This does something no one on the true left has done to date here. It actually points out the shortcomings of the current right wing parties.
Last election we had “friendly and fluffy” from the Greens but no genuine commentary on “why” they were worth voting for. No real criticism of the sleazy far right creeps in National and their slippery right leaning pals in Labour. The net result few voted Green.
Surely its time to stop being polite. Time to expose the greed, corruption, selfishness, economic imperialism and environmental damage. Good job UK Greens. Environmentalism and socialism with knuckledusters. About time.
Typical green brown wash
The Greens are as much of the problem as the rest of them.
Not forgetting ‘our lot’ voted in the ‘human friendly’ environment destroying growth based scam that is Kiwi Saver.
They are ALL part of the bullshit, if any of them truly offered alternatives no one would vote for them.
okay – i may regret asking this, but what are the non growth-based ‘alternatives’ that you think will make life better for all human beings, and save us from from the dastardly evils of kiwi saver and the Greens?
In 2017 – in my view – political parties should campaign HARD for the PARTY vote – but encourage STRATEGIC voting in electorates, learning from the Northland by-election result.
The days of ‘two ticks’ have now gone – in my view ….
Yeah, I know. Horses are such majestic creatures we should care less about injuries and death, so long as we humans can see them run and make a bit of money on the side.
Personally, keep the race but limit the gambling on the principle that money should be acquired through honest work. Gambling should be frowned on in view of the adverse social consequences.
I presume the Greens objection is based on the treatment of horses.
John Woolman, the Quaker slavery abolitionist, refused to ride in public carriages for transport as the horses were so abused.
Instead, he walked around the country. By riding on these cross country carriages he felt he was condoning the mistreatment.
What’s not to like about an event where up to 40 young animals at a time are deliberately hurt, and some will die in mess of tangled limbs, fractured bones and broken spines, to give people like yourself the pleasure of cracking a fat over their pain and panic.
//
Having spent most of my life around horses I know whipping hurts the animal and yes, and as it should be, whipping will be banned sooner rather than later.
Fisianil.
Failing and flaying to win an argument.
I know several people who rescue race horses.
The Industry is only interested in winners any horse which doesn’t make the grade is turned into dogtucker ,glue or put out to pasture where the horse is neglected underfed and abused.
Its covered up by the industry to sanitize the race industry.
Because I don’t gamble and horse racing never interested me from the age of three, I never knew the extent of the damage done to horses in the Grand National. Thanks for the link, felix. Truly shocking to learn the facts.
First time I’ve seen a out and out attack on Austerity caused by failed Neo-liberal polices – and like Weka said – Funny too.
Well it’s been 30 + years of Austerity. The lie of the booms of the later part of the 20th century and the idea their has not been to many rosy days in the 21st – are slowly dawning on people.
Just ask friends and family – how much personal debt they are in?
Go on – I dare ya…
How much do we pay in rates, paying rent includes rates folks, and how many less services are we getting for that?
How long are waiting lists?
How long do you have to wait on the phone to talk to a government department?
How is it, that we have austerity in this country and no one is willing to admit it?
Are they saying there’s buggerall difference between Labour and the Tories? Can’t be speaking about Aotearoa, where the policies on fracking, drilling, spying, the TPPA, and keeping Mana out of parliament are all markedly different. Aren’t they?
Good video. Interesting ideas too. Like the idea that the other parties are all the same. Hello, hello, NationalLite.
The best Green campaign was the one with the bill boards of Kids. It had a good message of taking care of the environment for the next generation. Something like that again combined with the commentary of the existing parties similarities would work I think.
The Greens do need to market themselves better.
My worry is that under Metiria there is too much control, so worried about being perceived as ‘loonie left’ the individuality of the MP’s is not being encouraged. Not enough new people, old people leaving and not enough creative ideas.
I’m not suggesting that she should be replaced because she is great in many other areas, but just there needs to be a more creative approach in the party. Really good leaders have to bring people along on a journey, or they can’t, they need to have a side kick that does. At present that is Russell, but when he goes, can Metiria bring the public along on a journey? I am not drawn to any of the candidates for co leader and some I already mildly dislike if they want to link up with the Nats.
I miss Bradford, Kedgley and Fitzsimmons. They all did a great job and in spite of their different personalities I think they did so much for the Green party legacy.
A listing of 30 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 29, 2024 thru Sat, October 5, 2024. Story of the week We're all made of standard human fabric so it's nobody's particular fault but while "other" parts of the world ...
I had occasion yesterday to visit our health centre. My doctor had said that I needed a blood test. The first thing I noticed was that the phlebotomist was acting as her own receptionist. She was handing a number to prospective patients in the order in which they presented themselves. ...
Nicola Willis and her boss have been peddling a fake short history of the previous government that runs as follows:They spent and spent, they had nothing to show for it and that is not how you grow the economy, because You can't tax yourself to prosperity.There is a sort of ...
There’s a bad taste in my mouth. And it has nothing to do with dinner. The Rings of Power season two – undoubtedly a massive improvement on season one – has concluded on a mixed note. It’s not season one bitterness, in that parts of this episode were indeed excellent, ...
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.They might as well be dead,If the rain comes, if the rain comes…Can you hear me that when it rains and shines,It's just a state of mind,Can you hear me, can you hear me?Song: Lennon-McCartneyIt’s been quite a week for Dunedin ...
