If would be funny but as traffic flows are what they are to see a bunch of selfish liberals think of their agenda at the cost to the many. To want a lane closed and set up barriers for a trial for a very few cyclists to take over a lane especially when the bridge during peak flows is already inadequate. Circle 5 kms either side of the bridge at guess how few cyclists travel between the circle weekdays.
sure the next crossing include this for the selescted few who would utilise this. But not the current crossing.
where is the business case to support this ??
Ps hope all goes well for JAG pregency
Do humans need a ‘business case’ for having babies? Not all impacts can and should be limited and reduced to simple dollar terms; this is where our current economic ideologies are counter-productive [no pun]. Ironically, today the report from the Climate Change Commission will be presented today. What will the ‘business case’ be, I wonder …
Chill. Exactly! You were talking about material stuff only. Just as well Government didn’t wait for Treasury or the RBNZ to prepare a ‘business case’ when it had to act last year. Maybe lives are more important than a ‘business case’? Neo-liberal thinking is so reductionist, short-termist, selfish, and shallow; makes for a good ‘business case’, doesn’t it?
Bikes and babies. A great way of spreading schmaltz on a serious economic and structural problem. Great middle class self-interest combining with future-needed requirements it seems to me. The women can rise for bikes and the environment, but are they there for poor mothers struggling for better conditions trying to balance babies and work and shelter and despair?
If women do have finer feelings and compassion for those women needing help in their community and wider society, it would be seen in great mass shows of concern and solidarity for the strugglers as noticeable and determined as for bike use. But bikes are now the sacred objects to be worshipped and nice people ride them; often rather unpleasant mothers battle with social problems and a dead-centred welfare system, they are not like nice middle-class people, not 'one of us'.
I wonder if Ms Genter considered the effect on the climate of her actions?
How embarrassing if a recommendation in the Climate Commission Report says we should reduce our use of Air Travel?
I understand she lives in Wellington. She would appear to have made a return trip from Wellington to Auckland, almost certainly by plane and at taxpayer expense to take part in this exercise. How much CO2 would this have generated?
Shouldn't someone who purports to care about the effect of mankind on the climate reduce her travel to whatever is really necessary?
Offsetting, is that the thing were rich tossers sooth their conscience by fucking rural communities with their pines while kicking the cc can down the rd, ??
"Shouldn't someone who purports to care about the effect of mankind on the climate reduce her travel to whatever is really necessary?"
Necessary for what?
If she wishes to take effective action against the climate it may be necessary to fly on a plane sometimes – or conversely – it is not necessary to never fly on a plane if that renders you less effective in addressing climate change
And concomitantly – it is therefore not necessary to never fly on a plane simply to avoid bogus accusations of hypocrisy by ideologues who want to dissolve large-scale collective action into individual choices – in order to ensure that no collective action in fact occurs
Ouch! Don't think there'll be any Pink Floyd music at the TYT offices for a while
One of the few rock stars who actually has an intelligent opinion about anything is Roger Waters. He's just brought the hammer down on some especially obnoxious and foolish Russiagaters…
He inspires many more. The people he "pisses off" do not represent anything like a significant number; they know that as well as we do. Fevered denunciation and smearing, like Ana Kasparian and Mr. Uygur reflexively do in this clip, are all they have to offer.
Yes, I saw that thanks Adrian. Wonder if Jesse Mulligan or Kim Hill or Kathryn Ryan will interview Matt Taibbi or Aaron Maté or Max Blumenthal some time in the near future. Or are they going to stick with the likes of Jonathan Freedland , Anne Applebaum and Alistair Campbell?
Bryce Edwards is simply using this piece as a stalking horse to launder far right talking points around "free speech” into mainstream discourse.
The clear implication that "the left" is responsible for the culture wars is nonsense. The origin of the culture wars lies in the political realignment of poor whites in the US South from the early sixties on as a reaction to the civil rights movement.
Of course, if you are a shill of the right it suits to project blame onto someone else if your desire is for a culture war on "free speech" as a distraction from the fact you have no answers to the multiple crises of modern zombie capitalism, and have given up even pretending to have any answers.
Edwards is not stupid, yet he continually – and deliberately in my opinion – continues to conflate "liberal" with the left. His out for this is to simply create a strawman – the "contemporary left" – on whose swinging corpse he can then hang various placards proclaiming it's guilt. His arguments may have held some water twenty years ago, describing what is best called Blairite/Clinton centrism which tarted itself up in the raiments of the left by hijacking it's primary political vehicles across the west. But like many academics in a ivory towers of what are fundamentally neoliberal in funding and outlook organisations his thinking has atrophied. That boat cast off with the GFC, with the collapse of centrism (as evidenced by the Pasokification of social democratic 'centrist" parties across Europe) indicating the left long ago parted ways with the sort of centrist liberal politics he accuses it of.
The truth of the matter is the right is formenting a distraction in the form of a culture war on the nebulous grounds of free speech and in order to get it it needs it's useful idiots in neoliberal academic organs to provide an intellectual framework.
The left can spend it's time much more profitably than debating these sterile, worn out arguments by seeking to own the future with practical solutions to todays and tomorrows issues.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[I specifically said not to attack the author. Three day ban for wasting my moderator time and creating a hostile environment for the people who put up content. – weka]
You’re lucky I didn’t see the second comment, now in trash. Making a note in the backend for future reference. Count this as a second warning about ignoring moderation directions.
Sanctuary – I agree with your view entirely, the only view I've seen that states the right wing as responsible for our wokeness problem. It's just more division strategy from the neo liberal conservatives but it's not really working for them. I as a leftie don't have the slightest problem with it. Well said mate. I don't understand the moderation notes?
Did you read the post? There’s a note at the top saying debate the issues raised, don’t attack the author. It’s longstanding policy to not attack authors because getting posts up on TS is more important than commenters having wee anti author rants instead of engaging in debate. Sanctuary knows this. The blatant disrespect fir moderation is part of the ban.
had Sanctuary’s comment been made without the author attack it would still be under the original post and they wouldn’t have been banned.
I had to read the post before I could agree with it, yes? I note that a few other commenters have possibly attacked the author, although I wouldn't rate any of them (including Sanctuary) as attacks IMHO. This is not an attack on you and thanks for your input.
You said you didn’t understand the mod notes. I asked if you read the post because it clearly explains the boundaries at the top.
no one has to agree with posts. They do have to abide by moderation. I’m guessing you didn’t see Sanctuary’s second comment. They were basically trolling at that point.
I’ve got years of writing and moderation at TS as well as cross posting and encouraging new authors. I’ve been listening to writers say what’s hard about writing here. I have a pretty good idea of what is needed for robust debate and it isn’t long termers ignoring the rules of the site and doing whatever the hell they like.
calling an author a shill is an attack, as an example, and it’s a specious form of debate and it derails. Author attacks are designed to undermine the person, that’s bulkshit tactics.
