My best wishes to all in the North. Been through fires and floods so have some idea of our need for communal, kindly and timely responses. My vege gardens help stave off famines…….. possibly a reason why my ancestors came to NZ, that land of school milk and honey, meat and three vegs.
Anyone who has any opinion on gender identity and trans politics, needs to read this thread. This is not an outlier, there are many people, men and women, in Ritchie's situation. Some people have medical/surgical transition, it works (to the extent it can) and they're happy. Others end up with lifelong impairment, pain, depression.
The left in its No Debate position has marginalised and tried to render invisible the latter group. Detrans people struggle to get the medical care they are now dependent on, pro-transition doctors and medical systems either ignore them or don't know what to do. It's a massive medical scandal happening on the left's watch.
Ritchie is a man who transitioned medically and surgically, then later regretted this and is trying to find a way to live with his intensely altered body and biochemistry. Please read the whole thread,
When Police released their consultation document on the proposed increased gun licence and other related fees, gun owners were quick to realise they provided no explanation as to how the new fees were derived.
An Official Information Act (OIA) requesting that this information be provided, so that they could assess whether the new fees were fair and reasonable
With only just three weeks remaining of the consultation period they have received a reply from Police refusing the request.
The reason given for the refusal is that the Police will be making this information publicly available in the future.
"In the next few weeks, as part of the consultation on options for changes in firearmslicence fees, Police will be proactively releasing information on the costing methodology used, and the breakdown of how various options for the licence fees have been calculated. This will cover the information that you have sought in your request."
Too late no doubt to influence submissions on these exorbitant fee increases, which close on 16 February.
How can this consultation be described as meaningful, when vital data is held back to the last minute.
Also
New PM Hipkins is making noise about both inflation and cost of living.
The more seen of the 'inflation'/'cost of living' approach to the new fees resonates as a viable parallel consideration.
The questions to be asked are
1) are these massive fee increases wildly inflationary?
2) How do they affect the cost of living of the people that Police propose to inflicted these increased fees upon upon
3) Is this Government Policy or are Police out of control?
Bluntly: Does the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister support these punitive fee increases?
seems cheap. my sport of choice asks $350 a yr for license, and it isnt dangerous for users or non-users.nobody has ever stolen my sports equipment for criminal purposes, and my sporting equipment doesnt effect my insurance premiums, or need to be locked away.. what are they whinging about?never thought that gun lovers would sound like entitled snow flakes, hah!
Surely if the cost of a licence has not been increased for 20 years some increase is necessary.
Many of us have hobbies. The membership costs look very different when multiplied by five. One of my hobbies costs $75.00pa. When you multiply it by 5 you get $375.00. I belong to a food 'circle' costing $12.00 pw $624pa.
And we don't work with a potential deadly weapon where there are reguistration costs that involve scrutinising bona fides.
While it is an argument that to increase the costs of a licence may drive shooters underground perhaps this has been overstated? In my studies of criminology I don't think that fees increases is a precursor to becoming a criminal. I think the die is cast by other things.
Wouldn't gun licensing authorities investigate to see why a licence has not been renewed?
Perhaps one way of doing it could be to allow time period of 2 years, 3 year 5 years and 10 years.
The 2 & 3 year licences could be a proportion of the 5 year licence but not a straight mathematical division as costs lessen per annum with a longer term.
$500 for five years sounds reasonable to be honest but its too steep, and for many it will be, perhaps allow annual licences ie $100 a year.
Although I'm still angry with Helen Clarks government for increasing the price of passports and decreasing the length they were eligible. That's was gross revenue gathering at it's worst.
Police have now released some documents which show that $727.50 is 75% recovery so the proposed 100% recovery fee is $970.00 as the present fee is $126.50 the proposed 100% recovery increase is 767%
If the present fee is so much different then why have no incremental increases been made in line with inflation as the Canadian fees are? [their fees are limited to that level of increase by legislation] – do we need something similar here?
As a farming person, a firearm is a necessary tool for rabbits and disposing of animals. There is no other pest control, if we don't keep rabbits down, we suffer the consequences. A larger firearms licensing fee would be a (sigh) further farming cost. Could the fee not be scaled somehow so those who have more workaday firearms needs pay less than those with bristling armouries who stalk out after large game animals…?
Tax-deductible expense on the farm, surely? I'd be keen on both gun-owners' registration cost, plus a lower fee per firearm, to discourage weapons stockpiling.
"weapons stockpiling" For goodness sake Police, Army and Criminals have "weapons" Licence holders have sporting equipment.
To fully engage in the large number of shooting sports, with spare firearms to cover breakdowns, from 20 to 40 firearms may be required as each particular practice of the sport requires differing types of firearms. Then there is historical collecting with collections of firearms sometimes numbering in the hundreds. You want to make it prohibitively expensive for sports persons to participate in their chosen sporting pursuits to "discourage weapons stockpiling."?
“Surely if the cost of a licence has not been increased for 20 years some increase is necessary.”
The corollary of that is if it has not been increased for 20 years that is because it has not been necessary.
In 2015 Police set about destroying the Mountain Safety Council volunteer system which had about 500 persons assisting the relicencing/firearms training/vetting procedures at very little cost to Police.
Now there is a huge new empire being built within Police employing 400 plus highly paid persons with a large headquarters building and masses of bureaucrats.
“Wouldn't gun licensing authorities investigate to see why a licence has not been renewed?
Another Police failure when the “lifetime licence” was replaced with a ten year licence in the 1990’s when somewhere near 30,000 licences were not renewed and still to this day not completely followed up. One problem being that a licence person must notify changes of address but as soon a becoming unlicenced this requirement disappears and follow up in our mobile society becomes extremely problematic. At present Police are swamped with Licence reissue with long delays tying up resources so that there is simply not the ability – or will – to follow up those who simply drift away from the Licencing system.
Police cannot cope with 10 year relicencing let alone shorter terms. The first issue of a licence is now for 5 years but that simply adds to the backlog when relicencing arrives.
The Licence fee is just the beginning of the proposed charges Endorsements (pistol club/collector/pest control etc) up to $1,500ish. Range inspections, permission for gun shows, etc. etc. Even more fees of eye watering proportions. Dealer licences (one year term) up to $2,500ish. ALL eventually falling back upon the Licence holder.
The cost of ALL this should be on the Community requesting the regime and that isn’t the Firearms Community. It appears to largely be a box ticking exercise by Police in reaction to their apparent failures prior to the Mosque Shooting.
"The cost of ALL this should be on the Community requesting the regime and that isn’t the Firearms Community."
Why?
It doesn't work that way for car or dog licencing. Why should firearms owners have the cost of fixing the mess, which is mostly the result of their lobbying over decades, inflicted on everyone else.