Todayâs mañana strategy will lead to a crisis for the oldest elderly.It is said that the only certainties are death and taxes, but a lack of each causes uncertainties. As longevity increases, the pressures on state spending increase. A reluctance to increase taxation means the pressures on the elderly increase.The ...
When cancer minister Casey Costello convinced Cabinet to give her mates at Philip Morris a $216 million tax cut, she did so in the face of departmental advice that there would be no benefits and that Philip Morris' "heated tobacco products" were more cancerous and toxic than cigarettes. But she ...
Long story short:Treasury has warned again public debt will rise exponentially in the decades to come because of the rising costs of our ageing population, unless we change one or more of our New Zealand Superannuation promises, publicly-funded healthcare or tax settings. The current Government isn’t planning any changes, ...
Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:“Why does everywhere seem to be flooding right now, Vox asks, as a new study predicts that 70% of ...
Welcome to the first week of October, which brings longer days and (we hope) lighter spirits. Despite the state of things, there are still abundant reasons to feel encouraged. On we roll! This roundup is brought to you by our largely volunteer crew. If you’d like to support our work ...
Morning all, this is just a quick note from me this morning: I’m off for a scan shortly. I’m sure you know the drill, especially if you’re a mum: a squeeze of surprisingly cold gel straight on your front, which the radiologist then uses the ultrasound machine to try and ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including another extreme climate event in the United States; on the escalating conflict between Israel, Iran ...
With housing construction stalled, the Government has come up with a plan to underwrite new developments. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, October 4:The Government is set to ...
Yesterday, there was an excellent interview on 1News Breakfast with Former Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell. He was being interviewed in response to the government signalling to privatising our hospitals.Campbell confirmed what this publication and its readers have long talked about. One: We have the money for Health. Two: The ...
Yesterday’s NZME “Mood of the Boardroom” survey should be a wake-up call for the Government. This annual survey polls a wide range of private and public sector business leaders. Respondents to the survey rated their confidence in the New Zealand economy at 3.23 out of five, the highest score for optimism ...
Do you want to hear a joke?One day a government Minister fought very hard to help out mates with tax cuts She scored them - a massive NZ $106 billion multinational tobacco company with shares trading at $192 each - $216 million worth of tax cuts on their star product ...
Open access notables Sloth metabolism may make survival untenable under climate changescenarios, Cliffe et al., PeerJ:Sloths are limited by the rate at which they can acquire energy and are unable to regulate core body temperature (Tb) to the extent seen in most mammals. Therefore, the metabolic impacts of climate change ...
I have been outside this week, replacing spouting. Although this involves ladders and sharp tools, I am pleased to say there have been no cuts, no falls, no disasters. I mention this because from some of the comments some of you have made, I'm getting the feeling I may have ...
At six o'clock I'm goin' downCoffee's hot, and the toast is brownHey street sweeper, clear my waySweethearts breakfast is the best in townSongwriter: Donald Hugh WalkerIt’s that time of year again when NZME presumably thanks the country’s business leaders for all the advertising they’ve done during the year. They do ...
It’s very exciting to be getting a new medical school. It would be more exciting if the hospitals needed to train them weren’t on the verge of losing their licenses due to understaffing issues, and if the cost of such a school wasn’t coming at the expense of the health ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sanket JainNoushadbi Mujawar has created a community health model that helps people in India build resilience amid the rising climate disasters. (Photo credit: Sanket Jain) Community health care worker Noushadbi Mujawar safely evacuated everyone from Rajapur, an isolated ...
This time three years ago â as described in this Thursday throwback post by Jolisa â Auckland was deep into experiencing another prolonged shift in perspective around how a city can look and feel. . A lot has changed since then; and a lot hasn’t. As a recent guest ...
Israel seems on the brink of achieving the war with Iran that Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying all year to provoke. Until now, Iran had not taken the bait. It had not replied in kind to Israelâs genocide in Gaza, its bombing of Iranâs consulate in Damascus, and its assassinations ...
This is the tardiest review I have yet done for The Rings of Power – but, alas, real-life gets in the way sometimes. It has been a busy few days, and it became a matter of finding the time to sit down and express my thoughts. Also, it took a ...
I’m not really sure what to say about this. What else is there?But I think it needs to be acknowledged, and acknowledged angrily and loudly: the end goal of neoliberalism was always privatisation, and National seem to think New Zealand is ready for it right now. After three decades of ...
Boy oh boy, are you as excited as I am for a fresh wave of privatisation? You only need to reflect for a moment on how much better off privatisation has made us these past few decades to see that more of that would be a very good thing.The paragraph ...
I've had enough of scheming and messing around with jerksMy car is parked outside, I'm afraid it doesn't workI'm looking for a partner, someone who gets things fixedAsk yourself this question, do you want to be rich?I've got the brains, you've got the looksLet's make lots of moneyYou've got the ...
This is a very timely post from Bike Auckland, re-published here with kind permission. See also yesterday’s post by Patrick on the abundantly clear case for funding cycling as the powerful “stealth mode” for easy access to and around our city. The short version The central Governmentâs transport ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff MastersHurricane Helene at sunset on Sep. 26, 2024, as the storm was closing in on the Florida coast as a Cat 4 with 130 mph winds. (Image credit: NOAA/RAMMB-CIRA Satellite Library) After a spectacular burst of rapid intensification, Hurricane ...
