I note the media focus last night on Prime and in the headlines on stuff and herald, regarding Greece, is the impact it is having on our and world sharemarkets and currencies. Quite a simple way to show people what the MSM sees as our priorities,
I hope the Greeks reject paying back the loan sharks. Germany can suck it up their economy is robust enough to handle it. Sharemarket panic attacks Is typical of the greedy investors. It is good news for China to counter the effects of the looming TPPA agreement which has seen their sharemarket drop 20% in the last 6 months.
Although some farmers were severely affected by ill stock last spring, the total number represented a small proportion of farmers that sowed HT swedes and other swede varieties in the south, he said. (General Manager of PGG Wrightson Seeds).
“It was a very, very difficult scenario last spring … we were aware people had used the [HT swedes] the previous three years and had no issues whatsoever.” http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/67524880/toxins-killed-southland-cows-ministry-says.html
It would be wise if farmers used the other swede varieties, if they are the good ‘husbands’ of the land they are always citing.
June 9 2015 – http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/69224494/dairynz-use-caution-with-ht-swedes-and-fodder-beet
Southland farmers are being urged to be cautious transitioning dairy cows onto crops after reports of cows again becoming ill and dying after eating HT swedes.
This follows the deaths of about 300 ewes and at least 200 Southland dairy cows last year after feeding on crops including HT [herbicide tolerant] swedes, with hundreds more becoming ill.
(What about us? When we eat swedes or drink milk in the belief that it is healthy and good for us, there must be something that is left that goes through our bodies. And it is unnecessary to use HT except that it can offer bigger crops. But it distorts the natural features of the vegetables and the soil they are in. Would bees visit the flowers, they should be able to utilise healthy crops for their needs?
“It was a very, very difficult scenario last spring … we were aware people had used the [HT swedes] the previous three years and had no issues whatsoever.”
This is a silly comment. Obviously something had changed. But they are talking like nothing had changed. And of course, they don’t know that but also seem singularly disinterested.
@Tracey
I keep seeing PGG Wrightson come up in the news as suppliers. I did some looking up when I wrote earlier about what has been done in research. Havn’t time to search now. I think one of the links I put says they are still looking into it. But I would expect that it might be hard to get accuracy about how much herbicide has been put on, as it would be in the interests of the farmer to fudge, and give a lower than the actual level. And it also depends on whether conditions as to how much of whatever stays in the leafy tops. All quite unsatisfactory really. To say the least.
And I think that a well-known seed company also sold the seed that was contaminated with some nasty unwanted grass weed, which spilled out here and there along the road as it was being transported back to the company after the contamination was found. Such companies probably have on their logo that they have been serving the nation since the year dot. Who knows how many of our pests and problems they have wittingly introduced.
Thanks Chooky. That piece about the Chinese is very interesting and raises many questions.
This is a basic. Agria [Seeds] holds 51 per cent of the iconic New Zealand rural services firm.
It initially bought into PGG Wrightson when the debt-ridden company was caught short after the global financial crisis.
1 If companies buy up or into other companies on a leveraged basis and there is a downturn in the market, then their ability to pay for their new investment out of revenue. drops like a stone and leaves them vulnerable needing input. I wonder if that is why PGG-W was debt-ridden. This area of business has always been fairly solid, dependable and profitable surely.
2 The proposed new giant company wants to compete with Monsanto and others. Giant companies fighting each other to have the newest most productive vital crop seed, that can gain dominance so that it lays its own GE profile on all other pollen? And probably using Monsanto measures of suing for wrongful use of intellectual property used against any farmers whose produce shows patented gene evidence, whether inadvertent or not.
Will it mean we will have this GE regime forced on us inevitably, with pollen blown by wind. Will we lose any chance of holding onto healthy, sustainable, earth-nurturing measures.?
The Chinese have big plans. Lai shared his vision for the seeds business at an interview in Auckland. “In three years we could be in the top 10 seeds companies in the world . That is our vision. In 10 years we want to be US$10 billion turnover.”
3 What effect will this have. But it’s not just all about selling grass (pasture) seeds. PGG Wrightson Seeds is strong in forage.
And with China rapidly building huge mega-dairy farms (Lai knows of at least 40 with more than 10,000 cows on each farm), he believes there is a big opportunity to grow forage in China to cut-and-carry to the animals….
Now 95 per cent of the modern dairy farms in China are buying forage from overseas….
PGG Wrightson Seeds is spearheading a Primary Growth Partnership programme with Grasslanz Technology Limited to deliver innovative forages for New Zealand farms.
The full programme is valued at $14.6 million, with PGP funding contributing $7.15 million over six years.
The company says the Seed and Nutritional Technology Development programme aims to develop new technologies that improve animal productivity and animal health, while overcoming adverse environmental impacts….
Lai said Agria was prepared to adjust the 51 per cent (in the PGG Wrightson Seeds business) to bring more benefit back to the New Zealand firm. He notes the New Zealand side is relatively quite large (it has operations in New Zealand, Australia and Latin America). China Seeds is smaller but has sported 50-60 per cent annual growth in the later three years with profit growing at 30 per cent – a “few million US dollars’ profit”.
That’s giant growth for China Seeds, they must dominate our NZ company whether they adjust the shareholding. And our milk production industry swamped by Chinese production. What will we grow, GE seeds for the world? China will be able to grow their own forage. Once the science and method is established there won’t be much else to do.
At present the government is cutting down on pure science, and I have heard it is directing investments to areas such as agriculture. Yet that would limit our growth as a supposedly developed nation with diverse exports. As for national production of our non-agricultural goods and the jobs we hope for and a living wage and life at middle class level? Who knows, but we haven’t done well so far.