There is an argument for reduced fees for pest controllers etc that are a community benefit.
Driver’s Licence – required to permit use of vehicle on Public Roads and places accessible to the Public. No Driver’s Licence is required for ownership of vehicles nor for use on Private property. There is no requirement fo ar fit & proper test (other than for public conveyance) Administered by NZTA The fee for a Full Licence (class 2 to 5) is $49.60 with a test fee of $59.90 Total $109.50
A Firearms Licence enables lawful possession of firearms; requires a fit & proper test and firearms are largely used privately and only transported in public. The purpose of the licence is to show fit & proper status for the safety of the Public. It is a public good. The price of a 10-year gun licence could increase from the present $126.50 to $727.50 application fee
The “mess” you speak of has not been made by Firearms Owners lobbying it is almost entirely down to convoluted much amended law and Police administration which creates excessive bureaucratic processes that do not increase public safety in my considered opinion.
Of course it was. the dogs breakfast of ineffective gun laws we had until recently, was entirely the result of firearms owners lobbying for ineffectual gun laws.
The argument for public good applies even more to dog licencing as it is almost entirely paid by 'responsible dog owners' to meet the public cost of strays and irresponsible dog owners. However guns in the hands of 'irresponsible owners' are obtained from, so called 'responsible owners' since individual gun registration was discontinued. Without the gun lobby we would not have our current problem with so many unregistered guns out there, which will take many years to fix.
The present firearms law is even MORE of a dogs breakfast as it is another amendment tacked on top of previous amendments right back to 1983 Arms Act – which BTW cancelled the ineffective 'registration' system which had been in use since 1926. Shotgun registration was abandoned very soon after 1926 as unworkable and impossible – so for the last 90 years shotguns have not been registered and for 40 years rifles have not been recorded either.
The Gun Lobby did not exist then as it sprung in to being with the 1991 Amendments so they had nothing to do with the abandonment of registration.
Registration is no panacea for in Australia only about 20% of firearms have been registered since 1996 – the rest just 'disappeared' on to the Grey market. The lesson has been well and truly taught in New Zealand with the MSSA buy back which was only possible because those firearms were recorded. Indeed one 'gun lobby' now has "Registration leads to confiscation" as its catch cry.
It is an unfortunate fact that Police have lost the trust of many in the firearms community. Even more so with the present proposed escalation of Fees!
Nope – not twenty. Hell! I wuz there … just a disparate group of concerned firearms licence holders till 1990
As to Australia coincidence is not causation. The alternate view is that no one has emerged who wants to kill five or more people with a firearm. The British in testing the single shot Martini found that lining up victims allowed 7 to 11 deaths with ONE shot – depending upon how robust the bodies were (their words).
This tends to indicate that rapid fire is not a prerequisite – how ever horrible that example is – they did do it when testing their new military rifle way back then.
In 1996 Australia implemented arguably the most ambitious gun control effort ever attempted, banning all semiauto rifles and shotguns and all pump-action rifles and shotguns, and buying the banned guns already in circulation. Chapman, Alpers, and Jones (2016) produced what is arguably the most extensive evaluation, concluding that the measure was a success. In fact, their own data indicated that the effort failed to reduce homicides, suicides, or unintentional firearms deaths. It is even questionable whether the effort reduced mass shootings, the problem that had triggered the gun control effort in the first place.
I am a research nut and look as clearly as possible at both sides.
There are plenty of refutations in BOTH directions finding exactly that which the researchers set out to find – the result before the research in many instances with sound bites from that research used in argument. The World is full of nuts of both pro and anti anything.
The manipulation of statistics is an art form and remember: “There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics” — has been attributed to Mark Twain, who himself attributed it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who might never have said it in the first place.
Keep some balance and please do not resort to name calling!
Most licences are for private non-commercial sporting use and voluntary pest control. Over half of pest control is done by itinerant unpaid volunteers. THAT is a public good in and of itself. No costs tax deductible.
The thing is used to be complimentary, it needn't cost. The Mountain Safety Council used to administer it. Plus they ran the firearms courses.
But (scuse me while I struggle up on my hobby horse), what else can you expect from a neo-liberal police force? They can sub-contract the work while clipping the ticket.
There is also an issue of trust. We have to trust who they trust, recently that hasn't been so flash…
Don't think it's much to do with 'neo-liberal' cops. Twenty-five years ago we were a high-trust society with strong community policing.Those community police had time to check out individuals applying for licenses. Each one probably took a half day's work at least, unless the person was well known to the constable. All part of the community policing service, helping to keep an eye out.
Police funding cut-backs, by guess-which governments, drained police out of rural areas and community policing. Meantime, we've had half a million migrants, at least, pour into NZ, many from low-trust societies. Or, very occasionally, with a hidden agenda, as in our own mosque shooter.
Consider the fee as the cost, in real terms, of the previous community police vetting process, when it was fully-funded and working properly. Nothing 'neo-lib', more like bracing 'user-pays'.
The supposed purpose of this bureaucratic nonsense is to promote Public safety for all, as that is the case then the government should pay the lions share from the public purse. The licence holders are NOT the user of this system it has been imposed upon them to promote Public Safety. Indeed bona fide licence holders do not threaten public safety – the criminal missusers of firearms do that!
Numerous associates also have been issued licences AFTER being "rigorously" vetted by Police!
Very few people shoot others in New Zealand – an even smaller number of those can in any way be called fit and proper licence holders. Most of the shootings are gang/drug related. It often takes a great deal of research to find out what licence status the offender was – then mostly NOT licenced.
Will search for links to data to post here much came from a yet unpublished Doctoral Thesis
“An unprecedented Stuff investigation has identified every homicide in New Zealand in the past 15 years, revealing the vast majority of those who kill with guns are unlicensed and their weapon of choice is often a .22 calibre rifle or shotgun.”
“Of the 84 cases where we identified the killer’s licensing status, only 12 were legally permitted to own a gun.” [there were 105 cases over 15 years – so the status of 21 are unknown]
So LESS than one a year attributable to licence firearms owners.
Funny, before the 4th Labour government and their 'reforms' I hadn't heard the term user pays. It's neo-liberal as. As is sub-contracting the work needed to be done.
"The state of emergency in Auckland should have been called earlier", and our Govt shouldn't have taken "a one-size-fits-all approach" – what were they thinking?!!!
National has never renounced Dirty Politics and, until it does, it will not be able to draw a line under the past and move to a more constructive future.
…
Current leader Todd Muller said when he assumed the helm of the party that he was not "interested in opposition for opposition's sake. We're all tired of that kind of politics." Those were laudable words, but in the six weeks since then, Muller has rapidly reverted to Bridges' barking-at-every-passing-car criticism of the government.
