Joyce is too arrogant to consider this. Bit hypocritical of Key when he signed on to an ETS scheme and puts billions into roads. But then again, he wants to sell our precious assets to buy more assets to bring in less income… Key is becoming more of a dick head each day.
Here in little New Zealand we know them well. They grew up in ugly houses, went to ugly schools, have ugly accents and equally ugly ideas. They left school at fifteen to drive trucks and to prove you can be ignorant and a millionaire. Through cunning, bullying and general ugliness they rose up through the trucking business to own their own. Now they run our country. And Steven Joyce is their bum boy. What a hoot!
The ignorance shown in the few comments on this thread highlight the lack of understanding of trucking’s role in NZ. And as for Mike, my Dad runs a small trucking business but is certainly not a millionaire, so hows about you get your head out of your ass and start living in the real world
Actually Kites, your dad may well be a millionaire, on paper at least. If his small trucking business has an office, a yard and a few trucks, that’s probably nudging a mil’s worth of assets. Ok, it’s probably more the banks asset, rather than your old fella’s but you get my drift.
Please explain – what exactly is trucking’s role in NZ? And what will happen to trucking when trains once again become the favoured mode of long distance transport?
Road freight is subsidised to the tune of almost half. From memory, the industry pays for 55% of the cost of doing business on the roads – the rest is subsidised by all of us.
Rail on the other hand pays 90% of it’s own way. So which is “not contestable”?
Think of it another way. What would happen to NZ if all the trucks stopped? Tomorrow.
NZ would stop within days.
Things like food, office supplies, toilet paper, petrol, parts, tyres, ets etc are delivered by truck. Every day seven days a week so consumers can consume.
Look at the stuff around you, and it all got carried at some stage of its life, and often many times, by truck
Like it or not Trucks carry out essential services in NZ and no amount of dogma can replace the task they do.
Think of it another way. What would happen to NZ if all the trucks stopped? Tomorrow.
NZ would stop within days.
If 10% of all trucks stopped tomorrow that would be fine.
If another 10% of the remaining trucks stopped a year from now, that would be fine.
If another 10% of the remaining trucks stopped a year after that, that would be fine.
Seems fine to me. Rail and short distance courier services would pick up the slack easy.
Like it or not Trucks carry out essential services in NZ and no amount of dogma can replace the task they do.
But that doesn’t mean that they should and the fact that trucks are less efficient than trains or ships isn’t dogma. As they are the least efficient form of transport they should be off the road except where they’re the only viable option.
Good thing there’s no other mechanism to balance that out, eh?
Hey trucker, if you’re just going to write single sentences about tiny fragments of information as if none of it were connected and nothing impacts on anything else, then this is going to take a really long time.
Now I’m sick in bed so that doesn’t bother me too much, but it’s going to get very fucking dull for anyone else reading the thread, so please try to string a few of your brilliant thoughts together into a coherent narrative rather than spitting out irrelevant semifactoids which require endless unpacking.
Ok?
And while you’re at it, use the reply button under the comment you want to reply to.
diesel vehicles are taxed according to odometer readings. Although the substitution of one for the other in DM’s most enjoyable rant makes little difference.
Hey felix Good health! I’ve got a doozy cold at present – it’s going round. And it might be a good idea to question yon trucker if he is actually trying to drive and text? I hope not, but it seems that truckers are great and can do everything.
That is why duty is called duty, and road user charges are called road user charges
@ tracey
No ones place is everywhere.
I agree re fast lane. But as we don’t have the same rules as the UK, then we don’t have a fast lane. The outside lane is free for any person to drive in at the speed they choose, irresepctive of vehicle type, trucks included.
that is the answer i would expect frankly. You had a chance to dispel the idea that truck drivers are a self absorbed lot oblivious to other road users, you merely confirmed it.
Oh sorry trucker, I thought your rule was that if two taxes have slightly different titles and mechanisms we all pretend they’re completely unrelated.
I take it from your links that you’re now acknowledging the obvious: that all the aforementioned levies, excise duties, and charges are just ways for the state to charge road users for, er, using roads.
See what I mean about taking the long stupid way to get to a point, trucker?
I wonder how much longer and how many more pointless distractions it’ll take before Trucker gets around to addressing the issue that the thread is actually about.
No, you didn’t address the video at all, except for spotting that road user taxes in the UK aren’t called the same thing in NZ. Well done for that. Now, would you like to have a crack at the substance of what David Mitchell is saying?
ps. see that button with ‘reply’ on it? Try using that, it helps the conversation flow. Cheers.
Ok, up to you, but it marks you as a bit of a numpty if you have to scroll past the reply button to reply at the foot of the page. Not to mention it shows a lack of respect for other readers, but then if your preference is to ”look at the bottom”, I guess it should be no surprise your comments are a bunch of arse.
You happen to, due to the way the subsidies are currently structured. More accurate to say we all pay your wages for delivering whatever you’re delivering.
You seem a bit blinkered though, as if what you do is intrinsically more valuable than what anyone else does and none of us could possibly get by without you. That’s the nature of specialisation, nothing to do with the awesomeness of driving a truck.