Neoliberalism will defend itself. It must, because it has amassed power and wealth in those who are most invested in it.Take John Key, for instance, who has taken the unusual and controversial move of quietly endorsing Donald Trump as a former NZ PM, claiming that not only is Trump likely ...
The timing was fortuitous for Luxon, saving him over $70,000. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, October 2:PM Christopher Luxon was able to escape having to pay ‘brightline’ ...
Hi,I will explain the horrifying painting of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon shortly.But first, I got a text from my friend Aaron over the weekend:In short, Aaron had loaded about a year’s worth of our text history into Google’s AI (privacy, what privacy?) — and instructed the AI to ...
National has a representation issue. Not in terms of gender, or race, or disability, or socio-economic background (though they do also have a lack of all of those), but with its representation for the South Island. Is it any surprise we’re the ones getting shafted when there’s only a single ...
Often when folks ask me what we can do about this government’s short sighted and often dubious policies1, I frequently veer to a similar answer:Share information, stay aware, act locally where you can, stay positive, and wait.Wait - for what?Well tonight it became clear.On 1News tonight, it was revealed Health ...
Whenever our politicians are caught with their hand in the till, they loudly proclaim that their theft from the public was "within the rules". The problem is that they are the ones writing the rules, and there's a certain suspicion that they write them to suit themselves. And so their ...
He dumped us years ago, but the media still pines for him, stalks his Insta, has a little flutter of the heart whenever he saunters back into the room.So naturally Stuff wanted to hear everything John Key had to say about the US election. And although the tape goes for ...
The Commerce Commission has announced they are blocking Foodstuffâs North and South Island merger, on the basis that it would substantially lessen competition and make it harder for other retailers to grow. The cancellation of plans to build a Dunedin hospital is continuing to cause controversy, with Otago mayors revealing ...
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, October 1:PM Christopher Luxon has made $460,000 in tax-free income this year from capital gains on the sale of two of his rental properties, almost as much ...
Do you believeIn what you seeMotionless wheelNothing is realWasting my timeIn the waiting lineDo you believe inWhat you seeSongwriters: Henry Binns, Sam Hardaker, Sophie Alexandra Jessica BarkerOctober already. This year feels like it’s going quickly, provided you don’t count it out in WTF moments from the coalition. Before we know ...
Kāinga Ora When Chris Bishop asked Bill English to help him do an “independent review” of Kāinga Ora last year, who here could guess that English’s report said exactly what Bishop already indicated?A reminder of how it went down:For the modest payday of $500,000, Bill English was paid from the ...
Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the City Centre Advisory Panel and a candidate in this months Entrust election It might surprise you to learn that in Auckland, our harbour city, wrapped around the shores of the beautiful Waitemata, bikes bring as many people to the city centre in the ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew DesslerlinkYou should probably learn the term compound climate event. It refers to the occurrence of multiple weather- or climate-related hazards happening simultaneously or in close succession, leading to amplified impacts. One of the most feared compound events is ...
We must have sympathy for the right.After all, it’s difficult being a conservative these days. Progressive politics are proceeding at a rapid pace. World leaders preaching kindness and compassion are lavished with praise and acclamations. You can’t hit your kids anymore, you can’t hit your dog, you can’t hit your ...
The news that the University of Waikato med school proposal has passed its cost-benefit analysis just two days after the Dunedin Hospital funding crisis announcement may not be linked, but one certainly impacts the other. POLITIK understands that ACT opposes the Waikato proposal and NZ First is lukewarm, but somehow, ...
The word âblow-outâ is such a politically loaded term. It carries a strong whiff of extravagance and incompetence. In fact, and with public health budgets in particular, going âover budgetâ is a sign that reality has finally caught up with what â from the outset â was always a budget ...
Completed reads for September: Old English Genesis A & B (poetry), by Anonymous Old English Exodus (poetry), by Anonymous The Life of St Guthlac of Crowland (poetry), by Anonymous The Death of St Guthlac (poetry), by Anonymous Maxims I [The Exeter Book Maxims] (poetry), by Anonymous Maxims II [The ...
Delightful piece from Hayden Donnell at The Spinoff (how did I miss it?) â Huge opportunity: Could you be the guy standing behind the PM looking furious? OK, so I thought ‘grim’, right? But Hayden has brought receipts, as the saying goes… and his view is ‘absolutely ropeable’. Lol. “Usually ...
Reader Pete Hodgson was in touch after Saturday’s edition to offer his speech notes from the Dunedin rally. They are excellent, they deserve the widest audience. My name is Pete Hodgson, and I chaired or served on the governance group of the new hospital for 6 years until last Xmas. ...
It's official: coal has been eliminated from the UK's electricity system: Britainâs only remaining coal power plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire will generate electricity for the last time on Monday after powering the UK for 57 years. The power plant will come to the end of its life in ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.National Party leader (current), Christopher Luxon, speaking at a public meeting in Gore, in January last year:“Now lets be clear, Dunedin Hospital, started under a National Government, mucked around under a Labour Government for ...
