The next 2 to 5 years could (will) prove to be tumultuous ones for the globe and New Zealand: a series of crises will wrack the very foundations of civilised society (and of all life) – the on-going pandemic, a long-overdue economic meltdown and the worst of them all, climate change on an escalating scale.
No country will deal with all three successfully, and that includes this isolated little ‘hermit kingdom,’ but I believe that at least, Jacinda Ardern and this Labour government will attempt to govern for all NZers when the shit hits the fan.
Like all governments ours will attempt to do too little, too late; that’s just the nature of the political beast. Radical change, really radical change is needed, but such change would not be supported by the good old ‘general public’ until the crises bite them on their collective arses, and then they’ll complaint ‘the government should have done something.
But at least I think Labour will try to act in the interests of all NZers. Andrew Beecroft, speaking on NatRadio the other morning said Michael Joseph Savage described the creation of the welfare state as ‘applied Christianity.’ The Natz opposition of the time labelled it ‘applied lunacy,’ and that just about sums up the difference between the two general political philosophies; the left will generally act in the interests of the collective good, the right for ‘individual freedoms.’ The ‘dancing Cossacks,’ the mother of all budgets, tax cuts for the rich are just some examples of the sectional interests of the right.
Things are going to go pretty pear-shaped in the near future (and don’t hold your breath over COP-26) and it won’t be pleasant, but with the Natz and Act in power it would have been an absolute fucking disaster.
A good practical example of this is the Three Waters legislation. We have a water crisis in this country which can’t be fixed by piecemeal uncoordinated changes by indebted local councils. Labour and Nania recognise this and have proposed major reforms (in the interests of all NZers). The rights’ response: government theft of our assets, which is a pretty meaningless thing to say. Remember Nick Smith and ‘wadeable rivers?’ Fw Luxon said the Natz would repeal any changes Labour makes – then what? Wait until we have little drinkable water left in this country which only the rich can afford?
The future looks dark indeed, but with a slightly left leaning, kind government, things might just be bearable in this country. At least, that is what I hope!
Nice try TV, it would be great if your scenario plays out.
I fear that minimal, middle-of-the-road compromises just ain't gonna cut it for dealing with what is about to confront our neolib society on so many fronts. We are in for an unpredictable and probably unprecedented harsh ride.
Climate change, economic instability and living with an endemic virus, just one of these requires a huge budget and sensible leadership.
I would also add providing affordable housing and having a health system which meets the needs of the population. People need to learn how to become more self sufficient as well.
Perhaps. But the outbreak has to peak at some point, and there are only so many unvaccinated muppets in Auckland for this disease to burn through.
(Auckland does not have general community transmission. This is an outbreak running through a very specific subset of society, one that seems to only have minor leakage into the rest of Auckland).
I realise I am a complete outlyer. And am probably talking pants, but have never been able to understand why instead of shutting down the entire country to shield the vulnerable who might get it, we aren't doing it the other way round and just shielding the vulnerable and just getting on with shit.
I just think inconvenience to as fewer people as possible is better than everyone.
I don't even live in Auckland and am living in relative normality in Welly.
Just found it odd you would close off a whole city to shield vulnerable people, rather than just shielding the vulnerable.
Wouldn't be South Auckland btw. It would be those that are older with existing health conditions. The rest just get it and get over it in the vast majority.
Yeas I realise the odd healthy person has died. They also get hit by trucks and die of cancer
It's not South Auckland, and hasn't been for some time. The geographical epicentre is West Auckland, and as noted, it's not a matter of general transmission. If it were, there would be far more Pasifika cases.
The point overlooks that we're not taking geography here. There is no area of Auckland that matches the outbreak – Auckland is 11% Maori, not 45-55% Maori, and the places that have more Maori than Pasifika (as this outbreak does) tend to have very few of either. It's the absence of Pacific Island cases that is the real clue here.
You're dealing with a community subset that is not in one place.
The disease can screw up younger people too, especially if they're unvaccinated.
The real problem possibility is that Covid patients would take up so many of NZ's ICU beds that we actually see a collapse of the health system. Good luck getting a bed if you're a (fully vaccinated) survivor of a car crash.
"Shielding the vulnerable" sounds great and oh so principled. But what it would mean in practice is devolving responsibility onto the vulnerable themselves by placing them at such risk that they voluntarily stay home while everyone else gets to gad about (including any non-vulnerable people they might live with). i.e. in practice it means not shielding them at all.
Truly shielding the vulnerable is actually being their human shield by getting vaccinated and observing public health restrictions like mask-wearing, social-distancing, staying away from crowded places and generally not gadding about. Which is actually what we are doing now.
So people who advocate" shielding the vulnerable" actually mean un-shielding the vulnerable. Many have a horror or incomprehension of collective responsibility because so many minds have been contaminated by 30 years of neolib obsession with 'personal responsibility'. And tbh I am now getting pretty effed off by the whole scene and the intellectual and moral depravity being spewed out all over the place.
Its not just nana and gramps heading for the retirement home (and they deserve a full life too) It's dozens of people you come into contact with in all sorts of places.
also:
where do the 'shielded' go? – because they cannot shield in a bedroom in a full house.
who will care for them?
who does the work (paid/unpaid) that they do?
who pays?
Does the MoH not count the immune-suppressed? I think they include them if they're on certain medications? They're included in the 3rd primary vaccine dose.
Immune compromised yes, auto immune no. There are a bunch of other chronic illnesses also not included. MoH are basically useless on chronic illness unless it’s one of the heart, lung, kidney ones.
it’s also why the Dr Googles on TS feel entitled to make claims about risk eg almost no-one is at risk from the vaccine. They’re pig ignorant. Afaik the research just hasn’t been done.
I've said before here NZ is blessed with world leading Professor Ed Game, part of the team that gave us the cure for hep C a chronic liver disease caused by a virus, his team here tell me the risks of covid far out weigh the risk of the vaccine. Pig ignorant he is not.
That's interesting. I see these as pretty much the same (because both apply to me), but now you mention it, I can see there might be a few differences.
How to make sense of this: Many of those with autoimmune disorders are given medications which suppress their immune systems which leave them 'immunocompromised' and vulnerable to infections including COVID.
With 5000? "freedom'? marchers I think in two to four days Ad.
There is still a gulf of mistrust in many Rotorua Maori, but this new targeted approach is having success. Although some are resistant they are talking now. They say the new "kindness" leaves them suspicious, as that usually proceeds someone wanting something.
We are in some cases reaping what we have sown. I hope these fears and resulting mistrust can be overcome before the virus gets into their community. As one lady said, "it will be endless tangihanga." Being angry won't help this. It is sad.
This isn't simply about poverty. Pasifika have solid vaccination rates. Nor is it about anti-Maori racism. Elderly Maori are vaccinated too, as are Maori in Wellington and the South Island.
There is, unfortunately, something going through younger, upper North Island Maori that makes them vulnerable to such nuttery. The only thing that is being "wanted" here is for these people to save their own lives, and the lives of their elders.
New Zealand overcome a spirited Wales in the second half to put 50 points on the Welsh at home for the first time.
Wales lost their talisman leader Alun Wyn Jones, early in the first half, to a troublesome shoulder injury. AB highlights include Beaden Barrett scoring two tries and winning man of the match in his 100th game. Best try was to Seevu Reece after the ball changed hands several times down the left flank.
Interest turns to the Black Ferns with nine debutants against a very strong England team tomorrow morning.
Given that due due mmp,our election s have basically become a presidential style election, it would be deeply dishonest for labour to win the election with Ardern at the top then quickly change leaders!
Nah, if she had enough, of if her party has enough of her, she can simply not run and be honest. I hear honesty and integrity are such important things in a politician.
So you would be ok if the country gets fooled by Labour into voting for Jacinda again, just for her to resign to spend more time with the family and make way for Robertson.
Wow. Nevermind the people that in that scenario would have voted for her. To me that would be bordering on fraud on the voting puplic. If she is done with the job, say so, early enough and let Labour run on whom ever they put out. If they are doing such a good job, they should have no issue being voted in again. If no, they did not do as good a job as you might imagine.
I don't know, the idea that Labour might dump Ardern and replace her with 'neoliberal to my core' GR after the election just made me much more interested in pre-election post writing 😈
this is about pretending to run a candidate for an office that that particular candidate then is not going to hold cause they transition after the win into private life rather then do the job they were elected for.
If you want people to get even more cynical about Labour and their doodahs that would be the best way to go.
Vote for Jacinda, Get Grant boy! 2023
Yeah, nah nah.
Vote third party, cause the two big ones are insufferable in their contempt of he tangata.
Oh shhh, this is just a mature discussion of how the public can be fooled/lied/cheated/cajoled/ into ordering one thing and then getting delivered something altogether different, but sadly there will be no right to return, nor will the Labour party accept any complaints from upset voters.
Vote Labour – It don't matter who runs, It just matters who wins. 2023
and you wonder why people stop paying attention and voting.
Cynical. Running for PM and then three month in giving it over to the one who would not have won is cheating. Frankly if the Labour Party knows it can't win on the calibre of its staff, than maybe it needs to start hiring better people.
Out in the open. Yeah, right Tui.
but i will file this under another reason not to vote for this lot.
The cynicism only comes from the Green Party of which you seem so keen to support.
The Greens' leader James Shaw has flown to the most important climate conference in a decade, with zero plan for our country. Even though it's the only thing he had any responsibility to do, and he has made a career out of climate change advocacy.
The Greens have minimal profile despite the whole of the global MSM are pouring climate change stories out faster than you can speak. It was supposed to be something they could do.
The Green's conference is largely held in secret.
The Greens currently oppose the water reforms, according to Sage's media release.
The Greens haven't even bothered to support light rail in Auckland this week.
The Greens are otherwise in charge of nothing, and act like it.
And when the government needs them to assist in a progressive agenda, they run like the fucking political weaklings they are.