I’ve been thinking recently about the implications of GE stuff under the TPP when this government forces it on us. Surely Monsanto and others can sue us for not allowing their seeds etc into our market?
@Tracey
I reckon. Corporates don’t like it if people start asserting themselves and ask annoying questions about product.
And it has been pointed out that they are faceless entities. They are great armies of mercenaries pillaging the countries they reside in or pass through. There is no one person or family at the top, no human running the show with his or her own vision, they are a man-made machine, an entity that has been produced from within our culture and morphed over and over run on a mathematical paradigm of profit and numeral manipulation.
Jeez must stop letting thoughts get into my head. Thinking drives you mad I have heard.
This Qatar? business is an early example of how we can be jerked into line and elbowed into action for doing what we think is the correct and moral thing.
Where is the media on this, NOT something Granny herald wants to report, only the $1200 ‘party’ from councillors. The blogs need to call this constant mis reporting out!
Sweating the small stuff from elected councillors and letting the private companies like law firms and off shore transport companies get away with taking millions from ratepayers.
So guess what, Wgton Regional Council is currently assessing tenders from three preferred private companies, one of which will take over the running of Wgton’s train services next year.
(the last paragraph in the Herald story is nonsense, Wgton’s commuter trains have been electric since forever, they’re just replacing all the trains with new ones and upgrading the infrastructure).
Reposting this topic, plus further summary aspects, originally posted by Tautoko Mangō Mata last night in Daily review. It’s important people know.
Some interesting excerpts from the recommendation to allow Police to charge people for their services. Some are awfully suggestive. From the recommended new bill:
“The Law and Order Committee has examined the Policing (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill and recommends, by majority, that it be passed with the amendments shown…”
They say it was a majority, but it was never not going to be one. A majority of one.
“79B Policing services that may be subject to cost recovery
(1)The Minister may recommend a regulation under section 102A only if the Minister is satisfied that the policing service in question is a demand service.
(2)For the purposes of this section, demand servicemeans a service that
—
(a) constitutes policing; and
(b) is provided only on the request of an individual or organisation; and
(c) is provided to the individual or organisation requesting it for the direct
benefit of a particular person or organisation (even though there may be
indirect benefit to the public as a whole).
(2) For the purposes of this section, demand service —
(a) means a service that—
(i) constitutes policing; and
(ii) is provided only on the request of an individual or organisation;
And (iii) is provided to the individual or organisation requesting it and is of
direct benefit to that individual or organisation (even though provision of the service may also be of indirect benefit to the public
as a whole); but
(b) does not include—
(i) the response of the Police to calls for service relating to potential
offending:
(ii)the conduct of criminal investigations:
(iii)the prosecution of criminal offences.”
Under the section titled “Labour Party minority view”:
“…We also heard that the Police budget since 2010 has in real terms been cut by more than $90 million. Faced with having to do more with less, the Police have been told they can try to bridge the gap by charging for more of their services. The specific service which will be the first to be charged for is police vetting. Government justifies this on the grounds of the private benefit to service users…”
“…This legislation has not been well thought through, is unclear in its application, and unfair in its likely impact. It represents a dangerous new direction and ideology in Police charging for basic services. We [Labour Party] are strongly opposed to it.”
It was good of the Labour Party to remind people who already knew about the funding shortfall, otherwise they would’ve completely forgotten. Busy lives, anti-gay activities, $68.4million of property to look after, dinner parties, you know how it is, people forget stuff. As mentioned earlier by Tautoko Mangō Mata: So the incumbent government cuts police funding, then their core service supporters wail there is not enough funding, and the government agrees, and suggests they start charging charities and community groups, or almost anyone?
Under the section “Green Party minority view”:
“…We are told that the Police Commissioner will have the power to grant waivers or ex-emptions to fees, but nowhere are we told what the criteria or parameters for such consideration might be…”
“The bill specifies that “demand services” do not include the response of Police to calls for service relating to criminal offending; the conduct of criminal investigations; the prosecution of criminal offences. This leaves open to potential charging most other services provided by Police, including crime prevention activities (e.g. in commercial or residential areas, where a “private benefit” might accrue to householders or business owners); education or advisory services to private or public organisations; search and rescue activities; and much else. The Green Party opposes this bill, and recommends that it not proceed.”
So there is ambiguity over who is a private interest or not, although the paper suggests “people who help out in the community” aren’t targeted. However some community organisations who help out are targeted with police vetting fees, like Cancer Society, Salvation Army, Foundation for the Blind etc etc. Unions pickets might also be “private interests” too, but don’t worry, The Police Commissioner can waive fees.
Did I say Commissioner of Police? That’s how it is right now, but section 79D of the new bill has been changed to remove the “Police” from “Police Commissioner”, and will say that simply a “Commissioner” will be in charge of decisions to recover cost. Also, who the costs are recovered from is open to interpretation. If you are part of a group and are deemed to have benefitted as an individual, you incur costs, but also individuals in the group could also incur costs. It’s a nice way to make sure the Commissioner knows where you are, I guess.
Under the section “NZ First Party minority view”:
“Community groups, NGO’s and other community organisations who rely on volunteers and are not well resourced financially may well be prevented from going through the vetting process because of the costs imposed upon them. When that happens, children, women, the elderly and other vulnerable members of our society may well be put at risk due to caregivers and others working with these vulnerable citizens not being vetted…”
and
“…it is the state that requires that all paid and unpaid staff in schools undergo a police check. Paying for the service will increase compliance costs which will have a negative impact on the operational budgets of schools, particularly small schools. New Zealand First does not support this bill…”
So who was on the Committee?