The National Party has been promising Dunedin - and the lower South Island - a new hospital since 2008. Despite those promises, the Key government did nothing during its nine years in office, and it was left to Labour to actually start the process in 2017. National promptly criticised them ...
A bit disoriented this morning. I’ll blame Daylight Savings; I slept late. To be fair, it was probably the new mattress. After going to Rotorua the other week, we realised just how terrible ours was.“Scalloped” is a term that will be familiar to guitarists. It describes how some guitars have ...
35,000 people march against the Government’s “downgrades” to Dunedin Hospital. NZEI and PPTA are continuing their campaign against charter schools, after the legislation passed its final reading in Parliament last week. Analysis released by the NZCTU shows that Pasifika women were working for free from last Friday, and that it ...
Over the weekend, the Minister of Transport Simeon Brown proudly announced his new speed-setting rule, a decision that will undoubtedly lead to greater harm on our roads. It’s a tragically predictable decision by a Minister who seems to be on only nodding acquaintance with both evidence and international norms. Fueled ...
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, September 30:Over 35,000 people marched in Dunedin on Saturday to protest against the Government’s plans to downgrade the new hospital being built there.In the scoop of the ...
A listing of 30 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 22, 2024 thru Sat, September 28, 2024. Story of the week Given the headlines dominance of hot oceans lofting water into the atmosphere where it then obeys the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship thereby ...
But what a fool believes, he seesNo wise man has the power to reason awayWhat seems to beIs always better than nothingThan nothing at allSongwriters: Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonaldWe begin.“Welcome to Q&A, I’m Jack Tame. Today, for a government that says it’s fixated on waste, what’s the point in a ...
Oh, you should have seen Reefton in 1888. It glowed. It was illuminated by the future.In August of that year — and I am confident I have my facts right because I am quoting directly from the town's own website — Reefton became the first place in New Zealand and ...
Dunedin is not a happy city at the moment. We are used to being ignored in the nationwide New Zealand media – wrong end of the country and all – but the Government’s recent announcement on the Dunedin Hospital rebuild has got people motivated. How motivated? Well, I couldn’t make ...
A nice bit of news. I can report that I have had a short story success – my 3,600 word gothic horror piece, The One Who Saw Too Much, has been accepted ...
And another pitch shattersAnother little bit gets lostTell me what else really mattersOh, such a costLike pebbles on a beachKicked around, displaced by feetOh, like broken stonesThey're all trying to get homeSong by Paul WellerDoes it feel as though your country has been hijacked? That terrible people have taken the ...
Dame Jacinda Adern would not accept “acceptable death rates” during Covid. But in the UK the Tory government said “Let them die”.Additions belowYesterday, when I saw the news that a Timaru factory with hundreds of jobs on the line was going to close, I couldn't help but think:"I'm so glad ...
1. What did the National party promise Dunedin last election?a. We will build the hospital you needb. We will never give you up, let you down, or Rickroll you c. We will bring back John Keyd. Pandas2. What is the National party promising Dunedin now?a. A sawn-off half-pint watery version of ...
Note: This is obviously a very heavy topic — it took me three days to manage to write it — so please read with care. In saying that, in amongst the awfulness I think this piece also contains some hope, and plenty of humanity. Thanks to those of you who ...
We are extremely sad to say that our esteemed Skeptical Science colleague— and good friend to many of us— John Mason passed away on Friday September 20, 2024. Only last week, we blew a horn of appreciation for John's remarkable gift for telling stories about science. Our expectation was that ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford still canât confirm when the Government will deliver the $2 billion worth school upgrades she cut earlier this year. ...
Labour acknowledges the hundreds of workers today losing their jobs as the Winstone Pulp mill closes and what it will mean for their families and community. ...
In Budget '24, the National Government put aside $216 million to pay for a tax cut which mainly benefitted one company: global tobacco giant Philip Morris. Instead of giving hundreds of millions to big tobacco, National could have spent the money sensibly, on New Zealand. ...
Te Whatu Oraâs financials from the last year show the Government has manufactured a financial crisis to justify making cuts that are already affecting patient care. ...
Over 41,000 Palestinianâs have been murdered by Israel in the last 12 months. At the same time, Israel have launched attacks against at least four other countries in the Middle East including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. âYou cannot play the aggressor and the victim at the same time,â said ...
Associate health minister Casey Costello has made a fool of the Prime Minister, because the product sheâs been fighting to get a tax cut for and heâs been backing her on is now illegal â and he doesnât seem to know it. ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committeeâs inquiry into climate adaptation is something that must be built on for an enduring framework to manage climate risk. ...
The Government is taking tertiary education down a worrying path with new reporting finding that fourteen of the countryâs sixteen polytechnics couldnât survive on their own,â Labourâs tertiary education spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell says. ...
Today the government announced a $30m cut to Te Ahu o Te Reo MÄori- a programme that develops te reo MÄori among our kaiako. âThis announcement is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks on te iwi MÄori,â said Te PÄti MÄori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi. ...
The Government has shown its true intentions for the public service and economy â itâs not to get more public servants back to the office, itâs more job losses. ...
The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure. ...
Today, the Crown Mineral Amendment Bill was read for the first time, reversing the ban on oil exploration off the coast of Taranaki. It was no accident that this proposed law change was read directly after the Government started to unravel the ability of iwi and hapĆ« MÄori to have ...