The Greens are bumping along around 6-7%, when they were equal with Act just months ago. Act are now challenging National for leadership. Imagine if the Greens had the competence or courage to challenge Labour like Act has National. Greens simply don't have competent leadership to compete.
Instead, the Greens have a very good shot at simply not getting into parliament next time. So it's always amusing to see people like you complain and complain and complain when the only party in parliament that is failing is the Green Party.
I know you don't like the Greens, because they challenge your third way, Blairite world view.
However what are the Greens supposed to do, when the media refuse to publish and ignore everything they say or do, while blaring out like a trumpet, every national party "barking at passing cars" press release and every vapid propaganda meme from the twerking fool?
Not to mention Labour adopting Green policies. Which may not help the Greens visibility, but are still Green achievements.
Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean nothing is happening.
Greens don’t have millions to spend on social media propaganda campaigns. Like the current ones from right wing puppets, including the Tax dodgers Union.
(Greens only accept funding from individuals, not companies or other organisations).
KJT I guess Shaw could have loudly said ,fuck going to copout 26 because this country's not doing much other than rearrange the deck cheers with the foolish ets, and countries like india are committed to burning coal for decades , .
lol, i support the Green? Since when? Because i voted for them many years back in the past? Because i gave some losing greeny a vote because i could not and will not vote for the Labour Quota Woman Jacinda Ardern? Good grief. That is just now pathetic.
Honey, as it stands and as i have stated before, i will neither vote L, N, G. There is not enough money and love in the world that would compel me to rubberstamp anyone of these overpaid and rather useless muppets.
I don't hear that being said by anyone but you Sabine.
But then you have ruled out all parties except Act as far as I can see. So you would say that.
I think Jacinda Ardern has more integrity than that. Just because you don't like her and the Government doesn't give you the right to say untrue things. You constantly look for a stick to beat them with.
"Cheating/ Fraud" Get over your self. It has not happened it will not happen. Parties change their rules quite regularly.
With people like you, damned if they do alter rules and damned if they don't.
You are building bridges for non-existent rivers!!
I think Jacinda and Grant are a great team, as they have agreed goals for NZ. Bit by bit they are changing the levers.
No one is challenging Jacinda Ardern. This meme (Jacinda will retire) has appeared in right wing comments lately. Shades of utter desperation. They have gone from "anyone but JC" to "JA needs to leave as Luxton could compete with Robertson" imo.
1st impression – Get Judge Andrew Breecroft to me a minister – He has more passion and would have greater urgency into fixing the problems that Labour has so often promised to do. He would be action other than just words we hear.
Our minister of Health failed at the end of his interview with his dodging from "The way we manage this virus is keeping people safe," well allowing a 2000 group activity a few weeks ago expand to 5000. Is that the way we are now managing this.
FFS Andrew Little can he not make more light weight excuses for any senior government ministers from visiting Auckland. "There are restrictions in place into getting into and out of Auckland", and then "its about not looking like swanning in and out and our life carries on..", are you guys that superficial ?? Perhaps you don't want to hear and see what you would face should senior govt minister would be confronted with reality.
You do like to misrepresent Labour Govt. ministers at every opportunity don't you. Never mind the context, just so long as you can deride and sneer through a false lens.
Andrew Little was asked a question along the lines… why doesn't Jacinda Ardern andher ministers visit Auckland? It was a mischievous question designed to create an impression that the don't care about Auckland.
First:
The moment they started gallivanting in and out of Auckland the screams from Collins and that pipsqueak, Seymour would reach a crescendo… how dare they come and go as they please while the rest of us are not allowed in or out without special exemptions. One rule for them and another for the rest of us.
Second:
Jacinda Ardern and her senior ministers have a duty to remain in Wellington while the country is going through one of the the most serious crisis in our history. They must be on tap 24/7 to speak with the experts etc., and be able to make instant decisions as emergencies arise.
They are the ones confronting reality – not the likes of Herodotus and Co. Their colleagues in Auckland are working their guts out keeping them informed and assisting Aucklanders wherever they can. They don't need to come here to know what is going on.
What's more, I don't want them to. Neither do most other reasonable people. They have more than enough to do in Wellington trying to look after the whole country in unprecedented times.
Agree Anne, like rumours of Jacinda leaving just stirring to cause anger and uncertainty. What alternatives do they offer 'Tax cuts" lol been there done that Did nothing for 90% of NZ.
A so-called journalist writes an opinion piece claiming that Jacinda might be moving on and immediately there are messages here from agitated people who think that opinion is now fact. Bad enough reading the local neighbourhood pages and seeing all the misinformation and abuse spewing out there – always optimistic that there was more intelligence on this site. Fake news is fake news ; we should recognise it for what it is and give it no time or oxygen.
"Jacinda Ardern and her senior ministers have a duty to remain in Wellington while the country is going through one of the the most serious crisis in our history. They must be on tap 24/7 to speak with the experts etc., and be able to make instant decisions as emergencies arise."
Ardern has been pottering all over during October ……. Hawkes Bay, Poverty Bay, Lakes district. that being said can't see the point of her travelling to Auckland it's not as if she can do anything useful here.
From memory she spent about a week in the East Coast region. They were well behind the ball game and needed a booster which she was able to provide. That was a useful exercise and she was never that far from Wellington had an emergency arisen. As you say, there's nothing she can do here in Auckland that is not already happening.
It's Ardern and key leadership that are holding this country together. Keeping that leadership safe and functioning is our highest national security risk.
Herald has "Heather Du Plessis-Allan: Jacinda Ardern must visit Auckland."
Following in the headline is "few in Wellington understand the pain."
I'd suggest that many in New Zealand don't understand the pain – the pain of Covid hitting and how it has hit around the world. By rights we should have had many hundreds of thousands of cases and uncomfortably more than ten thousand deaths.
We're largely inured to the reality of how it is and has been globally. We don't know how lucky we are and we're sure as hell ain't going to stop whingeing and making out that our lot is worse than anywhere else.
And note: it is advocates of right-wing neoliberal philosophy – of which HDPA is a member- who are doing all the whingeing and moaning. It never ceases to amaze me these selfish, self-centred pseudo journos are still spreading their lies and innuendo without any consequences whatsoever.
If I had my way they would have been banned from all media platforms by now. I guess its just as well I never get my way. 😉
I think Brian Priestly would have agreed with you.
Media standards are now unimaginably low – the current crop of churnalists are lower than a worm's soul – they make used cars dealers look like saints.
Thank you for reminding me of Brian Priestly. Now there was a journalist of real stature. He was one of a stack of them who were prominent in the 60s,70s and the 80s – Priestly, Ian Johnston, Ian Templeton to name just three. I've forgotten the names of the others but they really show up the current bunch (with a few exceptions of course) for the cowardly ignoramuses they are.
I quoted Little's response, how is that misrepresenting ?I notice your reply had no reference to Littles response, perhaps you are being selective !!! And his 2 reasons for not visiting Auckland were shallow at best. But I am sure for you either of these 2 excuses are fully justified.
"They are the ones confronting reality – not the likes of Herodotus and Co." Funny as I live in Auckland, I am experiencing & confronting reality.
"Their colleagues in Auckland are working their guts out keeping them informed and assisting Aucklanders wherever they can. They don't need to come here to know what is going on." Well that is not true – Go to food banks and those community assistance groups there are great people doing this with no sight or assistance of any Ak MP's But some of us are able to give and still get attacked for making observations from those like you sitting firing darts
Why do food banks and social services need first hand assistance from MPs and their teams ? Great for photo opportunities – yes – of but practical assistance ? There has been generous extra emergency food funding in Auckland and I've had no problems getting nutritious good sized food parcels delivered to clients in need. Food banks and social services prepare regular statistical / info reports which are sent on to all stakeholders / local MPs etc.
We are fast approaching Christmas – And from my experience this time of year results in increased needs that are not there during the rest of the year. These are met to some degree and give a ray of sunshine how communities support those in need e.g. Community Christmas lunch/dinner, Sourcing & distribution of Christmas food, providing a moment of enjoyment and presents for the children etc will these be an option this year with Covid (Last year there was no restrictions) ?
This time of year there is an increase in people seeking help with their mental welfare, and that this need will be larger than ever (Many who help out are already themselves under stress due to their working in Health and Education)?
By being there you can view stress of helpers/those in need, see hardship, see food stocks or lack of. Just get a feel of how things are, that are unable to be expressed by a phone call, a email, info reports etc.
Maybe they can be shamed into finally accepting that people are doing it hard. I know its hard to understand on a 6 figure income but people are doing it hard.
Never mind, next year in April the Labour Party will again very generously trickle a few pennies down on the deserving poor.
Herodotus, Do you know who supplied the money for the foodbanks? Or is that "being selective". NZ knows how hard this has been, and support all the assistance the Government has supplied. They have done this through familiar agencies to avoid "Oh you are just vote buying". I have not seen anyone querying any of that support. Andrew Little is not a front person, he is not glib and always tries to answer sometimes loaded questions. He is an honest man, journalists thought they had all disappeared.
The comment was a response from MY experience towards what I have seen and heard to Anne and her "Never mind the context, just so long as you can deride and sneer through a false lens." and "..working their guts out keeping them informed and assisting Aucklanders wherever they can."
And why do you ask "who supplied the money for the foodbanks" in some cases I do know where some of the food and other goods have come from: great anonymous individuals and companies.
"Andrew Little is not a front person.." Still we can only go by his answers and in this case both were poor.
I quoted Little's response, how is that misrepresenting ?I notice your reply had no reference to Littles response, perhaps you are being selective !!! And his 2 reasons for not visiting Auckland were shallow at best. But I am sure for you either of these 2 excuses are fully justified.