“…Committee process
The Policing (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill was referred to the Law and Order Committee on 4 November 2014. The closing date for submissions was 5 February 2015. We received and considered 132 submissions from interested groups and individuals. Of these, 25 submitters gave oral presentations to the committee. We received advice from the New Zealand Police. The Regulations Review Committee reported to the committee on the powers contained in clause 4.
Committee membership:
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (Chairperson) [National Party MP]
Todd Barclay [National MP]
Mahesh Bindra [NZ First MP]
David Clendon [Green party MP]
Kelvin Davis [Labour MP]
Hon Phil Goff [Labour MP]
Ian McKelvie [National Party MP]
Lindsay Tisch [National Party member, assistant speaker of the house]
Jonathan Young [National MP]”
So, no way that was going to end by not being recommended. So who do we pay to tender for Police services? We pay a newly made bank account:
“Departmental bank account.
We recommend that new subsection 79F(2) be amended by deleting “a Crown Bank Account” and substituting “ a Departmental Bank Account”. The activities for which Police will be seeking to recover costs are all departmental, and the fees or charges
will need to be available to meet the costs of providing the services…”.
Readily available cash required, to fund the police doing something you want. Sounds familiar.
Thanks about this horrid policing law.
It is another example of National using its time in government to withdraw from their job of providing services, ensuring healthy business activity, advancing opportunities for increased wellbeing and stability in the country. What do they do – destroy the public systems of the country, destroy the diverse economy, and diminish the value of a universal government, and turn it into a grace and favour arrangement, like the owners of islands in Britain who probably establish rules for the people who are tenants to them.
We voted these so and sos in with the help of lacklustre Labour too concreted in their individualistic superiority to utilise sharp political ploys and maneouvring. We might have lost still but even if like some NZ sports teams, playing well but falling away at the end, we would have put up a decent showing with feelings of pride instead of this sadness and fear that Labour has lost its mojo irretrievably.
It is odd, isn’t it. I’m all for central government being as small as practical, and not poking their noses into people’s private lives, for example, except to assist wider freedoms/correct economic imbalances, but when our current crowd thinks of “small government” it means to take the same amount of funding from the public, but neglect their core duty, and remove themselves from assisting anything close to personal freedoms and instead abdicate power to control the population to private interests. Same funding, lower out-going costs. As you say: they’re just Corporate Robber Barons.
@Charles
We see the Beehive, we have elections. we get bullied to pay our taxes, we have information gathering, statistics supplying Treasury, advice from deep thinkers with deep pockets at the OECD, it’s all for a good purpose we have been told and believe but what do we get?
Bette Midler gives us the message – Is that all there is, then let’s keep dancing.
Put the usual youtube prefix.
com/watch?v=Fpn_xu81ySo
Mihingarangi Forbes’ last programme , Native Affairs, was on Maori TV last night.
Flavell, Turia, Peters and Mahuta were present.
In spite of being invited, no buggers from the disgraceful National, ACT or UF bothered to show their face or had the intellectual fortitude or guts to turn up to face some very important questions! Useless pricks that do not deserve to be in parliament as people’s representatives.
Who told D. Shearer to make the price comparison between milk and Coke? The former leader is ridiculing himself and Labour. He should keep his mouth shut, or is he playing dirty again?
[we’re used to a higher standard of trolling here, Cp. Lift your game or, even better, talk to the issues in the poverty post. TRP]
Yet more bad news for those gleefully anticipating the end of newspapers – The Herald’s taking its subbery back in-house.
At present it’s outsourced to an outfit called Pagemasters, and Gavin Ellis on Nine to Noon today admits he got it wrong earlier, by predicting the next step would be sending the subbing to Vietnam!
So this is significant given the expected trajectory was very different.
What a waste of time – so many lives disrupted by this nonsense. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201760464/media-commentator,-gavin-ellis
The NZ Transport Agency has announced details of a $4.2 billion, three-year programme to improve Auckland’s transport system.
Regional director Ernst Zöllner says investment for 2015-18 includes $1.175b for public transport, $960 million to maintain state highways, and $91m to improve cycling and walking.
– more to come
Given those figures I’m guessing that means about $2.2 billion dollars on more fucken roads which is going to increase congestion and thus make Aucklands’ transport problems even worse.
Decades of building more roads only to get more congestion and they haven’t learned a dammed thing.
Rumours abounding that Ron Mark is trying to roll Tracey Martin for NZ First’s deputy leader position. I’d say that would be a backward step for the prospects of a progressive coalition Government next election.
What the left really need to consider when it comes to Winston Peters is that he really, really, really likes the baubles of office so what can the Left offer Winston (who has also said his preference is to support the largest party) vs what the Right can offer
Ambassador maybe but really what Winston wants the most is (imho of course) a title, the Right can offer him the title of Sir Winston Peters
Can anyone here really say, hand on heart, that Winston doesn’t want a knighthood?
The stark difference between Labour and National is on display in the public arena in respect of Saturdays super rugby final.
Little says the government should put a halt to scalping (tickets now selling for $500) by utilising legislation already in place to declare the event one of national significance.
National are downplaying the event and refuse to utilise the legislation
Individual greed and profiteering at the expense of fairness and the collective good.
Otago University academics advocating a teen or pre-teen (age hasn’t been specified) long-acting contraception programme, on an opt-out basis.
A rather bizarre suggestion. For one thing, it would increase STI rates.
