The hard change of forestry

Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, May 18th, 2019 - 98 comments
Categories: climate change, Conservation, Economy, employment, Environment, ETS, farming, farming, global warming, health and safety, nz first, Politics, quality of life, Shane Jones, sustainability, unemployment, workers' rights - Tags:

Forestry is forcing an important tilting point between mitigating climate change and land use, and it’s going to affect the viability of some North Island towns.

The Minister of Forestry Shane Jones made a pre-budget announcement this week that Te Ururakau/Forestry New Zealand will receive $58 million to push the sector to achieve its 1 billion trees promise.

According to Shane Jones, the funding will allow foresters and landowners to have the support they need and will also see the agency focus on the Government’s goal of developing a sustainable, domestic forestry workforce.

Planting trees is great on many fronts, including doing good for the climate. But there’s no turning back from it. Once committed to forestry, the land can never be used for any other purpose. The destruction of farming infrastructure (fences, yards, buildings, roads, etc) over the life cycle of forestry, and the huge cost of re-developing the land into pasture, would mean that little if any hill country would ever be reconverted from plantation forestry back to arable farming.

On top of this the ETS requires this land to be maintained for forest. The result for rural New Zealand hill communities isn’t good. Depopulation, loss of services, and ageing resident remaining populations degrades small towns to near nothing.

This is what the Wairoa Mayor has spoken out against recently, when he saw major cattle farms being sold off to overseas interests for conversion to log growing.

The Wairoa Councillor for Hawkes Bay Regional Council Fenton Wilson spells out the negative societal consequences of growing raw logs instead of arable farming:

The high price of carbon and the ability of foresters to pay above the odds for farmland is a worrying trend for Wairoa. We are just recovering from land use change from pastoral farming to forestry that occurred in the 1990s.”

Mr Wilson said this led to a district-wide population decline.

That happened then, but with a resurgence of land-use change to forestry, we will see population decline challenges over the next few years. This will negatively impact on our town, because the reality is trees planted en masse do not need stock agents, teachers, shearers, trucking firms or services on the main street of Wairoa.

Every hectare that converts to forestry has a direct negative impact on current employment, including the viability of AFFCO if enough livestock leaves the district.”

Some might not be worried about the viability of a plant designed to kill animals, but there are many small rural towns in New Zealand who actually never recovered from the loss of such plants in the 1980s and 1990s, and most of the employees who lost those long-term jobs were Maori.

The path to carbon neutrality will be neither smooth nor easy on New Zealand’s rural economy.

And it is true that as more east coast storms hit the Gisborne-Wairoa area, great blankets of well rooted trees are going to be needed more and more to protect the remaining land.

On the North Island’s East Coast, with steep and broken country long cleared of native forest, crop forestry is however necessary to prevent erosion. This has been spelled out in the Kahutia Accord. This is a Memorandum of Understanding between Ngati Kahungunu Iwi incorporated and Hawkes Bay Regional council. They are aiming to plant millions of trees on 250,000 hectares of such land across Hawkes Bay. It aims to help make Hawkes Bay carbon neutral by 2040, which is a laudable goal.

This accord also enables major planting of native trees in sensitive riparian area, which is also a good thing.

But despite laudable aims, growing raw logs also misses strong productivity increases that could have been made to the New Zealand through this massive and growing change in land use.

The government’s efforts to increase forestry productivity have been through its Crown Research Institute Scion, and focuses on the genomics of timber yield and quality.

There’s no doubt demand for logs as a simple commodity is what the world needs from us. So many of our sawmills have shut down because they simply failed to compete. But as for high quality finishes and products, nope, it’s all about the bulk commodities. We are not a nation of cabinetmakers and high end furniture designers that might use all this wood, apart from a few notable exceptions.

Forestry gangs get paid badly, and always will. Forestry work is also notable for its high rate of deaths and injury, which is taking some time to turn around.

Based on fatality rates per 100,000 workers, forestry in 2018 was the most dangerous form of agricultural work at 56.73, followed by 13.44 for agriculture and 2.38 for construction.

Yes, the world wants our logs, with 44% heading overseas. Seven countries – Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Indonesian and India – account for 80% of the value of these exports. Much of that export is in low-value logs that you can see piled up in the ports.

And there’s no doubt this is a great time to invest in growing logs since with prices so high there’s re-planting to do aplenty.

According to the situation and outlook data on exports, forestry remains New Zealand’s fourth largest exporting category.

Don’t get me wrong the One Billion Trees is a bold and inspirational programme on a number of policy levels. According to the Minister’s media release this week there have been:

  • 61 million trees planted since the One Billion Trees Programme was launched.

  • Crown Forestry entering into 21 commercial joint ventures – many of which will enable Māori to realise the potential of their land – and enable the planting of nearly 11 million trees;

  • Launching the One Billion Trees Fund and entering into 15 partnerships (approx. $28 million) and approving 36 tree planting grants (approx. $2.4 million);

  • At least 52 full-time equivalent jobs created with a further 50 trainees, with the potential to grow significantly from here;

  • Approving nearly $36 million of funding over four years to establish over 13 million trees on more than 21,000 hectares of hill country erosion prone land; and

  • Launching Matariki Tu Rākau – in partnership with regional communities, enabling the planting of approximately 40,000 trees.

  • Introducing Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – the Forestry Scholarships programme awarded eight scholarships in 2019, beginning a sold investment in the future of our forestry workforce, and

  • In conjunction with Corrections, developed a work place pilot programme that will provide up to 15 prisoners from Northland Region Corrections facilities with Forestry training and work experience.

But it’s reasonable to ask where the growth part of the Provincial Growth Fund is when a crop change also changes an existing rural society on balance for the worse.

Growing pine trees en masse may not build the actual society that we want.

98 comments on “The hard change of forestry ”

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  1. Sabine 1
    18 May 2019 at 10:56 am

    to be honest i have no good answers.

    but, what would have been / would be if nothing were done, and no changes were attempted and no trees were planted?

    what would the outcome be for the same towns?

    and what society would we have if we do not plant trees en masse? Considering this

    http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4411090-Document3.html#document/p4/a415539

    taken from here

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/102886477/shell-foresaw-climate-change-three-decades-ago-documents-show

    I have only lived here for twenty years, but i am as is my partner astonished by the fervor with which we cut down trees, any trees, everywhere, with no regards to nothing. The Road to Taupo used to be lined in trees, now it is lined in baked brown dirt – and nary a cow to see.

    The question that I would ask, 'can we plant our way out of misery and have we started just in time, or are we only fooling ourself now'.

  2. RedLogix 2
    18 May 2019 at 11:05 am

    On the North Island’s East Coast, with steep and broken country long cleared of native forest, crop forestry is however necessary to prevent erosion.

    One modest quibble. I personally witnessed the aftermath of Cyclone Bola and it was clear that plantation pine forests were nowhere near as good as native forest in preventing catastrophic erosion.