Apply the same logic to some other useful jobs and let me know how special you feel.
Having read this entire page the one thing I gather from it more than any other point anyone is trying to make is that Felix sounds like a smug, self important prick.
You’ve talked about this discrediting thing before – are you still relying on the report prepared by Ports of Aucklands hero, Tony Gibson, as your proof? Or have you dug up something better? If so, let’s see it.
Nice to know that if you are a group in society that works hard and provides a service but doesn’t vote universally for the left, it is open season for hate speech and attacks on your livelihood.
Cuddle a dole bludger but let a truckie starve.
It shouldn’t any longer but it always suprises me how fucking dumb you guys are.
Is the truck industry like farmers, somehow immune from criticism while their industry has the ears and minds of politicians through strong lobbying? People here are suggesting their is a better way forward than building more roads. Some are more colourful in their expression than others. Repeating the line who will deliver your food and pretending the argument is no trucks at all is churlish. No industry should be immune from criticism or examibation. As for victorian references, roads and trucks are so edwardian. As for the empire and victorian times being past, our pm is positively royalist and hankering for his knighthood…
No. Truck drivers are workers like any others, and their work conditions have probably been affected just as much by Rogernomics as any others. There are issues worthy of genuine discussion and analysis here – it may be that the roading budget is a subsidy, for example, but would it not also help keep food prices down?
I dunno, the thread has an element of left wing dog whistle? Got no axe to grind for delivery workers, but…
I haven’t seen this as an attack on truck drivers or their work ethic. I understood it to be a discussion about whether we could divert more long haul freight to rail and thereby get more trucks off the roads. Of course that course of action would result in truck driving job losses but that is not because people are anti the drivers. Some of those defending the status quo based the defence on us just being grateful we have food tonight because of them.
I understood it to be a discussion about whether we could divert more long haul freight to rail and thereby get more trucks off the roads. Of course that course of action would result in truck driving job losses but that is not because people are anti the drivers.
Isn’t that similar to the “lump of labour” fallacy that people bring up? Yes, there’d be less long-haul truckers, but there’d be more railhead:customer transport in smaller trucks. Just less damage to the roads, and fewer emissions.
You don’t need discussion or evidence when you have the truck lobby! I hadn’t realised quite how precious some truck drivers are. I bet they don’t have a single opinion on law and order, education or the like because they dont want to insult teachers, police, lawyers, judges, principals…
A high reliance on heavy trucks as part of NZ’s logistics network exists today. That can be changed within 10 years. And 10 years after that, it will change anyway, whether we plan it or not.
Glad you’ve come around to admitting that it’s “transport” that’s important rather than just “trucking” though. That’s a 180 degree turn around on what you’ve been bleating all day.
Now you just need to apply that to everyone else’s job and you’ll be well on your way to recognising that you live in a society.
trucker – What a saint. Almost as good as a house surgeon at work most of 24 hours with littlev rest trying to help very sick people. Or perhaps truckers are better than that on the hierarchy of specialness. I bet you have your own good money or borrowed invested in your business, or truck, or truck business. Of course you are concerned about your livelihood.
Actually most of the insults for questioning have come from those supporting the truck industry staying the way it is. You sir, have not been questioned, your industry has (insofar as it could be transferred to rail).
So, if anyone questions the education system they are (which is an almost daily occurrence in this country ), they are insulting all teachers? Have you ever done this? So some people think that long haul trucking is better diverted where possible onto rail and that makes them anti you?
I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to presume I had a higher moral ground. Thanks for considering that I had morals, to be able to elevate them higher. It was time for a complement, albeit a backhanded one.
I’ll wait patiently for your change in 10 years, or is it 20 now?
Without a doubt there will be as many changes ahead as there were in the past.
That’s what you get when you tuck bits away in the middle.
I’ll let those who know me judge my degree of stupidity. I certainly wouldn’t presume to make such a disparaging comment about someone in the same manner.
Hur hur, trucker’s also been called “… ugly, uneducated, ignorant, a bully, poorly spoken, ill thinking, a numpty, disrespectful, and probably more.”
But not here though (apart from numpty, which was mine). So, I’m guessing trucker is either an asshat on other blogs as well or he got a brutally truthful text from his mum.
Just to clarify:
not content with being incapable of mastering the arcane intricacies of the “reply” link, trucker now attributes sentences to the wrong person and hopes nobody will notice? Or has a massive comprehension fail and still thinks they’re mentally competent?
Must be the fatigue of their job. Better check their log book.
I am amazed at the bile and hate that is hurled at someone who dares to have a contrary view to the frequent posters on here.
This post is titled “humour”.
I would not like to hazard a guess how bad a serious post would get.
I can now add liar, troll and moron to the list of insults dealt out by brave keyboard warriors.
Any of those insults issued in a bar room conversation would lead to a correction process that would be rather unpleasant to the accuser I suspect.
I have no intention of rebutting your spurious arguments, as people who matter already have. Clearly you don’t matter.