One of the reasons I put the post up is because I want the left to take a long hard look at itself and go back to debating the issues. Apparently that’s too hard.
That kind of commenting also opens the way for other people to make defamatory comments which puts the site owners at risk.
@Sanctuary
"Edwards is not stupid, yet he continually – and deliberately in my opinion – continues to conflate "liberal" with the left"
This is THE major problem of the Left today..ie separating with extreme prejudice who and what are the Left in most people’s minds from who and what are the Centrist Liberals.
One of my sons is at Uni at the moment and even there they don’t make this critical distinction..except it seems when it suits the arguments of the status quo.
Sorry to see you got kicked off…seems a bit harsh.
Adrian, I feel many in the left drive this wedge themselves.
I always consider myself to be centralist economically, but definitely left socially. That position is based on my life experiences and observations. I have encountered many small business owners being the same.
Many times on TS (and in everyday life) i encounter many in the left that cannot see this is not a contradiction (necessarily) and just hurl personal abuse if one isn't 100% 'left', instead of accepting that a centralist-leftist has significant overlaps with the majority of the left.
I probably have not explained that well, but that's how I feel.
What link? I explained very patiently and carefully. I cannot do more than that. if you lack the experience, knowledge or are just so plain pig headed to understand something which is very basic then I really cannot help you.
This was two days ago. FFS. MOVE ON. THIS IS HARRESSMENT.
MODERATORS PLEASE NOTE. ‘NZ Perverse economy. This poster Louis is WAY out of line.
No need to be obtuse Peter Chch. You cant back up your claim that “Clark repeatedly lied to the media before finally coming clean and apologising for his lies”
You have done what you accused Clark of doing, you lied.
Feeling vulnerable over your ‘Clark hit job’? The pushback is fair, imho.
David Clark is now in charge? Are you joking.
The former Minister of Health who is on record knowingly lying about this very same DHB [Waikato?], who hid under his bed in Dunedin (when he wasn't out breaching lockdown rules) during the worst of the pandemic, who… too many screw ups to record.
He possibly could manage the parliamentary broom cupboard, but thats about his limit. Unbelievable.
Already put up a link date stamped the 30th which was Sunday. You don't speak for most Kiwis PeterChch and will remind you that Clark won his seat convincingly last year so obviously its not as you described. Besides, you have been caught out telling porkies. Very hypocritical of you.
Please note these continual personal attack from this idiot Louis. I put up with this idiot on Saturday with personal abuse. Still at it. Calling someone a lier with no grounds, on top of the endless shit I endured from this cretin on Saturday is not unacceptable!
Yesterday 30th, I asked you for a link to back up your claims, even Incognito said to you "You should still provide a link about all those lies by Clark to the media, thanks"
"Clark says he has already received an apology from acting board chairman Rabin Rabindran for not mentioning the extent of the problem – which supports Clark's version of what he was and wasn't told on March 13"
The quote is from your link that you posted and it doesn't back up your false claims. Why you persist in lying and digging an even greater hole for yourself PeterChCh, is anyone's guess.
…just a thought…from what you are saying….you are not Left socially…you are Liberal Socially…the Leftist position is based and revolves around Economic Theory.
"The independent advice was handed to the Minister today (Monday 31 May). The Commission will publish the advice on its website next Wednesday (9 June) once it has been tabled by the Minister."
When hearing about plans to build a tunnel from Auckland city to North Shore I think about our earthquake potential in NZ. A recent study on earthquake preparedness there contains this:
And it doesn't mention the huge cost of such a tunnel if we take it on though we are in a fast-fading economy. When we run out of houses to sell, we will have to sell ourselves in new ways, just to survive. The cost of a tunnel may be amortised over many decades, but if our economy declines we will be left with an enforceable debt as the financial institutions don't go in for compassionate jubilees for debt.* No, nay, never, anyway probably not now in Our Brave New World.
* The tendency for debts to grow faster than the population's ability to pay has been a basic constant throughout all recorded history. … The concept of a debt jubilee is not new. It dates back to biblical times and the Book of Leviticus where the Hebrews would every 50 years free slaves, prisoners and forgive debts.16/04/2012
Fascinating – kea may be more intelligent than we are – by applying their brain to achieve rational results that benefit them. We seem to believe in SEP – someone will rescue us from the horns of our dilemmas! Ouch! Old news piece from last year, still worth reading.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/410887/study-on-kea-notes-unprecedented-smart-behaviour Mar.4/20 In a paper published today in Nature Communications, University of Auckland experts found the birds can judge statistical odds in a way only ever seen before in infants and great apes. In a range of tests at the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, kea worked out that choosing a particular coloured token always led to a food reward, and even managed to learn which of their rangers was most likely to pick the token they wanted.
Study co-author Alex Taylor, a psychologist who studies intelligence in animals and birds, said the behaviour they saw was unprecedented in birds.
Nice one. We definitely need more normalising stories.
yet, the politics.
so how do we do this then? I’d be happy to talk about women’s sex based rights and not talk about trans issues, but it’s really hard to do. I had a fair crack with the census post I wrote. But when left wing men are now taking the position that women don’t get to define their own politics and thus their lives, how is that different than what he is talking about in that post?
The debate isn’t sex based vs gender based rights. It’s existing sex based rights *and gender based rights vs removing sex based rights and replacing with only gender based rights.
Do you have a link about 'sex based' rights that is not just talking about gender-based ones? ie: it is about 'females' rather than 'women'. Doesn't sound like any UN Conventions I know of.
Not really my area at the international level, but I've seen GCFs talking about CEDAW as being sex based. A quick google found this,
Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the principle of the inadmissibility of discrimination and proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, including distinction based on sex,
I'm more familiar with the debate in the UK, where law gives rights to people who transition, and retains rights for women based on sex to the exclusion of males (including trans women) where necessary. Trans lobbyists like Mermaids have been trying to get this removed.
Important to also understand that the word gender is often used to mean sex, especially historically.
Another useful case to look at is in Canada where the Human Rights Tribunal ruled against a pre-op trans woman who was insisting that estheticians waxed their genitals.
Almost none of the Canadian mainstream media would cover the case while it was ongoing, such has been the success of the 'no debate' lobby. It was covered by some conservative media eg The Post Millennial. This is part of why left wing GCFs get called right wing, but where these were the only outlets available (there are also right wing GC people). GCFs went to the tribunal hearings and live tweeted them, which is how GCFs knew what was going on when the rest of the left was clueless. What this has meant is that most of the left don't actually know what the issues are.
That UK link you provided is relying on conflating 'male' with 'men' and 'female' with 'women' throughout.