    Frankly I'd prefer to see much of the East Coast regenerate organically with only select land turned into pine forest. Besides pine plantations on steep land are much more expensive to prune, maintain and harvest.

    Still you are quite right, in the broader scheme of things, the future of towns like Wairoa and the communities that depend on them are going to change. And it's the local people who are best placed to respond intelligently to that. Government needs to listen.

    • Ad 2.1
      18 May 2019 at 11:49 am

      Agree. The Kahutia Accord emphasizes a large role for native plantings.

    • greywarshark 2.2
      18 May 2019 at 12:41 pm

      hI

    • bwaghorn 2.3
      18 May 2019 at 12:54 pm

      The anicdata I'm getting is that it isnt the highly erodable back blocks getting planted it's the high quality sheep and bedf land close to good roads and ports . It's to expensive to harvest the back blocks and the mess after the steep country is logged is terrible. Just ask the people that use the Nelson harbour .

      • RedLogix 2.3.1
        18 May 2019 at 1:08 pm

        Yes that's my understanding as well. I've been told that a lot of pines on steep backcountry will never be harvested; the economics just don't stack up.

    • barry 2.4
      18 May 2019 at 4:16 pm

      I agree, and in the aftermath of Cyclone Bola foresters were paid to replace manuka scrub with pine trees to prevent erosion.

      These same trees were recently cut and the slash ended up coming down the rivers with the slips in the last lot of storms.

      Production forestry has no place in erosion contro0l. If it is too steep to farm then it should be in native bush.

    • francesca 2.5
      18 May 2019 at 8:04 pm

      There is also Tane's Tree trust which has been advocating for continuous canopy of native timber trees and high end selective logging for years.

      https://www.tanestrees.org.nz/

      This concept ticks all the boxes as far as I am concerned

      We need a nationalised forestry again, so that we dont have short rotation pines being the only game in town.(private foresters want the payoff in their lifetime, maybe twice)

      We should be also going for longer rotation, higher quality heartwood

      UK institutions, notably universities maintain woodlands..often oaks so they can replace worn out components of their ageing buildings.They keep planting with the long term in mind, not short term profit

      We need to develop a different attitude towards the species we use and the time scale

      • greywarshark 2.5.1
        18 May 2019 at 8:22 pm

        francesca

        Great comment, great points. Things we must do if we want to go ahead with the determination to win far more than we lose of our projects and ideas and our treasured nz culture.

  3. Dennis Frank 3
    18 May 2019 at 11:16 am

    They ought to get permaculture consultants on board. All that wasted land in between the trees could be growing productive crops, eh? Forest garden design is an area of expertise in permaculture. Soil fertility would vary of course, but testing & analysis would inform people what else is viable to grow in any particular place.

    Regional resilience would be enhanced by locally-grown crops, and there'd be employment of gardeners to maintain them. A regional UBI could be trialled, with recipients required to do x hours gardening per week.

    • greywarshark 3.1
      18 May 2019 at 12:17 pm

      This is the news today.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/opinion/112812190/selling-sheep-and-beef-farms-to-forestry-is-a-threat-to-food-and-trade

      Image with Shane jones and Winston Peters.

      We are supposed to be a country into agriculture etc and yet we are still concentrating on systems introduced after the 1930s Depression. Tree plantations. We had one bright idea, fast growing pine and have done well from selling logs of that, though it needs chemical treatment to give it effective long life.

      In the 21st century the systems that Red Logix speaks of should be the norm. Where is Norm I ask?

      One of the main problems however is the mad desire to get rich quickly with exports hence the opening up of our borders that previously cloaked our shores, keeping our goodies so that we could extract and exploit them and perhaps with measures of good husbandry if we tried and Maori kept at us to practice kaitiaki. Prostitutes don't offer themselves for nothing, it is their livelihood they have to think about. Can't Treasury and the other smart leaders keep their feet on the ground and stop trying to live in the casino-financed-economy?

      We have to sell our land, our water, our …. whatever we can. We are desperate to get lots of money moving past our door, but have got to the stage that we have to arrange roadblocks giving us time to steal some from the back of the truck. That's how the poor people survived in Naples. You can read about their culture in The Broken Fountain by Thomas Belmonte if you can get a copy. Underneath our mountain of throwaway clothes we are naked, same as ever. Civil defence says that we can only last three days without help as a norm, and advises we need to be able to last a week. Sudden sackings will see us destitute without help within three months.

      That is what is behind the difficulties that face this government. That is a large part of the problem that Shane Jones faces. Don't blame him for not having the ability to set up intelligent systems. We have had a conservative, uncaring voting bloc of RW voting National who have no intention of doing what is needed to make things better for you. We know their black hearts from reading them here, where they are only a mild version of Kiwiblog and Facebook vile malcontents.

      We must keep on trying to support those attempting good, not cutting them off at the knees, but chivvying them, thinking of what they could do and asking them to do that or explain why not, and we might together be able to push Sisyphus' stone up the hill; one can't, but friends united can.

      We must learn to embrace our purpose(the rock) in life. And once we accept it as the objective of our being, we should give in [it] everything it takes to achieve it. Sisyphus teaches us to never give in to circumstantial disappointments or try to escape from the failures, rather accept failures the same way we accept our achievements.m/takeaways-from-the-story-of-sisyphus-and-the-rock-81721c6e499

      This sounds obsessive to me. But the point of accepting there will be failures but keep facing to the task and the path, not wandering off too far, seems a good point. And it fits with No.8 in the *Stoic list I put up a few days ago. This is long but long thought-through ideas as well as pithy comments are needed so we can think our way to meet our growing needs for change and embrace of humanity.

      *Stoic No. 8 in here. https://www.njlifehacks.com/what-is-stoicism-overview-definition-10-stoic-principles/

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.1
        18 May 2019 at 2:56 pm

        "We are supposed to be a country into agriculture "

        Are we? "Supposed to be"?

        Says who?

    • greywarshark 3.2
      18 May 2019 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Cleangreen What say you?

    • WeTheBleeple 3.3
      18 May 2019 at 1:35 pm

      You've never made more sense. wink

      Sign me up to supervise.

      We could diversify into many things but people want cookie-cutter monoculture systems still. We've not understood that biodiversity is a huge part of resilience despite the writing on the wall.

      Anything over a 15 degree slope should be left to go back to natives.

      We could plant a billion trees by replacing the shelter belts that used to line dairy paddocks. Nitrogen fixers, habitat, fruit, nuts, timber. Less cows yes, but less fert and feed inputs, less pollution, a more interesting farm, more soil building, more products. Farmers would be just as well off, the land better off.

      We do redwoods that grow better timber faster than pine – but we can't mill it here anymore. Likewise we could grow rimu, kauri (species), and more. We've shot ourselves in the foot with monoculture every time and now the industry is piss weak at resilience.

