Weekend social 06/02/2015
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2:00 pm, February 6th, 2015 - 28 comments
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever.
No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?
28 comments on “Weekend social 06/02/2015 ”
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- Backing for Bay of Islands predator free effortThe Government is throwing its support behind an ambitious project to restore native biodiversity and build long-term conservation careers, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. Predator Free Bay of Islands aims to eradicate predators from the three main peninsulas in the region, and significantly reduce their impact throughout the wider 80,000-plus ...1 week ago
- Government commits $600,000 to flood recoveryThe Government is contributing $600,000 to help residents affected by the weekend’s violent weather with recovery efforts. Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor have been in the Buller district this afternoon to assess flood damage and support the local response effort. They have announced ...1 week ago
- Government assisting local responses to heavy rainfall and high windActing Minister of Emergency Management Kris Faafoi says Central Government is monitoring the severe weather across the country, and is ready to provide further support to those affected if necessary. “My thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this latest event, particularly communities on the West Coast and ...1 week ago
- PM Ardern chairs APEC Leaders’ meeting on COVID-19New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has chaired a meeting of Leaders representing the 21 APEC economies overnight. “For the first time in APEC’s history Leaders have come together for an extraordinary meeting focused exclusively on COVID-19, and how our region can navigate out of the worst health and economic ...2 weeks ago
- Health Minister welcomes progress on nurses’ payThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s decision to take the Government’s improved pay offer to members and to lift strike notices is a positive move towards settling district health board nurses’ pay claims, Health Minister Andrew Little said. “It’s encouraging that the discussions between NZNO and DHBs over the nurses’ employment ...2 weeks ago
- Boost for Pacific regional businessPacific businesses will get a much-needed financial boost as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the new Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. The new $2 million fund will co-invest in Pacific business projects and initiatives to create ...2 weeks ago
- PM Ardern call with President BidenPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke with US President Biden this morning, ahead of the APEC Informal Leaders’ Retreat on COVID-19. “President Biden and I discussed the forthcoming APEC leaders meeting and the critical importance of working together as a region to navigate out of the COVID-19 pandemic”, Jacinda Ardern said. ...2 weeks ago
- Renewed partnership creates jobs for New Zealand youthThe Government has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, strengthening the partnership to get more young people into work. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) is a nationwide network of all Mayors in New Zealand, who are committed to making sure all young ...2 weeks ago
- South Island areas prioritised in tourism fundFive South Island areas are prioritised in the latest round of decisions from a tourism fund that is supporting infrastructure projects from Cape Reinga to Stewart Island and the Chathams. Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has announced details of 57 nationwide projects to receive support from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF). ...2 weeks ago
- New code sets clear expectations for learner safety and wellbeing in tertiary educationA new code of practice for the pastoral care of domestic tertiary and international students will be in place from January next year, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today The code, which makes clear that creating an environment that supports learning and wellbeing is a shared responsibility between tertiary providers, ...2 weeks ago
- First TAB New Zealand Board appointments announcedThe members of the first TAB NZ Board come with experience in racing and sport administration, business and governance, the betting industry, broadcasting and gambling harm minimisation. “This Board will progress from the excellent work done by the interim board, put in place in August 2020,” Grant Robertson said. “The ...2 weeks ago
- Northland Maori Pathways initiative introducedThe Government has today launched Māori Pathways at Northland Region Corrections Facility, a ground-breaking series of initiatives designed in partnership with Māori to reduce re-offending and improve outcomes for whānau. A key part of the Hōkai Rangi strategy, Māori Pathways looks to achieve long-term change and involves a number of ...2 weeks ago