“For a programme to be effective you need to get as many people involved as possible and an opt-out programme seems to be more effective. You still get the right to say no and in terms of justice it treats everybody the same.”
Otago University academics advocating a teen or pre-teen (age hasn’t been specified) long-acting contraception programme, on an opt-out basis.
A rather bizarre suggestion. For one thing, it would increase STI rates.
Gosh, sounds like an argument by the Catholic Church.
My argument is based on health effects, unintended consequences, resource use, and academic myopia, none of which relate to the misogynist dogma of the Catholic Church.
Increased use of contraception by teenagers will increase STI rates.
The Catholic Church would likely approve of that statement IMO. They would probably also approve of your statement that the scientific evidence backs the position, too.
I just see many Catholics, struggling, stressed and having it as hard as everyone else. It’s just painful to read these comments – not offencive, just painful.
I just wish I could write up more things here on standard which I’m doing, but I have to keep confidentiality. And in many cases, people have just given up.
There is a reason I loath the Tory scum, and hate when people who oppose them get stuck into side track arguments.
It’s also why I give the labour party a hard time – I don’t dislike the activists. Thanks Lynn for bashing me on the head with that one, you were right. I just see a dysfunctional parliamentary wing, tethered to a structure which no matter what the activist do – enforces the labour party to stop being the ally to working people. Bureaucracy and Structures, are those villainous things, we would do well to destroy every now and then.
So again, back to painful I suppose, and being tired. Just one of those days – I get to see people get hammered, and then there is bugger all I can do. And in many cases faith is all people have left, and it gets them out of bed the next day. When they would otherwise give up.
I just see it as I another point the left fail at – respecting diversity. The nice words are there, but sometimes the other words slip in. I know you have copped some of that Colonial Rawshark, same as Stephanie Rodgers, and so have others.
What I don’t understand why people can’t see that their freedom relies on respecting other people’s freedom. That their liberty is the liberty they must offer everyone else, and that through togetherness – we do get a better society.
colonial viper is nuanced on religion. so he’s maybe some times bashing, other times supportive.
if i were you i’d try not to bother being negative about negativity. christians are better off doing the work of jesus than wasting their precious time worrying about what the liberals are waffling on about. and they’re so miseducated/callous they wouldn’t be able to take in what you were on about anyway.
on the other hand, christians are getting their arses kicked in an arm-long list of countries, and it’d be kind of lovely if “‘liberal’ ‘democracies'” were as jumpy about that stuff as they were about gay rights. maybe if christians HAD done a bunch of screaming and shouting over the past 30 years in these countries, then the christians in those countries would enjoy more attention from the governments of these countries.
it’s good you’re speaking up, in a way, cos it shows you care and you’re tired, like i am, of the unceasing, generations-long drone of put-downs. i’d say strategically, it’d be better to organically connect your christian work (orphanages/foodbanky stuff etc) with your vocal opposition to christian bashing. some liberals out there might have reasonably functioning consciences and might might have their horizons expanded by what you’re saying. i fear that simply speaking out on fora like this is insufficiently christoform.
Unusual that academics would take that line, because I am pretty sure that safe sex advocates in NZ do not endorse chemical contraception in isolation, for the very reason you say – possible increase in STI through youngins thinking that contraception keeps them safe from disease. Then I read the reasoning in the article. Turns out it’s a “Solo mums cost too much” kind of research thing. Oh Herald, when will you disappear behind a paywall?
Unusual that academics would take that line, because I am pretty sure that safe sex advocates in NZ do not endorse chemical contraception in isolation,
I didn’t see the academics taking that line either.
Turns out it’s a “Solo mums cost too much” kind of research thing.
Well, I suppose that the academics could be RWNJs but, then, they do have a point or two. Young solo mothers do cost and their offspring don’t do as well but I think that the solution to those is actually to have a better society rather than one that punishes people.
Other than that, I’m in favour of freely available contraceptives and better sex education.
What was the item on today’s news about the attempt to roll the Deputy Leader of NZ First Tracey Martin. It also seemed to suggest that the Ron Mark had something to do with it.
Any ides what is happening. I was under the impression that Martin was the only sensible person in the NZF and a possible contender to replace Winston. Maybe that is the problem
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A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
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 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, 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. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
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http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11473094
Key has a let them eat cake moment
“but said if that argument was about price then water was free from the tap”
The less milk people drink, the better.
I note the media focus last night on Prime and in the headlines on stuff and herald, regarding Greece, is the impact it is having on our and world sharemarkets and currencies. Quite a simple way to show people what the MSM sees as our priorities,
I hope the Greeks reject paying back the loan sharks. Germany can suck it up their economy is robust enough to handle it. Sharemarket panic attacks Is typical of the greedy investors. It is good news for China to counter the effects of the looming TPPA agreement which has seen their sharemarket drop 20% in the last 6 months.
Yep. So do I. It’s necessary to try and bring the banksters to heel.
More on HT (herbicide tolerant) swedes following on from studies into the reason for cow deaths after feeding on them last winter.
30 June 2015 – http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/69788509/more-research-still-needed-for-ht-swederelated-deaths
Although some farmers were severely affected by ill stock last spring, the total number represented a small proportion of farmers that sowed HT swedes and other swede varieties in the south, he said. (General Manager of PGG Wrightson Seeds).
“It was a very, very difficult scenario last spring … we were aware people had used the [HT swedes] the previous three years and had no issues whatsoever.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/67524880/toxins-killed-southland-cows-ministry-says.html
It would be wise if farmers used the other swede varieties, if they are the good ‘husbands’ of the land they are always citing.