      Add to that the industry desire for clones… totally susceptible to one bug or the next. Armillaria novae-zelandiae, a local fungi, could take the pine forests out just wait till climate change weakens the pines and watch.

      It's about the integration of ecology with industry, covering the country in pine is good for industry not ecology. Go take a walk in a pine forest – it's a bit of a biological desert.

      • Dennis Frank 3.3.1
        18 May 2019 at 2:02 pm

        yes Yeah, folks like you with enterprise & expertise are what's required. As Grey points out, traditional thinking is endemic. Takes a pioneering stance to overcome it, and what we need is to embed a new pioneering ethic in regional development.

        Just one technical question. I'm surprised you reckon crops are inadvisable on slopes greater than 15 degrees. You must know that hillsides around 45 degrees have been used in Asia for millennia via terracing. Too intensive for here? Permaculture uses swales as a basic strategy on slopes, as you know, so I'm wondering at whether there's something I'm missing in this picture.

        • WeTheBleeple 3.3.1.1
          18 May 2019 at 3:05 pm

          Terrace farming is way over our pay grade. We've not learned to catch rain yet.

          Any tilled/bare land over 15 degrees is an issue – it simply can't cope with the rain and the topsoil winds up clogging interstitial space in the rivers destroying fish habitat. This area must be left to trees and clear-felling is destructive and very poor practice. Selective logging can be used, honey crops, fungi… we can use a lot of tree crops that bear fruit/materials as these needn't be cut down.

          It's the 'investor types' who are the problem, we don't have people peopling the land, we have investors plaguing the landscape.

          • greywarshark 3.3.1.1.1
            18 May 2019 at 3:09 pm

            Something comes to mind. Are our land structures too young or too shaken by earthquakes to do terracing as they have in Asia? They have built their terraces up over centuries haven't they?

            • WeTheBleeple 3.3.1.1.1.1
              18 May 2019 at 3:16 pm

              Why would we want to do terrace farming?

              We have fertile lowlands and the hill country is where nature traditionally filters our water for us.

              Terraces are high intensity and hard work for high populations.

              When you look at a landscape theres a point from up high where most slopes go from concave to convex. That is the typical sweet spot for settlement. not a frost pocket, not a heat trap, not exposed. Above this tree crops. Around us tree and perennials. In the flood-prone (thus requiring no fertiliser) low zones, annuals. Also, the wetlands belong in the bowls in the land, for habitat, diversity, replenishing aquifers, filtering toxins and denitrification.

              • Dennis Frank …
                18 May 2019 at 3:37 pm

                Fair enough. How does hemp fit in then? Thinking of the shade factor. Even with pruning of pines to develop straight trunks, after say 5 years sun-hungry crops will become non-viable in a plantation due to shading.

                From a regional development perspective, depressed areas like Northland and Ruatoria could be helped by growing these fungi: https://www.nztruffles.org.nz/about-truffles/growing-truffles/

                "The highest price paid for a New Zealand truffle is reported to be equivalent to NZ$9,000/Kg. Farm gate prices for Grade A Perigord black and bianchetto are around NZ$3,000 – $4,000 plus GST/ Kg."

                Imagine the cultural transforming effect of a community trust doing it. Using stakeholder design, so that all the workers know the profit share they will get from each sale. Do you know about the marketing side of any such scheme? Easy to cut a capitalist in, obviously, to get the sales done, but a workable alternative would be preferable.

                • WeTheBleeple …
                  18 May 2019 at 5:02 pm

                  Truffles will sell themselves just let the chefs know you have them. But growing them is a crap shoot despite good design there's no gaurantee you can stop their competitors getting there first. Infected trees are what's required and I imagine they fetch a pretty penny each.

                  We cannot cultivate the fungi without a tree host.

                  Everyone asks about truffles when one mentions fungi, there's plenty of easier to grow contenders that would easily fit in with mixed forestry.

                • greywarshark …
                  18 May 2019 at 6:29 pm

                  The price for truffles is dependent on their quality and scarcity. Bring more truffles into the market and you change the balance. If they become popular you will have to sleep outside with a shotgun which some avocado growers, manuka honey beekeepers might already do in their high season.

                  Out in the rural areas I think there are pockets of light-fingered people and a tolerance for male criminality; eg rustling, slaughtering animals, burning down someone's hay barns a la Macdonald near Feilding. In town it would be impossible to get away with such behaviour. I think we have to be aware of the shifty nature of some rural inhabitants leading to helping themselves to local resources.

                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Scott_Guy

                  There were a number of other outstanding charges. In June 2007, Macdonald and Callum Boe had killed 19 calves belonging to a farmer who had caught them poaching his deer. Macdonald was also convicted for burning down an old whare (Maori hut) and emptying thousands of dollars' worth of milk from a vat on another neighbour's farm. These acts were committed "for retribution" after Macdonald and Boe were informed on for trespassing and made to apologise. Anna Macdonald testified at the murder trial that her husband's relationship with Boe was "immature", and she was unaware of what they were doing on their regular night "missions". When police found out about these missions, they visited Callum Boe who by this time had moved to Queenstown. Boe admitted to his involvement and, in the process, provided police with an insight into Macdonald's behaviour. They arrested Macdonald and charged him with murder soon afterward.

                  • Dennis Frank …
                    18 May 2019 at 6:51 pm

                    Yeah, high-value products attract crime. I gather from WTB's response that growing them is more a matter of luck than skill, which explains the high prices. A venture for the right clued-up folks, clearly.

          • WeTheBleeple 3.3.1.1.2
            18 May 2019 at 3:14 pm

            On the employment issue.

            A dairy farm converted to (mostly) native forest could supply:

            Fibre, timber(s), honey, foodstuffs, medicines. Just off the top of my head.

            If we're that dead set on enlarging tourism (cos flying to the furthest blip on the planet isn't an issue, right) we should send them all home with some local products.

            They won't fit the logs in their carry on.

    • bwaghorn 3.4
      18 May 2019 at 3:28 pm

      You seem to not understand what ubi is . Work for the dole is what you suggest.

      • Dennis Frank 3.4.1
        18 May 2019 at 4:20 pm

        I admit to being old-fashioned. I believe everyone ought to contribute to society. So I prefer a design for UBI in which free money is granted on the basis of contributions. The universality is, for me, a conditional entitlement. Parasitism breeds bad mental health, therefore public policy ought to incentivise people to refrain from being that self-indulgent. Yeah, I've always been non-conformist. devil

        • greywarshark 3.4.1.1
          18 May 2019 at 5:49 pm

          I call that practical DF. The days of wine and roses are over, if you aren't prepared to turn out and spray and weed and prune and gather as part of an organised team.

  4. mosa 4
    18 May 2019 at 11:27 am

    What about the dying oceans.

    It is terrifying the pollution that is now in our food chain.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48272920

    • greywarshark 4.1
      18 May 2019 at 4:29 pm

      Yep that is bad, no bader, no baddest. What can be done with this stuff?