- Extended Essential Skills visas being rolled outTwo year Essential Skills visa to provide certainty to at least 18,000 visa holders Streamlined application process to benefit at least 57,000 visa holders The Government is increasing the duration of some Essential Skills visas and streamlining the application process to provide more certainty to employers and visa holders while ...2 weeks ago
- Pause to Quarantine Free Travel from Victoria to New ZealandQuarantine Free Travel from Victoria to New Zealand will be paused from 1.59am (NZT) Friday, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced. The decision follows updated public health advice from New Zealand officials and a growing number of cases and locations of interest. The pause will run for at least ...2 weeks ago
- Hydrogen arrangement signed with SingaporeThe signing of an Arrangement of Cooperation on low-carbon hydrogen with Singapore heralds the start of greater collaboration between it and New Zealand as both countries transition towards low carbon economies, says Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods. The cooperation arrangement between New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ...2 weeks ago
- Hydrogen agreement signed with SingaporeThe signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on low-carbon hydrogen with Singapore signals the start of greater collaboration between the two countries as they transition towards low carbon economies, says Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods. The cooperation agreement between New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and ...2 weeks ago
- Speech to LGNZ ConferenceKia ora koutou katoa and thank-you for the invitation to speak to you all today. I would like to acknowledge Local Government New Zealand President Stuart Crosby, and Chief Executive, Susan Freeman-Greene, Te Maruata Chair, Bonita Bigham, and our host, Mayor John Leggett. I also acknowledge all the elected members ...2 weeks ago
- Government to provide support for water reforms, jobs and growthThe Government today announced a $2.5 billion package to support local government transition through the reforms to New Zealand’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services. The package will also stimulate local economies while creating jobs and unlocking infrastructure for housing. “New Zealand’s water systems are facing a significant crisis and ...2 weeks ago
- The Tokyo Lowdown: Day 4
Was there something in Tokyo's water for Kiwi sportswomen as they struggled on the big stage on Day 4? LockerRoom's daily look at the fortunes of our female athletes continues. Performances of the day Luuka Jones lay her head on her paddle after her run in the canoe slalom final, devastated. ...2 hours ago - Flush Housing Agency Needs To Be Reined In
Responding to NBR’s report that Kainga Ora made an offer on a property $8 million above its eventual sale price, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “Our housing agency is acting like it’s overfunded. First it bought a motel ...7 hours ago - New Zealand trapped on the moral high ground with Suhayra Aden
Power Play - New Zealand may now be claiming the moral high ground as it grudgingly accepts Suhayra Aden and her two children, but its hands are tied, Jane Patterson writes. ...7 hours ago - Whipping cream canisters have many uses beyond ‘nangs’. Banning them isn’t necessary
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bright, Senior Lecturer of Addiction, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has been considering whether whipping cream canisters containing nitrous oxide should be placed in Schedule 10 of the Poisons Standard. Schedule 10 is the ...7 hours ago - What’s in the CPI and what does it actually measure?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Nils Versemann/Shutterstock So you don’t believe the official inflation figures. Why would you? They show prices climbing at an annual rate of 1.1% On Wednesday the update for June ...8 hours ago
- Why calling ordinary NZ cyclists ‘elitist’ makes little sense
It’s one of the most common criticisms of those fighting for better bike infrastructure in our cities. But the ‘elitist’ jibe has little basis in reality, argues Timothy Welch.Something strange has happened to the perception of cyclists and cycling in the more than 200 years they’ve been around. Once a ...8 hours ago - Public protest or selfish ratbaggery? Why free speech doesn’t give you the right to endanger other...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, President, Australian Association for Professional & Applied Ethics. Senior Research Fellow, Moral philosophy, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Law Futures Centre., Griffith University Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in major Australian cities at the weekend, to protest ...8 hours ago