Perhaps it is men that CGFs could usefully exclude without confusing things – otherwise I can easily see transmen being entitled to be in women's spaces (not that I think they would seek to be). Unless it is penises that are somehow the problem, which seems overblown?
"That UK link you provided is relying on conflating 'male' with 'men' and 'female' with 'women' throughout."
That seems to be what the Canadian case was mostly about. Though the court seemed to agree that not waxing a 'womans' penis wasn't discriminatory, (though the plantifs litigation may have been).
That UK link you provided is relying on conflating 'male' with 'men' and 'female' with 'women' throughout.
I don't think so, it's not conflation, it's normal use of language. Most English speakers understand that men = male and vice versa. And it's clear in the context. I'd certainly expect Labour MPs to read and and be able to understand it.
Perhaps it is men that CGFs could usefully exclude without confusing things – otherwise I can easily see transmen being entitled to be in women's spaces (not that I think they would seek to be).
It's males that are generally the problem. Sometimes they get called male, sometimes they get called men. This is one very good reason to talk about women and trans women, and men and trans men, rather than conflating the two. It's not GCFs that are confusing things.
Unless it is penises that are somehow the problem, which seems overblown?
do you honestly believe that women who have been raped should have to share space with people of whatever gender identity who are male bodied with genitals intact? Share a bedroom in a refuge with a man identifying as a woman? Share a changing room?
There's the Staniland Question:
Do you believe that male-sexed people have the right to undress and shower in a communal changing room with teenage girls?
Good ideas – even if they're controversial – deserve to be published, says Australian philosopher and bioethics professor Peter Singer. To this end, he's co-founded an online academic journal where people can publish under a pseudonym without fear of harassment or harm to their careers.
As a consequentialist and a utilitarian, Singer believes there are no such hard and fast rules.
"A consequentialist believes that whether an act is right or wrong depends on its consequences. So it's not just a matter of saying 'Here's a moral rule, you must never break it no matter what'. For a consequentialist, this 'no matter what' doesn't apply because there may be some circumstances in which a rule you never normally should break you should break because there'd be very bad consequences if you adhere to the rule.
The utilitarian part of it is 'what do you mean by good consequences?' and utilitarians say 'What I mean is something that reduces the amount of suffering in the world or increases the amount of happiness in the world'. We're basically talking about the well-being of people and non-human animals.
"We should be able to say 'yes it may cause some harm to some people but it's important for us to have free debate to find out what are the right views and what are the best policies for dealing with these issues?'"
Freedom of speech should not extend to protecting people's right to hate speech or any malicious incitement of violence, he says….
7th August 2021 7-9.45pm The Trusts Arena, Henderson – Singer will be speaking. $70 up. Funds to alleviate global poverty.
"We should be able to say 'yes it may cause some harm to some people but it's important for us to have free debate to find out what are the right views and what are the best policies for dealing with these issues?'"
Funny how it's always the same social groups his 'debate' causes harm to. And how his need to hear his own voice reliably outweighs that.
I don’t follow PS, or anybody, for that matter, but he does seem to appear in NZ media more than occasionally …
What groups (plural) are singled out and ‘victimised’ by his debates and do you think this is deliberate and intentional? Seems a bit of a contradiction to the PR around his visit and journal!?
In his book Practical Ethics, Singer argues the case for selective infanticide. He deems it unfair that "At present parents can choose to keep or destroy their disabled offspring only if the disability happens to be detected during pregnancy.14/08/2012 The case against Peter Singer – ABC News
However, Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall told the House that financial support was offered to Laura Fergusson Trust. “No discussion was able to be entered into, because the trust informed the Ministry of Health that its decision was final,” Verrall said.
It seems impossible for people to make the reasoned moral judgments that must be made if we are to have any moral judgments at all. It is likely that the PTB will harden, throw their hands up in the air and say the matter is beyond them, and those who are unhappy can get some funds and carry out their own nursing and caring. But then, that is already happening and it will become more burdensome as help is lessened and people are unwilling to face their situation.
I'm always leery of comments about someone else having "no hope of a life" especially when based on perceived quality of life (rather than whether the body is in a condition consistent with the continuation of life). It tends to be a rather subjective assessment.
Now, personally, most babies only a few months old are largely uninteresting and unimpressive, especially prems. But there are two main differences between a born baby and pregnancy: they don't rely on someone else's body to live (by and large), and the birth delineation is a convenient ledge on an otherwise slippery slope.
The other less logical difference is "what sort of person makes a clinical decision to actively kill a baby that would otherwise live with only normal feeding and suchlike? I mean, scalpel? Drug injection? Seriously, wtf?"
I get palliative care for a baby that just has too much going on to survive, but Singer's idea seems to be actively deciding for another person that their quality of life is so unbearable they should die. The bit that the euthenasia act doesn't allow ("be competent to make an informed decision about assisted dying.").
Ah. So. The Gospel according to Greywarshark seems to state that killing a disabled baby is the bestest way of preventing abuse and neglect of that baby by a caregiver in the future.
AND, the $$$ that were being paid for that shitty care would have been better spent on those disabled folk with at least some hope of rehabilitation. Like the young woman tragically made a quadriplegic after a horse riding accident.
Here endeth the moral lessons from Greywarshark for today.
(Oh, a quadriplegic sitting in his chair to my right has a few choice words on this…but good manners prevent me passing them on.)
I have no issue at all with those who comment anonymously who are respectful and engage in good faith.
Although occasionally I do wonder exactly what reputation or position some other anonymous commentators are trying to protect.
Someone who claims the moral, reasoned high ground in advocating for the killing of disabled babies who have "no life" (and adds in an extra societal benefit in that the saved dollars can go towards supporting the clearly more worthy injured) must surely have spine enough to put their actual name and face to their views.
Those straight utilitarians are just a pain in the ass. They have so much in common with the more scientifically bogus parts of New Public Management theory in terms of inputs and outputs being applied to social outcomes.
You know Max, don’t you? He doesn’t register in the polls yet but his daddy still does. National can do with an aspiring DJ because JC makes awful scratchy noises, like an old broken LP on a wonky turntable.
Odd. A Radionz interview between Jesse Mulligan and Fed Farmers David Clark cannot be accessed as audio on Live Canterbury Flooding owing to 'copyright restrictions'.
A Radionz piece can't be repeated on another RNZ piece for copyright restrictions to whom? Is Radionz fragmenting and selling off pieces of itself to the National Radio listeners disadvantage? Is it dividing into units with each one making sufficient money to meet a target?
That is a fascinating theory but what do you base it on? There are 8 members on the Board. Only 2 of them were appointed by the then National Government. They were in December 2015 and September 2017.
The other 6 were all appointed after that date. In other words 6 of the 8, including the Chairman, were appointed by a Labour led Government. You are pretty desperate if you really think that 2 people can order the Board around aren't you?