      Can we get an entrepreneur perhaps from India where they seem to come up like mushrooms. Can something be done with some of the stuff that earns money, and that money be paid to people picking up and packing some of the other stuff. Could plastic sheets be sewn together to create a hot-house effect between the trees, and then soil making stuff be composted in plastic bags and food grown in them quickly under the hothouse influence?

      It's so enervating hearing all this bad news, though we have to know. But we also have to have other people with innovative minds that can think with the locals on what they want and how they can do it. Once something is happening it makes people happy and they just might be able to manage without having some poncey foreigners touristing there and spoiling their favourite places. Perhaps have annual concerts, and then they have a year to recover and some cash for the extra tools, resources etc they require, and communication stuff.

  5. Siobhan 5
    18 May 2019 at 11:55 am

    demand for logs as a simple commodity..lordy, could we aim any lower? Probably not.

    When we have visitors I simply dread driving them past the Napier warfes and the ever growing piles of shitty young pine trees they have piling up for export.

    And I hate to think of the damage to our planet shipping the darned things round the world. World Wide Solar powered log transportation?

    • Robert Guyton 5.1
      18 May 2019 at 3:31 pm

      Chuck 'em into the tide and trust they'll get to their destination.

      • greywarshark 5.1.1
        18 May 2019 at 4:17 pm

        They link them into rafts in other countries. Could a raft of logs be towed by barges? The weather on the various coasts could make it impossible.

        Are there some areas that are viable for towing even for only some parts of the year?

        • WeTheBleeple 5.1.1.1
          18 May 2019 at 5:40 pm

          The tidal drag makes it all improbable at best.

          We could use known existing currents – except they too are in question with climate change.

          • greywarshark 5.1.1.1.1
            18 May 2019 at 5:46 pm

            I have the feeling that where raft logging has been used it would have been on rivers that are flowing one way, towards the sea and there would be little changing current until there are estuaries.

          • Robert Guyton 5.1.1.1.2
            18 May 2019 at 7:06 pm

            Existing currents would be ideal…if we were exporting logs to Easter Island.

  6. AB 6
    18 May 2019 at 12:23 pm

    When communities are affected negatively by private corporations moving investment out or shifting jobs overseas – we tend to shrug our shoulders and say that this is how the economy works and always has. When government actions, however well-intended, precipitate downstream effects that are exactly the same, we get upset. It's a curious inconsistency.

    Government-driven action to do something about climate change will have the same problem, multiplied many times over. It therefore needs to operate within two broader principles: no significant economic harm to anyone from necessary change, and the winners from change compensate the losers. A Green New Deal of sorts.

    Implementing such principles on the ground in a place like Wairoa is horribly difficult no doubt. But it's not good enough to drive a big change in land use – and then let the market do its usual bloody business downstream of that change.

    • bwaghorn 6.1
      18 May 2019 at 3:21 pm

      From what I saw just recently mr Guyton Helen Clark's vanity parks are rapidly going to pines and such and when you think that north island hill country does 8 to 10 stock units a hectare and south island alpine does 1 stock unit to 10 hectares or more its a no brainer what land we should be stopping farming.

      Wrong thread but my reply function is so hit and miss I cant shift it.

  8. bwaghorn 8
    18 May 2019 at 12:58 pm

    Just more clearances of the rural folk to make money for the rich. Because that's all the carbon trade will achieve.

    We have huge expanses of tussock and mountainous country that could grow conifers . Plant that

    • marty mars 8.1
      18 May 2019 at 1:41 pm

      "We have huge expanses of tussock and mountainous country that could grow conifers . Plant that"

      why? so greedy bullshit artists can make money?

      Leave the tussock and mountains alone – do the golf course, motorway verges – bulldoze the 3rd and 4th homes and plant them on that land.

    • Robert Guyton 8.2
      18 May 2019 at 3:09 pm

      Tussock country? Isn't that farmed by the high-country fraternity?

      And in any case, aren't lodgepole pines planting themselves into those areas?

      Are you advocating letting wilding pines run free, bwaghorn?

      • bwaghorn 8.2.1
        18 May 2019 at 4:59 pm

        From what I saw just recently mr Guyton Helen Clark's vanity parks are rapidly going to pines and such and when you think that north island hill country does 8 to 10 stock units a hectare and south island alpine does 1 stock unit to 10 hectares or more its a no brainer what land we should be stopping farming.

  9. fustercluck 9
    18 May 2019 at 1:37 pm

    "Mitigating climate change" Ha. Rising CO2 has already increased tree cover worldwide far more than human tree planting programs will. There are good reasons to protect the planet, i.e., clean water, air, reduction of poisonous pollution, protection of wild spaces, etc. But mitigating CO2 is not one of them. The planet is fine with the CO2 levels we have and are likely to produce. If you want to help people, greening urban environments is far more important. Localised climate change is real and it has serious health consequences. But most people want to create "carbon" trading scams for the rich far more than they want to help people in need, I guess.

    "Once committed to forestry, the land can never be used for any other purpose" What utter BS. Just look at the dairy farms in the central North Island being carved out of forestry.

    This is an important conversation and actual facts would be helpful.

    • Robert Guyton 9.1
      18 May 2019 at 3:28 pm

      I'm with fustercluck (a sentence I never expected to writesmiley

      Mostly, anyway. The path to averting the destruction of the environment is through the kinds of things you have described, fc, imo.

      • fustercluck 9.1.1
        18 May 2019 at 3:41 pm

        Common ground is closer if we all heed my grandfather's final advice to me; You must keep your mind free of ideology. Greenland glaciers are thickening, climate models failed to predict this. We should focus on what we KNOW and we will do great things together.

        Re: the glaciers:

        https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48265217

        • Robert Guyton 9.1.1.1
          18 May 2019 at 3:49 pm

          What actions, fc, protect us from capture by ideologies?

          Join the Skeptics Society?

          smiley

          • Incognito 9.1.1.1.1
            18 May 2019 at 4:49 pm

            Frontal lobotomies are apparently very effective in fending off ideological thinking and other neurological disorders. Alternatively, education is vaccination against indoctrination.

            • Robert Guyton 9.1.1.1.1.1
              18 May 2019 at 4:52 pm

              Education and indoctrination are … similar, n'est-ce pas (ne ra?)

              • Incognito …
                18 May 2019 at 5:21 pm

                Similar but different. National are better managers of the economy and Labour is all about tax & spend is indoctrination and based on false beliefs (myths). Inequality negatively affects the economy of countries is education and based on verifiable facts.