- Police Association Acknowledges Guilty VerdictThe Police Association thanks the jury in the Eli Epiha trial for carrying out their difficult duty and finding the defendant guilty of attempting to murder Constable David Goldfinch. Epiha, who had already admitted to the murder of Constable Matthew ...8 hours ago
- Little says Chinese hacking claims were corroborated, rebuke was 'tame'State-sponsored hacking by China was confirmed and corroborated by spy agencies and the embassy's rebuke after New Zealand called it out was "fairly tame", Minister Andrew Little says. ...8 hours ago
- Christchurch City Council’s Bollard Blowout Is BizarreResponding to Christchurch City Council’s $1.1 million spend on a set of 14 bollards , New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “The plan should have been abandoned as soon as Councillors learned of the $769,000 price tag. Instead, ...9 hours ago
- Science Organisations Pledge Openness In Animal Research And Teaching In New Zealand21 universities, institutes of technology, non-profits, Crown Research Institutes, government organisations, umbrella bodies, research funding organisations and learned societies commit to communicate openly about animal use. New Zealand will be the ...9 hours ago
- Hard Questions Remain For Openness Conference For AnimalsHow open should researchers be with what they do to animals in experiments? That’s the question being discussed at a conference on openness in animal research. The conference is being hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care ...9 hours ago
- Parliament is in recess but Kris Faafoi is too busy to discuss proposals for hate-speech laws
******** The Minister of Justice appears to have gone into hiding. GRAHAM ADAMS, writing for The Democracy Project, provides an update on how the public debate on hate speech regulation is going, especially in terms of whether political opinion should or shouldn’t receive an exemption from new laws. ******** It ...9 hours ago - Yarns from the heart: the role of Aboriginal English in Indigenous health communicationSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Celeste Rodriguez Louro, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, Discipline of Linguistics, The University of Western Australia Indigenous Australians experience poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous Australians. They are sick more often, die younger and are at higher risk of serious health complications, ...9 hours ago
- It’s all about reducing inequities -and so Maori wellbeing is a big consideration in research fund...
The Government has dished out public money on two fronts in its mission to reduce inequitable outcomes in health statistics. On one front, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Andrew Little joined a ceremony to bless the site and workers for Phase Two of the redevelopment of the Bay ...10 hours ago - If I cry when I get my vaccination, it will be for MumIt was one of Mum’s great joys that she lived to see polio virtually eradicated worldwide in her lifetime, writes Tim Cadogan, mayor of Central Otago.I got the text message last week advising me that I could go online and book my Covid-19 vaccinations. Despite how I sometimes look, I ...10 hours ago
- How a South Auckland deep tech company grew 440% in a yearA ‘sleepy R&D startup’ has been transformed into a world-leading tech manufacturer in the space of a year, thanks to its groundbreaking nanofibre products.Any company that was in the business of making masks at the beginning of 2020 was poised to do a roaring trade. Covid-19 hit, and, despite the ...12 hours ago
- Suhayra Aden repatriation: Gerry Brownlee suggests following Australian laws on revoking citizenship...National Party's foreign affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee's comments about whether New Zealand should follow Australia's law on revoking citizenships - in light of a terror suspect's repatriation - is stirring up debate. ...12 hours ago
- Ancient brains: a look inside the extraordinary preservation of a 310-million-year-old nervous syste...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Paterson, Professor of Earth Sciences, University of New England Javier Ortega-Hernández, Author provided Charles Darwin famously discussed the “imperfections” of the geological record in his book On The Origin of Species. He correctly pointed out that unless conditions are ...13 hours ago
- Fiji opposition MPs pledge not to be silenced, despite arrests over criticismRNZ Pacific Fiji’s opposition MPs who were arrested after their criticism of a government land bill say they will not be intimidated or silenced. Police have since released several leaders of the opposition who were arrested late Sunday. One of those arrested, the National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad, ...13 hours ago
- Local Government Business Forum Annual Newsletter ReleasedThe Local Government Business Forum has released its annual newsletter. "2021 is proving to be a pivotal year for local government and a challenging one for the people who pay the bills," said Michael Barnett, Chair of the Forum. "Major ...13 hours ago