June 9 2015 – http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/69224494/dairynz-use-caution-with-ht-swedes-and-fodder-beet
Southland farmers are being urged to be cautious transitioning dairy cows onto crops after reports of cows again becoming ill and dying after eating HT swedes.
This follows the deaths of about 300 ewes and at least 200 Southland dairy cows last year after feeding on crops including HT [herbicide tolerant] swedes, with hundreds more becoming ill.
(What about us? When we eat swedes or drink milk in the belief that it is healthy and good for us, there must be something that is left that goes through our bodies. And it is unnecessary to use HT except that it can offer bigger crops. But it distorts the natural features of the vegetables and the soil they are in. Would bees visit the flowers, they should be able to utilise healthy crops for their needs?
grey, who supplied the swedes tot he farmers? Do you know if agrisearch has done a report/study?
This is a silly comment. Obviously something had changed. But they are talking like nothing had changed. And of course, they don’t know that but also seem singularly disinterested.
@Tracey
I keep seeing PGG Wrightson come up in the news as suppliers. I did some looking up when I wrote earlier about what has been done in research. Havn’t time to search now. I think one of the links I put says they are still looking into it. But I would expect that it might be hard to get accuracy about how much herbicide has been put on, as it would be in the interests of the farmer to fudge, and give a lower than the actual level. And it also depends on whether conditions as to how much of whatever stays in the leafy tops. All quite unsatisfactory really. To say the least.
And I think that a well-known seed company also sold the seed that was contaminated with some nasty unwanted grass weed, which spilled out here and there along the road as it was being transported back to the company after the contamination was found. Such companies probably have on their logo that they have been serving the nation since the year dot. Who knows how many of our pests and problems they have wittingly introduced.
PGG Wrightson is largely owned by the Chinese I think…51%
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10875679
Thanks Chooky. That piece about the Chinese is very interesting and raises many questions.
This is a basic.
Agria [Seeds] holds 51 per cent of the iconic New Zealand rural services firm.
It initially bought into PGG Wrightson when the debt-ridden company was caught short after the global financial crisis.
1 If companies buy up or into other companies on a leveraged basis and there is a downturn in the market, then their ability to pay for their new investment out of revenue. drops like a stone and leaves them vulnerable needing input. I wonder if that is why PGG-W was debt-ridden. This area of business has always been fairly solid, dependable and profitable surely.
2 The proposed new giant company wants to compete with Monsanto and others. Giant companies fighting each other to have the newest most productive vital crop seed, that can gain dominance so that it lays its own GE profile on all other pollen? And probably using Monsanto measures of suing for wrongful use of intellectual property used against any farmers whose produce shows patented gene evidence, whether inadvertent or not.
Will it mean we will have this GE regime forced on us inevitably, with pollen blown by wind. Will we lose any chance of holding onto healthy, sustainable, earth-nurturing measures.?
The Chinese have big plans.
Lai shared his vision for the seeds business at an interview in Auckland. “In three years we could be in the top 10 seeds companies in the world . That is our vision. In 10 years we want to be US$10 billion turnover.”
3 What effect will this have.
But it’s not just all about selling grass (pasture) seeds. PGG Wrightson Seeds is strong in forage.
And with China rapidly building huge mega-dairy farms (Lai knows of at least 40 with more than 10,000 cows on each farm), he believes there is a big opportunity to grow forage in China to cut-and-carry to the animals….
Now 95 per cent of the modern dairy farms in China are buying forage from overseas….
PGG Wrightson Seeds is spearheading a Primary Growth Partnership programme with Grasslanz Technology Limited to deliver innovative forages for New Zealand farms.
The full programme is valued at $14.6 million, with PGP funding contributing $7.15 million over six years.
The company says the Seed and Nutritional Technology Development programme aims to develop new technologies that improve animal productivity and animal health, while overcoming adverse environmental impacts….
Lai said Agria was prepared to adjust the 51 per cent (in the PGG Wrightson Seeds business) to bring more benefit back to the New Zealand firm. He notes the New Zealand side is relatively quite large (it has operations in New Zealand, Australia and Latin America). China Seeds is smaller but has sported 50-60 per cent annual growth in the later three years with profit growing at 30 per cent – a “few million US dollars’ profit”.
That’s giant growth for China Seeds, they must dominate our NZ company whether they adjust the shareholding. And our milk production industry swamped by Chinese production. What will we grow, GE seeds for the world? China will be able to grow their own forage. Once the science and method is established there won’t be much else to do.
At present the government is cutting down on pure science, and I have heard it is directing investments to areas such as agriculture. Yet that would limit our growth as a supposedly developed nation with diverse exports. As for national production of our non-agricultural goods and the jobs we hope for and a living wage and life at middle class level? Who knows, but we haven’t done well so far.
I’ve been thinking recently about the implications of GE stuff under the TPP when this government forces it on us. Surely Monsanto and others can sue us for not allowing their seeds etc into our market?
@Tracey
I reckon. Corporates don’t like it if people start asserting themselves and ask annoying questions about product.
And it has been pointed out that they are faceless entities. They are great armies of mercenaries pillaging the countries they reside in or pass through. There is no one person or family at the top, no human running the show with his or her own vision, they are a man-made machine, an entity that has been produced from within our culture and morphed over and over run on a mathematical paradigm of profit and numeral manipulation.
Jeez must stop letting thoughts get into my head. Thinking drives you mad I have heard.
This Qatar? business is an early example of how we can be jerked into line and elbowed into action for doing what we think is the correct and moral thing.
