melbourne’s festival-deprived audiences a rich program featuring 225 events. With former Chunky Move founder and choreographer Gideon Obarzanek ...
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) has released new data indicating that New Zealand is falling seriously short when it comes to meeting human rights commitments across a number of areas. Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand ...
COLFO appreciates Police clarification that criminals had in their hands a list that may have contained details of at least 5,602 licensed firearms owners. Once the Police investigation is completed COLFO will ask members if they want a call ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia The judge in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, the staffer alleged to have raped Brittany Higgins, ruled on Tuesday, “regrettably and with gritted teeth”, that his trial will need ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gita Mishra, Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland Shutterstock New research shows women who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth, have an increased risk of stroke – when blood can’t get to the brain, ...
With nearly half of scheduled Capital Connection services since Monday 13 June having been bus replaced, delayed, or operating at reduced capacity due to mechanical issues, Kāpiti Coast commuter rail campaigner Gwynn Compton has called out the Government’s ...
“The Corrections Association (CANZ) has made pens with the phrase “Where’s Kelvin” printed on them and the response from Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis is that he wants one so he can frame it,” says ACT’s Corrections spokesperson ...
The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...
More than 5,500 people felt so aggrieved by the controversial parts of the Fisheries Amendment Bill, they wrote unique submissions opposing it. The bill has massive implications for fisheries sustainability in New Zealand The new legislation would force through ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Wayland, Senior Lecturer Social Work, University of New England Shutterstock About a year ago, many of us were in lockdown. State premiers fronted the media every day to reveal how many people had tested positive for COVID and how ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Grose, Climate projections scientist, CSIRO Shutterstock It’s an offhand joke a lot of us make – it’s freezing, can we get a bit more of that global warming right about now? But how should we really conceive our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Adams, Professor of Finance, University of Oxford Shutterstock The gender diversity of thought leadership in finance is lower than in most other academic fields, our research shows. Finance ranks 132nd out of 175 fields with a representation of only ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phil Lewis, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra Australian shoppers are facing a crisis in the fresh-food aisles. Iceberg lettuces that cost $2.80 a year ago have doubled, or tripled, in price. Brussel sprouts that cost $4 to $6 a kilogram are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sussex, Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University As Russia’s war in Ukraine becomes a quagmire of attrition, Western leaders are slowly coming to two realisations about Vladimir Putin’s intentions. First, Russia’s war against Ukraine won’t be over soon, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kathryn Campbell, has been replaced in a shake-up of federal departmental heads announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The new secretary will be Jan ...
Current City Councillor with local government management experience, stretching beyond thirty years, says enough is enough, it’s time for change in our city’s elected leadership and culture. Napier [City] has a proud and prominent history, ...
As Chris Hipkins apologises to Charlotte Bellis for comments about her MIQ application, it can be revealed the government dropped a similar case days before a scheduled court hearing. ...
The New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) celebrated National Volunteer Week 2022 with the launch of its new Selwyn Operation. Earlier this week, the NZFN and Volunteering Canterbury hosted the first volunteer group at the new warehouse facility, which ...
As Chris Hipkins apologises to Charlotte Bellis for comments about her MIQ application, it can be revealed the government dropped a similar case days before a scheduled court hearing. ...
Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon has shown he is a fast learner. Where earlier he often ended on the receiving end in exchanges with the Prime Minister in Parliament, now it is the Prime Minister who who can be seen back-pedalling, Take, for example, pressures in the health system which are ...
A View from Afar – In this podcast, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will approach this episode in two parts.First we will detail what to expect from the NATO leaders’ summit, which includes addresses from the prime ministers of Japan, Australia and New Zealand.Why is NATO ...
Matters relating to governance, ownership, and accountability are all part of the Water Services Entities Bill, which represents the next stage in the Government’s Three Waters reform programme. Nelson City Council is working on a submission to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timo Rissanen, Associate professor, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock Today we make more clothing than ever before. And the driver for this is primarily economic, rather than human need. Over the past decade, the term “circular economy” has entered the fashion ...
Buzz from the Beehive The state is flexing its muscle in the building and supermarket industries. In the building industry the intervention can be criticised as long overdue and unlikely to do much good any time soon to remedy a crippling shortage of plasterboard. A Ministerial taskforce has been set ...
Tēnā koe Chris, On behalf of the schools in our care we are writing to you to express our thoughts and concerns as the Principals of Invercargill Primary Schools. Since the inception of Tomorrow’s Schools, over thirty years ago, education in ...
Unions representing thousands of care and support workers across Aotearoa New Zealand say the renewed care and support legislation that sets workers’ pay rates will leave workers and the sector in crisis for longer. The legislation to amend the Support ...
While the country prepares to celebrate the first Matariki holiday weekend, incompetent mis-management by Auckland Transport will see the popular Britomart to Onehunga train services permanently ruined. “Through silence, zero public consultation and general ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bill Skinner, Postdoctoral research associate, University of Adelaide Shutterstock It’s commonly assumed Australia’s farmers and cities are divided over climate issues. This is not true. After all, farmers are on the front line and face the realities of our shifting ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Chan, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, University of Auckland Getty Images Modern medical science has made remarkable progress in the treatment of asthma. Inhalers containing steroids are particularly effective in preventing an asthma attack. But getting people to take these ...
Confirmation today that a register of firearm owners stolen from Auckland Police station covers 2003-2018, means over 67,000 firearm owners and their private addresses may have been in the hands of criminals. The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harry Hobbs, Senior lecturer, University of Technology Sydney Senators Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray responding to news that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. J. Scott Applewhite/AP In the landmark 1973 decision of Roe v ...
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
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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”
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
+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
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.
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.