I suppose that a leak was inevitable. With the matter, whatever it is, being passed on tt at least Hipkins and Mallard under the "No surprises" policy it would only be a matter of when, not if, it was leaked I would surmise.
It is of course time that Smith retired. He has been in the House since 1990 and that is certainly long enough for anyone. It is just a pity that Mallard doesn't go out the door with him. He has been there since 1984 after all. He really ought to be cast out into the outer darkness shouldn't he? Surely there is some senior figure in the Labour Party who can take heed of Eliot's words and ask "Who will rid me of this turbulent prat"
Then Trevor and Nick could be put out to pasture together. Let them spend their remaining time in the sunshine, even if they are really old bulls suitable only for the knacker's yard.
alwyn, why are you trying to blame Hipkins and Mallard? How does it have anything to do with them? In 3 and half years in government Labour haven't leaked a thing about National, so how do you know it wasn't someone within the National party? after all, doesn't National have form in that regard?
" In 3 and half years in government Labour haven't leaked a thing about National".
Ah what blissful belief in the purity of your chosen party. You don't really believe that do you? I mean seriously think that the Labour MPs are truly that saintly. The only way I would think your statement could be true would be if you extend to the whole group of MPs Helen Clark's immortal claim. " "It is a matter of judgment for the Prime Minister how I use information from official reports; by definition I cannot leak.".
Ah what blissful belief in the purity of your chosen party. You don't really believe that do you?
Alwyn, can you move this beyond what you believe? I agree it seems unlikely that, since winning the 2017 general election, Labour hasn't leaked anything about National, but (in the absence of evidence), it could be true – no?
Opposition National party people are sooo leaky; their 'leak prowess' is now the stuff of legend – yes Merv, I'm looking at you. What’s a ‘Labour leaker’ to do?
John Key: If you can't quit leaking, quit National
Former Prime Minister Sir John Key has a staunch message to any National MPs who continue to leak against the party: "If you can't quit leaking, quit the party".
Are you now suggesting that John Key doesn't lie, or at least sometimes doesn't lie?
from Sir (Honest) John Key's 2020 imperative "If you can't quit leaking, quit the [National] party".
Reckon it would be difficult to lie about everything; even inveterate liars can sometimes tell the truth – maybe this was such an occasion.
Btw, while you may consider inveterate' to be an appropriate descriptor of this particular 'Key habit', I would prefer 'shameless' – works for me thee.
But I've gone off topic:
Alwyn, can you move this beyond what you believe? I agree it seems unlikely that, since winning the 2017 general election, Labour hasn't leaked anything about National, but (in the absence of evidence), it could be true – no?
There must be at least one documented example – how difficult can it be?
Its not about Helen Clark though. Its been Jacinda's policy since coming into government that whatever involves the National party it's their business and despite media efforts to draw commentary from the PM Et al in her government they dont leak and neither do they put the boot in. Just because National are inclined to do it doesn't mean every other party does. The Greens don't do it either.
As usual, you’re all over the place, diverting, dodging, denying, but never answering the question with a straight answer. You, Sir, are not debating here, you are trolling again.
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
The thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...
The Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...
Bikes and babies 🙂
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/baby/125276498/green-mp-julie-anne-genter-pregnant-with-second-child-you-have-kids-out-of-love
Busy
https://twitter.com/WomenInUrbanism/status/1398837018604425219
If would be funny but as traffic flows are what they are to see a bunch of selfish liberals think of their agenda at the cost to the many. To want a lane closed and set up barriers for a trial for a very few cyclists to take over a lane especially when the bridge during peak flows is already inadequate. Circle 5 kms either side of the bridge at guess how few cyclists travel between the circle weekdays.
sure the next crossing include this for the selescted few who would utilise this. But not the current crossing.
where is the business case to support this ??
Ps hope all goes well for JAG pregency
Do humans need a ‘business case’ for having babies? Not all impacts can and should be limited and reduced to simple dollar terms; this is where our current economic ideologies are counter-productive [no pun]. Ironically, today the report from the Climate Change Commission will be presented today. What will the ‘business case’ be, I wonder …
Ffs sake relax. I was taking about the bikes and bridges.
Chill. Exactly! You were talking about material stuff only. Just as well Government didn’t wait for Treasury or the RBNZ to prepare a ‘business case’ when it had to act last year. Maybe lives are more important than a ‘business case’? Neo-liberal thinking is so reductionist, short-termist, selfish, and shallow; makes for a good ‘business case’, doesn’t it?
Bikes and babies. A great way of spreading schmaltz on a serious economic and structural problem. Great middle class self-interest combining with future-needed requirements it seems to me. The women can rise for bikes and the environment, but are they there for poor mothers struggling for better conditions trying to balance babies and work and shelter and despair?
If women do have finer feelings and compassion for those women needing help in their community and wider society, it would be seen in great mass shows of concern and solidarity for the strugglers as noticeable and determined as for bike use. But bikes are now the sacred objects to be worshipped and nice people ride them; often rather unpleasant mothers battle with social problems and a dead-centred welfare system, they are not like nice middle-class people, not 'one of us'.
As with all major crises, the poor are always hardest hit. Climate Change will be no different and possibly worse than anything before.
A perfectly timed signal for the release of the Climate Commission roadmap to the government today.
Also nice to see a sitting government MP do a bit of gentle civil disobedience to push a policy point.
I wonder if Ms Genter considered the effect on the climate of her actions?
How embarrassing if a recommendation in the Climate Commission Report says we should reduce our use of Air Travel?
I understand she lives in Wellington. She would appear to have made a return trip from Wellington to Auckland, almost certainly by plane and at taxpayer expense to take part in this exercise. How much CO2 would this have generated?
Shouldn't someone who purports to care about the effect of mankind on the climate reduce her travel to whatever is really necessary?
It is called off-setting (AKA compensating) and doing her job as Green MP.
Stop you concern trolling with your disingenuous accusations of hypocrisy; a sure sign that you have nothing better than pathetic snide remarks.
Offsetting, is that the thing were rich tossers sooth their conscience by fucking rural communities with their pines while kicking the cc can down the rd, ??
Some folk use that ‘definition’, because it suits them.
Some folk like to lie to them selves,
12.15pm
So the Greens can litter & pollute because they are the greens ? I might join the Greens !! This offset sounds like a great idea.
With such a profound misunderstanding I’d suggest ACT might be a better fit for you or else, National.
Just curious alwyn – do you care about "the effect of mankind on the climate"?
This seems to be a bit of a bugbear for you. First Thunberg, now Genter.
Some MPs are simultaneously servile and self-serving – Genter is neither, imho.
"Shouldn't someone who purports to care about the effect of mankind on the climate reduce her travel to whatever is really necessary?"
Necessary for what?