Below is what you said @ 6
FFS Andrew Little can he not make more light weight excuses for any senior government ministers from visiting Auckland. "There are restrictions in place into getting into and out of Auckland", and then "its about not looking like swanning in and out and our life carries on..", are you guys that superficial ? (My Bold)
That was a disingenuous response to the Little interview. I answered your claims of his supposed "light weight excuses" and "superficial" response more than adequately @ 6.2.
I do not believe you are a genuine commenter on this site. Your frequent snide references – often couched in the same kind of disingenuous wording as this latest example – lead me to suspect you are really a troll. Your next step will no doubt be to claim victimhood at my expense. 🙄
So these 2 reasons for not travelling to Auckland; One that has been countlessly been solved by many travellers flying here to Auckland in level 3, and the other isn't a reason precluding travel that of possible perception of "swanning ". Your excuses for Littles answers do not IMO cover it, and are totally inadequate. Should you consider me a troll then perhaps a little depth in your response could test that out, that could be asking too much to defend the indefensible as to why traveling to Auckland ins unable to happen.
Some could read your comments that if commentators don't follow your view of the world then they are not welcome.
So you cover yourself regarding me claiming victim hood then you come back with this “As a senior citizen who lives in Auckland and has been very adversely affected by the lockdown” Who are you to say that to , are you that privileged that we all should be on our knees towards you, you are not the only one that this lockdown has had an effect on,perhaps you should consider others ??
Go to food banks and those community assistance groups there are great people doing this with no sight or assistance of any Ak MP's But some of us are able to give and still get attacked for making observations form those like you sitting firing darts.
Spare me the pathos please. Who is throwing the darts? YOU ARE.
How do you know the AK Labour MPs are not out there working their guts out for their affected constituents? Just because they are not swanning around in front of TV cameras like some others we know doesn't mean they are not flat tack. Some of those especially Sth Auckland way must be in a state of exhaustion by now.
As for your offensive comment about "sitting firing darts". As a senior citizen who lives in Auckland and has been very adversely affected by the lockdown, I take deep offence at such a comment. It only serves to confirm my observations about you.
All of political action is like that. That is what being an activist generally means. Make a noise, create good trouble and hopefully bring about change.
Wow!! What a picture of selfish people. All pushing money, trying to cloak it as 1. religion 2. hospitality 3. food production. Bugger Health. Self Interest first by them. imo.
If the water reforms are to have a shot, the farmer lobby needs to be actively smashed.Those who quibble with the legislation proposed (and I've been one) will figure the colossal risk to our country of failing.
As long as it is remembered that everything cities rely upon moves along roads and highways with Farmers along both sides and that cities are surrounded by farmers. The very water people rely upon comes from the country and crosses farms … Their cows already piss in this ……
At her cousin’s home in the Hamilton suburb of Enderley, the least vaccinated suburb in Hamilton, Rose recounts her first interaction with the state. It is the starting point of her mistrust in government, and the relationship hasn't improved since.She feels the state and its agencies have treated her like a criminal, despite having no convictions.
It’s these interactions throughout her life that have informed Rose’s decision not to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Many Māori feel the same way…
I always get stopped by the police even if I’m just walking and minding my business. I never feel listened to at the doctors, and I’m made to feel bad when I have to get assistance from WINZ [Work and Income],” Rose says.
"So yeah I have no criminal record, I work when I can, but I have a newborn, and sometimes I need help, but it’s never good enough for them. You know sis, it’s like I was never good enough until now when they need me to do something, and I’m like what the f….”
Enderley – this is where I grew up. This is where I saw our neighbours go into State care after their parents (Pākehā mother and Māori father, and my mother Pākehā) disappeared on us. After a couple of weeks of us tearing up the neighbourhood, the authorities turned up to round up our families – 6 of us and 5 of them). By pure luck my Dad had just cycled home from work, that Saturday afternoon. The authorities asked “who claims these children?” so Dad claimed us. There was no-one to claim our friends.
Both their parents are now dead and there are only two of their children left now – the first gone at just 18 – booze, drugs, accidents. I caught up with the youngest a couple of years ago at my sister’s funeral (booze, drugs, delayed and denied healthcare). This neighbour's kid has done ok (was fostered to a good family, rather than going to a social welfare unit like her siblings), as have half of my family.
There should be no expectation that the lives we had are going to be inevitably repeated – unless of course, your main interactions are with people in positions of power whose main objective seems to be to keep you down. What it does mean is that any interaction you have with government departments and health and education workers is complicated and requires a lot of compliance for us and a lot of ‘should’ and ‘will’ from them. The alternative to compliance is some form of punishment, there is no autonomy.
Typically, being brown is a signifier for authorities to start with the ‘comply’ rather than the ‘ask’ in any interaction. I’ve not had such a hard time as the neighbours, I’m so white (whiter even than my siblings) my nickname was Milky (or fly-spot due to the freckles). OTOH I was asked once, before I got a smack around the face and a spew of abuse, if I was Māori, because our address and our situation was what all ‘good’ Pākehā think of as a Māori “lifestyle” (liberal intelligentsia who have no belief that a white person from the precariat might succeed at university, I’m looking at you). I’ve escaped all that now and have a cynical (on my part), but relatively good engagement with health and education workers because they have no clue about my background.
When Māori vaccination rates, or naming the communities most affected by this outbreak, come up in conversation in my polite society; and all the intellectual discussions abound, I generally go with the line that it’s simply a big middle-finger to authority – and a well-deserved f*ck you! to politicians, doctors, and educators at that. Florence Kerr's article highlights this view. My family members who didn’t escape also give the one-finger salute to them, as well as swearing by their alternative wellness strategies.
This article is why I’m so frustrated with the government not going with the spirit of the health reforms. How easy would it have been to have someone from Māori Health Authority interim board to be standing up with Dr Bloomfield and the politicians at the beginning of the Delta outbreak and vaccination drive?
I don’t know if playing catch-up with the brilliant work that’s happening on the ground is enough at this stage, but it’s the best hope we’ve got. All strength to the workers doing this job and to the people they care about. As for the police, the government, teachers and healthcare authorities, playing nice from time to time does not make for structural change in attitudes and perceptions. The rest of us should recognise that before having a go at people in the (politely-named) high risk groups who "don't understand / don't care."
They understand all right. Allowing them some future to care about is a whole other matter.
Very thought provoking Mirovox. I can see where you are coming from and understand why these oppressed people are middle-fingering authority. It is just sad that they may get very sick for not having the vaccination. The roll-out needed to be done by their own people and yes, they should have been represented alongside Dr Bloomfield right from the beginning.
Also, we now need somebody/organisation to get alongside the mentally unwell who also do not trust authority but I fear the mental health industry would be the last representation these people need – they don't trust anybody. How do we vaccinate these unfortunate people who live on the margins of society.
This article is why I’m so frustrated with the government not going with the spirit of the health reforms. How easy would it have been to have someone from Māori Health Authority interim board to be standing up with Dr Bloomfield and the politicians at the beginning of the Delta outbreak and vaccination drive?
I don’t know if playing catch-up with the brilliant work that’s happening on the ground is enough at this stage, but it’s the best hope we’ve got. All strength to the workers doing this job and to the people they care about.
Thank you for sharing your experience, very pertinent to understanding the way "hesitancy" by many.
Yes, I would like to add my thanks to Miravox too. If only more people took time out to understand the reasons behind the mistrust – some of which has been handed down through generations of maltreatment at the hands of officialdom.
The police have completly balls up their handling off the anti-vax protests. Despite strong public support for a hard line of enforcement they opted for a softly softly light hand and for supine inaction when confronted with bad faith. They've sent a clear message you can get away with breaching health orders with impunity – indeed, if you are a leader of Christian cult you can even breach your bail conditions with impunity. As a result lawless mobs have grown in size from 1000 to 2000 to 5000.
I think the time has come for for velvet glove to come off and iron fist of the state to start showing these anti-vaxxers what teeth the state actually has, before these groups morph into nascent and then actual domestic terrorist groups with an agenda of directly challenging the governments authority.
The police needs to start detaining the organisers unders section 71A of the health act and where appropriate domestic agencies charged with counter-terrorism need to step up surveillance, with appropriate arrests made if evidence of planning or inciting attacks is found. Dismantle these groups now. They've made plain they'll operate with zero good faith to any promises they make to law enforcement agencies (who in their right mind negotiates with fanatics assuming they'll behave in good faith anyway? The police have been naive idiots). Direct FB to ban their pages – FB will comply if given a direct request from the NZ Police. Get serious about shutting down these troublemakers and COVID Quislings.
Personally, if Sue Grey and Brian and Hannah Tamaki and all the rest 20-30 or so organisers spend to next six months held incommunicado at the Queens pleasure I won’t shed a single tear.
Well thats the problem isn't it – these groups are unappeasable, a bewildering alliance of quacks, grifters, wellness crackpots, conspiracy theorists, fascists and extreme libertarians united by only their narcissism at being really, really put out at beingask to comply with a basic piece of public health or suffer consequences.
They are fanatics who see themselves on some sort of crusade. They only option is to crush them out of hand with arrests, detentions and the like.
Barbara the vege shop lady told me she's been verbally harassed by anti-vaxxers.
Well heeled ladies of of a particular wellness persuasion traveling in a premium marque entered her shop and inquired about her vaccination status. When she enlightened them they took to her, telling her that not only was she a danger to them, because shedding, apparently, but that she was going to die along with every other vaccinated person.
Barbara's 70 in the shade and would have given them a proper serve when she ever so politely asked them to F right O. Arseholes still upset her, though.
She should have taken their car reg. no. and passed it on to the police. I have a pad and pen in my glove box for that purpose should I see anti-vaxxers harassing and abusing people.
Anne was referring to your story of people in a shop having a political argument. That's different than someone being threatened and needing security. You can demonise and other the range of people fucked off about covid response, and treat them as one big lot of scum, and they will just get stronger.