Te PÄti MÄori spokesperson for Justice, TÄkuta Ferris, has hit out at the Government, demanding the Crown prove its rights to the foreshore, following the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill, passing its first reading. "MÄori rights to the foreshore pre-exist the Declaration of Independence, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ...
The Government must immediately help evacuate New Zealanders and Lebanese whanau caught up in the current conflict unfolding across south Lebanon. ...
The Green Party vows to reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke permits when it returns to government following the coalitionâs introduction of legislation to reopen offshore oil and gas exploration this afternoon. ...
The Governmentâs introduction of its interventions in the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act threatens to throw relations between MÄori and Crown into deeper disharmony. ...
Gun lobbyist Nicole McKee and her conflict of interest has struck again, this time removing safety regulations from shooting clubs and ranges in New Zealand. ...
The Green Party says the Governmentâs retrograde move to tighten up on Work from Home arrangements is the latest in a series of blows to the Public Service. ...
The National Government is oblivious to the impact cuts to services will have on New Zealanders who are doing the hard yards caring for mentally ill family members. ...
National continues to dismantle environmental protections in the interests of rushing through unsustainable development that will ultimately cost communities. ...
The economy has stagnated and the National Government is having to face the consequences of its atrocious lawmaking, as beneficiary numbers skyrocket past even Treasuryâs predictions. ...
Todayâs GDP figures combined with the injustice of our tax system will mean more pain for our lowest-income households while those at the top remain relatively unscathed. ...
Kia uru kahikatea te tĆ«. Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the MÄori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and MÄori assets, MÄori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national ...
The Fast-track Approvals Bill will list 22 renewable electricity projects with a combined capacity of 3 Gigawatts, which will help secure a clean, reliable and affordable supply of electricity across New Zealand, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. âThe Government has a goal of doubling New Zealandâs renewable electricity generation. The 22 ...
The Government has enabled fast-track consenting for 29 critical road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand to deliver these priority projects faster and boost economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âNew Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our Government is working to fix it. Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis ...
The 149 projects released today for inclusion in the Governmentâs one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill will help rebuild the economy and fix our housing crisis, improve energy security, and address our infrastructure deficit, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. âThe 149 projects selected by the Government have significant regional or ...
A new multi-purpose recreation centre will provide a valuable wellbeing hub for residents and visitors to RuakÄkÄ in Northland, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The RuakÄkÄ Recreation Centre, officially opened today, includes separate areas for a gymnasium, a community health space and meeting rooms made possible with support of ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced up to $50,000 in additional Government support for farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as challenging spring weather conditions have been classified a medium-scale adverse event. âThe relentless wet weather has been tough on farmers and ...
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today welcomed a move by the European Commission to delay the implementation of the European Unionâs Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, describing the proposal as a pragmatic step that will provide much-needed certainty for New Zealand exporters and ensure over $200 million in ...
The Government is taking decisive action in response to the Ministerial Inquiry into School Property, which concludes the way school property is delivered is not fit for purpose. âThe school property portfolio is worth $30 billion, and itâs critically important itâs managed properly. This Government is taking a series of immediate actions ...
The Government has announced a new support programme for the residential construction market while the economy recovers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. âWe know the residential development sector is vulnerable to economic downturns. The lead time for building houses is typically 18 ...
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has confirmed the final appointee to the refreshed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board. âI am pleased to welcome Brett OâRiley to the EPA board,â Ms Simmonds says. âBrett is a seasoned business advisor with a long and distinguished career across the technology, tourism, and sustainable business ...
The Government has approved a $226.2 million package of resilience improvement projects for state highways and local roads across the country that will reduce the impact of severe weather events and create a more resilient and efficient road network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âOur Government is committed to delivering ...
Kiwis will see fewer potholes on our roads with road rehabilitation set to more than double through the summer road maintenance programme to ensure that our roads are maintained to a safe and reliable standard, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âIncreasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the announcement of Sir Jerry Mateparae as an independent moderator, to work with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government in resolving outstanding issues on Bougainvilleâs future. âNew Zealand is an enduring friend to Papua New Guinea and the ...
The latest 2023 Census results released today further highlight New Zealandâs growing ethnic and cultural diversity, says Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee. âTodayâs census results are further evidence of the increasingly diverse nature of our population. Itâs something that should be celebrated and also serve as a reminder of the ...
Parents and caregivers are now able to claim for FamilyBoost, which provides low-to-middle-income families with young children payments to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. âFamilyBoost is one of the ways we are supporting families with young children who are struggling with the cost of living, by helping ...
This weekâs South Pacific Defence Ministersâ Meeting (SPDMM) has concluded with a renewed commitment to regional security of all types, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. Defence Ministers and senior civilian and military officials from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga gathered in Auckland to discuss defence and security cooperation in the ...
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has welcomed the Police announcement that recruitment wings at the Police College will be expanded to 100 recruits next year. âThis is good news on two fronts â it reflects the fact that more and more New Zealanders are valuing policing and seeing it as ...