- How do we bridge an impossible divide?Despairing in the wake of large anti-lockdown protests in Australia, Emily Writes searches for ways to fight the monster of ignorance and selfishness.This post was first published on Emily Writes Weekly.Many of us here safe and secure in Aotearoa were horrified by the anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests in Sydney and Melbourne ...13 hours ago
- Quarterly Inflation Rising Steadily Across The BoardHigher prices for transport and food have driven up inflation for the all households group in the June 2021 quarter, Stats NZ said today. The ‘all households group’ represents all private New Zealand-resident households. Inflation for the all households ...13 hours ago
- Government announces health research funding grantsHealth equity, vaccine hesitancy, and the difficulties of battling both cancer and diabetes are among projects benefiting from the latest round of government health research funding. ...14 hours ago
- The Spinoff Book Report #2Books editor Catherine Woulfe introduces a tranche of new books that comprehensively rule. Welcome back to the Spinoff Book Report. To reiterate the deal here: if a book’s on this list you know it’s genuinely great. No qualms. What happens is I eye up the cubic metre of books stacked on ...15 hours ago
- Live updates, July 27: Auckland mass vaccination event struggles to attract bookingsWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for July 27, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz8.05am: Auckland mass vaccination event struggles to attract bookingsA three-day vaccination event in Auckland did not get the attention health officials expected it would. New figures have revealed ...16 hours ago
- How the Groundhog Day grind of lockdown scrambles your memory and sense of timeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Osth, Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne YouTube With roughly half of Australia in lockdown at the moment, a common experience is a warped sense of time and poor memory. What day is it? What week is it? Did ...16 hours ago
- How Australia’s fickleness on COVID vaccines is perpetuating global vaccine inequitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Joseph, Professor of Human Rights Law, Griffith University Despite assurances from Prime Minister Scott Morrison that Australia was at “the front of the queue” for COVID-19 vaccines, Australia’s rate of vaccination ranks last in the OECD. Nevertheless, Australia is still ...16 hours ago
- When will we reach herd immunity? Here are 3 reasons that’s a hard question to answerSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Leask, Professor, University of Sydney As we try to control COVID-19, many people are keen to know what proportion of the population will need to be vaccinated in order to reach “herd immunity”. It’s a reasonable question. People are asking because ...16 hours ago
- A wet winter, a soggy spring: what is the negative Indian Ocean Dipole, and why is it so important?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicky Wright, Research Fellow, University of Sydney Shutterstock This month we’ve seen some crazy, devastating weather. Perth recorded its wettest July in decades, with 18 straight days of relentless rain. Overseas, parts of Europe and China have endured extensive flooding, ...16 hours ago
- Yes adult literacy should be improved. But governments can make their messages easier to read right ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cath Ferguson, Senior research fellow, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock A parliamentary inquiry is looking into how to improve adult literacy in Australia. Having a low level of literacy is not the same thing as being illiterate. The definition of “illiterate” ...16 hours ago
- How a new trade deal could make it harder to improve life for Australians in aged careSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patricia Ranald, Honorary research associate, University of Sydney Prime Minister Morrison and Trade Minister Birmingham sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement in November 2020, Canberra. Lukas Coch/AAP The 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement signed in November 2020 between Australia and ...16 hours ago
- If I could go anywhere: Greek cake shops, the Athenian countryside and the sanctuary of Artemis at B...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alastair Blanshard, Paul Eliadis Chair of Classics and Ancient History, The University of Queensland Konstantinos Livadas/Shutterstock In this series we pay tribute to the art we wish could visit — and hope to see once travel restrictions are lifted. In ...16 hours ago
- Big water decisions influence futures of small communities