              • fustercluck …
                18 May 2019 at 8:25 pm

                Robert: Critical thinking is central. Logic. Recognition of common fallacies (the ad hominem fallacy is the most tedious and all too common as is the appeal to authority fallacy, central to so many discussions about "climate change" policy!). Genuine debate skills, i.e., the ability to articulate the opposite side's argument better than they can and still defend your own with facts and genuine arguments is art almost lost to our society. Education could set so many free and it is instead far too often little more than indoctrination.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  18 May 2019 at 9:50 pm

                  Fuster; heart is central. Critical thinking, logic and so on, are useful back-ups, if there's a need to prove a point. Story-telling ability trumps debate skills, imo, if your objective is to convince the audience. Education, eh! The answer is ako and that's a shared experience between learner and teacher and can't happen till there's genuine cooperation.

          • Dennis Frank 9.1.1.1.2
            18 May 2019 at 5:53 pm

            Skeptics are captive to their own ideology, Robert. As opposed to sceptics, who are sceptical by nature.

            My answer to your first question is a) having an open mind (which means giving due consideration to whatever an ideology is designed to exclude) and b) transcendence (which includes seeing the big picture, for most people, and the praxis of shapeshifting between one's portfolio of identities in response to whichever ideology the people you are talking to are captivated by.

            For instance, my praxis here is to concur with elements of leftist thought when appropriate, and differentiate between them and sensible centrism when appropriate. The former establishes common ground, and I use the latter to illuminate the downsides of leftist beliefs (so as to enhance the common good).

            • Robert Guyton 9.1.1.1.2.1
              18 May 2019 at 6:48 pm

              Admitting to having a "portfolio of identities" might leave you open to the charge of duplicity or insincerity, Dennis?

              • Dennis Frank …
                18 May 2019 at 6:59 pm

                Technical possibility, but would arise from misunderstanding of human nature. We all do it somewhat. I became aware of the effect long ago and learnt to become more adept at it, but it is really merely a social skill.

                Psychologically, you can sense how a social context is influencing you to show a part of yourself that is suitable, in order to play the part in that context that you want to play.

                The way I ended up thinking of it was that the various selves I've evolved through in my seven decades are all a natural part of me still, including the inner child. Self-acceptance. As a young adult I was more future-oriented, determined to leave the past behind (childhood trauma), but psychotherapy eventually produced a more integral me.

        • Macro 9.1.1.2
          18 May 2019 at 6:47 pm

          Well actually the reversal of that particular Glacier is not exactly unexpected by some climate scientists (despite what the BBC says) and indeed there are several at Leeds University who are studying this, as always to gain more understanding. It doesn't mean that AGW has slowed or reversed. Not at all. What it indicates is that in any system, where you increase the energy content from an external source there will be areas that heat up faster than others, and some that cool temporarily. Imagine placing a candle under a glass of water. It doesn't heat up uniformly, warm water moves to the top, and the cooler water moves to the bottom. And so it is with the Earth having an energy imbalance from increased GHG's .The Earth no longer emits the same amount of energy into space in black body radiation, that it receives from solar radiation. One of the causes of the mini ice age in the Northern Hemisphere during the last natural warming period (before the current Holocene) was caused by just an event as that which is occurring in Greenland. The Northern Hemisphere at that time had far more ice than is currently covering Greenland, and Ice melting from the North American Ice sheet as well as the Greenland Ice sheets was such that it slowed the flow of warm water in the Gulf Stream and caused an area of extreme cold in the north Atlantic. One of areas that has been experiencing cooler than average temperatures on the Planet is exactly that area. Most other areas have continued to experience above average temperatures as expected. The Ice Sheets in the northern hemisphere are no where near the size they were prior to the Holocene, and so we are not likely to experience another large but localised area of cooling such as was experienced when the Earth warmed to experience the Holocene.

          One or two Glaciers slowing down for a short period is not something to give any confidence. The Earth has lost 9 over trillion tonnes of ice since 1961 – and the rate is increasing despite the thickening of ice of one glacier in Greenland. We are currently losing a total of 335 billion tonnes of ice a year, corresponding to a rise in sea levels of almost 1 mm per year.”

      • Macro 9.1.2
        18 May 2019 at 7:49 pm

        Actually Robert what FC wrote is total rubbish. We are not safe with the current levels of GHGs, and heading rapidly towards catastrophic global warming. The current level of around 410 ppm has probably not been experienced on Earth in 15 million years. At that time humans did not exist.

        Yet deforestation of the planet continues at a depressing speed.

        If we do not slow our rate of emissions drastically, within 30 years the mass of GHG in the atmosphere will hit a level not experienced in 50 million years (around the time of the Jurassic period and the extinction of the dinosaurs) It will be, by then probably be too late, to prevent feedback loops from kicking in, and initiating runaway global warming the like of which we cannot imagine.

        https://grist.org/article/humans-didnt-exist-the-last-time-there-was-this-much-co2-in-the-air/

        Yes ETS's are crap, but we have a population of voters who firstly fail to understand the perils that await their children and grandchildren, and continue to act as if nothing serious is going to happen – well at least not until they have exited this mortal coil – and so are steeped in materialism they hate anything that remotely suggests they should change the way they live. Carbon taxes, and governments that attempt to introduce them, in almost every instance globally (apart from BC) have a very short life.

        • Robert Guyton 9.1.2.1
          18 May 2019 at 9:54 pm

          Hey, Macro. Your list of humanity's failings doesn't inspire and is therefore not useful for those who are both hopeful for a result and active in achieving one. Just saying' Your view is widely held, I reckon and will be very, very popular as the situation unfolds and there will be great need for some people more hopeful, seemingly, than yourself, to help the general population avoid debilitating despair.

          Cheers.

          • Macro 9.1.2.1.1
            19 May 2019 at 8:20 am

            Robert I have been advocating for environmental action for decades now – re-establishing wetlands, tree planting, managing arboretums (NZ's oldest is metres from my front door). I have always worked and hoped that we could bring positive change in the way we as humans interact with the planet. I hate to think of the world my g'kids are going to inherit in a few years time, and many of them totally understand what lies before them! Far better than their parents. The window of opportunity to address our GHG emissions is just about to slam shut. Yet still we see parents and g'parents driving massive 4WD's when a small vehicle would do the job just as well. That is just one example of the disconnect that the majority of people have with the way they interact with the Earth and the resultant eternalised costs of their behaviour.

            I'm sorry if I sound pessimistic, because I am. I cannot see any way now, that humans are going to change the way they behave until it is too late.

            The election of Trump, the re-election of Nat/Libs in Aus, the fervour in the UK for Farage and his demented lot, the rise of far-right parties in Europe, makes any hope of the world making radical change to address the environment and AGW impossible.

            Here is the latest offering on the future from Gaia Vince published in the Guardian today:

            https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/18/climate-crisis-heat-is-on-global-heating-four-degrees-2100-change-way-we-live

            • Robert Guyton 9.1.2.1.1.1
              19 May 2019 at 8:26 am

              Hi Macro – I understand your despair, especially in light of your previous efforts to make good our mess in the outside world; pessimism is an unavoidable stage all sensitive, maybe all people, have to go through once the realisation hits home. But it isn't the final position. Beyond despair there is something else.

