web analytics

Trying to bury bad news

Written By: - Date published: 5:06 pm, August 1st, 2017 - 29 comments
Categories: Ethics, health - Tags: ,

It’s a busy news day, so… Government axes Lifeline contract.

Yes, we still top the western world on youth suicide.  We still have regular stories like this today.

So what does the Government do?  Cancel the money that Lifeline uses to train thousands in suicide prevention.

$800,000 – a massive amount to Lifeline and the thousands who’ve needed it, a pittance in the government books.  There’s no funding for anything for 6 months, then an untested provider will be used for the training.

This is a government that just sees the price of everything, but can’t even see the value of something that saves so many lives.

29 comments on “Trying to bury bad news ”

  1. adam 1

    Dead people don’t vote national, so what do they care?

    • Sabine 1.1

      dead people don’t vote
      homeless people don’t vote
      and so on and so on.

      oh well. maybe you know, just like with the US, this country deserves this government.

      • adam 1.1.1

        Of course we do, look at the comments by the trolls here.

        We deserve everything we get, becasue this is what worshiping cupidity gets you.

  2. One Anonymous Bloke 2

    Never forget what the National Party is. A slow relentless civil war against the most vulnerable members of society.

  3. srylands 3

    The source article says that the new provider was chosen by an independent panel. It also states that total funding will be increased by $250,000 to provide higher service volumes. That sounds like good news rather than a relentless civil war against the most vulnerable.

    The Governnet is doing great things with an investment approach to helping vulnerable people. But that relies on choosing the best providers.

    • McFlock 3.1

      Yeah, that was the logic they used to privatise some prison operations, too.
      Didn’t bloody work.

    • adam 3.2

      I’m going to suggest srylands you have not worked with this government via the n.g.o sector. Because your utterances once again make you look like a out of touch prat.

      People like you…

    • AsleepWhileWalking 3.3

      While I tend to agree with you I’m always suspicious of government funding anything at all. And I’m not sure the timing was right on this to ditch an established provider.

      It is my suspicion that the suicide rate ties in with the difficulties in upward mobility and an appalling mental health system in which you can waste 2 years out of a five year period just waiting for referrals.

    • Meanwhile, they just threw out 50 years of experience for an untried provider who probably got the contract because they cut the price.

      In other words, it’s going to end up costing us more* and we’re going to get less service**.

      * More preventable deaths
      ** More whinging that it wasn’t anyone’s fault and how could they have possibly known

      • Patricia 3.4.1

        Check out the board of Le Va who have the contract that Lifeline lost. Dr Mary English – wife of PM Bill English.

        • weka 3.4.1.1

          Interesting. I wonder if her anti-abortion politics are a factor there.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.4.1.1.1

            And that scares me even more.

            And, yes, that’s probably also a factor as well as the cronyism.

          • Matthew Whitehead 3.4.1.1.2

            Depends how independent the independent panel were, I guess.

            • weka 3.4.1.1.2.1

              according to the above Mary English is on the board that runs the organisation that has the new contract. So I’d be wanting to know that any potential conflicts of interest were examined re her abortion politics. Personally I wouldn’t let her anywhere near a social service agency.

              edit, see Bill’s comment re Lifekeeper name.

              Trying to bury bad news

              • Yeah, I mean, potentially a pro-life person involved in an organisation designed to alleviate suicide at first blush seems like it wouldn’t cause issues, but I get where you’re going with that- if they end up doing any Crisis Pregnancy type BS in their new service there ought to be hell to pay. Which is not to say that pro-life people shouldn’t ever get involved in mental health and suicide prevention, but they need people with actual mental health credentials and an evidence-based approach placed above them to keep any BS in check.

        • Bill 3.4.1.2

          Throwing in the link…and really biting my tongue over the change in service name from “Lifeline” to “Lifekeeper” given Mary English’s …nah. Said I was biting my cynical tongue.

          https://www.leva.co.nz/about/our-board

        • Psych nurse 3.4.1.3

          Whats a lady to do when you take away her housing allowance, smacks of cronyism.

        • AsleepWhileWalking 3.4.1.4

          Ahh that figures.

          • Descendant Of Sssmith 3.4.1.4.1

            Might as well finish as they started.

            “In last year’s budget, the Nats awarded a $4.8m contract to an unknown organisation called PEDA without tender and against official advice. The people behind PEDA were apparently tied to Bill English via his wife. The full truth still hasn’t come out. Now, the Nats are up to the same trick with Parents Inc.

            Paula Bennett’s Ministry of Social Development will pay $2.4 million to Parents Inc for “parenting courses for the caregivers of vulnerable children”. This contract was untendered and previously unknown.”

            Parents Inc: it’s PEDA redux

      • greywarshark 3.4.2

        Don’t forget the neolib belief that people should not rely on government. It breeds lazy attitudes and complacency. So government funds for a limited period and then the entity should be self-supporting, get sponsorship from private enterprise, etc.