The PM vows to settle the contested boundaries of the four big new regional water authorities – a decision awaited nervously in some of NZ's smaller communities ...16 hours ago - The Bulletin: ‘Government neglect’ blamed for poverty increaseGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: ‘Government neglect’ blamed for poverty increase, suspected ISIS supporter to be repatriated, and Sāmoa’s former PM formally concedes.The country’s leading anti-poverty lobby group has put the blame squarely on the government for an increase in hardship. In a report out this morning, ...17 hours ago
- Ombudsman pans council foot-dragging
Christchurch’s council gets a slap on the wrist over delays relating to a $100,000 report. David Williams reports. Delays and transparency at Christchurch’s council remain under scrutiny by Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier. Two years ago, Boshier excoriated the council for its treatment of public information requests, saying reports reflecting negatively ...18 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Tuesday 27 July
...19 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 27 July
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...19 hours ago - Menopause, MHT and meA full 50% of the population will experience menopause, but confusion about its symptoms – and the options for treating them – remains widespread. Determined to address menopause’s debilitating effects, Anna Sophia embarked on an ‘experiential trial’ to discover whether hormone therapy could help.So here it is and here I ...19 hours ago
- What’s it like reporting from ‘an Olympics like no other’?New Zealand journalists based in Tokyo say covering this year’s extraordinary Olympics is ‘fun, strange, uncertain and exciting’. There’s also a lot of gloves. Kimberlee Downs remembers her time spent covering the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan as a “very social” occasion. Journalists from all over the world met, ...19 hours ago
- We’ve got enough food – it’s the political will that’s missingYes, the vast majority of food produced in New Zealand goes overseas, but blaming food insecurity on exporting serves only to obscure the real issue, writes Katharine Cresswell Riol.In light of ongoing food insecurity in Aotearoa, a situation that was drastically exacerbated by coronavirus-induced lockdown conditions, the recent call to ...19 hours ago
- The liquor store plague
New Zealanders have very easy access to alcohol, and the choices are growing. But communities worried about the harm it's causing face big hurdles to stop liquor stores proliferating. How many alcohol outlets does a suburban town centre need? Well, in South Auckland’s Māngere, there are seven - all ...19 hours ago - Why we should care about air pollution
It’s time to consider how reducing emissions for the benefit of the climate could bring added health benefits to our population, argues Dr Dennis Wesselbaum. The report by He Pou a Rangi, the Climate Change Commission, has received much positive and negative attention since its publication. It suggests making dramatic changes ...19 hours ago - The opposite of punitive school measures
'Restorative practice' in education reduces reliance on punitive measures such as suspensions and expulsions, creating safer environments. So do why NZ schools tend to drop it just years after bringing it in? COMMENT: Every day schools remove students from their classrooms and schools in frustration with their inability to adhere to school ...19 hours ago - Liberté, égalité – and Covid
France is getting tough on mandating a health passport for vaccination status, and the French aren't taking it lying down, writes Oliver Hartwich ...19 hours ago - Beware the 'forgotten' war
Stephen Hoadley cautions New Zealanders to take into account the security risks - and the economic opportunities - presented by the fragile inter-Korean armistice, and to be aware of the shifting power balances of the East Asian region The guns are stilled … for now. But seven decades ago one of the ...19 hours ago - The cut-throat world of kombucha
Craft kombucha maker Batchwell launches a $1 million capital raise on the Snowball Effect platform this week. But the kombucha market is more complicated than you might think. ...19 hours ago - A scary and overlooked milestone
'Earth Overshoot Day' is the day in the year humanity begins to exceed its annual consumption of the earth’s replenishable resources - and it's not cause for celebration, writes Jack Santa Barbara COMMENT: One of the most significant milestones we pass each year generally goes completely unnoticed, and unacknowledged. This year ...19 hours ago - Planned retreat from flood-prone Westport and its stoic history
As the PM visits Westport, the town faces a touch call on whether to rebuild or withdraw after the recent devastating floods ...19 hours ago - One week at the border: 60 Covid cases caught
We're keeping Covid out at the border - for now - but just last week our defences kept out 60 positive cases. Almost inevitably, that protection shield will fail. It seems to be coming at us from all angles. Covid, and its more dangerous variant Delta is knocking at the ...19 hours ago - Essay: My grandmother glitches the machine