+100 greywarshark….seems like this needs a full post….maybe you or the Greens?
+100 greywarshark ….thanks for the investigative journalism and keeping us up to date on this mysterious case of the cow killing swedes
( personally i never buy swedes anymore, especially Southland swedes !)
Something we don’t hear from the ‘taxpayers union”
Auckland’s privatised rail operations costs $70m per year more than Wellington’s (for a similar numbers of passengers carried). In contrast to Auckland, where the train services are managed by the French company Transdev, Wellington’s operation is public sector. Run by state-owned KiwiRail. – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/30/guest-blog-mike-lee-that-budget-and-why-i-voted-for-it/#comment-291410
Oh yes privatisation is so efficient, NOT.
Where is the media on this, NOT something Granny herald wants to report, only the $1200 ‘party’ from councillors. The blogs need to call this constant mis reporting out!
Sweating the small stuff from elected councillors and letting the private companies like law firms and off shore transport companies get away with taking millions from ratepayers.
So guess what, Wgton Regional Council is currently assessing tenders from three preferred private companies, one of which will take over the running of Wgton’s train services next year.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11380019
http://www.gw.govt.nz/short-list-finalised-for-rail-contract/
(the last paragraph in the Herald story is nonsense, Wgton’s commuter trains have been electric since forever, they’re just replacing all the trains with new ones and upgrading the infrastructure).
Thanks for this Save…
Dylann Roof’s massacre of black churchgoers in Charleston has reminded the world of the legacy of the Confederacy and slavery. But what about the slavery that flourished in the 19th century Pacific, thanks partly to the influence of displaced Confederates?
http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/savage-garbage-gatherers-new-zealand.html
Reposting this topic, plus further summary aspects, originally posted by Tautoko Mangō Mata last night in Daily review. It’s important people know.
Some interesting excerpts from the recommendation to allow Police to charge people for their services. Some are awfully suggestive. From the recommended new bill:
“The Law and Order Committee has examined the Policing (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill and recommends, by majority, that it be passed with the amendments shown…”
They say it was a majority, but it was never not going to be one. A majority of one.
“79B Policing services that may be subject to cost recovery
(1)The Minister may recommend a regulation under section 102A only if the Minister is satisfied that the policing service in question is a demand service.
(2)For the purposes of this section, demand servicemeans a service that
—
(a) constitutes policing; and
(b) is provided only on the request of an individual or organisation; and
(c) is provided to the individual or organisation requesting it for the direct
benefit of a particular person or organisation (even though there may be
indirect benefit to the public as a whole).
(2) For the purposes of this section, demand service —
(a) means a service that—
(i) constitutes policing; and
(ii) is provided only on the request of an individual or organisation;
And (iii) is provided to the individual or organisation requesting it and is of
direct benefit to that individual or organisation (even though provision of the service may also be of indirect benefit to the public
as a whole); but
(b) does not include—
(i) the response of the Police to calls for service relating to potential
offending:
(ii)the conduct of criminal investigations:
(iii)the prosecution of criminal offences.”
Under the section titled “Labour Party minority view”:
“…We also heard that the Police budget since 2010 has in real terms been cut by more than $90 million. Faced with having to do more with less, the Police have been told they can try to bridge the gap by charging for more of their services. The specific service which will be the first to be charged for is police vetting. Government justifies this on the grounds of the private benefit to service users…”
“…This legislation has not been well thought through, is unclear in its application, and unfair in its likely impact. It represents a dangerous new direction and ideology in Police charging for basic services. We [Labour Party] are strongly opposed to it.”
It was good of the Labour Party to remind people who already knew about the funding shortfall, otherwise they would’ve completely forgotten. Busy lives, anti-gay activities, $68.4million of property to look after, dinner parties, you know how it is, people forget stuff. As mentioned earlier by Tautoko Mangō Mata: So the incumbent government cuts police funding, then their core service supporters wail there is not enough funding, and the government agrees, and suggests they start charging charities and community groups, or almost anyone?
Under the section “Green Party minority view”:
“…We are told that the Police Commissioner will have the power to grant waivers or ex-emptions to fees, but nowhere are we told what the criteria or parameters for such consideration might be…”
“The bill specifies that “demand services” do not include the response of Police to calls for service relating to criminal offending; the conduct of criminal investigations; the prosecution of criminal offences. This leaves open to potential charging most other services provided by Police, including crime prevention activities (e.g. in commercial or residential areas, where a “private benefit” might accrue to householders or business owners); education or advisory services to private or public organisations; search and rescue activities; and much else. The Green Party opposes this bill, and recommends that it not proceed.”
So there is ambiguity over who is a private interest or not, although the paper suggests “people who help out in the community” aren’t targeted. However some community organisations who help out are targeted with police vetting fees, like Cancer Society, Salvation Army, Foundation for the Blind etc etc. Unions pickets might also be “private interests” too, but don’t worry, The Police Commissioner can waive fees.
Did I say Commissioner of Police? That’s how it is right now, but section 79D of the new bill has been changed to remove the “Police” from “Police Commissioner”, and will say that simply a “Commissioner” will be in charge of decisions to recover cost. Also, who the costs are recovered from is open to interpretation. If you are part of a group and are deemed to have benefitted as an individual, you incur costs, but also individuals in the group could also incur costs. It’s a nice way to make sure the Commissioner knows where you are, I guess.