And, if you want people you disagree with arrested for arguing politics, then you can't object when that happens to you or people you agree with. Do you want democracy or not? Time for the left to deal with its authoritarian shit before this gets out of hand.
If you think a group of women (in this case) have the right to enter a retail premise with the express purpose of seeking out the retailer's vaccination status and then harassing and threatening them because of that status… then I am astonished.
It is becoming increasingly concerning that many of these anti vaxxers seem to think they have the right to accost anyone they like whenever they like and harass and intimidate them as much as they like. They need to be caught and arrested as an example to anyone else who thinks it is okay to behave in such a way.
If you think a group of women (in this case) have the right to enter a retail premise with the express purpose of seeking out the retailer's vaccination status and then harassing and threatening them because of that status… then I am astonished.
So you want people to be arrested for this. On what charge?
And will you then be ok if other protestors are arrested? How about climate protestors?
Maybe you need to spend a bit of time in Auckland weka. The police's relative leniency against the hard-core anti-vaxxers has emboldened them to take actions that are heading towards dangerous levels. Only yesterday a South Pacific vaccination Medical Centre in Auckland had its front windows smashed in.
I find it amusing that some people here (and elsewhere) pleaded with the pro -vaccine citizens ( the vast majority of the population) to "go easy" on the anti-vaxxers etc. It was assumed we would be the ones who would become aggressive.
The truth has turned out to be the opposite. It is the crazies embedded in the anti-vax movement who are committing the offences and it is only going to get worse unless the police start taking a hard line on them.
what's the connection specifically with terrorism?
I'm fine with arresting people breaching the orders (not wearing masks, not social distancing). Cracking down on protesting is a really bad idea, the ability to protest is intrinsic to democracy.
"But New Zealand cannot get there with domestic reductions alone. In fact, a full two-thirds will have to be purchased from other countries at a cost of about a billion dollars a year.
Shaw said the preference was to work with developing countries in the Asia Pacific region to, for example, plant trees, but as the decision was only made by Cabinet in past week all of the details were still to come"
I'll qualify that. Fuck the people who didn't vote Green Party when that would have been a relatively easy thing to do (i.e. lots of Labour voters). Some blame Shaw, but it's the Labour Cabinet making these decisions, not Shaw. There's absolutely no excuse unless one is a climate denialist, or that we are not responsble for later generations and life on earth.
Pretty much agree with that. I'm thinking next time though, there's a party that will pay attention to climate change as well as to the plight of the Precariat in ways that The Greens have not been able to. That party is Te Paati Māori (noting here so problematic views from a particular person on the executive). I'll be watching with interest how the polling is going in the lead-up to the next election before I decide on my non-Labour party vote, if I go that way.
I will consider shifting my vote to te Mp as well, but totally dependent on whether that will actually help in terms of MP numbers to hold Labour to account.
Am thinking it's time to rark up the Greens. But ultimately we need extra-parliamentary movements and I think everyone is just distracted with covid (and unlike others, I don't think covid is going away and that we are in for some difficult times next year in NZ, we haven't yet had to deal with the death and disability side like the rest of the world has).
there's a party that will pay attention to climate change as well as to the plight of the Precariat in ways that The Greens have not been able to.
I think Marama Davidson is doing good work. But yes, this is a long standing problem, and what fucks me off is that Labour voters who aren't part of the precariat could have been voting Green and we would have better climate and end poverty policies being enacted. I just think the whole left wing 'we want action' on those things is hot air.
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
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 ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
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. ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the growing concern around the world in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. What’s all this? When Covid-19 arrived on our shores in early 2020, some argued we were too slow, or crucially, ill-prepared for a pandemic. So ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Franco Montalto, Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory, Drexel University Water runs into a storm drain in a Los Angeles alley on Aug. 19, 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary.Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images ...
The inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones has turned up a new witness who says he saw two teenagers and a small child in a high vis vest in the area where the boy’s body was found the day he died. Lachie’s body was discovered face up ...
Stories from the tenancy trenches, featuring spider infestations, cupboard rats and same-sex discrimination. Lucy’s brother was living in a damp 1930s building in Mt Eden where “he had to tie the cupboard doors closed so the rats didn’t get in”. Although he shared custody of his six-year-old son, his property ...
Simeon Brown, Chris Luxon, and Wayne Brown climbed into a hole and announced a plan to solve Auckland’s water woes. This is how it’ll work. New Zealand’s pipes are munted. They’re cracked and leaking, and struggling to handle all the extra poos excreted by our rising population. It’s a big, ...
I knew Taika Waititi quite well when he was a kid. His mother lived in a tall narrow house in Aro St, and my youngest sister had a similar house two doors along. They were both single mums, they each had a son aged seven. Taika and my nephew Stepan ...
Opinion: “As time passes, knowledge of the circumstances of the August 2016 outbreak will fade and its immediate impact will be lost.” This statement is from the 2017 report of the Official Inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacteriosis outbreak. The then National-led government established the inquiry after the outbreak left ...
Opinion: Nicholas Khoo looks at two key points in the high-stakes foreign policy pact debate – and asks if NZ can engage with as little drama as possible. The post Where to next for the Aukus ruckus? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Opinion: ‘Reference-class forecasting’ is at the heart of improving pricing a project and identifying the expected timeframe but it doesn’t appear to be in use here The post ‘Think fast and act slowly’ is failing big projects appeared first on Newsroom. ...
What do a sombrero in Argentina and cognitive driving tests have in common? Don’t worry, we’re not setting up a bad joke. Hinengaro Clinic dementia clinician Gregory Winkelman has the answer on today’s episode of The Detail. “We ask a patient’s spouse or son or daughter: If you went to ...
Wellington long jumper Phoebe Edwards is back and she’s having fun again. Until this year, Edwards, a top athlete in her teens, had never competed as a senior athlete in New Zealand. In March, the 26-year-old won a national long jump title in a lifetime best of 6.28m after ...
After replacing a fifth of their caucus in just four months, the Greens’ opportunity to reset, reshuffle and refocus on the Government is quickly slipping away The post Persistent Green Party scandals delay caucus reset appeared first on Newsroom. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
By Robin Martin, RNZ News reporter A New Zealand local authority, Whanganui District Council, has passed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemnation of all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides of the conflict and the immediate return of hostages. It comes as ...
Asia Pacific Report The Aotearoa chapter of the Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has appealed to the New Zealand government to call out Israel over the “cruel and barbaric use of force” in Gaza and demand a permanent ceasefire. The league’s open letter was sent to Prime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will invest $566 million over a decade on data, maps and other tools to promote exploration and development in Australia’s resources industry. The project will fund “the first comprehensive map of what’s ...
Asia Pacific Report Following an open letter by Auckland University academics speaking out in support of their students’ right to protest against the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza, a group of academics at Otago University have today also called on New Zealand academic institutions to “repair colonial violence” and end ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda J. Graham, Professor and Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education, Queensland University of Technology Ryan Tauss/ Unsplash, CC BY Two male students have been expelled from a Melbourne private school for their involvement in a list ranking female students. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Reserve Bank is now assuming Australians will see no interest rate cuts this year – and quite possibly none before the next federal election, due next May. That’s ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition is demanding extensive amendments to the government’s legislation targeting non-citizens who refuse to co-operate with their removal. In a dissenting report to the senate inquiry into the legislation, the Coalition says it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanita Yadav, Senior Research Fellow, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Brett Boardman/Belvoir The complex and grappling issue of violence against women takes centre stage in the soul-stirring solo dance drama Nayika: A Dancing Girl. During a dinner conversation ...
Disruption to patient care from a nationwide junior doctors strike is bordering on unsafe, a senior doctor claims, despite what health officials say. ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Robbie Porter, OzFish Unlimited Around Australia, hundreds of people are coming together to help a once-prized, but decimated and largely forgotten marine ecosystem. They’re busy restoring Australia’s native oyster and mussel reefs. ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rory Mulcahy, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of the Sunshine Coast Professional sports organisations regularly promote and develop initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion. While sport has the power to change attitudes by sparking conversations about political issues and social ...
Comment: The weekly Monday post-Cabinet press conference is a useful forum for observing Christopher Luxon and how he is developing into the job of Prime Minister. He attempts to convey the impression of a man of action, speaking fast, delivering memorised National Party strategies in a connect-the-slogans kind of way, ...
Double votes, missing ballot boxes, tired tech and stressed staff: how tick-tallying went astray at last year’s election. Cast your mind back to November 2023, that bleary-eyed post-election period duringwhichwewaited, andwaited, for a coalition deal to be hammered out. A distraction from the hotel-hopping of our ...
International audiences are starting to discover what New Zealand already knew about After the Party.When After the Party aired in New Zealand last year, the response was fast and furious. In his preview for Rec Room, Duncan Greive said it was a “gritty, wrenching and highly confronting” series. By ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shahram Akbarzadeh, Convenor of the Middle East Studies Forum (MESF), and Acting Director the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Iran’s leadership has been a direct beneficiary of the months-long war in Gaza. With every missile that Israel fires ...
Claire Mabey reviews the haunting and sexy debut novel from Sinéad Gleeson, who is about to touch down in Aotearoa for a string of live events.When Irish writer Sinéad Gleeson was in Aotearoa in 2018 with her spectacular collection of essays, Constellations, she told me she was working on ...
PNG Post-Courier Bougainville Affairs Minister Manasseh Makiba has described the Post-Courier’s front page story yesterday regarding a meeting between Bougainville and national government leaders as “sensationalised” and without substance. The Autonomous Bougainville Government (AGB) had warned it might use “other avenues to gain its independence” should the PNG government “continue ...
Where some saw the worst press conference given by the government to date, Anna Rawhiti-Connell recognised girl maths game.Nicola Willis, recently exasperated by comparisons to Ruth Richardson, said she was “a bit sick of being compared with every female finance minister that’s ever been out there.”Some think that’s ...