Introduction Good morning! What a pleasure to be back in the stunning West Coast at one of my favourite events in the calendar. Every time I come back here, Iâm reminded of the Coastâs natural beauty, valuable resources, and great people. Yet, every time I come back here, Iâm also ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti welcomes new data from Health New Zealand, saying it demonstrates encouraging progress against the Governmentâs health targets. Health New Zealandâs quarterly report for the quarter to 30 June will be used as the baseline for reporting against the Governmentâs five health targets, which came into ...
The launch of a new data tool will provide Kiwis with better access to important data, Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly says. âTo grow our economy and improve productivity we must adopt smarter ways of working, which means taking a more data driven approach to decision-making. âAs Statistics Minister one of ...
The Government is progressing plans to increase the use of remote inspections to make the building and consenting process more efficient and affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. âWe know that the building and construction sector suffers from a lack of innovation. According to a recent report, productivity ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the PPTA putting a proposal to members at its annual conference to change its constitution and allow membership of teachers who work in charter schools. âThe PPTA has had a come to Jesus moment on charter schools. This is a major departure from the ...
David Clarke has been announced as the Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC). David Clarke is a barrister specialising in corporate and commercial law and he has over 20 years experience in governance roles in commercial, public and charitable sectors. He also is a current TAIC Commissioner. ...
The Government has secured market access for New Zealand blueberries to Korea, unlocking an estimated $5 million in annual export opportunities for Kiwi growers Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today announced. âThis is a win for our exporters and builds on our successful removal of $190 million in ...
Partnership and looking to the future are key themes as Defence Ministers from across the South Pacific discuss regional security challenges in Auckland today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. The South Pacific Defence Ministersâ Meeting (SPDMM) brings together Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence and Secretaries of Defence from New Zealand, ...
In a triple whammy of good news, 1 October heralds the beginning of the funding of two major health products and a welcome contribution to early childhood fees, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. âKeytruda is the first drug to be funded and made available from the $604 million boost we ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti today opened the refurbished Childrenâs Unit at Rotorua Hospital, which will provide young patients and their families in the Lakes District with a safe, comfortable and private space to receive care. âThe opening of this unit is a significant milestone in our commitment to improving ...
It is now easier to make small changes to building plans without having to apply for a building consent amendment, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. âPreviously builders who wanted to make a minor change, for example substituting one type of product for another, or changing the layout of ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced seven diplomatic appointments. âProtecting and advancing New Zealandâs interests abroad is an extremely important role for our diplomats,â Mr Peters says. âWe are pleased to announce the appointment of seven senior diplomats to these overseas missions.â The appointments are: Andrew ...
The first iteration of the SuperGold Information Hub is now on-line, Minister for Seniors Casey Costello announced today. âThe SuperGold Hub is an online portal offering up-to-date information on all of the offers available to SuperGold cardholders. âWe know the SuperGold card is valued, and most people know its use ...
A new Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund will help councils and landowners clean up historic landfills and other contaminated sites that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. "This $30 million fund, part of our Q4 Action Plan, increases the Governmentâs investment in ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Governmentâs increased investment in Pharmac. âPharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,â says Mr Seymour. âWhen our Government assumed office, New ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today wrapped up a week of high-level engagements at the United Nations in New York and in Papeete, French Polynesia. âOur visit to New York was about demonstrating New Zealandâs unwavering support for an international system based on rules and respect for the UN Charter, as ...
The Governmentâs Quarter Four (Q4) Action Plan will be focused on making it easier and faster to build infrastructure in New Zealand as part of its wider plan to rebuild the economy, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. âMy Government has been working at pace to get the country back on ...
New Zealanders will be safer as a result of the Governmentâs crackdown on crime which includes tougher laws for offenders and gangs delivered as part of the Quarter Three (Q3) Action Plan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. âIâm proud to say we have delivered on 39 of the 40 actions ...
The Government is backing a new world-leading programme set to boost vineyard productivity and inject an additional $295 million into New Zealandâs economy by 2045, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today announced. The Next Generation Viticulture programme will transform traditional vineyard systems, increasing profitability by $22,060 per hectare by 2045 without ...
Over 90 per cent of submissions have expressed broad support for a New Zealand minerals strategy, indicating a strong appetite for a considered, enduring approach to minerals development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. A summary of the 102 submissions on the draft strategy has been published today by the Ministry ...
Catch limits for several fisheries will be increased following a review that shows stocks of those species are healthy and abundant. The changes are being made as part of Fisheries New Zealandâs biannual sustainability review, which considers catch limits and management settings across New Zealandâs fisheries. âScientific evidence and information ...
The Government is investigating options for a major reform of the building consent system to improve efficiency and consistency across New Zealand, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. âNew Zealand has some of the least affordable housing in the world, which has dire social and economic implications. At the heart ...
The Government has announced that an initial cost-benefit analysis of establishing a third medical school based at the University of Waikato has been completed and has been found to provide confidence for the project to progress to the next stage. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the proposal will ...
âThis is a long way from over: we will do everything we can to stop this monstrosity from going ahead, and we have tens of thousands of Kiwis behind us,â KASM Chairperson Cindy Baxter said. ...
The Fast-track Approvals Bill is the most extreme attack on nature in decades. NZ already has the highest proportion of threatened species in the world, and weâre in the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis. It is the time to work towards ...
Watchdog is calling on the Labour Party, Greens and Te PÄti MÄori to clearly reaffirm that consents issued under the Fast Track can be withdrawn when the Government changes. ...