Under the section “NZ First Party minority view”:
“Community groups, NGO’s and other community organisations who rely on volunteers and are not well resourced financially may well be prevented from going through the vetting process because of the costs imposed upon them. When that happens, children, women, the elderly and other vulnerable members of our society may well be put at risk due to caregivers and others working with these vulnerable citizens not being vetted…”
and
“…it is the state that requires that all paid and unpaid staff in schools undergo a police check. Paying for the service will increase compliance costs which will have a negative impact on the operational budgets of schools, particularly small schools. New Zealand First does not support this bill…”
So who was on the Committee?
“…Committee process
The Policing (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill was referred to the Law and Order Committee on 4 November 2014. The closing date for submissions was 5 February 2015. We received and considered 132 submissions from interested groups and individuals. Of these, 25 submitters gave oral presentations to the committee. We received advice from the New Zealand Police. The Regulations Review Committee reported to the committee on the powers contained in clause 4.
Committee membership:
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (Chairperson) [National Party MP]
Todd Barclay [National MP]
Mahesh Bindra [NZ First MP]
David Clendon [Green party MP]
Kelvin Davis [Labour MP]
Hon Phil Goff [Labour MP]
Ian McKelvie [National Party MP]
Lindsay Tisch [National Party member, assistant speaker of the house]
Jonathan Young [National MP]”
So, no way that was going to end by not being recommended. So who do we pay to tender for Police services? We pay a newly made bank account:
“Departmental bank account.
We recommend that new subsection 79F(2) be amended by deleting “a Crown Bank Account” and substituting “ a Departmental Bank Account”. The activities for which Police will be seeking to recover costs are all departmental, and the fees or charges
will need to be available to meet the costs of providing the services…”.
Readily available cash required, to fund the police doing something you want. Sounds familiar.
Thanks about this horrid policing law.
It is another example of National using its time in government to withdraw from their job of providing services, ensuring healthy business activity, advancing opportunities for increased wellbeing and stability in the country. What do they do – destroy the public systems of the country, destroy the diverse economy, and diminish the value of a universal government, and turn it into a grace and favour arrangement, like the owners of islands in Britain who probably establish rules for the people who are tenants to them.
We voted these so and sos in with the help of lacklustre Labour too concreted in their individualistic superiority to utilise sharp political ploys and maneouvring. We might have lost still but even if like some NZ sports teams, playing well but falling away at the end, we would have put up a decent showing with feelings of pride instead of this sadness and fear that Labour has lost its mojo irretrievably.
It is odd, isn’t it. I’m all for central government being as small as practical, and not poking their noses into people’s private lives, for example, except to assist wider freedoms/correct economic imbalances, but when our current crowd thinks of “small government” it means to take the same amount of funding from the public, but neglect their core duty, and remove themselves from assisting anything close to personal freedoms and instead abdicate power to control the population to private interests. Same funding, lower out-going costs. As you say: they’re just Corporate Robber Barons.
@Charles
We see the Beehive, we have elections. we get bullied to pay our taxes, we have information gathering, statistics supplying Treasury, advice from deep thinkers with deep pockets at the OECD, it’s all for a good purpose we have been told and believe but what do we get?
Bette Midler gives us the message – Is that all there is, then let’s keep dancing.
Put the usual youtube prefix.
com/watch?v=Fpn_xu81ySo
That would open up the space for private police forces. How much longer will it be before corporations have standing armies?
Mihingarangi Forbes’ last programme , Native Affairs, was on Maori TV last night.
Flavell, Turia, Peters and Mahuta were present.
In spite of being invited, no buggers from the disgraceful National, ACT or UF bothered to show their face or had the intellectual fortitude or guts to turn up to face some very important questions! Useless pricks that do not deserve to be in parliament as people’s representatives.
The video clips are here if you are interested:
http://thestandard.org.nz/watch-native-affairs-tonight/#comment-1036572
Winter’s nice…
~ 2500 people dead in India’s recent heatwave.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Indian_heat_wave#Affected_areas
~ 1300 dead so far in Pakistan’s current heatwave.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistan-heatwave-claims-26-more-toll-nears-1300/articleshow/47853754.cms
Spain and Portugal issuing health alerts as temperatures exceed 40 degrees C.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33316985
Then there’s Canada and the US…
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/records-broken-heatwave-hits-northwest-150629104554904.html
Is Milk Bad for You? Diabetes and Milk.
I don’t know. Don’t know what to believe either!
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/is-milk-bad-for-you-diabetes-and-milk/
Who told D. Shearer to make the price comparison between milk and Coke? The former leader is ridiculing himself and Labour. He should keep his mouth shut, or is he playing dirty again?
[we’re used to a higher standard of trolling here, Cp. Lift your game or, even better, talk to the issues in the poverty post. TRP]
I know it’s a link to advertising/marketing – but it’s a good link well worth looking at.
Plus I think Mr Sanders has made a very clever use of colour.
https://store.berniesanders.com/collections/all?sort_by=best-selling&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Bernie2016&utm_campaign=store_150629_3&utm_content=Bernie_shirt
Yet more bad news for those gleefully anticipating the end of newspapers – The Herald’s taking its subbery back in-house.
At present it’s outsourced to an outfit called Pagemasters, and Gavin Ellis on Nine to Noon today admits he got it wrong earlier, by predicting the next step would be sending the subbing to Vietnam!
So this is significant given the expected trajectory was very different.
What a waste of time – so many lives disrupted by this nonsense.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201760464/media-commentator,-gavin-ellis
$4.2b plan to improve Auckland transport
Given those figures I’m guessing that means about $2.2 billion dollars on more fucken roads which is going to increase congestion and thus make Aucklands’ transport problems even worse.
Decades of building more roads only to get more congestion and they haven’t learned a dammed thing.