…
He [Muller] has also relentlessly criticised the government's pandemic response as "shambolic."
Government’s Covid confusion the new virus variant – Collins
[15 November 2021]
“This is shambolic, incompetent governance by a Government that has never had a backup plan for if, and when, elimination failed."
Luxon says government becoming a ‘version of The Office’
[3 August 2022]
The quip was dropped by the opposition leader across his morning media run today (at least on both RNZ and Newshub), with Luxon also calling the cost of living payment rollout a “joke” and an “utter shambles”.
'A mistake has been made': PM on Three Waters backdown
[5 December 2022]
Luxon, speaking to media from Parliament’s forecourt, described the situation as an “utter shambles” that suggested incompetence on Labour’s behalf.
On and on – like a drain
Perhaps, in the not too distant future, more Kiwis will realise just how lucky they are.
Drowsy, I just got a secret message from someone from the Nats to say that a secret power has offered a prize for the most number times the word 'shambolic/shambles' can be used during the term of a leader of the Opposition.
So far they are hoping that Luxon will lead the pack.
I couldn't catch the name of the person though the word 'speechwriter' was mentioned & the prize seemed to be a word like 'Te Puke' or 'Hawaii' ( you know how those two words sound the same. )
love it. the shambles party is sounding more and more like an echo chamber. like a tv ad that has long outlived its appeal, the cry of "shambles" is only heard by the already converted. "enough is enough" hah!
It's indicative of a form of religious thought language – a godly order out of chaos, and condemnation of any other regime as shameful (shame and guilt etc).
Yes its the main route between the East and West coasts of the peninsula. SH25A is closed for the foreseeable future and travel from one side to the other will mean taking the long way round via SH2 through the Karangahake Gorge.
Depending on where you are heading – if you were travelling from Thames to Whangamata it would be about 20 mins longer – but if going further north it would add at least and hour to the journey
a songbird with glossy black plumage and typically a long forked tail and a crest
1. 2.
RAAF term for a raw recruit. It first appeared in the early 1940s
An Australian racehorse named Drongo, (foaled 1920, retired 1925) never won a race, and by transference anyone slow became a drongo.
The Drongos
Their music includes Leave me Alone and Eye of the Hurricane. They were notably successful on the street corners of New York and developed a club following, including someone from Red Mole.
The new connection between Local Government and Emergency Management (and Rural Communities) – to solidify the connection between water management and community well-being/safety.
Chris Hipkins: Prime Minister, Minister for National Security and Intelligence Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services
Carmel Sepuloni: Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Social Development and Employment Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region)
Kelvin Davis: Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Minister for Children Minister of Corrections Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education)
Grant Robertson: Minister of Finance Minister for Sport and Recreation Leader of the House
Jan Tinetti: Minister of Education Minister for Women Minister for Child Poverty Reduction
Michael Wood: Minister of Immigration Minister of Transport Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Minister for Auckland Associate Minister of Finance
Ayesha Verrall: Minister of Health Minister of Research, Science and Innovation
Willie Jackson: Minister for Broadcasting and Media Minister for Māori Development Associate Minister for ACC Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (Māori Employment)
Kiri Allan: Minister of Justice Minister for Regional Development Associate Minister of Transport
Megan Woods: Minister of Housing Minister for Infrastructure Minister of Energy and Resources Minister for Building and Construction Associate Minister of Finance
Stuart Nash: Minister for Economic Development Minister of Forestry Minister of Police Minister for Oceans and Fisheries
Damien O’Connor: Minister of Agriculture Minister for Biosecurity Minister for Land Information Minister for Trade and Export Growth
Peeni Henare: Minister for ACC Minister of Tourism Associate Minister for the Environment Associate Minister of Health (Māori Health)
Andrew Little: Minister of Defence Minister Responsible for the GCSB Minister Responsible for the NZSIS Minister for the Public Service Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques
David Parker: Attorney-General Minister for the Environment Minister of Revenue Associate Minister of FinanceMinister for Whānau Ora
Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Minister for Disability Issues Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Associate Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
Kieran McAnulty: Minister for Emergency Management Minister of Local Government Minister for Racing Minister for Rural Communities Deputy Leader of the House
Barbara Edmonds: Minister of Internal Affairs Minister for Pacific Peoples Associate Minister of Health (Pacific Peoples) Associate Minister of Housing
Tough break Mahuta. Parker as AG and Environment inherits the 3 Waters legislation.
Also tough break Little for shouldering the Health reforms this far. Verrall takes it to the Promised Land where she will avenge every Wellington health bureaucrat that wronged her.
No succession plan for Robertson, when we know he's leaving.
Wood for Auckland is a natural. Ex Auckland Councillor and wife on local board means they can easily corral that fuck-knuckle mayor.
Congrats to Deborah Russel for getting her own little bunch of portfolios finally. Jesus Parker give Revenue up already!
Nash with Police but no alignment to Justice is silly.
I reckon Robertson will quit after the election. Keep the ship looking stable for one more run. But agree his time is done. A good communicator but hopeless at economics, just another neoliberal corporate lackey. Not the reformer we desperately needed 5 years ago.
Little and Mahuta were way too left-reformist for Hipkins. They have done their dash a- likely wait another term out until some of the younger ministers complete their apprenticeships and then just leave.
Twyford has been Walking Undead since 2019 after getting fucked over by NZSuperfund. and never recovered.
NZSuperfund are now playing both sides of the House using bankers to front their Taranakai offshore wind farm proposals, and proposing that this is a replacement for NZBattery. No one has control of them, no one. They are waiting for Labour to get chucked so they can truly kill NZBattery and show National how private equity ought to run the country.
NZ Battery is not just the Onslow proposal, it is also the look at larger scale alternatives to it (geothermal and hydrogen). There are already a few BESS (Tesla power pack) small scale battery reserve systems.
How would an offshore wind farm replace the development of the capacity to manage a dry hydro year?
Parker as AG and Environment inherits the 3 Waters legislation.
Not the government? Mahuta was lead Minister during its path through parliament. Whatever government now decides, Hipkins will lead the public messaging, with McAnulty (and or Parker?) taking it from there.
My bet is Hipkins and Parker will stall implementation of parts of the Act until after the election, if at all.
Hipkins have a golden opportunity to wait until Auckland Council begs them for storm rebuild funding, and Hipkins says to Mayor Brown: sure thing sign here you will accept this 3 Waters arrangement.
There's also a chance he could strangle the programme at birth by defunding it at Budget.
They could even go to the election proposing to re-do the legislation with one single central state owned entity, with Maori representation on that.
Few expect it to survive other than in diminished form.