Dealing with people who cannot deal fairly with both sides of an argument is somewhat pointless. Equally so is dealing with people who resort to insults when they lack the ability to mount and sustain a serious argument.
Vipers are venom-filled by nature, and felix was just a pussy. I guess I shouldn’t have been suprised.
So to your list of excellent efforts I can now add a “would waste you in the pub” and a “could easily rebut but I don’t want to”, with a side helping of “when I insult people it’s different to when they insult me”.
It’s like your arguments just get smarter and more credible with every keystroke. Can’t wait to see what else you’ll come up with.
Hey trucker, last time I recall you turning up here and trying to argue the virtue of trucking, the proof you offered was a reported by Ports of Auckland’s Tony Gibson. And it was shown to be seriously flawed
This time you’ve offered even less. In terms of your pub analogy, you have provided all the fight of the bloke who has drunk himself into a stupor and is sprawled uselessly across the bar. It doesn’t matter how many names you are called, how coarse they are and how many time they are repeated, you are completely incapable.
Trucker
Are you capable of having a reasoned discussion about anything? And not where people discuss important matters with their fists, and only those I hope.
I have no intention of rebutting your spurious arguments, as people who matter already have. Clearly you don’t matter. (We don’t matter because we don’t belong to the trucking lobby which is bigger and more determined than we are, so we can get stu..ed. This means you can’t rebut, won’t think and rebut, do not want to face facts that would disturb your satisfactory lifestyle.)
Dealing with people who cannot deal fairly with both sides of an argument is somewhat pointless. Equally so is dealing with people who resort to insults when they lack the ability to mount and sustain a serious argument.(People here get impatient with twits who pretend to have a thought but can’t place it in a real context).
“Dealing with people who cannot deal fairly with both sides of an argument is somewhat pointless. Equally so is dealing with people who resort to insults when they lack the ability to mount and sustain a serious argument.”
I am not aware of any report by Ports of Auckland’s Tony Gibson in relation to road transport. I presume that what you are referring to is the Surface Transport Costs study, which had nothing to do with Ports of Auckland, but has been proven inaccurate.
@ tracey
thank you for refreshing my knowledge of English.
I can’t find any insults that I have made about posters here, but can find the reverse.
‘Course he doesn’t. Got no time to do that, he said. Too busy working, he said.
Except when looking for something to take offence at, then he’s got all the time in the world for scrolling up and down through the myriad threads that he started and which wouldn’t be a problem if he’d just use the fucking reply button like any other human being.
But he’s special, and all his thoughts deserve a brand new thread of their own, and silly ideas like fitting in with a society or being considerate to those he interacts with don’t apply to trucker, because, as he likes to remind us, he delivers plastic crap to the Warehouse and we’d all starve without it.
OK, now we know which study you aren’t relying on. Any chance of a link to one or more that you are?
The NZTA study I referenced above notes that:
Freight Management has its own specificities, but the principles of rectifying market distortions through land use policies, direct pricing and infrastructure investment and management remain the same. In general, freight management strategies recognise that heavy vehicle travel is likely to continue to grow in spite of higher fuel prices.
Regarding those “market distortions, the report says:
transport and land use planning have also contributed to a number of substantial market distortions that encourage vehicle use well beyond that which is economically optimal. In other words, New Zealand’s transport and land use resources have been managed and priced in ways that directly undermine economic and energy efficiency. This relates not only to negative externalities, such as air pollution, but also to direct costs that are not usually paid by road users…
I dunno, but that sort of has the whiff of subsidy.
the second needs stuff to support the statements. There is no doubt that trucks do not pay all of the roading costs. They only use 7% of the road resource and pay 55% of the costs. Cars use 93% of the resource. You could equally make an argument that trucks subsidise cars. Rail uses 100% of the rail resource and pays 80% of the costs (according to a poster above). Someone else must be paying the other 20%. That could be a subsidy.
Arguments can be made, depending on which side of the spectrum you sit that subsidies exist in all cases. That they are not taken seriously by this government and were not by the previous Labour government puts the situation into perspective.
It is a bit like the research that quotes x amount of people died in NZ because of pollution. If you read the stuff a bit harder it says that “deaths are influenced by” and “may have died prematurely”. All are relevant to some degree, but hardly specific. That research was based on samples atken off shore and reformatted to suit NZ conditions. They make a good discussion point, but are not definitive.
Have just glanced above at all the arguments and sticks and stones… Would like to ignore all of that and concentrate on this base premise that you seem to operate on …
“what is the role of trucking in NZ?
Think of it another way. What would happen to NZ if all the trucks stopped? Tomorrow.
NZ would stop within days.
Things like food, office supplies, toilet paper, petrol, parts, tyres, ets etc are delivered by truck. Every day seven days a week so consumers can consume.
Look at the stuff around you, and it all got carried at some stage of its life, and often many times, by truck
Like it or not Trucks carry out essential services in NZ and no amount of dogma can replace the task they do.”
This is a complete and utter balderdash argument. It is the argument that the biggest fool in the land, ex-Fed Farmers head Don Nicolson, used to make. He used to argue “you lot should recognise our higher value because without food all you useless non-farmers would die”. Seriously. That was the level of his argument.