              I reckonsmiley

              • Robert Guyton …
                19 May 2019 at 8:33 am

                "

                ‘Why we are heading for extinction,’ begins the title of the talk, ‘and what to do about it.’ The remaining half hour is the bit about doing. What is striking is that Roger makes no attempt to row back on the bleakness of what he has already told us. There is no bargain on offer here – ‘If everyone does X, then all this scary stuff will go away’ – only the observation, backed up by research on social movements, that those whose willingness to act endures the longest are not the activists who are motivated by outcome, who need to be given hope and to believe in their chances of success, but the ones who are motivated by doing the right thing. It’s the first time I can remember seeing a call to action which explicitly invites people to go into despair. In the closing minutes of his talk, Roger speaks about ‘the dark night of the soul’, the need to move through the darkness rather than avoid it. This is a call to rebellion that is framed in the language and draws on the traditions of mysticism.

                I don’t say that this is without precedent; indeed, part of Roger’s argument is that the rational, secular logic of mainstream Western activism, with its dependence on promises of progress, is the anomaly, while the stance for which he speaks has more in common with what has sustained grassroots movements in other times and places, and continues to do so. But this is the first activism around climate change in the West that I’ve encountered that has roots this deep, that draws on spiritual traditions without slipping into New Age wishful thinking or fantasies about a collective evolution of consciousness. It’s the closest I’ve seen to an activism that can answer that question I didn’t know how to answer back in 2010: what do we do, after we stop pretending?"

                • Sabine …
                  19 May 2019 at 8:40 am

                  To give up hope is not to accept things as they are, but to accept the fact that they areas they are. All my ranting against the status quo just wears me out before plunging me into despair. How much better it is to see reality as it is and then go on to consider what to do about it.

                  from here

                  https://agjohnson.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/despair-and-hope/

                  this guy wrote this a long time ago and i tend to agree.

                  keeping hope means we expect others to fix our broken stuff……like, i hope the guy who ask me to 'be my leader' will be the person in parliament to fix stuff. No, he/she won't but we will pay him/her a nice wage and his hope to a better life have materialise. 🙂

                  IF we want chance, we need to change.

                • Macro …
                  19 May 2019 at 2:46 pm

                  Hi Robert,

                  I'm simply looking at the reality of the Earth's current level of atmospheric GHG's – around 410ppm. Even if by some miracle humans stopped emitting GHG's overnight the Earth will continue to warm until the energy imbalance is stable (ie the energy the Earth emits in black body radiation reaches the Energy it receives from the sun) We are far from that point on current projections. Hopefully climate sensitivity is low, in which case with 410 ppm we could peak out at around 2 Degrees above what was the ave temp for the 10,000 + years of goldilocks period in the Holocene. There is no way that we can hold AGW to 1.5 Degrees a la The Paris Agreement. That figure was reached using a very low estimate of climate sensitivity. Essentially politicians accepted a calculation that was spurious for political reasons but had no basis in reality. About a decade ago a study was done where the same thought experiment was performed. Imagine the world stopped emitting GHG tonight. What would be the resulting Ave Global Temperate – even then with a GHG of around 370 ppm the calculation was for an eventual temperature of around 1.3 degrees. Again assuming a relatively low climate sensitivity. Recent studies indicate that climate sensitivity is not as low as some have previously suggested and that it is at the upper end of the scale, which means that we are really only at the beginning of the rapid increase in temperature rise that the Earth is experiencing.

                  The reality is that staying under the 1.5C threshold is now nigh-on impossible, says King. Meeting the 1.5C target now means overshooting and coming back down using negative emissions technologies that “suck” carbon dioxide out of the air. The report will need to be explicit about this, he says.

                  King is cautious about overstating the world’s ability to meet the 1.5C goal, given that no single technology yet exists approaching the scale that would be required. He tells Carbon Brief:

                  “We will need negative emissions on a large-scale and for a long period of time to bring global temperatures back down to 1.5C. This isn’t possible with current technologies.”

                  Earlier this year, Carbon Brief published a series of articles on negative emissions, including a close up on the most talked-about option – Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) – and a survey of which technologies climate experts think hold the most potential.

                  https://skepticalscience.com/ipcc-special-report-scrutinise-feasibility-15C-goal.html

                  In the meantime fossil fuels continue to be subsidised by Govts to the tune of $US 5 Trillion per year (That's oil, coal, and gas). So there is no way on Earth that people are going to stop burning fossil fuels and stop emitting copious quantities of GHG's anytime soon.

                  We can have a revolution and yes I believe the time is drawing nearer when people will again rise up. But look how long it took to establish some sense of order and equality after the uprising in France in 1789? The regime change may have ben fairly quick – but it wasn't really until 1870 and the establishment of the 3rd Republic after Napoleon III and Eugene that France finally became a settled state. Revolutions have a tendency to replace power with a power vacuum, a la Iraq after the Gulf war, the Arab spring uprising, etc. the resulting chaos and disorder can take years to resolve and a country to begin to function again. In the time such disorder occurs the Earth will continue to warm. Disorder will be no more effective in combating and dealing with this existential crisis than current Govt's.

                  There are several solutions to the threat that Earth faces. Sequestration of Carbon in the oil fields, (This carries the risk of escaping CO2). Seeding the upper atmosphere with reflective particles to cut the amount of solar radiation. This would be a long term effect and with a drop in GHG would lead to a global cooling which could be equally threatening with no way of removing the reflective particles. Greening the Earth is of course a major factor but we are dreaming if we think that it will manage our profligate use of fossil fuels, amassed from millions of years of carbon based material. Just remember how long it took that tree to grow that you burn in your wood stove in a few hours. And how long it too that lump of coal to be formed. Or that litre of petrol.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    19 May 2019 at 3:08 pm

                    Put that way, the future looks grim, Macro. However, Sabine just mentioned that she's planted two trees today, so I'm going out to put a couple in myself. Consequently, I'm feeling quite chippersmiley

    • bwaghorn 9.2
      18 May 2019 at 5:06 pm

      There's a huge difference between converting flat land to dairy and converting hill country to sheep and beef . It could be done but the cost would kill it

      Of course the clever foreign owners of the flat land around taupo leased it to the nz government so they do all the hard expensive work and they get the finished fertile farm back in 40 years.

    • greywarshark 9.3
      18 May 2019 at 5:41 pm

      CO2. According to Allan Savory if we cover the soil by growing stuff, and when it is annuals, allowing animal herds in to eat the tops and defecate, and trample the rest down as mulch, we hardly get any loss of CO2 and aid moisture trapping and soil content and no doubt the soil fungi. So doing that AND doing the innercity living bit would be double good.

      But there is fierce opposition to Savory's work and statements about CO2. Perhaps there should be two studies of his work, one to be how it operates to improve conditions and the land for the people in the area, and the second what scientific conclusions can be drawn from it with one factor being the CO2 component and carbon sequestration.