A single entity providing expertise (and capital investment) to provincial councils is a possibility – this to give effect to clean water, effective waste and stormwater in the iwi heartlands outside the major settler cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
It would be very helpful to see an old fashioned debate with the Labour Front Bench on one side, and the National Front Bench on the other. Kim Hill as moderator.
The motion being; “That this house believes neoliberalism is dead”
"an independent advisor"…
"acting as a sounding board"…
"providing a fresh perspective"…
"An accomplished businessman and politician"…
"Steven’s experience allows him to provide fresh and objective advice" https://www.rcp.co.nz/people/steven-joyce/
Why isn't this guy in Parliament? The Nats could sure use his 'fresh' advice
On RNZ live feeds there's a permanent link button in the top right corner of each item. Looks kind of like this (-). If you click on that, you can then copy the URL from the main address bar in your browser.
then please cut and paste the time stamp with the quote (and then feed link). eg
Jan 31, 2023 8:49 PM
RNZ Live
Officials work to ensure healthcare access in Coromandel
Coromandel health officials are putting resources in place so patients do not miss out on vital care during the bad weather.
Hauraki Primary Health Organisation chief executive, Taima Campbell, told RNZ she had asked for extra support from Waikato Hospital registrars or specialists, in case local staff need advice.
She said they had also been checking on pregnant women, the elderly, and people isolating with Covid-19 in the Coromandel.
St John has already bolstered the number of ambulance crews in Whitianga and Whangamata, with many roads closed in the region.
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Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
MONDAYSheriff Seymour rode slowly down the main street of Dodge on his faithful white horse Atlas Network.He liked what he saw.Children were being fed free lunches prepared by kind people who collected the scraps from an offal rendering plant.“Very strongly flavoured liver, such as ox liver, can be soaked overnight ...
Once upon a time it was all about being an astronaut, a firefighter or doctor; but these days kids have their sights set on becoming vloggers or YouTubers.That’s according to a 2019 study by Lego that surveyed 3000 children between the ages of eight to 12 from the US, the ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. From the moment I started high school and realised almost every other girl in my year was at least partially interested in what the boys were up to, I realised that I would be single for life. The feeling wasn’t one of ...
The Pacific profiles series shines a light on Pacific people in Aotearoa doing interesting and important work in their communities, as nominated by members of the public. Today, Selina Alesana Alefosio.All photos by Geoffery Matautia.On a bright Sunday morning from her grandparent’s home in Pito-one, I spoke with ...
The White Lotus star reflects on her life in TV, including the local ad reference that doesn’t work in Australia, and her bananas co-star on Neighbours.Morgana O’Reilly was scrolling her phone next to her sleeping son on an idle Saturday morning when she got the call confirming that she ...
Claire Mabey explores the pros and cons of puff quotes on book covers.In January, Publishers Weekly put out an article by Sean Manning – publisher of Simon & Schuster’s flagship US imprint – in which he said he’d “no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books”.The ...
New Zealand’s Entomological Society is hosting its annual bug of the year contest. Here are some of the insects in the running. For some reason – perhaps humans’ inherent competitiveness, the idealisation of democracy, the need to demarcate winners and losers – one of the best ways to get people ...
A journey along the border, with words and illustrations by Bob Kerr.The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous support of our members.The Sunset Limited leaves Union Station New Orleans on time at nine in the morning. We ...
Neville Peat is the 2024 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in nonfiction. He’s written 56 books, mostly on natural history; this excerpt is from The Falcon and the Lark: A New Zealand High Country Journal, first published in 1992. The falcon wintering on the Rock and ...
It was a light-hearted gesture Greta Pilkington will be forever grateful for – thanks to an Aussie rival who jumped in when the Olympic sailor couldn’t be at her own graduation.Pilkington, then 20, had been leading a double life – while qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the ILCA ...
I was born in the back of my grandfather’s ute, by an overgrown windbreak in a remote place called Wahi-Rakauyou can’t find on a map. I was born a girl but given the man’s name Harvey, as my dad always wanted a violent-minded boy to one day help him ...
“We’re not here to interfere in people’s property rights,” Ngāi Tahu’s Te Maire Tau has told the High Court.Tau, a historian, Upoko (traditional leader) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and a university professor of history, is the lead witness in a case designed to force the Crown to recognise the tribe’s rangatiratanga ...
Pacific Media Watch Trump administration officials barred two Associated Press (AP) reporters from covering White House events this week because the US-based independent news agency did not change its style guide to align with the president’s political agenda. The AP is being punished for using the term “Gulf of Mexico,” ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which ...
By bringing these global voices to the fight for free expression in New Zealand, we’ll continue to protect and expand our culture of free speech, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech Union's Events Manager. ...
The issue is no longer a hypothetical one. US President Donald Trump will not explicitly suggest death camps, but he has already consented to Israel’s continuing a war that is not a war but rather a barbaric assault on a desolate stretch of land. From there, the road to annihilation is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cecelia Cmielewski, Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on the northwest coast of Australia and is likely to make landfall early Friday evening. It’s a monster storm of great concern to Western Australia. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University A Victorian government decision to allow dingo culling in the state’s east until 2028 has reignited debate over what has been dubbed Australia’s most controversial animal. Animals Australia, an animal welfare ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more ...
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard eight hours of submissions.Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.It was another work from home day for the Justice Committee, the only people in Room 3 being security guards, committee ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Juris Teivans/Shutterstock In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers ...
In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy.COMMENTARY:By Bernard Keane Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ...
“The reality is we’re getting poorer. The government this year is leaning heavy on chasing economic growth, which is absolutely the right thing to do.” ...
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 The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Granta, $28) Han Kang’s astounding novel was based on an ...
This new docuseries about two single comedians looking for love is also a joyful celebration of female friendship. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. “How many people do you think are boning right now?” Kura Forrester asks Brynley Stent as the bright ...
A new poem by Freya Turnbull. Hunger Song – After Kaveh Akbar (Untitled With Hunger And Matcheads) I hold my age in ripped fishnet hold an empty vessel oldyoung body cracks like gunshot like killa i was a father ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominik Koll, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University View of the Pacific Ocean from the International Space Station.NASA Earth must have experienced something exceptional 10 million years ago. Our study of rock samples from the floor of the Pacific Ocean has found ...
Troy Rawhiti-Connell reviews Kia Tupu Te Ara, a documentary chronicling the meteoric rise of Aotearoa’s groundbreaking metal band. “Two brothers attempt to storm the world of thrash metal with the Māori language, despite the fact they’re both still teenagers,” reads the synopsis of Kent Belcher’s documentary, Kia Tupu Te Ara. ...
Three freelance writers have been awarded grants to work on their ambitious journalism projects. In January, The Spinoff announced the Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund, supported by the Auckland Radio Trust (ART). The fund was established to provide much-needed financial and editorial support to talented freelance journalists, empowering them to ...