A personal essay about machines, Mandarin, and grandma by Tan Tuck Ming A few years ago, I took part in a research study at an institute of parapsychology, an underground subfield of psychology that deals with psychic abilities. I was in my second year of university and did not ...19 hours ago - Accused spy active on encrypted chat app
A soldier charged with espionage has recently been active on the encrypted chat app Telegram, Marc Daalder reports A soldier facing four charges of espionage along with 13 other counts still has access to encrypted messaging apps on his mobile phone. The soldier, who has interim name suppression ahead of a ...19 hours ago - Samoa’s FAST party gets quickly down to work after court rulingRNZ Pacific Samoa’s new FAST Party government has got down to work this morning, meeting with the heads of government departments, more than 100 days after it had won the election. FAST MPs were forced to swear themselves in because the Head of State had barred them from entering Parliament. ...23 hours ago
- John Minto: Ben & Jerry does right thing – will Mahuta agree to UN call?COMMENT: By John Minto US ice cream manufacturer Ben and Jerry has announced it will no longer sell icecream in the occupied Palestinian Territories. This is a welcome development while Israel is continuing to flout international law with their new government approving the building of 31 more illegal Jewish-only settlements ...23 hours ago
- The Tokyo Lowdown: Day 3
On a day when NZ celebrated its first medal in Tokyo, our Kiwi sportswomen had a mixed bag of results - but it was an unforgettable day for the baby of the team. LockerRoom's daily update on our women athletes continues. Performances of the day It's been one heck of a ...1 day ago - Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: “Year of the vaccine” at riskAnalysis by Bryce Edwards. Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. A consensus is emerging that the Government has generally managed the Covid crisis very well over the last 18 months, but they have dropped the ball when it comes to the crucial vaccine rollout. This was nicely encapsulated in opinion polling ...1 day ago
- Yes, there’s confusion about ATAGI’s AstraZeneca advice. But it’s in an extremely difficult po...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, La Trobe University Daniel Pockett/AAP One can totally understand the frustration around where the AstraZeneca vaccine fits in our vaccine rollout in Australia. At a time when we’re grappling with so much uncertainty, we need unambiguous ...1 day ago
- View from The Hill: Labor wouldn’t disturb tax cuts, negative gearing in ‘small target’ strate...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra After making itself a mega target in 2019, Labor has confirmed it will be a small one in 2022 by promising an Albanese government would keep the 2024 income tax cuts and not disturb negative ...1 day ago
- How do Olympic athletes stack up against invertebrates? Not very wellSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlyn Forster, PhD Candidate, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Andreas Karyadi / Shutterstock Olympians spend years training to be the best of the best. Scientists and sportspeople have spent decades researching the mechanics of the human ...1 day ago
- Kiwis face anxious wait for extra flights out of New South WalesNew Zealanders stuck in New South Wales are anxiously waiting on the government to organise extra return flights. ...1 day ago
- Curious Kids: are sugar rushes real?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Associate Professor/ Principal Research Fellow, Griffith University Shutterstock When I’m happy after eating something sweet mummy and daddy say I am having a “sugar rush”. But I think I’m just happy! Is a sugar rush a real ...1 day ago
- To ensure supply of the top 3 drugs used to treat COVID-19, it’s time to boost domestic medicine m...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Associate Professor of the Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney We now know enough about how COVID works for health authorities to have issued clear guidance on which drugs doctors should use on hospitalised patients. The recommended drugs are dexamethasone, ...1 day ago
- What is ‘ROC’ and why are they winning so many Olympic medals in Tokyo?A mysterious team called ROC is currently in the top 10 on the Olympic medal table. Meanwhile, Russia hasn’t won any medals in Japan yet. Could these two facts be connected? We’ll give the game away on this one straight away – ROC stands for Russian Olympic Committee, and is, in ...1 day ago
- How a bee sees: tiny bumps on flower petals give them their intense colour — and help them surviveSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Dyer, Associate Professor, RMIT University Scarlett Howard, Author provided The intense colours of flowers have inspired us for centuries. They are celebrated through poems and songs praising the red of roses and blue of violets, and have inspired iconic ...1 day ago