      It seems that if you try to change agricultural habits there is a hostility to that and a large number of scientists will turn their attention to proving the challenger is remiss at the least, and totally compromised at the worst. So it seems wise to note that changes will not be warmly welcomed and it could be that there are commercial interests such as fertiliser sales, seed sales, equipment sales, that could be affected as well as lifetimes spent pronouncing truths that are now being questioned.

      Allan Savory v conventional wisdom with endless iterations. From the Sierra Club, a very large USA group begun in 1892 that has helped retain areas as national parks. About the Sierra Club and the below link is a long one about Savory and his methods to which they appear negative.

      'The Sierra Club is one of the best-funded environmental activist groups with over $79 million in assets on its last tax return. … Tides has collected over $200 million since 1997, most of it from other foundations, and in turn uses that money to fund environmental activist campaigns." https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/194-sierra-club/

      The counterevidence I had been referencing says this: When there are too many cows in places with intermittent or little rain, where the vegetation is brittle and the soil fragile, the animals spell trouble. Overgrazing denudes the soil and produces erosion, which leads to a landscape where plants can't revive and grow. At least 8.4 billion acres on the planet are grazed, and 73 percent of that land is suffering from some form of land degradation, according to the International Journal of Biodiversity. The problem is perhaps worst across arid lands where plants evolved with almost no exposure to large grazers, such as in the mountainous west of the United States—where Savory happens to live. https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2017-2-march-april/feature/allan-savory-says-more-cows-land-will-reverse-climate-change

      This long Sierra item by Christopher Ketcham seems to be to prove a theory scientifically and uncontrovertibly. Allan Savory seems to approach his work from – does it work – will it keep on working – for the people and the land in the area if they stick to the methods established. Building computer models; people want reliable results.

      • WeTheBleeple 9.3.1
        19 May 2019 at 7:06 am

        I can tell you for a fact that our Ag scientists are a bunch of apes imitating and echoing each other. They'll bash the thinking out of you at school. All our Farmers are taught the same extractive arts, rarely do they have a f'n clue about ecology till it is thrust upon them. A conversation involves them falling back on the standard line, no thinking just robots.

        I told those eejits tree crops would save us so many times, crunched numbers, pulled references, and what did I get "have you compared the production values with today's systems" and them doing DODGY MATH INVOLVING ZERO OFFSETS proceed to ignore the cost of inputs and declare my thinking wrong by comparing apples and oranges. They know they are frauds and so will deny and deride anyone who can think.

        This government seems to be yet another in a series of frauds posing as concerned for our welfare but pumping shit into the air land and water just the same. Planting trees is all they got because business interests still want their pound of flesh. No solar supplement because privatised power shareholders will sue. No EV subsidies because oil.

        Fucking spineless mirrors of each others worn out sentiments and shonky data manipulation.

  10. cleangreen 10
    18 May 2019 at 1:38 pm

    Advantage,
    You didn't state that the Minister said also in hiis press release that we need Gisborne to be investing in recieving a rail upgrade too right?

    Quote; In this press release (below) on 16th May 2019 from Hon’ Shane Jones as the Government’s Regional Development Minister, he confirms that the rail from Gisborne needs to be ‘upgraded’.

    https://www.interest.co.nz/news/99726/forestry-minister-shane-jones-talks-developing-gisborne-hub-processing-wood-both?fbclid=IwAR3IdxdCkmsGP3Ijtv6BRCxudEs8EgI-M_o7P7rMA85nu7uH4VTUA-mmc-A

    That also will work to get the trucks off the roads which are killing many as the potholes and uneven roads now are dangerous to drive on and cost us all billions in the process, so there are many positive ‘advantages’ and benefits also.

    Greens had a similar rail from road freight policy in 2016 to transfer freight back to rail.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80317784/green-party-transport-policy-get-rid-of-trucks-move-freight-to-rail-and-sea

    Shane is now advocating this for several reasons as well as safety it will also lower our freight transportation climate emisions too.

    Big picture needed here, advantage please.

  11. Stuart Munro. 11
    18 May 2019 at 2:50 pm

    As with any other crop, monocultures aren't ideal, especially over a region. Some thought ought to be going into forestry type crops that do provide ongoing seasonal returns and work.

    That might begin with bamboo, include fast growing coppicable species like poplars and willows, or include timbers that provide a crop as well as decorative or resistant timber, like chestnut. The various lacquer producing trees and sugar maples represent healthy alternatives to the neverending radiata. Hemp must fit somewhere in that lineup too.

    • Robert Guyton 11.1
      18 May 2019 at 3:29 pm

      "As with any other crop, monocultures aren't ideal, especially over a region"

      You're the Master of Understatement, Stuart!

      • Stuart Munro. 11.1.1
        18 May 2019 at 4:15 pm

        Yeah – someone pulled me up on the assertion once – the southern beeches having reached something pretty monocultural in some areas. But you'd think if we have to have radiata everywhere the least government could manage would be a few songi/matsutake growing underneath = income and employment in the non harvest years.

        • Robert Guyton 11.1.1.1
          18 May 2019 at 4:55 pm

          Southern beeches might seem like a monoculture, but that's without counting their associated fabulously varied fungal communities; just coz we can't see 'em, don't mean they ain't there…

          • WeTheBleeple 11.1.1.1.1
            18 May 2019 at 5:47 pm

            If they're older cohorts a bit of selective logging might actually help the forest.

          • francesca 11.1.1.1.2
            18 May 2019 at 8:22 pm

            Now there's an idea Robert

            Psilicybe makarorae, only known in NZ, is found amongst the rotting debris of southern beech forests
            More widely known as a species of magic mushrooms

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_makarorae

            Psilocybin is now being seriously reconsidered as a valuable therapy for depression , addictions , PTSD, amongst other mental disorders

            Maybe it could even help us shift our harmful attitudes towards the natural world

            https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/psilocybin-legal-therapy-mdma-753946/

            • Robert Guyton 11.1.1.1.2.1
              18 May 2019 at 9:58 pm

              That's a very interesting proposal, francesca and dovetails elegantly with my 9.1.2.1 reply to Macro.

              • WeTheBleeple …
                19 May 2019 at 7:16 am

                I discovered a new species of Psilocybe here, so we have at least two unique 'species' (all part of the cyanescens complex when the DNA is done). The 'expert' ignored me but I persisted till he finally, with a mental pat on the head for moron me, came along. He was on his hands and knees like a child when he saw them.

                Another self-fancying muppet who doesn't like anyone knowing stuff they're meant to know.

                You could pick significant (economic) quantities of several species from several ecosystems in NZ without even needing to cultivate them. (don't do it, still class A).

                Good thinking Francesca, some of the research coming out is astounding in its implications. I reckon these fungi helped me though my PTSD, though I'm still hyper-vigilant at least I'm not drunk 24/7 anymore.

                The study where a single dose gave terminally ill folks a better end of life for at least six months was astounding. Single dose medicines that create more empathy – not sure they'll ever approve such a radical thing.