Ouch! Don't think there'll be any Pink Floyd music at the TYT offices for a while
One of the few rock stars who actually has an intelligent opinion about anything is Roger Waters. He's just brought the hammer down on some especially obnoxious and foolish Russiagaters…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eztdgGYcOrY
Yea, big thumbs up.
Roger Waters is great–he must really piss off a number of people.
He inspires many more. The people he "pisses off" do not represent anything like a significant number; they know that as well as we do. Fevered denunciation and smearing, like Ana Kasparian and Mr. Uygur reflexively do in this clip, are all they have to offer.
Hi Morrissey, don't know if you saw this from Matt Taibbi?, it is of course a very very long list…
Master List Of Official Russia Claims That Proved To Be Bogus
https://taibbi.substack.com/p/aaugh-a-brief-list-of-official-russia
This was also worth watching…
Russiagate target Kilimnik speaks out on 'spy' claims, Trump-Russia conspiracy theories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaPKvCUcrLM
Yes, I saw that thanks Adrian. Wonder if Jesse Mulligan or Kim Hill or Kathryn Ryan will interview Matt Taibbi or Aaron Maté or Max Blumenthal some time in the near future. Or are they going to stick with the likes of Jonathan Freedland , Anne Applebaum and Alistair Campbell?
Bryce Edwards is simply using this piece as a stalking horse to launder far right talking points around "free speech” into mainstream discourse.
The clear implication that "the left" is responsible for the culture wars is nonsense. The origin of the culture wars lies in the political realignment of poor whites in the US South from the early sixties on as a reaction to the civil rights movement.
Of course, if you are a shill of the right it suits to project blame onto someone else if your desire is for a culture war on "free speech" as a distraction from the fact you have no answers to the multiple crises of modern zombie capitalism, and have given up even pretending to have any answers.
Edwards is not stupid, yet he continually – and deliberately in my opinion – continues to conflate "liberal" with the left. His out for this is to simply create a strawman – the "contemporary left" – on whose swinging corpse he can then hang various placards proclaiming it's guilt. His arguments may have held some water twenty years ago, describing what is best called Blairite/Clinton centrism which tarted itself up in the raiments of the left by hijacking it's primary political vehicles across the west. But like many academics in a ivory towers of what are fundamentally neoliberal in funding and outlook organisations his thinking has atrophied. That boat cast off with the GFC, with the collapse of centrism (as evidenced by the Pasokification of social democratic 'centrist" parties across Europe) indicating the left long ago parted ways with the sort of centrist liberal politics he accuses it of.
The truth of the matter is the right is formenting a distraction in the form of a culture war on the nebulous grounds of free speech and in order to get it it needs it's useful idiots in neoliberal academic organs to provide an intellectual framework.
The left can spend it's time much more profitably than debating these sterile, worn out arguments by seeking to own the future with practical solutions to todays and tomorrows issues.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[I specifically said not to attack the author. Three day ban for wasting my moderator time and creating a hostile environment for the people who put up content. – weka]
You’re lucky I didn’t see the second comment, now in trash. Making a note in the backend for future reference. Count this as a second warning about ignoring moderation directions.
Sanctuary – I agree with your view entirely, the only view I've seen that states the right wing as responsible for our wokeness problem. It's just more division strategy from the neo liberal conservatives but it's not really working for them. I as a leftie don't have the slightest problem with it. Well said mate. I don't understand the moderation notes?
Did you read the post? There’s a note at the top saying debate the issues raised, don’t attack the author. It’s longstanding policy to not attack authors because getting posts up on TS is more important than commenters having wee anti author rants instead of engaging in debate. Sanctuary knows this. The blatant disrespect fir moderation is part of the ban.
had Sanctuary’s comment been made without the author attack it would still be under the original post and they wouldn’t have been banned.
I had to read the post before I could agree with it, yes? I note that a few other commenters have possibly attacked the author, although I wouldn't rate any of them (including Sanctuary) as attacks IMHO. This is not an attack on you and thanks for your input.
You said you didn’t understand the mod notes. I asked if you read the post because it clearly explains the boundaries at the top.
no one has to agree with posts. They do have to abide by moderation. I’m guessing you didn’t see Sanctuary’s second comment. They were basically trolling at that point.
I’ve got years of writing and moderation at TS as well as cross posting and encouraging new authors. I’ve been listening to writers say what’s hard about writing here. I have a pretty good idea of what is needed for robust debate and it isn’t long termers ignoring the rules of the site and doing whatever the hell they like.
calling an author a shill is an attack, as an example, and it’s a specious form of debate and it derails. Author attacks are designed to undermine the person, that’s bulkshit tactics.
One of the reasons I put the post up is because I want the left to take a long hard look at itself and go back to debating the issues. Apparently that’s too hard.
That kind of commenting also opens the way for other people to make defamatory comments which puts the site owners at risk.
What is Pasokification?
The decline of left and centre left parties in Europe, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasokification
@Sanctuary
"Edwards is not stupid, yet he continually – and deliberately in my opinion – continues to conflate "liberal" with the left"
This is THE major problem of the Left today..ie separating with extreme prejudice who and what are the Left in most people’s minds from who and what are the Centrist Liberals.
One of my sons is at Uni at the moment and even there they don’t make this critical distinction..except it seems when it suits the arguments of the status quo.
Sorry to see you got kicked off…seems a bit harsh.
Adrian, I feel many in the left drive this wedge themselves.
I always consider myself to be centralist economically, but definitely left socially. That position is based on my life experiences and observations. I have encountered many small business owners being the same.
Many times on TS (and in everyday life) i encounter many in the left that cannot see this is not a contradiction (necessarily) and just hurl personal abuse if one isn't 100% 'left', instead of accepting that a centralist-leftist has significant overlaps with the majority of the left.
I probably have not explained that well, but that's how I feel.
Still waiting for that link Peter ChCh.
What link? I explained very patiently and carefully. I cannot do more than that. if you lack the experience, knowledge or are just so plain pig headed to understand something which is very basic then I really cannot help you.
This was two days ago. FFS. MOVE ON. THIS IS HARRESSMENT.
MODERATORS PLEASE NOTE. ‘NZ Perverse economy. This poster Louis is WAY out of line.
It was yesterday. You were asked to provide a link to support your claim of "repeated lies"
You said it Peter ChCh “Clark repeatedly lied to the media before finally coming clean and apologising for his lies”
Put up a link
You dogged and abused me on Saturday, I assume that is what you are still dogging and abusing me about today?
You really need a life Louis
Not Saturday, it was yesterday.
No need to be obtuse Peter Chch. You cant back up your claim that “Clark repeatedly lied to the media before finally coming clean and apologising for his lies”
You have done what you accused Clark of doing, you lied.
Feeling vulnerable over your ‘Clark hit job’? The pushback is fair, imho.