I was going to do a post on the reshuffle and redirection. Hopefully someone posts on it.
Still thinking of you, Ad, & hoping things are edging towards water and access for you and others out west.
Water restored, power restored, broadband restored.
Street still fully bisected by slips.
Stay-at-home orders from work.
Harbour Bridge likely to shut soon.
what's happening with the bridge?
RNZ said high winds. Also this. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/01/nz-weather-transport-agency-warns-auckland-harbour-bridge-could-close-as-city-prepares-for-high-winds.html
Fairly standard closure in high winds – ever since the truck toppled and damaged the structure.
But, not closed yet (winds pretty gusty on the Shore, though) – apparantly anticiating greater wind strength from 6pm this evening
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/01/nz-weather-transport-agency-warns-auckland-harbour-bridge-could-close-as-city-prepares-for-high-winds.html
My best wishes to all in the North. Been through fires and floods so have some idea of our need for communal, kindly and timely responses. My vege gardens help stave off famines…….. possibly a reason why my ancestors came to NZ, that land of school milk and honey, meat and three vegs.
Anyone who has any opinion on gender identity and trans politics, needs to read this thread. This is not an outlier, there are many people, men and women, in Ritchie's situation. Some people have medical/surgical transition, it works (to the extent it can) and they're happy. Others end up with lifelong impairment, pain, depression.
The left in its No Debate position has marginalised and tried to render invisible the latter group. Detrans people struggle to get the medical care they are now dependent on, pro-transition doctors and medical systems either ignore them or don't know what to do. It's a massive medical scandal happening on the left's watch.
Ritchie is a man who transitioned medically and surgically, then later regretted this and is trying to find a way to live with his intensely altered body and biochemistry. Please read the whole thread,
https://twitter.com/TullipR/status/1620145374639050754
https://twitter.com/TullipR/status/1620145380259409921
https://twitter.com/TullipR/status/1620145386051747841
Article came through on Twitter feed from a previous member of the XR Media and Messaging Team. I found it interesting, posting link for others.
(Comes from a place where genuine concerns were ignored.)
https://www.thefp.com/p/climate-activism-has-a-cult-problem
Interesting perspective. Thanks Molly
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/131100221/firearms-licence-fee-could-rise-by-almost-500
I would suggest that it's far better to have all gun owners in the fire arms license system than try have licensing cover the cost.
A 500% raise in costs will surely drive guns underground
When Police released their consultation document on the proposed increased gun licence and other related fees, gun owners were quick to realise they provided no explanation as to how the new fees were derived.
An Official Information Act (OIA) requesting that this information be provided, so that they could assess whether the new fees were fair and reasonable
With only just three weeks remaining of the consultation period they have received a reply from Police refusing the request.
The reason given for the refusal is that the Police will be making this information publicly available in the future.
"In the next few weeks, as part of the consultation on options for changes in firearmslicence fees, Police will be proactively releasing information on the costing methodology used, and the breakdown of how various options for the licence fees have been calculated. This will cover the information that you have sought in your request."
Too late no doubt to influence submissions on these exorbitant fee increases, which close on 16 February.
How can this consultation be described as meaningful, when vital data is held back to the last minute.
Also
New PM Hipkins is making noise about both inflation and cost of living.
The more seen of the 'inflation'/'cost of living' approach to the new fees resonates as a viable parallel consideration.
The questions to be asked are
1) are these massive fee increases wildly inflationary?
2) How do they affect the cost of living of the people that Police propose to inflicted these increased fees upon upon
3) Is this Government Policy or are Police out of control?
Bluntly: Does the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister support these punitive fee increases?
During his first post-Cabinet press conference as prime minister, PM Hipkins reiterated that his focus would be set firmly on inflation and the cost of living.
The huge firearms fees are most certainly tied to both.
The economic effects of such HUGE increases are grave and they were proposed when Hipkins was Minister of Police
Questions in the House are warranted along the lines
"Does he condone or support such massive cost increases?"
"What was his involvement in this proposed increase?"
"Does he think this is 'fair'?"
seems cheap. my sport of choice asks $350 a yr for license, and it isnt dangerous for users or non-users.nobody has ever stolen my sports equipment for criminal purposes, and my sporting equipment doesnt effect my insurance premiums, or need to be locked away.. what are they whinging about?never thought that gun lovers would sound like entitled snow flakes, hah!
Surely if the cost of a licence has not been increased for 20 years some increase is necessary.
Many of us have hobbies. The membership costs look very different when multiplied by five. One of my hobbies costs $75.00pa. When you multiply it by 5 you get $375.00. I belong to a food 'circle' costing $12.00 pw $624pa.
And we don't work with a potential deadly weapon where there are reguistration costs that involve scrutinising bona fides.
While it is an argument that to increase the costs of a licence may drive shooters underground perhaps this has been overstated? In my studies of criminology I don't think that fees increases is a precursor to becoming a criminal. I think the die is cast by other things.
Wouldn't gun licensing authorities investigate to see why a licence has not been renewed?
Perhaps one way of doing it could be to allow time period of 2 years, 3 year 5 years and 10 years.
The 2 & 3 year licences could be a proportion of the 5 year licence but not a straight mathematical division as costs lessen per annum with a longer term.
$500 for five years sounds reasonable to be honest but its too steep, and for many it will be, perhaps allow annual licences ie $100 a year.
Although I'm still angry with Helen Clarks government for increasing the price of passports and decreasing the length they were eligible. That's was gross revenue gathering at it's worst.
I 'reckon' no one yearly licences but two, three yearly ones
2 yearly $225
3 yearly $335
5 yearly 527
Often this will persuade a person to opt for the 5 yearly one with a bit of a push.
you should have been more pissed about jenny shipley converting lifetime passports back to five years.
The new $500 fees are compared to Australia which have been similarly driven higher but compared to other similar countries ours are very much higher.
The proposed fee is increased to massively more than comparable with UK and Canada with similar history
Here is the UK fee structure: https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fi/af/firearms-licensing/firearms-licensing-fees/
90 pounds for firearms certificate with shotgun certificate ($NZ171.60)
62 pounds for renewal ($NZ118.21)
Canadian fees here: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/firearms/changes-service-fees
PAL $CAN 62.42 ($NZ 72.65) for ordinary firearms
RPAL $CAN 83.23 ($NZ 96.87) for restricted firearms
Erratum: 500% increase [not $500 but $727.50]
Police have now released some documents which show that $727.50 is 75% recovery so the proposed 100% recovery fee is $970.00 as the present fee is $126.50 the proposed 100% recovery increase is 767%
If the present fee is so much different then why have no incremental increases been made in line with inflation as the Canadian fees are? [their fees are limited to that level of increase by legislation] – do we need something similar here?