So lets have a look at this base premise of yours and apply it further.
Tell me, what would happen to NZ if;
1. All the doctors and nurses stopped overnight? A: Lots of instantly dead people.
2. All the wharfies stopped overnight? A: nothing for you to deliver.
3. All the builders hadn’t built houses? A: all you truckers would shiver to death in the cold.
4. All the school teachers hadn’t taught? A: You lot wouldn’t be able to read roadsigns, delivery notes, get a drivers licence, etc.
5. All the mums stopped having babies? A: You wouldn’t even exist.
You see trucker? Everyone can play that game. It is pathetic and it indicates a paucity of understanding and an inability to put up a good and coherent argument to support your cause.
In order to gain credibility you should drop that approach. Just like Don Nicolson and his approach got thrown out from Fed Farmers, so too will anyone else with that brainless foundation approach.
(and for humour purposes – if trucking stopped dead, I doubt too many would die, we would just go back to the days before trucks. But then I guess you would be the donkey driver and make the same claim…. sheesh…)
Losing any of those professions or groups would be destabilising to our society. And there are lots more like them. The fabric of our society is interdependant on all sorts of interreactive components.
It doesn’t diminsh the need for any or all of them.
Running horses and carts is no where near as effective as current trucks. And the amount of pollution created by lots of horses is way beyond anything that we currently have.
Yes those carnivorous horses produce the most disgusting manure. I only like the vegetarian horses but they are so few in number now. I blame the meat eating horses for the steak and cheese pie shortage.
Bring back the vegetarian horse I say, their manure was wonderful for the garden.
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TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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 ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
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Steven Joyce TAKE NOTE!!!
Joyce is too arrogant to consider this. Bit hypocritical of Key when he signed on to an ETS scheme and puts billions into roads. But then again, he wants to sell our precious assets to buy more assets to bring in less income… Key is becoming more of a dick head each day.
Here in little New Zealand we know them well. They grew up in ugly houses, went to ugly schools, have ugly accents and equally ugly ideas. They left school at fifteen to drive trucks and to prove you can be ignorant and a millionaire. Through cunning, bullying and general ugliness they rose up through the trucking business to own their own. Now they run our country. And Steven Joyce is their bum boy. What a hoot!
That seems a little prejudical to me.
If “the left” in general described my occupation in those terms I’d probably vote for Steven Joyce too. Yuck! Now I need a shower.
The ignorance shown in the few comments on this thread highlight the lack of understanding of trucking’s role in NZ. And as for Mike, my Dad runs a small trucking business but is certainly not a millionaire, so hows about you get your head out of your ass and start living in the real world
Actually Kites, your dad may well be a millionaire, on paper at least. If his small trucking business has an office, a yard and a few trucks, that’s probably nudging a mil’s worth of assets. Ok, it’s probably more the banks asset, rather than your old fella’s but you get my drift.
Please explain – what exactly is trucking’s role in NZ? And what will happen to trucking when trains once again become the favoured mode of long distance transport?
No fuel duty applies in New Zealand.
“Transporting goods by road is a terrible idea”……and the alternative is?
To transport them mostly by rail.
No fuel duty?
Sweet, that’s going to save me heaps.
Comment no. 5, there it is.
Road freight is subsidised to the tune of almost half. From memory, the industry pays for 55% of the cost of doing business on the roads – the rest is subsidised by all of us.
Rail on the other hand pays 90% of it’s own way. So which is “not contestable”?
@ viper
what is the role of trucking in NZ?
Think of it another way. What would happen to NZ if all the trucks stopped? Tomorrow.
NZ would stop within days.
Things like food, office supplies, toilet paper, petrol, parts, tyres, ets etc are delivered by truck. Every day seven days a week so consumers can consume.
Look at the stuff around you, and it all got carried at some stage of its life, and often many times, by truck
Like it or not Trucks carry out essential services in NZ and no amount of dogma can replace the task they do.
And truck drivers are at risk from predatory employment practices just like any other workers.
Natural constituency much?
If 10% of all trucks stopped tomorrow that would be fine.
If another 10% of the remaining trucks stopped a year from now, that would be fine.
If another 10% of the remaining trucks stopped a year after that, that would be fine.
Seems fine to me. Rail and short distance courier services would pick up the slack easy.
But that doesn’t mean that they should and the fact that trucks are less efficient than trains or ships isn’t dogma. As they are the least efficient form of transport they should be off the road except where they’re the only viable option.
@ kotahi
please tell me which railway line goes to your local supermarket
You’re so right. Rail doesn’t go to the supermarket therefore there’s no point using rail at all.
You’re pretty smart. This is going to be enlightening.
Trains deliver goods to stations, trucks deliver them locally, alleviating the need for long-distance deliveries?
haha , good call. Felix proabably thinks it will solved by the auckland rail loop.
Or be prepared to walk 10 minutes each way. Would do a lot of people a world of good.
@ felix
no duty on diesel.
There is on petrol, but petrol is not used by trucks
Good thing there’s no other mechanism to balance that out, eh?