WWF-New Zealandâs CEO Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb says it is a disgrace the Government is ramming through projects already rejected by experts and the courts on environmental grounds â and in doing so is almost certainly condemning some of Aotearoaâs native ...
There are some worthy projects on the list but they are tainted by the process and the presence of Trans-Tasman Resources at the bottom of the barrel. The fast track is the wrong track and will be a poisoned chalice for those companies who risk it. ...
Overall, weâre blown away by the sheer volume of projects listed. We question how the Government intends to stand up enough qualified expert panels to process them in the timeframes indicated. ...
Temporary SetbackLord Kenyon and Lady Charlotte walk down the rampOf their magenta and lime green hot air balloon Hubris,In matching Polar Bear fur coats, wraparound shadesEncrusted with diamonds, and a hundredweightOf subtle and discreet chunky gold accessories.At the bottom of the ramp, a squad of burly Bailiffs wait.âWhat ho, good ...
A new war in Lebanon has begun, but a dual focus on sub- and trans-national dynamics is required to understand what might come next in the Middle East.Starting with the trans-national matters. On âApril Fools Dayâ this year a region-wide game of cat and mouse began between Israeli and Iranian ...
Stuck on the wall in the womenâs changing room at the West Coast Rangers Football Club is the catchphrase: It means more here.It personifies what it means to players to belong to a club in Aucklandâs north-west thatâs just three years old, but already has a team whoâve fought their ...
MONDAYA cold wind came down from the mountain range of the Sierra Thorndons and swept through the empty main street of Labour City.It had been the exact same weather for over a year.A few old-timers remembered a time of golden weather. Sometimes they thought they might only have dreamt it ...
Inspired by a dictionary’s survey of its online followers, The Detail gathers three professional word-workers to nominate the best and worst of language and the traps of faux erudition, cliche, neuron-breaking elaborate prose, and journalese.Alexia Russell chats with two editors, one who banned overused words and another who makes it ...
Alex Casey meets the Southland principal who wrote and directed a feature length fantasy epic starring the whole school.Ask a primary school principal how many feature films theyâve made, and most will say zero. Ask Steve Wadsworth, principal of Winton School in Southland, and he will say not one, ...
The award-winning broadcaster and journalist looks back on his life in television, featuring early morning All Blacks games, his love for The Repair Shop and why heâs turning into his parents. John Campbell doesnât remember his first ever appearance on television. âFunny, eh?â the broadcaster chuckles over the phone. All ...
Jenna Todd responds to Kataraina, the sequel to Becky Manawatuâs award-winning first novel AuÄ.This review contains major spoilers for AuÄ. Many years after the girl shot the man. Iâd almost forgotten who had shot the man in AuÄ, winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Foundation Prize for Fiction in 2020. ...
Big Fan mentor Matthew Young and mentee Jared Frost share their perfect weekend playlist. Breaking into the music industry is no easy feat, but it makes a difference when you have someone who can guide you through the  distortion. At Aucklandâs Big Fan, a live venue and recording studio, programmes ...
Treasuryâs chief economic adviser, Dominick Stephens, believes the governmentâs tax, health and pension settings are untenable in the long term. Somethingâs got to give, he tells Bernard Hickey on The Spinoffâs economics podcast When the Facts Change. New Zealandâs ageing population is about to give the governmentâs finances a ...
Anna Rawhiti-Connell reflects on the week that was. As a teenager in the mid to late 90s, I vividly remember a statistical âurban legendâ doing the rounds. â15% of the population is gay, so⊠[insert number based on how many people were in the classroom] must be gay.â I have ...
An elder scolded me for my inability to speak Cantonese: âYou must learn.â My father heard my elderâs words and said nothing. My shame was as much his as it was mine.I have three missed calls from my mother. When I finally call her back, she doesnât even greet ...
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Sophie Turner steals the show in new con-woman drama Joan. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. Joan is Neonâs new six-part British crime drama inspired by the real-life story of Joan Hannington, the woman who became the UKâs most notorious jewel thief. ...
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This does something no one on the true left has done to date here. It actually points out the shortcomings of the current right wing parties.
Last election we had “friendly and fluffy” from the Greens but no genuine commentary on “why” they were worth voting for. No real criticism of the sleazy far right creeps in National and their slippery right leaning pals in Labour. The net result few voted Green.
Surely its time to stop being polite. Time to expose the greed, corruption, selfishness, economic imperialism and environmental damage. Good job UK Greens. Environmentalism and socialism with knuckledusters. About time.
And when the NZ GP runs campaigns criticising NACT they get accused of negative campaigning and supposedly lose votes.
Typical green brown wash
The Greens are as much of the problem as the rest of them.
Not forgetting ‘our lot’ voted in the ‘human friendly’ environment destroying growth based scam that is Kiwi Saver.
They are ALL part of the bullshit, if any of them truly offered alternatives no one would vote for them.
okay – i may regret asking this, but what are the non growth-based ‘alternatives’ that you think will make life better for all human beings, and save us from from the dastardly evils of kiwi saver and the Greens?
@ 404 ppm CO2 it is all academic now, but a great starting point would be say 80% unemployment, and zero private car use ?
You’re right. No one would vote for that.