The March results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2023 (HYEFU 2023), published on 20 December 2023 and the results for the same period for the previous year. ...
Jamie Arbuckle, the district councillor who became an MP but decided to keep getting paid for both roles, will instead donate one salary to charity. ...
Adding gender to the Human Rights Act would simply make the implicit explicit. So why is it so controversial? Paul Thistoll explain. At present, Aotearoa’s 1993 Human Rights Act (HRA) includes sex, marital status, religious belief, ethical belief (meaning a lack of religious belief), colour, race, ethnicity or national origin, ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, an 18-year-old who’s studying and working in hospo shares their approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Transmasc Age: 18 Ethnicity: Pākehā/Māori Role: Student, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Resources Minister Shane Jones has reportedly asked officials for advice on whether oil and gas companies could be offered “bonds” as compensation if drilling rights offered by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Gleeson, Associate Professor of Law, Macquarie University Shutterstock The Albanese government is weighing up the costs of delivering an election promise to protect religious people from discrimination in Commonwealth law. Such protections were relatively uncontroversial when included in state anti-discrimination ...
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The Corrections Minister admits he "muddied the water" after he and the Prime Minister repeatedly provided incorrect information about a $1.9 billion prison spend-up. ...
Just an IMHO to start a Sunday morning:
The next 2 to 5 years could (will) prove to be tumultuous ones for the globe and New Zealand: a series of crises will wrack the very foundations of civilised society (and of all life) – the on-going pandemic, a long-overdue economic meltdown and the worst of them all, climate change on an escalating scale.
No country will deal with all three successfully, and that includes this isolated little ‘hermit kingdom,’ but I believe that at least, Jacinda Ardern and this Labour government will attempt to govern for all NZers when the shit hits the fan.
Like all governments ours will attempt to do too little, too late; that’s just the nature of the political beast. Radical change, really radical change is needed, but such change would not be supported by the good old ‘general public’ until the crises bite them on their collective arses, and then they’ll complaint ‘the government should have done something.
But at least I think Labour will try to act in the interests of all NZers. Andrew Beecroft, speaking on NatRadio the other morning said Michael Joseph Savage described the creation of the welfare state as ‘applied Christianity.’ The Natz opposition of the time labelled it ‘applied lunacy,’ and that just about sums up the difference between the two general political philosophies; the left will generally act in the interests of the collective good, the right for ‘individual freedoms.’ The ‘dancing Cossacks,’ the mother of all budgets, tax cuts for the rich are just some examples of the sectional interests of the right.
Things are going to go pretty pear-shaped in the near future (and don’t hold your breath over COP-26) and it won’t be pleasant, but with the Natz and Act in power it would have been an absolute fucking disaster.
A good practical example of this is the Three Waters legislation. We have a water crisis in this country which can’t be fixed by piecemeal uncoordinated changes by indebted local councils. Labour and Nania recognise this and have proposed major reforms (in the interests of all NZers). The rights’ response: government theft of our assets, which is a pretty meaningless thing to say. Remember Nick Smith and ‘wadeable rivers?’ Fw Luxon said the Natz would repeal any changes Labour makes – then what? Wait until we have little drinkable water left in this country which only the rich can afford?
The future looks dark indeed, but with a slightly left leaning, kind government, things might just be bearable in this country. At least, that is what I hope!
Nice try TV, it would be great if your scenario plays out.
I fear that minimal, middle-of-the-road compromises just ain't gonna cut it for dealing with what is about to confront our neolib society on so many fronts. We are in for an unpredictable and probably unprecedented harsh ride.
Climate change, economic instability and living with an endemic virus, just one of these requires a huge budget and sensible leadership.
I would also add providing affordable housing and having a health system which meets the needs of the population. People need to learn how to become more self sufficient as well.
This feels like the day we hit 200 cases per day.
It is bound to happen at some stage.
Perhaps. But the outbreak has to peak at some point, and there are only so many unvaccinated muppets in Auckland for this disease to burn through.
(Auckland does not have general community transmission. This is an outbreak running through a very specific subset of society, one that seems to only have minor leakage into the rest of Auckland).
I realise I am a complete outlyer. And am probably talking pants, but have never been able to understand why instead of shutting down the entire country to shield the vulnerable who might get it, we aren't doing it the other way round and just shielding the vulnerable and just getting on with shit.
Imagine effectively imprisoning south Auckland into a single massed camp. You're describing Johannesburg.
We've been as civil and humane as possible by not doing what you propose.
You mean rather than imprisoning the entire city of Auckland?
Indeed I do.
I just think inconvenience to as fewer people as possible is better than everyone.
I don't even live in Auckland and am living in relative normality in Welly.
Just found it odd you would close off a whole city to shield vulnerable people, rather than just shielding the vulnerable.
Wouldn't be South Auckland btw. It would be those that are older with existing health conditions. The rest just get it and get over it in the vast majority.
Yeas I realise the odd healthy person has died. They also get hit by trucks and die of cancer
The vast majority are still affected by a collapse of the Health System. New Zealand has very little ICU capacity.
Would prefer not to get started on a convo' about ICU's and this govt, as will end up banned, but agree. I guess. Better safe than sorry.
Wish govts would say stuff straight up though. We need you vaxed to not screw the health system, rather than the touchy feely stuff.
It's not South Auckland, and hasn't been for some time. The geographical epicentre is West Auckland, and as noted, it's not a matter of general transmission. If it were, there would be far more Pasifika cases.
Point applies for any sub-area of Auckland.
The point overlooks that we're not taking geography here. There is no area of Auckland that matches the outbreak – Auckland is 11% Maori, not 45-55% Maori, and the places that have more Maori than Pasifika (as this outbreak does) tend to have very few of either. It's the absence of Pacific Island cases that is the real clue here.
You're dealing with a community subset that is not in one place.
The disease can screw up younger people too, especially if they're unvaccinated.
The real problem possibility is that Covid patients would take up so many of NZ's ICU beds that we actually see a collapse of the health system. Good luck getting a bed if you're a (fully vaccinated) survivor of a car crash.
"just shielding the vulnerable and just getting on with shit."
Vulnerable people:
Please explain how all those people can be shielded from covid in the community. I’m really curious to hear the details.
"Shielding the vulnerable" sounds great and oh so principled. But what it would mean in practice is devolving responsibility onto the vulnerable themselves by placing them at such risk that they voluntarily stay home while everyone else gets to gad about (including any non-vulnerable people they might live with). i.e. in practice it means not shielding them at all.
Truly shielding the vulnerable is actually being their human shield by getting vaccinated and observing public health restrictions like mask-wearing, social-distancing, staying away from crowded places and generally not gadding about. Which is actually what we are doing now.
So people who advocate" shielding the vulnerable" actually mean un-shielding the vulnerable. Many have a horror or incomprehension of collective responsibility because so many minds have been contaminated by 30 years of neolib obsession with 'personal responsibility'. And tbh I am now getting pretty effed off by the whole scene and the intellectual and moral depravity being spewed out all over the place.
Exactly.
Also vulnerable people:
Its not just nana and gramps heading for the retirement home (and they deserve a full life too) It's dozens of people you come into contact with in all sorts of places.
also:
Does the MoH not count the immune-suppressed? I think they include them if they're on certain medications? They're included in the 3rd primary vaccine dose.
Immune compromised yes, auto immune no. There are a bunch of other chronic illnesses also not included. MoH are basically useless on chronic illness unless it’s one of the heart, lung, kidney ones.
it’s also why the Dr Googles on TS feel entitled to make claims about risk eg almost no-one is at risk from the vaccine. They’re pig ignorant. Afaik the research just hasn’t been done.
I've said before here NZ is blessed with world leading Professor Ed Game, part of the team that gave us the cure for hep C a chronic liver disease caused by a virus, his team here tell me the risks of covid far out weigh the risk of the vaccine. Pig ignorant he is not.
please reread my comment. I'm not saying don't vax. You've misunderstood my point.
"Immune compromised yes, auto immune no"
That's interesting. I see these as pretty much the same (because both apply to me), but now you mention it, I can see there might be a few differences.
I see it as low immunity (compromised), and overactive immune system (auto-immune), but agree it's more complex than that.
How to make sense of this: Many of those with autoimmune disorders are given medications which suppress their immune systems which leave them 'immunocompromised' and vulnerable to infections including COVID.
"unvaccinated muppets" reminds me of Dr Gray's "social defectives". We need to think hard about where this could lead us.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19271118.2.179?items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=eugenics+board&snippet=true
A short lived Eugenics Board was established in NZ in 1928.
http://www.nathaniel.org.nz/single-mothers-are-saints/15-bioethical-issues/bioethics-and-health-care/352-eugenics-in-new-zealand-synopsis-only
Calling the unvaccinated muppets is not analogous to arguing for the sterilisation of the disabled. Being unvaccinated is a choice.
So why did you write "unvaccinated muppets" and not "people who choose not to be vaccinated" ? It might further alienate people you want jabbed.
Because if you choose not to be vaccinated, you're a muppet?
Such people should not be treated as having made a socially acceptable decision.
With 5000? "freedom'? marchers I think in two to four days Ad.
There is still a gulf of mistrust in many Rotorua Maori, but this new targeted approach is having success. Although some are resistant they are talking now. They say the new "kindness" leaves them suspicious, as that usually proceeds someone wanting something.
We are in some cases reaping what we have sown. I hope these fears and resulting mistrust can be overcome before the virus gets into their community. As one lady said, "it will be endless tangihanga." Being angry won't help this. It is sad.
This isn't simply about poverty. Pasifika have solid vaccination rates. Nor is it about anti-Maori racism. Elderly Maori are vaccinated too, as are Maori in Wellington and the South Island.
There is, unfortunately, something going through younger, upper North Island Maori that makes them vulnerable to such nuttery. The only thing that is being "wanted" here is for these people to save their own lives, and the lives of their elders.