- Oh, look – we can’t find any mention of “ISIS” in PM’s press statement on bringing woman a...The Turks don’t want her, after she crossed the border into that country from Syria. The Aussies don’t want her, even though her family moved to Australia when she was six and she grew up there before departing for Syria in 2014 on an Australian passport. They cancelled her citizenship. ...1 day ago
- For too long, research was done on First Nations peoples, not with them. Universities can change thi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Victoria Rawlings, Lecturer, University of Sydney School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Warlpiri person showing a honey ant after hunting. shutterstock For too long, “research” was an activity done to or on Indigenous people; it was something imposed from ...1 day ago
- FIANZ Request Media To Exercise Responsibility And Respect Privacy...1 day ago
- The forgotten Australian veterans who opposed National Service and the Vietnam WarSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Piccini, Lecturer, Australian Catholic University On July 26 1971, a top secret cabinet meeting ended what was then Australia’s longest conflict. The public would hear about it for the first time in August, when Prime Minister William McMahon announced the withdrawal ...1 day ago
- Australia badly needs earth science skills, but universities are cutting the supplySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Selway, Senior Research Fellow, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia Earth science is vital to Australia’s economic and environmental future but we are dramatically decreasing our earth science capability. Earth scientists work not only in mining and mineral exploration (which ...1 day ago
- Georgia Lines on finding her voice, trusting herself and not burning out earlyAs the young songwriter steps confidently into a new phase of her career, she explains how it’s unfolded to this point.Georgia Lines comes bearing gifts. Ice blocks, to be specific. Never mind that we’re past the crest of the afternoon on what might be the coldest day in an unusually ...1 day ago
- Barnaby Joyce scores dismal ratings in Resolve poll, while Berejiklian government easily in front de...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Mick Tsikas/AAP In the latest Resolve poll for Nine newspapers, the Coalition had 38% of the primary vote (down two since June), Labor 35% (down one), the ...1 day ago
- NZ dairy industry’s biggest challenge is meeting methane gas emission targets
New Zealand dairy farmers are some of the most efficient producers of dairy milk in the world, and while the past year has been tough for many industries, the overall picture for dairy has been overwhelmingly positive. Returns to farmers have been at record levels,. along with the economic contribution ...1 day ago - New Zealand to bring in terror suspect Suhayra Aden and her childrenNew Zealand has agreed to repatriate Suhayra Aden and her two young children, who crossed from Syria into Turkey in February. ...1 day ago
- Girl group parody Girls5eva, reviewed by a former 90s popstarNow available on TVNZ OnDemand, Girls5eva follows a manufactured 90s girl group reforming in their 40s. Sound familiar? Megan Alatini of TrueBliss reviews. As soon as the Girls5eva trailer launched, the TrueBliss girls and I kept getting tagged on social media. Now that I’ve seen the show myself, I can totally ...1 day ago
- Returning Children Must Be Protected And EmbracedChildren’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft is urging the public and media to respect the privacy and wellbeing of the children returning with their mother from Turkey, following the Governments’ announcement today. “I am proud that New Zealand has ...1 day ago
Seen as some want to try & treat water as a commodity & even though I’m on town supply for water (which is not very nice which tastes & smells strongly of chorine). I decided to put a water tank in today to collect rain water as a back up, which I’ve just completed doing today, now I’m praying for lots of rain to fill it.
Water should never be treated as a commodity, which its being done already in parts of NZ via water meters.
Folk might be interested in this low cost and easy to put together system
great for watering the garden, feeding soak hoses or just to collect water from downpipes situated away from the main tank
here is a even easier single tank system
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/67/c9/f6/67c9f61efedd0bd21bee73f9d4bd578d.jpg
That’s pretty much how I’ve got mine set up except in a larger scale, mine will be used mostly for watering the vegetable garden.
Everyone should set up something like this & it doesn’t need to cost much to do either. My tank holds 1000 litres which I got for free & the tank stand only cost $30 in timber, all the pipe work was done with off cuts of pipe & fittings I had laying around in the shed, plus a couple of hours labour to construct.