Hey trucker, if you’re just going to write single sentences about tiny fragments of information as if none of it were connected and nothing impacts on anything else, then this is going to take a really long time.
Now I’m sick in bed so that doesn’t bother me too much, but it’s going to get very fucking dull for anyone else reading the thread, so please try to string a few of your brilliant thoughts together into a coherent narrative rather than spitting out irrelevant semifactoids which require endless unpacking.
Ok?
And while you’re at it, use the reply button under the comment you want to reply to.
No duty on diesel? That rather blithely ignores road user charges doesn’t it? But then, I’m not sure what point you were trying to make anyway.
True dat.
diesel vehicles are taxed according to odometer readings. Although the substitution of one for the other in DM’s most enjoyable rant makes little difference.
Trucks have their place but that place is not everywhere… Including the fast lane on a motorway or the passing lane on the open road.
@ felix
I’m not sick in bed, I’m sick at work.
I’ll answer how I choose , but thanks for the advice..
None of the comments warranted more than a sentence in my opinion.
Sorry to hear you’re working sick.
Now, about those long-distance routes – you think rail can play a part in reducing the need for them or what?
That’d be a twofer, then: screwing up the scan of the thread here and infecting your colleagues there.
as long as he doesn’t get drowsy at work and cause an accident.
Hey felix Good health! I’ve got a doozy cold at present – it’s going round. And it might be a good idea to question yon trucker if he is actually trying to drive and text? I hope not, but it seems that truckers are great and can do everything.
Sorry to hear you’ve got it too prism, it’s a doozy alright eh?
@ te reo
Road user charges are not duty.
That is why duty is called duty, and road user charges are called road user charges
@ tracey
No ones place is everywhere.
I agree re fast lane. But as we don’t have the same rules as the UK, then we don’t have a fast lane. The outside lane is free for any person to drive in at the speed they choose, irresepctive of vehicle type, trucks included.
Trucks need to pass as well don’t they?
trucker – you hiding a fee behind another name doesn’t make it not a fee.
psst don’t tell trucker there’s no “duty” on petrol either.
Let’s see: a charge for a specific purpose paid to public revenue.
RUC are a type of duty aka levy aka tax.
that is the answer i would expect frankly. You had a chance to dispel the idea that truck drivers are a self absorbed lot oblivious to other road users, you merely confirmed it.
No need to argue with trucker really. His industry is over in 15 years.
@ kotahi
Rail has a place in the transport system without doubt.
Around 10% of long haul freight is contestible by rail, maybe as high as 20%
The rest isn’t.That leave 80-90%.
Rail do a good job of contesting that which they can.
It is not a truck v rail argument.
It is reality.
KiwiRail contests for market share exceptionally well in world terms
Oh neat, are we pretending we don’t know why it’s not “contestible”, trucker?
@ viper
The man on the video was talking about duty.
That is a whole lot different to what we have here.
RUC is a totally different thing.
“His industry is over in 15 years.”
I’ll wait patiently for 2027 to see if we are over.
In the meantime I’ll get on moving goods so people can eat.
2027? Doesn’t look like it according to NZTA projections released in 2008.
@ felix
Better do your homework ….
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1206/S00135/petrol-excise-road-user-charges-increases.htm
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/14/excise-duty.html
Oh sorry trucker, I thought your rule was that if two taxes have slightly different titles and mechanisms we all pretend they’re completely unrelated.
I take it from your links that you’re now acknowledging the obvious: that all the aforementioned levies, excise duties, and charges are just ways for the state to charge road users for, er, using roads.
See what I mean about taking the long stupid way to get to a point, trucker?
@ felix
“Oh neat, are we pretending we don’t know why it’s not “contestible”, trucker?”
I know why it’s not contestible.
It will be when the train pulls up at the local dairy to deliver a carton of icecream.
Until then it’s not contestible.
Reality decides, not theory.
The reality is that long haul logistics is going back to trains and coastal ships. Trucks and other methods can continue to do the last mile.
Trucker why are you pretending we didn’t already have this convo? Rail is most efficient from city to city, trucks to distribute thereafter.
I wonder how much longer and how many more pointless distractions it’ll take before Trucker gets around to addressing the issue that the thread is actually about.
Anything to avoid it so far.
I did, back in post 5.
The rest of the video is about conditions which don’t apply in NZ, presented by someone who holds a quaint notion that victorian times still apply.
That idea, along with the empire, has gone.
Actually the topic is subsidisation, genius.
Your industry is profitable only because the rest of us subsidise the cost of the infrastructure it requires.
No, you didn’t address the video at all, except for spotting that road user taxes in the UK aren’t called the same thing in NZ. Well done for that. Now, would you like to have a crack at the substance of what David Mitchell is saying?
ps. see that button with ‘reply’ on it? Try using that, it helps the conversation flow. Cheers.
@ te reo.,
you may have time to look through lots of posts looking for bits added to each one. I work, I don’t.
Much easier to look at the bottom.
The subsidisation theory has been discredited and has been discussed on here many times. If you don’t want to accept it, nothing I say will make you.