"Unbelievable" indeed.
That is all factual (ok, 'under his bed' was his displayed mindset rather than fact).
I think you will find most Kiwis (left or right) have little but contempt for Clark.
And no, not feeling vulnerable in any shape or form whatsoever. Just tired of the type of endless crap I got from Louis on Saturday.
Already put up a link date stamped the 30th which was Sunday. You don't speak for most Kiwis PeterChch and will remind you that Clark won his seat convincingly last year so obviously its not as you described. Besides, you have been caught out telling porkies. Very hypocritical of you.
This is the start of it. It progressed to the stage where he admitted he lied. It was well reported at the time but this sets the scene.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/leaked-email-contradicts-health-ministers-claim-that-he-was-briefed-about-only-one-leaky-building-at-middlemore/QVFU6ELYYYX2HARGO3QW4SEE5M/
MODERATORS
Please note these continual personal attack from this idiot Louis. I put up with this idiot on Saturday with personal abuse. Still at it. Calling someone a lier with no grounds, on top of the endless shit I endured from this cretin on Saturday is not unacceptable!
Yesterday 30th, I asked you for a link to back up your claims, even Incognito said to you "You should still provide a link about all those lies by Clark to the media, thanks"
Take note of the date
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30-05-2021/#comment-1795498
Doesn't back you up
"Clark says he has already received an apology from acting board chairman Rabin Rabindran for not mentioning the extent of the problem – which supports Clark's version of what he was and wasn't told on March 13"
No link for that claim Louis.
I can see you intend this to be a repeat of your Saturday crap. I will not reply to you anymore.
'Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience'. (Mark Twain)
[watching this thread, hoping I don’t need to become involved, which was forlorn hope 🙁
You made the assertion, you need to provide a link or withdraw and apologise.
I’ve put you in Pre-Moderation for now in anticipation of your response – Incognito]
The quote is from your link that you posted and it doesn't back up your false claims. Why you persist in lying and digging an even greater hole for yourself PeterChCh, is anyone's guess.
See my Moderation note @ 1:09 pm.
…just a thought…from what you are saying….you are not Left socially…you are Liberal Socially…the Leftist position is based and revolves around Economic Theory.
+1 Sanctuary
+10 Louis
Mod note for you.
The report on Climate Change is due out today.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018797656/climate-change-commission-to-present-final-report
We may have to wait (up to) 2 weeks to find out whats in it it seems
Oh no! That’s how they bury sensitive reports; in two weeks, we’ll have forgotten about it
Labour have until the end of the year to accept the recommendations or present their own plan. Crunch time
That’s a very long to wait for release of the full report to the public!
The report needs to be table in Parliament within two weeks so will then be publicly available.
Ta
End of year is what happens next.
"The independent advice was handed to the Minister today (Monday 31 May). The Commission will publish the advice on its website next Wednesday (9 June) once it has been tabled by the Minister."
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC2105/S00074/climate-change-commissions-final-advice-delivered-to-government.htm
When hearing about plans to build a tunnel from Auckland city to North Shore I think about our earthquake potential in NZ. A recent study on earthquake preparedness there contains this:
Eruptions in the Auckland volcanic field happen in a new location each time – rather than from one of the 53 existing cones and lakes – and they could be anywhere on land or in the sea. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/443704/study-assesses-evacuation-window-for-aucklanders-in-volcanic-eruption
And it doesn't mention the huge cost of such a tunnel if we take it on though we are in a fast-fading economy. When we run out of houses to sell, we will have to sell ourselves in new ways, just to survive. The cost of a tunnel may be amortised over many decades, but if our economy declines we will be left with an enforceable debt as the financial institutions don't go in for compassionate jubilees for debt.* No, nay, never, anyway probably not now in Our Brave New World.
* The tendency for debts to grow faster than the population's ability to pay has been a basic constant throughout all recorded history. … The concept of a debt jubilee is not new. It dates back to biblical times and the Book of Leviticus where the Hebrews would every 50 years free slaves, prisoners and forgive debts.16/04/2012
Debt Jubilee for New Zealand – The Great Reset | Scoop News
https://www.scoop.co.nz › Top Scoops
Fascinating – kea may be more intelligent than we are – by applying their brain to achieve rational results that benefit them. We seem to believe in SEP – someone will rescue us from the horns of our dilemmas! Ouch! Old news piece from last year, still worth reading.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/410887/study-on-kea-notes-unprecedented-smart-behaviour Mar.4/20
In a paper published today in Nature Communications, University of Auckland experts found the birds can judge statistical odds in a way only ever seen before in infants and great apes.
In a range of tests at the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, kea worked out that choosing a particular coloured token always led to a food reward, and even managed to learn which of their rangers was most likely to pick the token they wanted.
Study co-author Alex Taylor, a psychologist who studies intelligence in animals and birds, said the behaviour they saw was unprecedented in birds.
But this is hard to beat – the Japanese crow and the traffic nut cracker and light service.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPGknpq3e0
The mundane reality of one transperson's life.
https://twitter.com/postingdad/status/1399085081130532868
Nice one. We definitely need more normalising stories.
yet, the politics.
so how do we do this then? I’d be happy to talk about women’s sex based rights and not talk about trans issues, but it’s really hard to do. I had a fair crack with the census post I wrote. But when left wing men are now taking the position that women don’t get to define their own politics and thus their lives, how is that different than what he is talking about in that post?
I've not seen a convincing explanation yet about why rights would be described as 'sex-based' rather than 'gender-based'.
The debate isn’t sex based vs gender based rights. It’s existing sex based rights *and gender based rights vs removing sex based rights and replacing with only gender based rights.
Do you have a link about 'sex based' rights that is not just talking about gender-based ones? ie: it is about 'females' rather than 'women'. Doesn't sound like any UN Conventions I know of.
Not really my area at the international level, but I've seen GCFs talking about CEDAW as being sex based. A quick google found this,
https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cedaw.aspx
I'm more familiar with the debate in the UK, where law gives rights to people who transition, and retains rights for women based on sex to the exclusion of males (including trans women) where necessary. Trans lobbyists like Mermaids have been trying to get this removed.
https://legalfeminist.org.uk/2021/03/13/sex-based-rights-a-remedy-to-sex-based-wrongs/
Important to also understand that the word gender is often used to mean sex, especially historically.
Another useful case to look at is in Canada where the Human Rights Tribunal ruled against a pre-op trans woman who was insisting that estheticians waxed their genitals.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/transgender-woman-human-rights-waxing-1.5330807
Almost none of the Canadian mainstream media would cover the case while it was ongoing, such has been the success of the 'no debate' lobby. It was covered by some conservative media eg The Post Millennial. This is part of why left wing GCFs get called right wing, but where these were the only outlets available (there are also right wing GC people). GCFs went to the tribunal hearings and live tweeted them, which is how GCFs knew what was going on when the rest of the left was clueless. What this has meant is that most of the left don't actually know what the issues are.