A life time of being told all their problems are caused by the white man is what's going on
" Nor is it about anti-Maori racism"
ironically, anti-pakeha racism is a significant driver here!
If you're looking for Editorial trouble you'll probably find it.
oops I did not mean "here" as in thestandard rather as in "in this case"
A wee bit of something to cheer about.
New Zealand overcome a spirited Wales in the second half to put 50 points on the Welsh at home for the first time.
Wales lost their talisman leader Alun Wyn Jones, early in the first half, to a troublesome shoulder injury. AB highlights include Beaden Barrett scoring two tries and winning man of the match in his 100th game. Best try was to Seevu Reece after the ball changed hands several times down the left flank.
Interest turns to the Black Ferns with nine debutants against a very strong England team tomorrow morning.
Wales were missing 20 players the AB's were playing the reserves.
The ABS and Beauden in particular were like a Harlem Globetrotters tour.
Got to love the spirit of the Welsh. Their singing of their anthem is so stirring and heartfelt. They love their country and their rugby.
Not even Covid will stop a rugby test match in Wales.
Anti vaxxer protesters in NZ will not let their view stop them mingling in large numbers either.
The upcoming Labour Conference remit to change how the leader of the party is selected is given a once-over by Andrea Vance.
Labour without Jacinda Ardern is unthinkable – but that's just what the party is doing | Stuff.co.nz
If Ardern could just win us the next one I’d be fine if Roberston took over a few months in from there I prefer him anyway.
Given that due due mmp,our election s have basically become a presidential style election, it would be deeply dishonest for labour to win the election with Ardern at the top then quickly change leaders!
This term she's little more than a health ministry robot.
A handover after the 2024 budget would be fine.
Nah, if she had enough, of if her party has enough of her, she can simply not run and be honest. I hear honesty and integrity are such important things in a politician.
not sure that Ardern wants out so much as Ad wants her to be.
So you would be ok if the country gets fooled by Labour into voting for Jacinda again, just for her to resign to spend more time with the family and make way for Robertson.
Wow. Nevermind the people that in that scenario would have voted for her. To me that would be bordering on fraud on the voting puplic. If she is done with the job, say so, early enough and let Labour run on whom ever they put out. If they are doing such a good job, they should have no issue being voted in again. If no, they did not do as good a job as you might imagine.
anything to win, ey?
I don't know, the idea that Labour might dump Ardern and replace her with 'neoliberal to my core' GR after the election just made me much more interested in pre-election post writing 😈
The party is formally signaling how it transitions its leadership. Key did it much better than Clark, Shipley or Bolger.
Labour is being perfectly open about it. In fact that's why Vance did her cumn about the Conference remit.
This is not about transitioning leadership,
this is about pretending to run a candidate for an office that that particular candidate then is not going to hold cause they transition after the win into private life rather then do the job they were elected for.
If you want people to get even more cynical about Labour and their doodahs that would be the best way to go.
Vote for Jacinda, Get Grant boy! 2023
Yeah, nah nah.
Vote third party, cause the two big ones are insufferable in their contempt of he tangata.
No pretending if it's in the open. Simply a mature party discussion.
So Labour would tell voters before the election that Ardern is going to resign after the election and GR would replace her?
Oh shhh, this is just a mature discussion of how the public can be fooled/lied/cheated/cajoled/ into ordering one thing and then getting delivered something altogether different, but sadly there will be no right to return, nor will the Labour party accept any complaints from upset voters.
Vote Labour – It don't matter who runs, It just matters who wins. 2023
"Key did it much better than Clark, Shipley or Bolger."
really – based on what exactly ?
Having a succession plan.
And national are still paying the price of keys succession plan .
English lost by not much. Can't plan for an Ardern-superstar.
and you wonder why people stop paying attention and voting.
Cynical. Running for PM and then three month in giving it over to the one who would not have won is cheating. Frankly if the Labour Party knows it can't win on the calibre of its staff, than maybe it needs to start hiring better people.
Out in the open. Yeah, right Tui.
but i will file this under another reason not to vote for this lot.
The cynicism only comes from the Green Party of which you seem so keen to support.
The Greens' leader James Shaw has flown to the most important climate conference in a decade, with zero plan for our country. Even though it's the only thing he had any responsibility to do, and he has made a career out of climate change advocacy.
The Greens have minimal profile despite the whole of the global MSM are pouring climate change stories out faster than you can speak. It was supposed to be something they could do.
The Green's conference is largely held in secret.
The Greens currently oppose the water reforms, according to Sage's media release.
The Greens haven't even bothered to support light rail in Auckland this week.
The Greens are otherwise in charge of nothing, and act like it.
And when the government needs them to assist in a progressive agenda, they run like the fucking political weaklings they are.
The Greens are bumping along around 6-7%, when they were equal with Act just months ago. Act are now challenging National for leadership. Imagine if the Greens had the competence or courage to challenge Labour like Act has National. Greens simply don't have competent leadership to compete.
Instead, the Greens have a very good shot at simply not getting into parliament next time. So it's always amusing to see people like you complain and complain and complain when the only party in parliament that is failing is the Green Party.
I know you don't like the Greens, because they challenge your third way, Blairite world view.
However what are the Greens supposed to do, when the media refuse to publish and ignore everything they say or do, while blaring out like a trumpet, every national party "barking at passing cars" press release and every vapid propaganda meme from the twerking fool?
Not to mention Labour adopting Green policies. Which may not help the Greens visibility, but are still Green achievements.
Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean nothing is happening.
Greens don’t have millions to spend on social media propaganda campaigns. Like the current ones from right wing puppets, including the Tax dodgers Union.
(Greens only accept funding from individuals, not companies or other organisations).
Based on what, that Sabine criticises this Labour policy? You should see what she says about the Greens.
Meanwhile. Government pledges 50 percent emission reduction by 2030 (msn.com)
Not enough, but a start.
Wait for the chorus of condemnation from the usual suspects.
KJT I guess Shaw could have loudly said ,fuck going to copout 26 because this country's not doing much other than rearrange the deck cheers with the foolish ets, and countries like india are committed to burning coal for decades , .
lol, i support the Green? Since when? Because i voted for them many years back in the past? Because i gave some losing greeny a vote because i could not and will not vote for the Labour Quota Woman Jacinda Ardern? Good grief. That is just now pathetic.
Honey, as it stands and as i have stated before, i will neither vote L, N, G. There is not enough money and love in the world that would compel me to rubberstamp anyone of these overpaid and rather useless muppets.
So please. Take a step back.
I don't hear that being said by anyone but you Sabine.
But then you have ruled out all parties except Act as far as I can see. So you would say that.
I think Jacinda Ardern has more integrity than that. Just because you don't like her and the Government doesn't give you the right to say untrue things. You constantly look for a stick to beat them with.
"Cheating/ Fraud" Get over your self. It has not happened it will not happen. Parties change their rules quite regularly.
With people like you, damned if they do alter rules and damned if they don't.
You are building bridges for non-existent rivers!!
I think Jacinda and Grant are a great team, as they have agreed goals for NZ. Bit by bit they are changing the levers.
No one is challenging Jacinda Ardern. This meme (Jacinda will retire) has appeared in right wing comments lately. Shades of utter desperation. They have gone from "anyone but JC" to "JA needs to leave as Luxton could compete with Robertson" imo.
There's no doubt they are an outstanding team, doing a good job in very trying circumstances.
Auckland dams have hit 96% full which is a good setup for summer.
Did council ever remove the long standing water restrictions ?
Most removed on 23rd of October.
Will they still need Waikato water? Enough rivers have lost their ability to "sing"
Yes and relying on it ever more.
Q&A today
1st impression – Get Judge Andrew Breecroft to me a minister – He has more passion and would have greater urgency into fixing the problems that Labour has so often promised to do. He would be action other than just words we hear.
Our minister of Health failed at the end of his interview with his dodging from "The way we manage this virus is keeping people safe," well allowing a 2000 group activity a few weeks ago expand to 5000. Is that the way we are now managing this.
FFS Andrew Little can he not make more light weight excuses for any senior government ministers from visiting Auckland. "There are restrictions in place into getting into and out of Auckland", and then "its about not looking like swanning in and out and our life carries on..", are you guys that superficial ?? Perhaps you don't want to hear and see what you would face should senior govt minister would be confronted with reality.
Beecroft was very, very good.
You do like to misrepresent Labour Govt. ministers at every opportunity don't you. Never mind the context, just so long as you can deride and sneer through a false lens.
Andrew Little was asked a question along the lines… why doesn't Jacinda Ardern and her ministers visit Auckland? It was a mischievous question designed to create an impression that the don't care about Auckland.
First:
The moment they started gallivanting in and out of Auckland the screams from Collins and that pipsqueak, Seymour would reach a crescendo… how dare they come and go as they please while the rest of us are not allowed in or out without special exemptions. One rule for them and another for the rest of us.
Second:
Jacinda Ardern and her senior ministers have a duty to remain in Wellington while the country is going through one of the the most serious crisis in our history. They must be on tap 24/7 to speak with the experts etc., and be able to make instant decisions as emergencies arise.
They are the ones confronting reality – not the likes of Herodotus and Co. Their colleagues in Auckland are working their guts out keeping them informed and assisting Aucklanders wherever they can. They don't need to come here to know what is going on.
What's more, I don't want them to. Neither do most other reasonable people. They have more than enough to do in Wellington trying to look after the whole country in unprecedented times.
Agree Anne, like rumours of Jacinda leaving just stirring to cause anger and uncertainty. What alternatives do they offer 'Tax cuts" lol been there done that Did nothing for 90% of NZ.
A so-called journalist writes an opinion piece claiming that Jacinda might be moving on and immediately there are messages here from agitated people who think that opinion is now fact. Bad enough reading the local neighbourhood pages and seeing all the misinformation and abuse spewing out there – always optimistic that there was more intelligence on this site. Fake news is fake news ; we should recognise it for what it is and give it no time or oxygen.