You can believe as you choose.
I just deliver the food you eat.
Ok, up to you, but it marks you as a bit of a numpty if you have to scroll past the reply button to reply at the foot of the page. Not to mention it shows a lack of respect for other readers, but then if your preference is to ”look at the bottom”, I guess it should be no surprise your comments are a bunch of arse.
“I just deliver the food you eat.”
You happen to, due to the way the subsidies are currently structured. More accurate to say we all pay your wages for delivering whatever you’re delivering.
You seem a bit blinkered though, as if what you do is intrinsically more valuable than what anyone else does and none of us could possibly get by without you. That’s the nature of specialisation, nothing to do with the awesomeness of driving a truck.
Apply the same logic to some other useful jobs and let me know how special you feel.
Having read this entire page the one thing I gather from it more than any other point anyone is trying to make is that Felix sounds like a smug, self important prick.
Sure. But you can’t talk about me like that because I deliver the food you eat.
projection much?
No.
I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder
Funny you should say that Contrarian, I googled “being a dick on the internet” and it linked me to a couple of Felix’s comments on this thread.
you work, but not as a truck driver today?
It’s not a question of belief but a question of fact. You haven’t managed a single fact yet.
You’ve talked about this discrediting thing before – are you still relying on the report prepared by Ports of Aucklands hero, Tony Gibson, as your proof? Or have you dug up something better? If so, let’s see it.
Nice to know that if you are a group in society that works hard and provides a service but doesn’t vote universally for the left, it is open season for hate speech and attacks on your livelihood.
Cuddle a dole bludger but let a truckie starve.
It shouldn’t any longer but it always suprises me how fucking dumb you guys are.
Have to concur with the sentiment if not the way it’s expressed.
Vilifying truckies is easy.
Those Container Drivers.
Who’s vilifying? I see one comment near the top from someone I’ve never seen before.
Any others?
did you note the irony in your post once you hit submit?
Yep ,exactly King Kong , this is how this shit reads.
Yep, criticising the way an industry is subsidised is an attack on someone’s livelyhood.
So that’s that. No more discussion of any govt policy or settings that have any effect on anything in the economy, eh Rob?
Is the truck industry like farmers, somehow immune from criticism while their industry has the ears and minds of politicians through strong lobbying? People here are suggesting their is a better way forward than building more roads. Some are more colourful in their expression than others. Repeating the line who will deliver your food and pretending the argument is no trucks at all is churlish. No industry should be immune from criticism or examibation. As for victorian references, roads and trucks are so edwardian. As for the empire and victorian times being past, our pm is positively royalist and hankering for his knighthood…
Yeah whatever Tracey, I am just watching our delivery trucks leave our manufacturing plant now for overnight delivery.
Well I guess that’s that then. Trucks exist, no further discussion required.
No. Truck drivers are workers like any others, and their work conditions have probably been affected just as much by Rogernomics as any others. There are issues worthy of genuine discussion and analysis here – it may be that the roading budget is a subsidy, for example, but would it not also help keep food prices down?
I dunno, the thread has an element of left wing dog whistle? Got no axe to grind for delivery workers, but…
“Speed for their wages, those container drivers…”
And puts the price somewhere else while using limited, non-renewable resources that don’t need to be used. Not such a great idea.
Assumptions galore there. If it isn’t a subsidy the point is moot.
“grey port with customs bastards”
Someone’s gotta do it.
“c*mmunists are just part part time workers….”
“RO-RO roll on roll off…”
I haven’t seen this as an attack on truck drivers or their work ethic. I understood it to be a discussion about whether we could divert more long haul freight to rail and thereby get more trucks off the roads. Of course that course of action would result in truck driving job losses but that is not because people are anti the drivers. Some of those defending the status quo based the defence on us just being grateful we have food tonight because of them.
Isn’t that similar to the “lump of labour” fallacy that people bring up? Yes, there’d be less long-haul truckers, but there’d be more railhead:customer transport in smaller trucks. Just less damage to the roads, and fewer emissions.
Exactly, meaning more flexible, customised, nimble and agile transport solutions at each end.
You don’t need discussion or evidence when you have the truck lobby! I hadn’t realised quite how precious some truck drivers are. I bet they don’t have a single opinion on law and order, education or the like because they dont want to insult teachers, police, lawyers, judges, principals…
Post at 339 is for king kong
Interesting approach folks.
I dare to question, and get insulted for my efforts.
I’ve been called ugly, uneducated, ignorant, a bully, poorly spoken, ill thinking, a numpty, disrespectful, and probably more.
And you know what…….I care not a jot.
In my business we are used to dealing with all sorts of people.
You can be sure though, that Felix will not go hungry because of the work ethic of the transport industry.
Taking the higher moral ground? I lol’d
A high reliance on heavy trucks as part of NZ’s logistics network exists today. That can be changed within 10 years. And 10 years after that, it will change anyway, whether we plan it or not.
What have you questioned exactly?
Glad you’ve come around to admitting that it’s “transport” that’s important rather than just “trucking” though. That’s a 180 degree turn around on what you’ve been bleating all day.