                PS For what it’s worth, I have all Stamets publications here – these fungi are some of the easiest to cultivate.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  19 May 2019 at 7:33 am

                  Indeed.

                • francesca …
                  19 May 2019 at 8:34 am

                  Amazing what you notice when the eye becomes attuned to the tiny elements of the ground floor

                  I'm still swimming every day(quite a revelation in itself)and on the walk to my swimming hole, I've noticed an amazing green mushroom, got a peaked cap , maybe 5cm across.Never seen it before, no idea what it is but its utterly beautiful

                • WeTheBleeple …
                  19 May 2019 at 10:13 am

                  Actually, three unique 'species'.

                  Wereroa, almost puffball like in shape.

                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_weraroa

                  Makarorae, and their pixie hats

                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_makarorae

                  And my find, the form of which is intermediate between the Wereroa and a typical Cyanescens, in that it is a 'normal' looking (goldtop type) mushroom, but only partially opens. I supect they stay mostly closed to aid in long term spore dispersal. I have observed them existing for several months above ground.

                  Anyhoo, we got three unique one's, and that's money.

                  • francesca …
                    19 May 2019 at 10:49 am

                    Amazing!

                    We also have this one

                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_aucklandii

                    The name suggests its first sighting and identification was around Auckland

                    Seems to grow happily in pine forest

                    There may be an ecological benefit of allowing pines to mature way beyond their usual 25 years

                    Nearby here, a pine forest was not considered to be worth the cost of milling so was left for 40 years.I regularly saw live powelliphanta snails here, and lots of regenerating natives .Life was quite rich and various

                    The pines have been felled , and the land is quickly sprouting a new pine forest , self seeded

                    • WeTheBleeple …
                      19 May 2019 at 5:44 pm

                      Oh yes, how could I forget those (P. aucklandii). They grow in the local park.

                      I found another suspected psilocybe but the specimen was degraded by the time it was tested. It grew under Kaka beak at the uni, and would only last a day or so before vanishing, saw it a few times over the years. Like some Coprinus species it seemed to be able to self destruct in sunlight. It was distinctly goldtop/blue staining colored, but yeah, so flimsy.

                      I wanted to call it ephemerii.

              • francesca …
                19 May 2019 at 8:28 am

                Thumbs up to you Robert

  12. greywarshark 12
    18 May 2019 at 3:14 pm

    What good stuff can come up when practical informed people put their minds to work. Now find some Practical Informed and Committed people with some power to get things done and we are away. If we climbed to the top of Mt Victoria high in Wellington you get a good view from there and maybe even to the Beehive and surrounding tall business buildings. Is there a way of fixing a GPS on people who have the Pic points from above?

    Any in Auckland – sighted from the Skytower?

    • francesca 12.1
      19 May 2019 at 8:37 am

      Another reason for being up in the green belt above Mt Victoria is the bounty of porcini mushrooms underneath the pines

      • greywarshark 12.1.1
        19 May 2019 at 5:55 pm

        You people are so clever and knowledgable. It's interesting reading all you know. I guess you'll keep in contact, like two heads + are better than one. Is there a science grant in that subject?

  13. McFlock 13
    18 May 2019 at 7:17 pm

    From what I gather, pine is planted because it can be harvested relatively quickly. Essentially just another industrialised monoculture.

    Seems to me that land use needs to be more complex than that – divided between pine, rimu, plum/cherry/walnut, oak, and with grazing spaces, too. Different areas on different harvest cycles (from months to centuries).

    But that requires a different perspective – pays more to do outputs that you can profit on in yourt lifetime.

  14. greywarshark 14
    18 May 2019 at 9:13 pm

    This NZ research pdf could be informative to some of the questions arising. https://www.grassland.org.nz/publications/nzgrassland_publication_2577.pdf

    Production, environment and social benefit of agroforestry systems © 2013 Proceedings of the 22nd International Grassland Congress 1003

    Balancing pastoral and plantation forestry options in New Zealand and the role of agroforestry(8 pages)
    Edit:

    The New Zealand Tree Crops Association (NZTCA) is a voluntary organisation promoting interest in useful trees, such as those producing fruit, nuts, timber, fuel, wood, livestock fodder, bee forage and other productive crops. ‘Tree Crops’ is the affectionate abbreviation by which NZTCA is widely known.
    https://treecrops.org.nz/

    NZFFA was formed in 1957. Membership is spread over 27 Branches throughout NZ, and there are 6 special interest groups. We estimate our members own or manage up to 100,000Ha of forest, and influence the management of a similar area. These forests consist of radiata pine; cypress; eucalypts; redwood; blackwood; other exotic species and managed indigenous forests.
    https://www.nzffa.org.nz/

    http://www.poplarandwillow.org.nz/documents/Trees-for-the-Farm-Booklet.pdf

    https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/community/your-community/for-farmers/waterways-and-wetland-management/trees-on-farms/

    https://www.grassland.org.nz/publications/nzgrassland_publication_2605.pdf
    Farmer experience with tree fodder
    Use of trees for drought feed on New Zealand farms has been practised … Farmers obtain tree fodder by pruning and pollarding soil conservation trees, and by….

    http://www.treesforbeesnz.org/farms

  16. Pat 16
    19 May 2019 at 8:43 am

    Yet another outcome of neoliberilism….by abdicating control and trying to use 'the market' to acheive a result we have again ignored its sole motive to the detriment of society….tis about time it was realised the market serves only itself , not us.

  17. Janet 17
    19 May 2019 at 9:59 am

    And all those ships carrying all those logs far and wide …. are they going to go back to be sailing ships ? Better the over populated countries grew more trees themselves and stopped grabbing our land to grow monocultures pines.
    Also better the logs be cut into flitches on site before exporting and the "waste " go back onto the land .
    The forests should be rotationally harvested eg a 25 hectare pine forest should after 25 yrs have only one hectare per year harvested. This allows the bio diversity that has established under the forest to remain.
    So much so wrong going on out there…3 yr thinking not 300 yr thinking.

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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    27 mins ago

  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
    Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    27 mins ago

  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
    Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    27 mins ago

  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
    Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    27 mins ago

  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
    In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the Rule If you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    27 mins ago

  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
    Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    28 mins ago

  • What Are Struts on a Car?
    Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    28 mins ago

  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
    Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    30 mins ago

  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
    Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 hours ago

  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
    Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 hours ago

  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
    Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 hours ago

  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
    Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 hours ago

  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
    In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 hours ago

  • How Are Computers Made?
    A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
    Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
    Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
    Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
    Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
    Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago

  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
    A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    “You talking about me?”  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 hours ago

  • A crisis of ambition
    Roger Partridge  writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago

  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago

  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    10 hours ago

  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    13 hours ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    15 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    21 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    23 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 day ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 day ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
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  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Government focused on getting people into work
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    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
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    5 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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    5 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
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    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
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    6 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
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