        Government is not to serve the people, but to play with them in a vast game of chess. They can upset the game, turn the board over, introduce new rules of trade with no tariffs to prevent dumping and protect against low prices from volume producers. The people must accept. When their wages, hours, living conditions go down. That is their fault. And government can only help for so long. If you can’t manage, can’t pull yourself together, it is your limitations that result in you struggling. Others can cope, why can’t you. Sympathy and love for humankind in the general, rather than the particular, doesn’t fit the neolib model. So suicide numbers wouldn’t matter except for the annoying thing that there is a worldwide watch on the stats from different countries and you can’t just brush them under the mat, wave them away with some magic words and a smile.

        Government is not for the people, it is to faciltate the location of NZ as a welcoming business entity, come and use our space for your purposes. We have laws governing some things but they are pretty flexible.

    • weka 3.5

      “It also states that total funding will be increased by $250,000 to provide higher service volumes.”

      yes, good move by National. If you’re going to increase the suicide rate, not a bad idea to have a structure to deal with higher service volumes.

    • Gabby 3.6

      Who’s on the ‘independent’ panel slyrants?

  4. Wensleydale 4

    Unless you’re “one of them”, they don’t care if you shuffle out to the back shed and hang yourself with an extension cord. You’re literally of no consequence, and they lose no sleep over your premature demise.

    Problem Gambling – Don’t care. Bankrupt yourself and ruin your family. Couldn’t give a toss.
    Women’s Refuge – Don’t care. If you get bashed and die, and your kids are traumatised, you were probably never “one of us” anyway. “We” are civilized folk and don’t indulge in that sort of sordid carry-on.
    Lifeline – Don’t care. It’s a bit like unofficial eugenics really isn’t it? I mean, what sort of contribution do the mentally unwell or dysfunctional adolescents really make to society? Wasters, the lot of them. Probably don’t even play golf or drive a European car.

    Basically, what they’re saying is, “If you’re poor, or prone to depression, or trapped in a violent relationship, or suffer from a potentially catastrophic addiction, go and dig yourself a hole, then sit in it, and wait to die.” Because this government just does not give a fuck about you.

  5. savenz 5

    Thanks (sarcasm) Labour for falling for it again, and keeping Labour ‘leadership’ in the MSM NOT what the National party is up to.

    • TootingPopularFront 5.1

      Yup, distraction 101, every 3 years we have to go through the same process like Sisyphus and his bloody rock…
      All I hope for is that between Jacinda and Metiria, they manage to engage enough young people to counteract the self-interested National voting throng that now infest these islands.

  6. Tamati Tautuhi 6

    Hopefully Jacinda and Kelvin Davis can drive this thing through, Labour are stronger with Kelvin Davis in the mix the guy is intelligent, understands grass roots NZ, rural NZ and has a good understanding of Maori Issues.

    NZ needs a strong Labour Party after it has been decimated by 30-40 years of Neoliberal Dogma.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ still well placed to meet global challenges
    The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Western Ring Route Complete
    Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers
    This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient Fiji
    Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recovery
    The Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Next steps developing clean energy for NZ
    The Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart Nash
    This morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to Auckland
    The Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses
    $25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home
    80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASA
    The Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in Australia
    The Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Health and safety action plan for ports
    The health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBT
    Bikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with Fiji
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New legislation to streamline Cyclone recovery
    The Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi families
    Approximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living
    $1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • State of National Emergency to end for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay
    The remaining state of national emergency over the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay regions will end on Tuesday 14 March, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today. Minister McAnulty gave notice of a national transition period over these regions, which will come into effect immediately following the end of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government delivers on Dawn Raids commitment
    The Government is today delivering on one of its commitments as part of the New Zealand Government’s Dawn Raids apology, welcoming a cohort of emerging Pacific leaders to Aotearoa New Zealand participating in the He Manawa Tītī Scholarship Programme. This cohort will participate in a bespoke leadership training programme that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New plan to increase productivity and high wage jobs across advanced manufacturing sector
    Industry Transformation Plan to transform advanced manufacturing through increased productivity and higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs into a globally-competitive low-emissions sector. Co-created and co-owned by business, unions and workers, government, Māori, Pacific peoples and wider stakeholders. A plan to accelerate the growth and transformation of New Zealand’s advanced manufacturing sector was launched ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Aotearoa New Zealand supports Pacific countries to combat animal disease 
    New Zealand will provide support for Pacific countries to prevent the spread of harmful animal diseases, Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said. The Associate Minister is attending a meeting of Pacific Ministers during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry in Nadi, Fiji. “Highly contagious diseases such as African ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government delivers better public transport for Christchurch
    The Public Transport Futures project will deliver approximately: 100 more buses providing a greater number of seats to a greater number of locations at a higher frequency Over 470 more bus shelters to support a more enjoyable travel experience Almost 200 real time display units providing accurate information on bus ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Minister praises education heroes in cyclone damaged regions
    All but six schools and kura have reopened for onsite learning All students in the six closed schools or kura are being educated in other schools, online, or in alternative locations Over 4,300 education hardpacks distributed to support students Almost 38,000 community meals provided by suppliers of the Ka Ora ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-03-21T05:17:40+00:00