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.

              https://thestandard.org.nz/trying-to-bury-bad-news/#comment-1361102

              • 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.”

            https://thestandard.org.nz/parents-inc-its-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

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T19:21:25+00:00