As a farming person, a firearm is a necessary tool for rabbits and disposing of animals. There is no other pest control, if we don't keep rabbits down, we suffer the consequences. A larger firearms licensing fee would be a (sigh) further farming cost. Could the fee not be scaled somehow so those who have more workaday firearms needs pay less than those with bristling armouries who stalk out after large game animals…?
Tax-deductible expense on the farm, surely? I'd be keen on both gun-owners' registration cost, plus a lower fee per firearm, to discourage weapons stockpiling.
"weapons stockpiling" For goodness sake Police, Army and Criminals have "weapons" Licence holders have sporting equipment.
To fully engage in the large number of shooting sports, with spare firearms to cover breakdowns, from 20 to 40 firearms may be required as each particular practice of the sport requires differing types of firearms. Then there is historical collecting with collections of firearms sometimes numbering in the hundreds. You want to make it prohibitively expensive for sports persons to participate in their chosen sporting pursuits to "discourage weapons stockpiling."?
“Surely if the cost of a licence has not been increased for 20 years some increase is necessary.”
The corollary of that is if it has not been increased for 20 years that is because it has not been necessary.
In 2015 Police set about destroying the Mountain Safety Council volunteer system which had about 500 persons assisting the relicencing/firearms training/vetting procedures at very little cost to Police.
Now there is a huge new empire being built within Police employing 400 plus highly paid persons with a large headquarters building and masses of bureaucrats.
“Wouldn't gun licensing authorities investigate to see why a licence has not been renewed?
Another Police failure when the “lifetime licence” was replaced with a ten year licence in the 1990’s when somewhere near 30,000 licences were not renewed and still to this day not completely followed up. One problem being that a licence person must notify changes of address but as soon a becoming unlicenced this requirement disappears and follow up in our mobile society becomes extremely problematic. At present Police are swamped with Licence reissue with long delays tying up resources so that there is simply not the ability – or will – to follow up those who simply drift away from the Licencing system.
Police cannot cope with 10 year relicencing let alone shorter terms. The first issue of a licence is now for 5 years but that simply adds to the backlog when relicencing arrives.
The Licence fee is just the beginning of the proposed charges Endorsements (pistol club/collector/pest control etc) up to $1,500ish. Range inspections, permission for gun shows, etc. etc. Even more fees of eye watering proportions. Dealer licences (one year term) up to $2,500ish. ALL eventually falling back upon the Licence holder.
The cost of ALL this should be on the Community requesting the regime and that isn’t the Firearms Community. It appears to largely be a box ticking exercise by Police in reaction to their apparent failures prior to the Mosque Shooting.
"The cost of ALL this should be on the Community requesting the regime and that isn’t the Firearms Community."
Why?
It doesn't work that way for car or dog licencing. Why should firearms owners have the cost of fixing the mess, which is mostly the result of their lobbying over decades, inflicted on everyone else.
There is an argument for reduced fees for pest controllers etc that are a community benefit.
Driver’s Licence – required to permit use of vehicle on Public Roads and places accessible to the Public. No Driver’s Licence is required for ownership of vehicles nor for use on Private property. There is no requirement fo ar fit & proper test (other than for public conveyance) Administered by NZTA The fee for a Full Licence (class 2 to 5) is $49.60 with a test fee of $59.90 Total $109.50
Dog Registration (NOT licencing) is a function of individual Councils. A Responsible Dog Owner License is issued without charge (it allows a discount on registration) to those who qualify as a responsible dog owner. A further permit is required for having two or more dogs on an urban property but not for rural with a fee of up to $81. The fees vary between Councils and type of dog https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/plans-strategies-policies-and-bylaws/plans/long-term-plan-and-annual-plans/fees-and-charges/fees-animal-management/
A Firearms Licence enables lawful possession of firearms; requires a fit & proper test and firearms are largely used privately and only transported in public. The purpose of the licence is to show fit & proper status for the safety of the Public. It is a public good. The price of a 10-year gun licence could increase from the present $126.50 to $727.50 application fee
The “mess” you speak of has not been made by Firearms Owners lobbying it is almost entirely down to convoluted much amended law and Police administration which creates excessive bureaucratic processes that do not increase public safety in my considered opinion.
Of course it was. the dogs breakfast of ineffective gun laws we had until recently, was entirely the result of firearms owners lobbying for ineffectual gun laws.
The argument for public good applies even more to dog licencing as it is almost entirely paid by 'responsible dog owners' to meet the public cost of strays and irresponsible dog owners. However guns in the hands of 'irresponsible owners' are obtained from, so called 'responsible owners' since individual gun registration was discontinued. Without the gun lobby we would not have our current problem with so many unregistered guns out there, which will take many years to fix.
NONSENSE!
The present firearms law is even MORE of a dogs breakfast as it is another amendment tacked on top of previous amendments right back to 1983 Arms Act – which BTW cancelled the ineffective 'registration' system which had been in use since 1926. Shotgun registration was abandoned very soon after 1926 as unworkable and impossible – so for the last 90 years shotguns have not been registered and for 40 years rifles have not been recorded either.
The Gun Lobby did not exist then as it sprung in to being with the 1991 Amendments so they had nothing to do with the abandonment of registration.
Registration is no panacea for in Australia only about 20% of firearms have been registered since 1996 – the rest just 'disappeared' on to the Grey market. The lesson has been well and truly taught in New Zealand with the MSSA buy back which was only possible because those firearms were recorded. Indeed one 'gun lobby' now has "Registration leads to confiscation" as its catch cry.
It is an unfortunate fact that Police have lost the trust of many in the firearms community. Even more so with the present proposed escalation of Fees!
Nonsense.
How old are you? Twenty!
As for Australian gun laws being “ineffective”.
https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2018/03/13/gun-laws-stopped-mass-shootings-in-australia.html
“In the 18 years up to and including the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, there were 13-gun homicides in which five or more people died, not including the perpetrator. In the 22 years since, there have been no such incidents.”
Nope – not twenty. Hell! I wuz there … just a disparate group of concerned firearms licence holders till 1990
As to Australia coincidence is not causation. The alternate view is that no one has emerged who wants to kill five or more people with a firearm. The British in testing the single shot Martini found that lining up victims allowed 7 to 11 deaths with ONE shot – depending upon how robust the bodies were (their words).
This tends to indicate that rapid fire is not a prerequisite – how ever horrible that example is – they did do it when testing their new military rifle way back then.
Mighty big coincidence. Most of the researchers disagree with you.
Australia’s 1996 gun law reforms: faster falls in firearm deaths, firearm suicides, and a decade without mass shootings | Injury Prevention (bmj.com)
” to 11 deaths with ONE shot”
How to blow your credibility even more.