Now you just need to apply that to everyone else’s job and you’ll be well on your way to recognising that you live in a society.
trucker – What a saint. Almost as good as a house surgeon at work most of 24 hours with littlev rest trying to help very sick people. Or perhaps truckers are better than that on the hierarchy of specialness. I bet you have your own good money or borrowed invested in your business, or truck, or truck business. Of course you are concerned about your livelihood.
Actually most of the insults for questioning have come from those supporting the truck industry staying the way it is. You sir, have not been questioned, your industry has (insofar as it could be transferred to rail).
So, if anyone questions the education system they are (which is an almost daily occurrence in this country ), they are insulting all teachers? Have you ever done this? So some people think that long haul trucking is better diverted where possible onto rail and that makes them anti you?
@ viper
I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to presume I had a higher moral ground. Thanks for considering that I had morals, to be able to elevate them higher. It was time for a complement, albeit a backhanded one.
I’ll wait patiently for your change in 10 years, or is it 20 now?
Without a doubt there will be as many changes ahead as there were in the past.
Of course you claimed to have the higher moral ground. You know we can just scroll up and read your earlier post, right? Using the mouse?
But you try and deny it. Therefore you are dishonest too.
Yeah its already all over, modern complex logistics just haven’t stopped twitching yet.
Still can’t find the reply button, eh? Are you sure you should be employed in an industry where navigation is a valued skill?
Thats funny
@ viper,
I missed you calling me stupid.
That’s what you get when you tuck bits away in the middle.
I’ll let those who know me judge my degree of stupidity. I certainly wouldn’t presume to make such a disparaging comment about someone in the same manner.
Did you say you weren’t going to take the higher moral ground? So not stupid, but dishonest.
That’s because I didn’t, you idiot.
Hur hur, trucker’s also been called “… ugly, uneducated, ignorant, a bully, poorly spoken, ill thinking, a numpty, disrespectful, and probably more.”
But not here though (apart from numpty, which was mine). So, I’m guessing trucker is either an asshat on other blogs as well or he got a brutally truthful text from his mum.
You’re on fire tonight, man!
Watched Snatch earlier, Brick Top taught me all I know!
@viper
” @ viper,
I missed you calling me stupid.
That’s because I didn’t, you idiot.”
“See what I mean about taking the long stupid way to get to a point, trucker?”
so now I am stupid and an idiot. And an asshat.
That’s enough fishing for the day. Thanks for the sport.
You lied trucker, and you were found out. Run along now please.
Just to clarify:
not content with being incapable of mastering the arcane intricacies of the “reply” link, trucker now attributes sentences to the wrong person and hopes nobody will notice? Or has a massive comprehension fail and still thinks they’re mentally competent?
Must be the fatigue of their job. Better check their log book.
lolz.
‘I’ve only been saying stupid things all day so you’ll call me stupid, and eventually you did, so I win’
Possibly the worst trool ever. Fucking moron.
I am amazed at the bile and hate that is hurled at someone who dares to have a contrary view to the frequent posters on here.
This post is titled “humour”.
I would not like to hazard a guess how bad a serious post would get.
I can now add liar, troll and moron to the list of insults dealt out by brave keyboard warriors.
Any of those insults issued in a bar room conversation would lead to a correction process that would be rather unpleasant to the accuser I suspect.
I have no intention of rebutting your spurious arguments, as people who matter already have. Clearly you don’t matter.
Dealing with people who cannot deal fairly with both sides of an argument is somewhat pointless. Equally so is dealing with people who resort to insults when they lack the ability to mount and sustain a serious argument.
Vipers are venom-filled by nature, and felix was just a pussy. I guess I shouldn’t have been suprised.
Brilliant.
So to your list of excellent efforts I can now add a “would waste you in the pub” and a “could easily rebut but I don’t want to”, with a side helping of “when I insult people it’s different to when they insult me”.
It’s like your arguments just get smarter and more credible with every keystroke. Can’t wait to see what else you’ll come up with.
Hey trucker, last time I recall you turning up here and trying to argue the virtue of trucking, the proof you offered was a reported by Ports of Auckland’s Tony Gibson. And it was shown to be seriously flawed
This time you’ve offered even less. In terms of your pub analogy, you have provided all the fight of the bloke who has drunk himself into a stupor and is sprawled uselessly across the bar. It doesn’t matter how many names you are called, how coarse they are and how many time they are repeated, you are completely incapable.
Trucker
Are you capable of having a reasoned discussion about anything? And not where people discuss important matters with their fists, and only those I hope.
I have no intention of rebutting your spurious arguments, as people who matter already have. Clearly you don’t matter. (We don’t matter because we don’t belong to the trucking lobby which is bigger and more determined than we are, so we can get stu..ed. This means you can’t rebut, won’t think and rebut, do not want to face facts that would disturb your satisfactory lifestyle.)
Dealing with people who cannot deal fairly with both sides of an argument is somewhat pointless. Equally so is dealing with people who resort to insults when they lack the ability to mount and sustain a serious argument.(People here get impatient with twits who pretend to have a thought but can’t place it in a real context).