Despite having 'Women' in its name.
yes. Most people believe that woman is a word used to mean biologically female.
Most women were happy to share that word with trans women up to the point that women's rights were put at risk.
eg you know exactly what I mean by the use of 'women's' in that second sentence.
That UK link you provided is relying on conflating 'male' with 'men' and 'female' with 'women' throughout.
Perhaps it is men that CGFs could usefully exclude without confusing things – otherwise I can easily see transmen being entitled to be in women's spaces (not that I think they would seek to be). Unless it is penises that are somehow the problem, which seems overblown?
"That UK link you provided is relying on conflating 'male' with 'men' and 'female' with 'women' throughout."
That seems to be what the Canadian case was mostly about. Though the court seemed to agree that not waxing a 'womans' penis wasn't discriminatory, (though the plantifs litigation may have been).
I don't think so, it's not conflation, it's normal use of language. Most English speakers understand that men = male and vice versa. And it's clear in the context. I'd certainly expect Labour MPs to read and and be able to understand it.
It's males that are generally the problem. Sometimes they get called male, sometimes they get called men. This is one very good reason to talk about women and trans women, and men and trans men, rather than conflating the two. It's not GCFs that are confusing things.
do you honestly believe that women who have been raped should have to share space with people of whatever gender identity who are male bodied with genitals intact? Share a bedroom in a refuge with a man identifying as a woman? Share a changing room?
There's the Staniland Question:
Interesting use of the word 'though' there Nic.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018797194/peter-singer-freedom-of-expression-and-cancel-culture
Re above link and Singer. Consequentialist….
As a consequentialist and a utilitarian, Singer believes there are no such hard and fast rules.
"A consequentialist believes that whether an act is right or wrong depends on its consequences. So it's not just a matter of saying 'Here's a moral rule, you must never break it no matter what'. For a consequentialist, this 'no matter what' doesn't apply because there may be some circumstances in which a rule you never normally should break you should break because there'd be very bad consequences if you adhere to the rule.
The utilitarian part of it is 'what do you mean by good consequences?' and utilitarians say 'What I mean is something that reduces the amount of suffering in the world or increases the amount of happiness in the world'. We're basically talking about the well-being of people and non-human animals.
"We should be able to say 'yes it may cause some harm to some people but it's important for us to have free debate to find out what are the right views and what are the best policies for dealing with these issues?'"
Freedom of speech should not extend to protecting people's right to hate speech or any malicious incitement of violence, he says….
7th August 2021 7-9.45pm The Trusts Arena, Henderson – Singer will be speaking. $70 up. Funds to alleviate global poverty.
https://events.humanitix.co.nz/peter-singer-auckland
More info: https://thinkinc.org.au/events/singer/?
Funny how it's always the same social groups his 'debate' causes harm to. And how his need to hear his own voice reliably outweighs that.
I don’t follow PS, or anybody, for that matter, but he does seem to appear in NZ media more than occasionally …
What groups (plural) are singled out and ‘victimised’ by his debates and do you think this is deliberate and intentional? Seems a bit of a contradiction to the PR around his visit and journal!?
Have a quick look at his public work on disability and infanticide
In his book Practical Ethics, Singer argues the case for selective infanticide. He deems it unfair that "At present parents can choose to keep or destroy their disabled offspring only if the disability happens to be detected during pregnancy.14/08/2012
The case against Peter Singer – ABC News
It would prevent this:
A woman in her 20s living with quadriplegia and unable to talk suffered "extensive blister burns" from urine after a nurse neglected her care for 12 hours.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/woman-in-20s-with-quadriplegia-suffers-blister-burns-due-to-lack-of-care/WAKF4IF74DO4GMP6BBBSETZEEY/
And that money and 24/7 care for someone who has no hope of a life could go to other needy disabled people like these:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/woman-paralysed-in-horse-fall-takes-fight-over-closure-auckland-rehab-centre-parliament
It comes after hundreds of disabled people protested outside of Epsom’s Laura Fergusson Trust rehabilitation centre over the weekend.
The centre provided rehabilitation for young people with disabilities to escape the confines of their homes in the company of others their age.
But it closed last year, claiming it was short of funds, leaving those depending on its services devastated.
However, Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall told the House that financial support was offered to Laura Fergusson Trust.
“No discussion was able to be entered into, because the trust informed the Ministry of Health that its decision was final,” Verrall said.
It seems impossible for people to make the reasoned moral judgments that must be made if we are to have any moral judgments at all. It is likely that the PTB will harden, throw their hands up in the air and say the matter is beyond them, and those who are unhappy can get some funds and carry out their own nursing and caring. But then, that is already happening and it will become more burdensome as help is lessened and people are unwilling to face their situation.
I'm always leery of comments about someone else having "no hope of a life" especially when based on perceived quality of life (rather than whether the body is in a condition consistent with the continuation of life). It tends to be a rather subjective assessment.
Now, personally, most babies only a few months old are largely uninteresting and unimpressive, especially prems. But there are two main differences between a born baby and pregnancy: they don't rely on someone else's body to live (by and large), and the birth delineation is a convenient ledge on an otherwise slippery slope.
The other less logical difference is "what sort of person makes a clinical decision to actively kill a baby that would otherwise live with only normal feeding and suchlike? I mean, scalpel? Drug injection? Seriously, wtf?"
I get palliative care for a baby that just has too much going on to survive, but Singer's idea seems to be actively deciding for another person that their quality of life is so unbearable they should die. The bit that the euthenasia act doesn't allow ("be competent to make an informed decision about assisted dying.").
Ah. So. The Gospel according to Greywarshark seems to state that killing a disabled baby is the bestest way of preventing abuse and neglect of that baby by a caregiver in the future.
AND, the $$$ that were being paid for that shitty care would have been better spent on those disabled folk with at least some hope of rehabilitation. Like the young woman tragically made a quadriplegic after a horse riding accident.
Here endeth the moral lessons from Greywarshark for today.
(Oh, a quadriplegic sitting in his chair to my right has a few choice words on this…but good manners prevent me passing them on.)
It's also laughable (bleakly) that 'freed up' funding would go to other disabled people.
Is that you Michael Laws?
Spouting your eugenicist shit from behind a coward's pseudonym?
Snort, that's funny.
Just a gentle reminder that pseudonyms are an important part of the culture here and for good reasons.
Happy to take a gentle knuckle- rapping weka.
I have no issue at all with those who comment anonymously who are respectful and engage in good faith.
Although occasionally I do wonder exactly what reputation or position some other anonymous commentators are trying to protect.