How many mass shooting victims co-operatively line up to be shot with a High powered rifle. FIFY.
Then again – quoting that paper has been problematic
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3086324
Abstract
In 1996 Australia implemented arguably the most ambitious gun control effort ever attempted, banning all semiauto rifles and shotguns and all pump-action rifles and shotguns, and buying the banned guns already in circulation. Chapman, Alpers, and Jones (2016) produced what is arguably the most extensive evaluation, concluding that the measure was a success. In fact, their own data indicated that the effort failed to reduce homicides, suicides, or unintentional firearms deaths. It is even questionable whether the effort reduced mass shootings, the problem that had triggered the gun control effort in the first place.
Will leave you to read the rest of the critique
Except it wasn't the only piece of research.
Unlike you I didn't cherry pick when looking at the research.
The stats are conclusive. Along with the many research papers world wide on gun control.
Unless you are a gun nut?
Care to list all this "research" you tout?
I am a research nut and look as clearly as possible at both sides.
There are plenty of refutations in BOTH directions finding exactly that which the researchers set out to find – the result before the research in many instances with sound bites from that research used in argument. The World is full of nuts of both pro and anti anything.
The manipulation of statistics is an art form and remember: “There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics” — has been attributed to Mark Twain, who himself attributed it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who might never have said it in the first place.
Keep some balance and please do not resort to name calling!
Again, if a gunholder's license is needed for your work, it is arguably a tax-deductible business expense.
Most licences are for private non-commercial sporting use and voluntary pest control. Over half of pest control is done by itinerant unpaid volunteers. THAT is a public good in and of itself. No costs tax deductible.
That is a fact.
The thing is used to be complimentary, it needn't cost. The Mountain Safety Council used to administer it. Plus they ran the firearms courses.
But (scuse me while I struggle up on my hobby horse), what else can you expect from a neo-liberal police force? They can sub-contract the work while clipping the ticket.
There is also an issue of trust. We have to trust who they trust, recently that hasn't been so flash…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130968941/police-officers-surprised-at-appointment-of-former-top-cop-to-new-role
Don't think it's much to do with 'neo-liberal' cops. Twenty-five years ago we were a high-trust society with strong community policing.Those community police had time to check out individuals applying for licenses. Each one probably took a half day's work at least, unless the person was well known to the constable. All part of the community policing service, helping to keep an eye out.
Police funding cut-backs, by guess-which governments, drained police out of rural areas and community policing. Meantime, we've had half a million migrants, at least, pour into NZ, many from low-trust societies. Or, very occasionally, with a hidden agenda, as in our own mosque shooter.
Consider the fee as the cost, in real terms, of the previous community police vetting process, when it was fully-funded and working properly. Nothing 'neo-lib', more like bracing 'user-pays'.
"more like bracing 'user-pays'"
The supposed purpose of this bureaucratic nonsense is to promote Public safety for all, as that is the case then the government should pay the lions share from the public purse. The licence holders are NOT the user of this system it has been imposed upon them to promote Public Safety. Indeed bona fide licence holders do not threaten public safety – the criminal missusers of firearms do that!
Where do the 'criminal users' get their guns? how many sold by 'responsible licenced gun owners since individual gun registration ceased?
not to mention the 'responsible licenced gun owners' who were, until they started shooting people!
Gangs do not get firearms from responsible firearms licence holders because back in 2016 it was revealed:
In April 2016, the Police identified 29 firearm licence holders who were members of a New Zealand adult gang.
https://kiwigunblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/12/police-aware-that-29-gang-members-have-gun-licenses/#:~:text=In%20April%202016%2C%20the%20Police,since%20been%20revoked%20or%20surrendered.
Still some had them in 2021
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/436709/act-questions-why-more-gang-members-getting-firearms-licence
Numerous associates also have been issued licences AFTER being "rigorously" vetted by Police!
Very few people shoot others in New Zealand – an even smaller number of those can in any way be called fit and proper licence holders. Most of the shootings are gang/drug related. It often takes a great deal of research to find out what licence status the offender was – then mostly NOT licenced.
Will search for links to data to post here much came from a yet unpublished Doctoral Thesis
For now see this: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/112559564/the-homicide-report-gives-a-detailed-account-of-gun-violence-in-new-zealand
“An unprecedented Stuff investigation has identified every homicide in New Zealand in the past 15 years, revealing the vast majority of those who kill with guns are unlicensed and their weapon of choice is often a .22 calibre rifle or shotgun.”
“Of the 84 cases where we identified the killer’s licensing status, only 12 were legally permitted to own a gun.” [there were 105 cases over 15 years – so the status of 21 are unknown]
So LESS than one a year attributable to licence firearms owners.
Funny, before the 4th Labour government and their 'reforms' I hadn't heard the term user pays. It's neo-liberal as. As is sub-contracting the work needed to be done.
All roads across the Coromandel are now impassable. Latest image of SH 25A the Kopu – Hikuai Road.
When is VFF going to get in on the Act of bemoaning the loss of freedums during the current state of emergency. C'mon guys, here's how you do it.
"The state of emergency in Auckland should have been called earlier", and our Govt shouldn't have taken "a one-size-fits-all approach" – what were they thinking?!!!
As for "shambolic", that sounds awfully familiar.
On and on – like a drain
Perhaps, in the not too distant future, more Kiwis will realise just how lucky they are.
Drowsy, I just got a secret message from someone from the Nats to say that a secret power has offered a prize for the most number times the word 'shambolic/shambles' can be used during the term of a leader of the Opposition.
So far they are hoping that Luxon will lead the pack.
I couldn't catch the name of the person though the word 'speechwriter' was mentioned & the prize seemed to be a word like 'Te Puke' or 'Hawaii' ( you know how those two words sound the same.
)
love it. the shambles party is sounding more and more like an echo chamber. like a tv ad that has long outlived its appeal, the cry of "shambles" is only heard by the already converted. "enough is enough" hah!
It's indicative of a form of religious thought language – a godly order out of chaos, and condemnation of any other regime as shameful (shame and guilt etc).
lol VFF.
that's a decent sized slip that's going to take some fixing.
Yes its the main route between the East and West coasts of the peninsula. SH25A is closed for the foreseeable future and travel from one side to the other will mean taking the long way round via SH2 through the Karangahake Gorge.
how much longer does that take?
Depending on where you are heading – if you were travelling from Thames to Whangamata it would be about 20 mins longer – but if going further north it would add at least and hour to the journey
Decoding language of old people.
An Australian racehorse named Drongo, (foaled 1920, retired 1925) never won a race, and by transference anyone slow became a drongo.