Rumours abounding that Ron Mark is trying to roll Tracey Martin for NZ First’s deputy leader position. I’d say that would be a backward step for the prospects of a progressive coalition Government next election.
What the left really need to consider when it comes to Winston Peters is that he really, really, really likes the baubles of office so what can the Left offer Winston (who has also said his preference is to support the largest party) vs what the Right can offer
Ambassador maybe but really what Winston wants the most is (imho of course) a title, the Right can offer him the title of Sir Winston Peters
Can anyone here really say, hand on heart, that Winston doesn’t want a knighthood?
I thought it odd that Ron Mark would roll Tracey Martin. I thought Tracey was doing a great job connecting to people. Were as Ron, not so much.
Interesting to see if NZ could survive post Winston.
The stark difference between Labour and National is on display in the public arena in respect of Saturdays super rugby final.
Little says the government should put a halt to scalping (tickets now selling for $500) by utilising legislation already in place to declare the event one of national significance.
National are downplaying the event and refuse to utilise the legislation
Individual greed and profiteering at the expense of fairness and the collective good.
Its not of national significance (but go Highlanders anyway)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11473471
Otago University academics advocating a teen or pre-teen (age hasn’t been specified) long-acting contraception programme, on an opt-out basis.
A rather bizarre suggestion. For one thing, it would increase STI rates.
“For a programme to be effective you need to get as many people involved as possible and an opt-out programme seems to be more effective. You still get the right to say no and in terms of justice it treats everybody the same.”
Gosh, sounds like an argument by the Catholic Church.
My argument is based on health effects, unintended consequences, resource use, and academic myopia, none of which relate to the misogynist dogma of the Catholic Church.
Increased use of contraception by teenagers will increase STI rates.
The Catholic Church would likely approve of that statement IMO. They would probably also approve of your statement that the scientific evidence backs the position, too.
Joy, more Catholic bashing.
Anymore prejudices you’d like to get out in the open?
Feel free, because you know I really enjoying reading twatish posts, here on the standard.
I’m not Catholic bashing, mate, and I apologise if I have offended you Adam.
I’m not offended Colonial Rawshark, just tired.
I just see many Catholics, struggling, stressed and having it as hard as everyone else. It’s just painful to read these comments – not offencive, just painful.
I just wish I could write up more things here on standard which I’m doing, but I have to keep confidentiality. And in many cases, people have just given up.
There is a reason I loath the Tory scum, and hate when people who oppose them get stuck into side track arguments.
It’s also why I give the labour party a hard time – I don’t dislike the activists. Thanks Lynn for bashing me on the head with that one, you were right. I just see a dysfunctional parliamentary wing, tethered to a structure which no matter what the activist do – enforces the labour party to stop being the ally to working people. Bureaucracy and Structures, are those villainous things, we would do well to destroy every now and then.
So again, back to painful I suppose, and being tired. Just one of those days – I get to see people get hammered, and then there is bugger all I can do. And in many cases faith is all people have left, and it gets them out of bed the next day. When they would otherwise give up.
I just see it as I another point the left fail at – respecting diversity. The nice words are there, but sometimes the other words slip in. I know you have copped some of that Colonial Rawshark, same as Stephanie Rodgers, and so have others.
What I don’t understand why people can’t see that their freedom relies on respecting other people’s freedom. That their liberty is the liberty they must offer everyone else, and that through togetherness – we do get a better society.
colonial viper is nuanced on religion. so he’s maybe some times bashing, other times supportive.
if i were you i’d try not to bother being negative about negativity. christians are better off doing the work of jesus than wasting their precious time worrying about what the liberals are waffling on about. and they’re so miseducated/callous they wouldn’t be able to take in what you were on about anyway.
on the other hand, christians are getting their arses kicked in an arm-long list of countries, and it’d be kind of lovely if “‘liberal’ ‘democracies'” were as jumpy about that stuff as they were about gay rights. maybe if christians HAD done a bunch of screaming and shouting over the past 30 years in these countries, then the christians in those countries would enjoy more attention from the governments of these countries.
it’s good you’re speaking up, in a way, cos it shows you care and you’re tired, like i am, of the unceasing, generations-long drone of put-downs. i’d say strategically, it’d be better to organically connect your christian work (orphanages/foodbanky stuff etc) with your vocal opposition to christian bashing. some liberals out there might have reasonably functioning consciences and might might have their horizons expanded by what you’re saying. i fear that simply speaking out on fora like this is insufficiently christoform.
Unusual that academics would take that line, because I am pretty sure that safe sex advocates in NZ do not endorse chemical contraception in isolation, for the very reason you say – possible increase in STI through youngins thinking that contraception keeps them safe from disease. Then I read the reasoning in the article. Turns out it’s a “Solo mums cost too much” kind of research thing. Oh Herald, when will you disappear behind a paywall?
What? Isn’t the story just quoting the academics?
Here’s the press release: http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago113426.html
I didn’t see the academics taking that line either.
Well, I suppose that the academics could be RWNJs but, then, they do have a point or two. Young solo mothers do cost and their offspring don’t do as well but I think that the solution to those is actually to have a better society rather than one that punishes people.
Other than that, I’m in favour of freely available contraceptives and better sex education.
What was the item on today’s news about the attempt to roll the Deputy Leader of NZ First Tracey Martin. It also seemed to suggest that the Ron Mark had something to do with it.
Any ides what is happening. I was under the impression that Martin was the only sensible person in the NZF and a possible contender to replace Winston. Maybe that is the problem
Whoops just noticed that TPR has already asked the question a bit further up