Someone who claims the moral, reasoned high ground in advocating for the killing of disabled babies who have "no life" (and adds in an extra societal benefit in that the saved dollars can go towards supporting the clearly more worthy injured) must surely have spine enough to put their actual name and face to their views.
Nine years ago this writer (i.e., moi) engaged in an epistolary exchange with Laws. His views were exactly as you describe: eugenicist….
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-22022012/#comment-439366
Those straight utilitarians are just a pain in the ass. They have so much in common with the more scientifically bogus parts of New Public Management theory in terms of inputs and outputs being applied to social outcomes.
Funny you should say that: I had another convo here today about ‘business cases’ in the context of bikes & babies.
QUESTION: What's the difference between Bryce Edwards and Brian Edwards?
.
.
.
.
.
.
ANSWER: Bryce Edwards has not banned this writer (i.e., moi) from his blog for life.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
How to turn attention away to a non-entity that is infinitesimally irrelevant (i.e. toi)!! Why don’t you start your own YT channel or a blog?
RNZ just announced Nick Smith is retiring June 10th.
Who’s next on the list, Max?
Umm, Max?
Smith is going now that we have found out about something he regrets and apologised for. Integrity much?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/443742/national-mp-nick-smith-to-retire-from-parliament
It was only a matter of time until he blew a gasket.
You know Max, don’t you? He doesn’t register in the polls yet but his daddy still does. National can do with an aspiring DJ because JC makes awful scratchy noises, like an old broken LP on a wonky turntable.
Ahh, that was the second guess but I was stuck with Bradford.
Oh no, that Max is older even than unlicensed Tim!
I don't think National has any other qualified engineers on their team.
He did plenty of good stuff for Conservation.
He did plenty of good stuff for Conservation.
????!!?!?!?!?
The people who care about water pollution don't think so.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/41536/eight_col_20170904_083133.jpg?1504474292
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/horse-manure-sculpture-of-environment-minister-nick-smith-moves-to-nelson/72CA7IK4SCNOU34ECGEZLRNY5Q/
Thanks for that Morrissey – very good likeness of Nick Smith from the front anyway.
Harete Hipango, according to the Herald. Talk about turning good news into bad news.
Ticks a lot of boxes as a potential future deputy to Nat leader Luxon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harete_Hipango
Not talented enough to challenge for the role herself, you mean?
Not our Harete.
Well he certainly wont be missed. In fact will Parliament even notice when he's gone?
Yes!! I clapped. Cinny would have been pleased.
I resisted the term Dr Custard…
Dr Custard doesn’t cut the mustard.
Odd. A Radionz interview between Jesse Mulligan and Fed Farmers David Clark cannot be accessed as audio on Live Canterbury Flooding owing to 'copyright restrictions'.
A Radionz piece can't be repeated on another RNZ piece for copyright restrictions to whom? Is Radionz fragmenting and selling off pieces of itself to the National Radio listeners disadvantage? Is it dividing into units with each one making sufficient money to meet a target?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/443699/live-canterbury-flooding-updates-bridges-collapse-hundreds-of-homes-evacuated
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018797701/update-on-flooding-in-mid-cantebury
The National Party placemen on the RNZ board are intent on ruining the public broadcaster. They almost managed to abolish Concert FM last year.
Unfortunately, as he showed during that debacle, the present minister does not appear to have any grasp on his job.
"The National Party placemen on the RNZ board".
That is a fascinating theory but what do you base it on? There are 8 members on the Board. Only 2 of them were appointed by the then National Government. They were in December 2015 and September 2017.
The other 6 were all appointed after that date. In other words 6 of the 8, including the Chairman, were appointed by a Labour led Government. You are pretty desperate if you really think that 2 people can order the Board around aren't you?
Now what do you base your claim on?
Usually means the audio contains copyrighted music.
Lose Yourself?
Pretty often
Don’t worry, be happy.
Even happier Nick Smith has resigned citing employment issues being leaked to the Media tomorrow.
Why on Earth does that make you happy? Why not smoke a joint?
Leaked?
I suppose that a leak was inevitable. With the matter, whatever it is, being passed on tt at least Hipkins and Mallard under the "No surprises" policy it would only be a matter of when, not if, it was leaked I would surmise.
It is of course time that Smith retired. He has been in the House since 1990 and that is certainly long enough for anyone. It is just a pity that Mallard doesn't go out the door with him. He has been there since 1984 after all. He really ought to be cast out into the outer darkness shouldn't he? Surely there is some senior figure in the Labour Party who can take heed of Eliot's words and ask "Who will rid me of this turbulent prat"
Then Trevor and Nick could be put out to pasture together. Let them spend their remaining time in the sunshine, even if they are really old bulls suitable only for the knacker's yard.
alwyn, why are you trying to blame Hipkins and Mallard? How does it have anything to do with them? In 3 and half years in government Labour haven't leaked a thing about National, so how do you know it wasn't someone within the National party? after all, doesn't National have form in that regard?
" In 3 and half years in government Labour haven't leaked a thing about National".
Ah what blissful belief in the purity of your chosen party. You don't really believe that do you? I mean seriously think that the Labour MPs are truly that saintly. The only way I would think your statement could be true would be if you extend to the whole group of MPs Helen Clark's immortal claim. " "It is a matter of judgment for the Prime Minister how I use information from official reports; by definition I cannot leak.".
Alwyn, can you move this beyond what you believe? I agree it seems unlikely that, since winning the 2017 general election, Labour hasn't leaked anything about National, but (in the absence of evidence), it could be true – no?
Opposition National party people are sooo leaky; their 'leak prowess' is now the stuff of legend – yes Merv, I'm looking at you. What’s a ‘Labour leaker’ to do?
But it was, and probably still is, an article of faith for most of the contributors to this blog that John Key was an inveterate liar.
Are you now suggesting that John Key doesn't lie, or at least sometimes doesn't lie? BLIP will not be pleased. How can we tell the difference?
Alwyn, not sure how you got:
from Sir (Honest) John Key's 2020 imperative "If you can't quit leaking, quit the [National] party".
Reckon it would be difficult to lie about everything; even inveterate liars can sometimes tell the truth – maybe this was such an occasion.
Btw, while you may consider inveterate' to be an appropriate descriptor of this particular 'Key habit', I would prefer 'shameless' – works for
methee.But I've gone off topic:
There must be at least one documented example – how difficult can it be?
Its not about Helen Clark though. Its been Jacinda's policy since coming into government that whatever involves the National party it's their business and despite media efforts to draw commentary from the PM Et al in her government they dont leak and neither do they put the boot in. Just because National are inclined to do it doesn't mean every other party does. The Greens don't do it either.
As usual, you’re all over the place, diverting, dodging, denying, but never answering the question with a straight answer. You, Sir, are not debating here, you are trolling again.