"Jacinda Ardern and her senior ministers have a duty to remain in Wellington while the country is going through one of the the most serious crisis in our history. They must be on tap 24/7 to speak with the experts etc., and be able to make instant decisions as emergencies arise."
Ardern has been pottering all over during October ……. Hawkes Bay, Poverty Bay, Lakes district. that being said can't see the point of her travelling to Auckland it's not as if she can do anything useful here.
From memory she spent about a week in the East Coast region. They were well behind the ball game and needed a booster which she was able to provide. That was a useful exercise and she was never that far from Wellington had an emergency arisen. As you say, there's nothing she can do here in Auckland that is not already happening.
Agree.
It's Ardern and key leadership that are holding this country together. Keeping that leadership safe and functioning is our highest national security risk.
Herald has "Heather Du Plessis-Allan: Jacinda Ardern must visit Auckland."
Following in the headline is "few in Wellington understand the pain."
I'd suggest that many in New Zealand don't understand the pain – the pain of Covid hitting and how it has hit around the world. By rights we should have had many hundreds of thousands of cases and uncomfortably more than ten thousand deaths.
We're largely inured to the reality of how it is and has been globally. We don't know how lucky we are and we're sure as hell ain't going to stop whingeing and making out that our lot is worse than anywhere else.
At least we made it through
And note: it is advocates of right-wing neoliberal philosophy – of which HDPA is a member- who are doing all the whingeing and moaning. It never ceases to amaze me these selfish, self-centred pseudo journos are still spreading their lies and innuendo without any consequences whatsoever.
If I had my way they would have been banned from all media platforms by now. I guess its just as well I never get my way. 😉
I think Brian Priestly would have agreed with you.
Media standards are now unimaginably low – the current crop of churnalists are lower than a worm's soul – they make used cars dealers look like saints.
Thank you for reminding me of Brian Priestly. Now there was a journalist of real stature. He was one of a stack of them who were prominent in the 60s,70s and the 80s – Priestly, Ian Johnston, Ian Templeton to name just three. I've forgotten the names of the others but they really show up the current bunch (with a few exceptions of course) for the cowardly ignoramuses they are.
I quoted Little's response, how is that misrepresenting ?I notice your reply had no reference to Littles response, perhaps you are being selective !!! And his 2 reasons for not visiting Auckland were shallow at best. But I am sure for you either of these 2 excuses are fully justified.
"They are the ones confronting reality – not the likes of Herodotus and Co." Funny as I live in Auckland, I am experiencing & confronting reality.
"Their colleagues in Auckland are working their guts out keeping them informed and assisting Aucklanders wherever they can. They don't need to come here to know what is going on." Well that is not true – Go to food banks and those community assistance groups there are great people doing this with no sight or assistance of any Ak MP's But some of us are able to give and still get attacked for making observations from those like you sitting firing darts
Why do food banks and social services need first hand assistance from MPs and their teams ? Great for photo opportunities – yes – of but practical assistance ? There has been generous extra emergency food funding in Auckland and I've had no problems getting nutritious good sized food parcels delivered to clients in need. Food banks and social services prepare regular statistical / info reports which are sent on to all stakeholders / local MPs etc.
We are fast approaching Christmas – And from my experience this time of year results in increased needs that are not there during the rest of the year. These are met to some degree and give a ray of sunshine how communities support those in need e.g. Community Christmas lunch/dinner, Sourcing & distribution of Christmas food, providing a moment of enjoyment and presents for the children etc will these be an option this year with Covid (Last year there was no restrictions) ?
This time of year there is an increase in people seeking help with their mental welfare, and that this need will be larger than ever (Many who help out are already themselves under stress due to their working in Health and Education)?
By being there you can view stress of helpers/those in need, see hardship, see food stocks or lack of. Just get a feel of how things are, that are unable to be expressed by a phone call, a email, info reports etc.
Maybe they can be shamed into finally accepting that people are doing it hard. I know its hard to understand on a 6 figure income but people are doing it hard.
Never mind, next year in April the Labour Party will again very generously trickle a few pennies down on the deserving poor.
Anne, Lol We are allowed to "stew" and wish them "gone" though
Herodotus, Do you know who supplied the money for the foodbanks? Or is that "being selective". NZ knows how hard this has been, and support all the assistance the Government has supplied. They have done this through familiar agencies to avoid "Oh you are just vote buying". I have not seen anyone querying any of that support. Andrew Little is not a front person, he is not glib and always tries to answer sometimes loaded questions. He is an honest man, journalists thought they had all disappeared.
The comment was a response from MY experience towards what I have seen and heard to Anne and her "Never mind the context, just so long as you can deride and sneer through a false lens." and "..working their guts out keeping them informed and assisting Aucklanders wherever they can."
And why do you ask "who supplied the money for the foodbanks" in some cases I do know where some of the food and other goods have come from: great anonymous individuals and companies.
"Andrew Little is not a front person.." Still we can only go by his answers and in this case both were poor.
Below is what you said @ 6
That was a disingenuous response to the Little interview. I answered your claims of his supposed "light weight excuses" and "superficial" response more than adequately @ 6.2.
I do not believe you are a genuine commenter on this site. Your frequent snide references – often couched in the same kind of disingenuous wording as this latest example – lead me to suspect you are really a troll. Your next step will no doubt be to claim victimhood at my expense. 🙄
So these 2 reasons for not travelling to Auckland; One that has been countlessly been solved by many travellers flying here to Auckland in level 3, and the other isn't a reason precluding travel that of possible perception of "swanning ". Your excuses for Littles answers do not IMO cover it, and are totally inadequate. Should you consider me a troll then perhaps a little depth in your response could test that out, that could be asking too much to defend the indefensible as to why traveling to Auckland ins unable to happen.
Some could read your comments that if commentators don't follow your view of the world then they are not welcome.
So you cover yourself regarding me claiming victim hood then you come back with this “As a senior citizen who lives in Auckland and has been very adversely affected by the lockdown” Who are you to say that to , are you that privileged that we all should be on our knees towards you, you are not the only one that this lockdown has had an effect on,perhaps you should consider others ??
Spare me the pathos please. Who is throwing the darts? YOU ARE.
How do you know the AK Labour MPs are not out there working their guts out for their affected constituents? Just because they are not swanning around in front of TV cameras like some others we know doesn't mean they are not flat tack. Some of those especially Sth Auckland way must be in a state of exhaustion by now.
As for your offensive comment about "sitting firing darts". As a senior citizen who lives in Auckland and has been very adversely affected by the lockdown, I take deep offence at such a comment. It only serves to confirm my observations about you.
The political purpose behind anti-vax protests – click on text in tweet to see uncropped version.
https://twitter.com/AndreAlessi/status/1454289541167136772
They just pretend it's not about politics.
I would have thought that was obvious. And lots of political action is similar.
All of political action is like that. That is what being an activist generally means. Make a noise, create good trouble and hopefully bring about change.
Yep. Primary tactic of XR is causing disruption.
More on the anti-authority opportunists glomming onto vaccination for now.
https://twitter.com/KyleDChurch/status/1454637666314506242
Why would anyone be surprised…
https://twitter.com/DylanReeve/status/1454571314958647296
Wow!! What a picture of selfish people. All pushing money, trying to cloak it as 1. religion 2. hospitality 3. food production. Bugger Health. Self Interest first by them. imo.
Did they post the next shot where they joined hands and it looked likea crooked cross?
Anything that splits the old farming lobby apart is good for this country right now.
Their stupidity aligning with Antivaxxers and Destiny Church will push Big Ag towards government.
Government will need them with both carbon and water reforms.
Big Ag aren't that keen on the Groundswell mob, especially the two big co-ops.
And lots of questions about where the money is coming from.
If the water reforms are to have a shot, the farmer lobby needs to be actively smashed.Those who quibble with the legislation proposed (and I've been one) will figure the colossal risk to our country of failing.
Yes there is such a thing as "too far from reality".
As long as it is remembered that everything cities rely upon moves along roads and highways with Farmers along both sides and that cities are surrounded by farmers. The very water people rely upon comes from the country and crosses farms … Their cows already piss in this ……
The (un)Holy Trinity threatening this country.
Evangelical Christianity, big money capitalism, and profit-driven agriculture.
Slash wages, impose the Bible and pollute our rivers.
This is what we are up against.
NZ evangelical Christianity has good media training but near-zero actual or institutional power.
This government has intervened into our version of capitalism more than at any other time outside of a major war.
How they deal to the dairy industry is fully in play now.
This article by Florence Kerr really resonated with me. In their own words –
Covid-19 vaccination: How mistrust shadows the roll-out in a time of crisis
Enderley – this is where I grew up. This is where I saw our neighbours go into State care after their parents (Pākehā mother and Māori father, and my mother Pākehā) disappeared on us. After a couple of weeks of us tearing up the neighbourhood, the authorities turned up to round up our families – 6 of us and 5 of them). By pure luck my Dad had just cycled home from work, that Saturday afternoon. The authorities asked “who claims these children?” so Dad claimed us. There was no-one to claim our friends.
Both their parents are now dead and there are only two of their children left now – the first gone at just 18 – booze, drugs, accidents. I caught up with the youngest a couple of years ago at my sister’s funeral (booze, drugs, delayed and denied healthcare). This neighbour's kid has done ok (was fostered to a good family, rather than going to a social welfare unit like her siblings), as have half of my family.
There should be no expectation that the lives we had are going to be inevitably repeated – unless of course, your main interactions are with people in positions of power whose main objective seems to be to keep you down. What it does mean is that any interaction you have with government departments and health and education workers is complicated and requires a lot of compliance for us and a lot of ‘should’ and ‘will’ from them. The alternative to compliance is some form of punishment, there is no autonomy.