****Irony alert***
“Dealing with people who cannot deal fairly with both sides of an argument is somewhat pointless. Equally so is dealing with people who resort to insults when they lack the ability to mount and sustain a serious argument.”
@ armchair critic
I am not aware of any report by Ports of Auckland’s Tony Gibson in relation to road transport. I presume that what you are referring to is the Surface Transport Costs study, which had nothing to do with Ports of Auckland, but has been proven inaccurate.
@ tracey
thank you for refreshing my knowledge of English.
I can’t find any insults that I have made about posters here, but can find the reverse.
But then as you said before, you don’t read back over previous posts you go straight to the bottom.
‘Course he doesn’t. Got no time to do that, he said. Too busy working, he said.
Except when looking for something to take offence at, then he’s got all the time in the world for scrolling up and down through the myriad threads that he started and which wouldn’t be a problem if he’d just use the fucking reply button like any other human being.
But he’s special, and all his thoughts deserve a brand new thread of their own, and silly ideas like fitting in with a society or being considerate to those he interacts with don’t apply to trucker, because, as he likes to remind us, he delivers plastic crap to the Warehouse and we’d all starve without it.
OK, now we know which study you aren’t relying on. Any chance of a link to one or more that you are?
The NZTA study I referenced above notes that:
Regarding those “market distortions, the report says:
I dunno, but that sort of has the whiff of subsidy.
@kotahi
largely agree with the first paragraph.
the second needs stuff to support the statements. There is no doubt that trucks do not pay all of the roading costs. They only use 7% of the road resource and pay 55% of the costs. Cars use 93% of the resource. You could equally make an argument that trucks subsidise cars. Rail uses 100% of the rail resource and pays 80% of the costs (according to a poster above). Someone else must be paying the other 20%. That could be a subsidy.
Arguments can be made, depending on which side of the spectrum you sit that subsidies exist in all cases. That they are not taken seriously by this government and were not by the previous Labour government puts the situation into perspective.
It is a bit like the research that quotes x amount of people died in NZ because of pollution. If you read the stuff a bit harder it says that “deaths are influenced by” and “may have died prematurely”. All are relevant to some degree, but hardly specific. That research was based on samples atken off shore and reformatted to suit NZ conditions. They make a good discussion point, but are not definitive.
Cite for those numbers please.
And ffs, do it here in this thread rather than starting a new one.
Gidday mr trucker,
Have just glanced above at all the arguments and sticks and stones… Would like to ignore all of that and concentrate on this base premise that you seem to operate on …
“what is the role of trucking in NZ?
Think of it another way. What would happen to NZ if all the trucks stopped? Tomorrow.
NZ would stop within days.
Things like food, office supplies, toilet paper, petrol, parts, tyres, ets etc are delivered by truck. Every day seven days a week so consumers can consume.
Look at the stuff around you, and it all got carried at some stage of its life, and often many times, by truck
Like it or not Trucks carry out essential services in NZ and no amount of dogma can replace the task they do.”
This is a complete and utter balderdash argument. It is the argument that the biggest fool in the land, ex-Fed Farmers head Don Nicolson, used to make. He used to argue “you lot should recognise our higher value because without food all you useless non-farmers would die”. Seriously. That was the level of his argument.
So lets have a look at this base premise of yours and apply it further.
Tell me, what would happen to NZ if;
1. All the doctors and nurses stopped overnight? A: Lots of instantly dead people.
2. All the wharfies stopped overnight? A: nothing for you to deliver.
3. All the builders hadn’t built houses? A: all you truckers would shiver to death in the cold.
4. All the school teachers hadn’t taught? A: You lot wouldn’t be able to read roadsigns, delivery notes, get a drivers licence, etc.
5. All the mums stopped having babies? A: You wouldn’t even exist.
You see trucker? Everyone can play that game. It is pathetic and it indicates a paucity of understanding and an inability to put up a good and coherent argument to support your cause.
In order to gain credibility you should drop that approach. Just like Don Nicolson and his approach got thrown out from Fed Farmers, so too will anyone else with that brainless foundation approach.
(and for humour purposes – if trucking stopped dead, I doubt too many would die, we would just go back to the days before trucks. But then I guess you would be the donkey driver and make the same claim…. sheesh…)
Very droll
“the second needs stuff to support the statements.”
So read the report – the supporting material is all there. Still waiting for yours.
PS: vto: nice one 🙂
@vto
I agree with you completely.
Losing any of those professions or groups would be destabilising to our society. And there are lots more like them. The fabric of our society is interdependant on all sorts of interreactive components.
It doesn’t diminsh the need for any or all of them.
Running horses and carts is no where near as effective as current trucks. And the amount of pollution created by lots of horses is way beyond anything that we currently have.
you missed vto’s point: that your line of reasoning is shit and not very special at all.
I lol’d
Yes those carnivorous horses produce the most disgusting manure. I only like the vegetarian horses but they are so few in number now. I blame the meat eating horses for the steak and cheese pie shortage.
Bring back the vegetarian horse I say, their manure was wonderful for the garden.