In 2017 – in my view – political parties should campaign HARD for the PARTY vote – but encourage STRATEGIC voting in electorates, learning from the Northland by-election result.
The days of ‘two ticks’ have now gone – in my view ….
Penny Bright
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz
+100 Penny….you would have thought the penny would have dropped by now …unfortunately the Labour Party is still in First- Past- the- Post mode
The UK Greens want to ban the Grand National horse race. Anyone here mad enough to think this is a good idea.
Yeah, I know. Horses are such majestic creatures we should care less about injuries and death, so long as we humans can see them run and make a bit of money on the side.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equine_fatalities_in_the_Grand_National
Anyways, what was that about “a vote you don’t believe in”?
Personally, keep the race but limit the gambling on the principle that money should be acquired through honest work. Gambling should be frowned on in view of the adverse social consequences.
I presume the Greens objection is based on the treatment of horses.
John Woolman, the Quaker slavery abolitionist, refused to ride in public carriages for transport as the horses were so abused.
Instead, he walked around the country. By riding on these cross country carriages he felt he was condoning the mistreatment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Woolman
Do we do the same by gambling on horses? Should we as humans care about other animals?
How far do we take our personal views on such things as slavery, exploitation and maltreatment? It’s good to have our values questioned.
I’ve changed my mind after reading the links.
Genuine thanks for the question, fisiani . Yes, I’m mad enough. In both senses of the word.
What’s not to like about an event where up to 40 young animals at a time are deliberately hurt, and some will die in mess of tangled limbs, fractured bones and broken spines, to give people like yourself the pleasure of cracking a fat over their pain and panic.
//
Can you define deliberately? Are you trying to be serious?
Do you think horses are accidentally whipped?.
Do you think the jockey whip hurts the horse? If so do you want to ban jockey’s whips in all horse races?
Having spent most of my life around horses I know whipping hurts the animal and yes, and as it should be, whipping will be banned sooner rather than later.
Fisianil.
Failing and flaying to win an argument.
I know several people who rescue race horses.
The Industry is only interested in winners any horse which doesn’t make the grade is turned into dogtucker ,glue or put out to pasture where the horse is neglected underfed and abused.
Its covered up by the industry to sanitize the race industry.
“Can you define deliberately? Are you trying to be serious?”
If you hold an event where horses get maimed and crippled and killed,
and then you hold the same event again and horses get maimed and crippled and killed again,
and you keep doing it over and over and over, and every time you do it horses get maimed and crippled and killed…
…well at best, to misquote Oscar Wilde, it begins to look like carelessness.
Anyone mad enough to think killing and maiming horses for the amusement of humans is a good idea?
http://www.animal-rights-action.com/grand-national-horse-race.html
Because I don’t gamble and horse racing never interested me from the age of three, I never knew the extent of the damage done to horses in the Grand National. Thanks for the link, felix. Truly shocking to learn the facts.
Fisianil you have made a dogs breakfast of your argument!
Yes …the sooner the better and we’re not alone.
Among this race is amongst the most barbaric animal events in the world.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/570665/Grand-National-ban-Aintree-deaths-horse-racing-review-Green-Party
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/04/care-horses-boycott-grand-national
and even the telegraph
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100210488/so-what-if-a-few-horses-die-in-the-grand-national-it-is-our-pleasure-not-their-wellbeing-that-is-important/
Great video! I don’t know much about the UK election campaign or the UK GP, but love the courage and honesty in that broadcast. Funny too.
First time I’ve seen a out and out attack on Austerity caused by failed Neo-liberal polices – and like Weka said – Funny too.
Well it’s been 30 + years of Austerity. The lie of the booms of the later part of the 20th century and the idea their has not been to many rosy days in the 21st – are slowly dawning on people.
Just ask friends and family – how much personal debt they are in?
Go on – I dare ya…
How much do we pay in rates, paying rent includes rates folks, and how many less services are we getting for that?
How long are waiting lists?
How long do you have to wait on the phone to talk to a government department?
How is it, that we have austerity in this country and no one is willing to admit it?
In a user pays environment, admissions might be ten a penny. Shame about the lack of pennies then. đ
Are they saying there’s buggerall difference between Labour and the Tories? Can’t be speaking about Aotearoa, where the policies on fracking, drilling, spying, the TPPA, and keeping Mana out of parliament are all markedly different. Aren’t they?
Good video. Interesting ideas too. Like the idea that the other parties are all the same. Hello, hello, NationalLite.
The best Green campaign was the one with the bill boards of Kids. It had a good message of taking care of the environment for the next generation. Something like that again combined with the commentary of the existing parties similarities would work I think.
The Greens do need to market themselves better.
My worry is that under Metiria there is too much control, so worried about being perceived as ‘loonie left’ the individuality of the MP’s is not being encouraged. Not enough new people, old people leaving and not enough creative ideas.
I’m not suggesting that she should be replaced because she is great in many other areas, but just there needs to be a more creative approach in the party. Really good leaders have to bring people along on a journey, or they can’t, they need to have a side kick that does. At present that is Russell, but when he goes, can Metiria bring the public along on a journey? I am not drawn to any of the candidates for co leader and some I already mildly dislike if they want to link up with the Nats.
I miss Bradford, Kedgley and Fitzsimmons. They all did a great job and in spite of their different personalities I think they did so much for the Green party legacy.