The Drongos
Their music includes Leave me Alone and Eye of the Hurricane. They were notably successful on the street corners of New York and developed a club following, including someone from Red Mole.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=the+drongos+songs
The drongo is rather a beautiful bird but in flight it very amusing. The long forked tail allows for some amazing stunts.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kSl_qwU_0gk
Hovering like a Harrier.
Hipkins giving presser now, announcing reshuffle (links: all media).
Hipkins says the health reforms now move to the delivery phase, thus the change of Minister. The deputy PM is also deputy Foreign Affairs.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/01/politics-live-updates-chris-hipkins-to-hold-press-conference-with-caucus-reshuffle-expected-christopher-luxon-to-speak-in-auckland.html
On an emotional level I am sad that Nanaia loses 3 Waters. It is as though the racists won.
However it is expediency for the good of the Party.
The new connection between Local Government and Emergency Management (and Rural Communities) – to solidify the connection between water management and community well-being/safety.
Full list here:
The new Cabinet
That’s not the full full list, which can be found here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-cabinet-focused-bread-and-butter-issues
Tough break Mahuta. Parker as AG and Environment inherits the 3 Waters legislation.
Also tough break Little for shouldering the Health reforms this far. Verrall takes it to the Promised Land where she will avenge every Wellington health bureaucrat that wronged her.
No succession plan for Robertson, when we know he's leaving.
Wood for Auckland is a natural. Ex Auckland Councillor and wife on local board means they can easily corral that fuck-knuckle mayor.
Congrats to Deborah Russel for getting her own little bunch of portfolios finally. Jesus Parker give Revenue up already!
Nash with Police but no alignment to Justice is silly.
Wood is Associate Finance, and Robertson is available to remain Minister if Labour wins in 2023.
OMG you are fooling yourself if you think Robertson is staying. Robertson is as spent as Ardern, and his policies such as they are, are dead.
Wood has not a jot of financial experience on his CV. Associate Finance without a delegation. Best of luck with that.
Myself, really? It's Hipkins who has only Parker as a potential replacement next year (and it's not Parker who has signalled he is staying on).
Wood with 4 years as Associate Minister could be spokesperson from 2026.
Robertson was appointed to Finance Spokesperson in 2014.
I reckon Robertson will quit after the election. Keep the ship looking stable for one more run. But agree his time is done. A good communicator but hopeless at economics, just another neoliberal corporate lackey. Not the reformer we desperately needed 5 years ago.
Do you think that the drop down the ranks of Little, and the elimination of Twyford – should be taken as an indication that these 2 may retire?
Little is list – so could basically make the call at any time.
Twyford is MP for Te Atatu – a solid, safe Labour seat – so, if change is mooted, the party should be reviewing options fairly quickly.
Little and Mahuta were way too left-reformist for Hipkins. They have done their dash a- likely wait another term out until some of the younger ministers complete their apprenticeships and then just leave.
Twyford has been Walking Undead since 2019 after getting fucked over by NZSuperfund. and never recovered.
NZSuperfund are now playing both sides of the House using bankers to front their Taranakai offshore wind farm proposals, and proposing that this is a replacement for NZBattery. No one has control of them, no one. They are waiting for Labour to get chucked so they can truly kill NZBattery and show National how private equity ought to run the country.
NZ Battery is not just the Onslow proposal, it is also the look at larger scale alternatives to it (geothermal and hydrogen). There are already a few BESS (Tesla power pack) small scale battery reserve systems.
How would an offshore wind farm replace the development of the capacity to manage a dry hydro year?
Not the government? Mahuta was lead Minister during its path through parliament. Whatever government now decides, Hipkins will lead the public messaging, with McAnulty (and or Parker?) taking it from there.
My bet is Hipkins and Parker will stall implementation of parts of the Act until after the election, if at all.
Hipkins have a golden opportunity to wait until Auckland Council begs them for storm rebuild funding, and Hipkins says to Mayor Brown: sure thing sign here you will accept this 3 Waters arrangement.
There's also a chance he could strangle the programme at birth by defunding it at Budget.
They could even go to the election proposing to re-do the legislation with one single central state owned entity, with Maori representation on that.
Few expect it to survive other than in diminished form.
A single entity providing expertise (and capital investment) to provincial councils is a possibility – this to give effect to clean water, effective waste and stormwater in the iwi heartlands outside the major settler cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
It would be very helpful to see an old fashioned debate with the Labour Front Bench on one side, and the National Front Bench on the other. Kim Hill as moderator.
The motion being; “That this house believes neoliberalism is dead”
I can't think of a current Minister who would agree with that statement.
The Labour Front Bench against Luxon, Willis, Bishop, Mumble, Mumble.
Lay down misere.
Lay down misery.
Oh dear, I presume they can be fixed. 😮
There really are some dicks around!
If they are … ahem … electrical items – the perpetrators may be making a visit to A&E.
Seriously, just how stupid do you have to be to steal 'intimate' material which has been thrown away because of health and safety risks.
Belladonna – they are intending to sell them on to others, in the back of a pub somewhere.
Profitable, probably, with no nasty consequences to sellers.
Perhaps they are just saving them up to throw at Cabinet Ministers at Waitangi.
Great fun of course and entirely innocent behavior. Well that was the claim when Steven Joyce was assaulted.
Wasn't enough to put him off politics though – that man had (a) nerve.
Apparently it was all downhill only after Bridges took away his favourite toy and he had to go digging for holes elsewhere.
Why isn't this guy in Parliament? The Nats could sure use his 'fresh' advice
I've deleted the quote without a link. Repost with link if you want.
On RNZ live feeds there's a permanent link button in the top right corner of each item. Looks kind of like this (-). If you click on that, you can then copy the URL from the main address bar in your browser.
Same in the RNZ app, although in my iphone I had to press and hold the (-), and then copy the link and paste it.
My browser won’t link to item.
"Sex toys stolen from flooded store
Looters have stolen discarded sex toys and lingerie from a flooded store in North Auckland overnight.
Peaches & Cream chief executive Sandra Walters said they lost $200 worth of stock in Friday's flood.
After filling a skip with the ruined items, Walters said she returned this morning to find it half empty.
She had even chased looters away from the Wairau store."
https://rnz.liveblog.pro/lb-rnz/blogs/63d7ef1c0da853c07b12baac/index.html?liveblog._id=urn:newsml:localhost:2023-01-31T03:58:09.225605:2ca2a689-249b-4401-81e6-f540bd636a13-%3Eeditorial
then please cut and paste the time stamp with the quote (and then feed link). eg
Ok. Got that.
thanks Anne, much appreciated. It will matter most when important events are unfolding.
Given the amount of mis and disinformation reported on a daily basis in the media and else where, I can see it has become a necessity.