Typically, being brown is a signifier for authorities to start with the ‘comply’ rather than the ‘ask’ in any interaction. I’ve not had such a hard time as the neighbours, I’m so white (whiter even than my siblings) my nickname was Milky (or fly-spot due to the freckles). OTOH I was asked once, before I got a smack around the face and a spew of abuse, if I was Māori, because our address and our situation was what all ‘good’ Pākehā think of as a Māori “lifestyle” (liberal intelligentsia who have no belief that a white person from the precariat might succeed at university, I’m looking at you). I’ve escaped all that now and have a cynical (on my part), but relatively good engagement with health and education workers because they have no clue about my background.
When Māori vaccination rates, or naming the communities most affected by this outbreak, come up in conversation in my polite society; and all the intellectual discussions abound, I generally go with the line that it’s simply a big middle-finger to authority – and a well-deserved f*ck you! to politicians, doctors, and educators at that. Florence Kerr's article highlights this view. My family members who didn’t escape also give the one-finger salute to them, as well as swearing by their alternative wellness strategies.
This article is why I’m so frustrated with the government not going with the spirit of the health reforms. How easy would it have been to have someone from Māori Health Authority interim board to be standing up with Dr Bloomfield and the politicians at the beginning of the Delta outbreak and vaccination drive?
I don’t know if playing catch-up with the brilliant work that’s happening on the ground is enough at this stage, but it’s the best hope we’ve got. All strength to the workers doing this job and to the people they care about. As for the police, the government, teachers and healthcare authorities, playing nice from time to time does not make for structural change in attitudes and perceptions. The rest of us should recognise that before having a go at people in the (politely-named) high risk groups who "don't understand / don't care."
They understand all right. Allowing them some future to care about is a whole other matter.
Very thought provoking Mirovox. I can see where you are coming from and understand why these oppressed people are middle-fingering authority. It is just sad that they may get very sick for not having the vaccination. The roll-out needed to be done by their own people and yes, they should have been represented alongside Dr Bloomfield right from the beginning.
Also, we now need somebody/organisation to get alongside the mentally unwell who also do not trust authority but I fear the mental health industry would be the last representation these people need – they don't trust anybody. How do we vaccinate these unfortunate people who live on the margins of society.
It's called 'cutting your nose off to spite your face '
Nah – it's cutting off their nose to spite your face, at worst.
I consider it more akin to workers go on strike for a living wage.
Thanks, and yes, I agree with your comment about getting alongside the mentally unwell. No doubt there is some commonalities in the two groups.
Thank you for sharing your experience, very pertinent to understanding the way "hesitancy" by many.
Thank you Mirovax. A good post, so much more explanatory than my effort
Yes, I would like to add my thanks to Miravox too. If only more people took time out to understand the reasons behind the mistrust – some of which has been handed down through generations of maltreatment at the hands of officialdom.
End of life choice bill kicking in at the end of the week.
About time.
Could probably do with an article on it, not that I am good enough at the old English to write it meself 🙂
The police have completly balls up their handling off the anti-vax protests. Despite strong public support for a hard line of enforcement they opted for a softly softly light hand and for supine inaction when confronted with bad faith. They've sent a clear message you can get away with breaching health orders with impunity – indeed, if you are a leader of Christian cult you can even breach your bail conditions with impunity. As a result lawless mobs have grown in size from 1000 to 2000 to 5000.
I think the time has come for for velvet glove to come off and iron fist of the state to start showing these anti-vaxxers what teeth the state actually has, before these groups morph into nascent and then actual domestic terrorist groups with an agenda of directly challenging the governments authority.
The police needs to start detaining the organisers unders section 71A of the health act and where appropriate domestic agencies charged with counter-terrorism need to step up surveillance, with appropriate arrests made if evidence of planning or inciting attacks is found. Dismantle these groups now. They've made plain they'll operate with zero good faith to any promises they make to law enforcement agencies (who in their right mind negotiates with fanatics assuming they'll behave in good faith anyway? The police have been naive idiots). Direct FB to ban their pages – FB will comply if given a direct request from the NZ Police. Get serious about shutting down these troublemakers and COVID Quislings.
Personally, if Sue Grey and Brian and Hannah Tamaki and all the rest 20-30 or so organisers spend to next six months held incommunicado at the Queens pleasure I won’t shed a single tear.
And here is the latest:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/454606/vaccination-centre-vandalised-staff-threatened
They choose a Centre for South Pacific people which suggests to me racism might also be involved.
If that doesn't get the police into hard action I don't know what will.
Well thats the problem isn't it – these groups are unappeasable, a bewildering alliance of quacks, grifters, wellness crackpots, conspiracy theorists, fascists and extreme libertarians united by only their narcissism at being really, really put out at beingask to comply with a basic piece of public health or suffer consequences.
They are fanatics who see themselves on some sort of crusade. They only option is to crush them out of hand with arrests, detentions and the like.
Been my sentiment for a long time now. For God's sake do it government and police. Stop pussy footing around with them!
Barbara the vege shop lady told me she's been verbally harassed by anti-vaxxers.
Well heeled ladies of of a particular wellness persuasion traveling in a premium marque entered her shop and inquired about her vaccination status. When she enlightened them they took to her, telling her that not only was she a danger to them, because shedding, apparently, but that she was going to die along with every other vaccinated person.
Barbara's 70 in the shade and would have given them a proper serve when she ever so politely asked them to F right O. Arseholes still upset her, though.
She should have taken their car reg. no. and passed it on to the police. I have a pad and pen in my glove box for that purpose should I see anti-vaxxers harassing and abusing people.
you want them reported to the police for what exactly?
Scum thought it was okay to harass a septuagenarian in her workplace.
Should she wait until they turn up outside her home?
Can you not tell where the boundaries are?
Anne was referring to your story of people in a shop having a political argument. That's different than someone being threatened and needing security. You can demonise and other the range of people fucked off about covid response, and treat them as one big lot of scum, and they will just get stronger.
And, if you want people you disagree with arrested for arguing politics, then you can't object when that happens to you or people you agree with. Do you want democracy or not? Time for the left to deal with its authoritarian shit before this gets out of hand.
Read Joe90 @11.1.2.
If you think a group of women (in this case) have the right to enter a retail premise with the express purpose of seeking out the retailer's vaccination status and then harassing and threatening them because of that status… then I am astonished.
It is becoming increasingly concerning that many of these anti vaxxers seem to think they have the right to accost anyone they like whenever they like and harass and intimidate them as much as they like. They need to be caught and arrested as an example to anyone else who thinks it is okay to behave in such a way.
So you want people to be arrested for this. On what charge?
And will you then be ok if other protestors are arrested? How about climate protestors?
if the shop owner feels intimidated by the actions of those women, then tresspass them.
There's nothing in Joe's story to suggest that they were harassing beyond being rude and dickheads.
Maybe you need to spend a bit of time in Auckland weka. The police's relative leniency against the hard-core anti-vaxxers has emboldened them to take actions that are heading towards dangerous levels. Only yesterday a South Pacific vaccination Medical Centre in Auckland had its front windows smashed in.
I find it amusing that some people here (and elsewhere) pleaded with the pro -vaccine citizens ( the vast majority of the population) to "go easy" on the anti-vaxxers etc. It was assumed we would be the ones who would become aggressive.
The truth has turned out to be the opposite. It is the crazies embedded in the anti-vax movement who are committing the offences and it is only going to get worse unless the police start taking a hard line on them.
Ok, so you want NZ to be a police state, arresting people on political grounds without any legal basis. Got it.
Maybe the Police should actually get vaccinated first before we send them into houses to arrest 'un-cooperative' citizens.
what's the connection specifically with terrorism?
I'm fine with arresting people breaching the orders (not wearing masks, not social distancing). Cracking down on protesting is a really bad idea, the ability to protest is intrinsic to democracy.
'
"But New Zealand cannot get there with domestic reductions alone. In fact, a full two-thirds will have to be purchased from other countries at a cost of about a billion dollars a year.
Shaw said the preference was to work with developing countries in the Asia Pacific region to, for example, plant trees, but as the decision was only made by Cabinet in past week all of the details were still to come"
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/454610/government-pledges-50-percent-emission-reduction-by-2030
Not sure if Shaw is able to sleep at night.
Fuck Labour. And Labour voters for that matter.
I'll qualify that. Fuck the people who didn't vote Green Party when that would have been a relatively easy thing to do (i.e. lots of Labour voters). Some blame Shaw, but it's the Labour Cabinet making these decisions, not Shaw. There's absolutely no excuse unless one is a climate denialist, or that we are not responsble for later generations and life on earth.
Pretty much agree with that. I'm thinking next time though, there's a party that will pay attention to climate change as well as to the plight of the Precariat in ways that The Greens have not been able to. That party is Te Paati Māori (noting here so problematic views from a particular person on the executive). I'll be watching with interest how the polling is going in the lead-up to the next election before I decide on my non-Labour party vote, if I go that way.
I will consider shifting my vote to te Mp as well, but totally dependent on whether that will actually help in terms of MP numbers to hold Labour to account.
Am thinking it's time to rark up the Greens. But ultimately we need extra-parliamentary movements and I think everyone is just distracted with covid (and unlike others, I don't think covid is going away and that we are in for some difficult times next year in NZ, we haven't yet had to deal with the death and disability side like the rest of the world has).
I think Marama Davidson is doing good work. But yes, this is a long standing problem, and what fucks me off is that Labour voters who aren't part of the precariat could have been voting Green and we would have better climate and end poverty policies being enacted. I just think the whole left wing 'we want action' on those things is hot air.
Be warned, budding Bruce Banners may be afoot.
https://twitter.com/MatthewCappucci/status/1454597660174921735
R.I.P. Dame Catherine Tizard.
A lady in every sense of the word. Her intelligence, sense of humour and compassion for others will not be forgotten.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/454628/dame-catherine-tizard-dies-aged-90