I’m in Dunedin freezing my gonads off, just like a brass monkey. As is common, the free motel internet doesn’t work. Found a dozen bluff oysters, still good even if frozen.
@ Murry
Good for what? How do you down them?
You let them thaw out first.
Ever done the brass monkey rally across Central Otago?
I just did the Central Otago Rail Trail, the Oturehua pub does an amazing Stewart Island salt-run salmon.
Feeling for the drought-stricken animals and farmers down there.
Never. We had the Cold Kiwi up north. Never did that either, although I came close to exposure on a wet night riding through from Turangi to Waiouru. One of the guys who’d started the Mongrel Mob took us back to his place where he had a roaring fire. That convinced me that bike clothing should be waterproof.
I think that might have been the shortest summer ever. Definitely autumnal now.
Don’t know how useful this is but could be:
Book – Empathy by Roman Krznaric
http://www.romankrznaric.com/
My new book Empathy: A Handbook for Revolution (US title Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It) is published by Penguin Random House.
Alongside the book, I’ve launched two projects – an online Empathy Library and the world’s first Empathy Museum. Please visit them!.
About the book
98% of people have the ability to empathise and step into the shoes of others. But few of us use our full empathic potential.
Roman Krznaric’s new book shows how we can boost our empathy and use it to improve our relationships, enhance our creativity, rethink our priorities in life, and tackle social problems from everyday prejudice to violent conflicts. Empathy, Krznaric argues, has the power to transform relationships, from the personal to the political, and create fundamental social change.
Through encounters with actors, activists, groundbreaking designers, undercover journalists, nurses, bankers and neuroscientists, Krznaric defines a new breed of adventurer. He sets out the six life-enhancing habits of highly empathic people, whose skills enable them to connect with others in extraordinary ways.
Drawing on over 10 years of research, you will discover how babies can teach empathy, what happens at a ‘human library’, how our empathic brains work and encounter the world’s first Empathy Museum. Krznaric also tackles the big questions: Can we empathise too much? How is empathy different from sympathy or compassion? And can empathy be used to manipulate people?
Krznaric argues our brains are wired for social connection: empathy is at the heart of who we are. It’s an essential, transforming quality we must develop for the 21st Century.
Great songs about the lives of ordinary people, sung without being over-worthy or pious:
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/seth-lakemans-workers-lives-review-of-tales-from-the-barrelhouse-and-word-of-mouth/
Phil
Listening to Elvis masters.
[audio src="http://johnlightning.com/public/Elvis%20Presley%20%20Elvis%20Is%20Back%20%20%28The%20Alternate%20Album%29/09%20Are%20You%20Lonesome%20Tonight%20%28Workpart%20Take%201%29.mp3" /]
[audio src="http://johnlightning.com/public/Elvis%20Presley%20%20Elvis%20Is%20Back%20%20%28The%20Alternate%20Album%29/17%20Are%20You%20Lonesome%20Tonight%20%28Master%20Spliced%20Take%205%20&%20Wp%20Take%202%29.mp3" /]
This deserves a repost for being very funny (thanks rhinocrates).
“These are the indisputable facts about Mother Nature’s cruellest predator, the Hedgehog.”
🙂 so good and the other ones too
“clams are stupid, i’m sorry, I said it, but they are dumb as hell” 🙂
– True Facts About The Octopus
yeah the octopus one was cool!
here’s an octopus stealing someone’s video camera (from 2010)
This bike looks so cool. I want one.
Be so cool if these took off here in NZ
An excellent option, but how to get Auckland moms to give up their 5 ton urban assault vehicles?
Take away their cheap oil?
Bugger the Cool (which they are) it’s the ease of use, good size, parking brake, And what looks like an Electric motor. Would prob cost about 2k if it ever got here.
Very cool, and looks like lots of good design.
There’s one on TM, new for $2,250.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=842461037
Ohhhh Ahhhh.
Now imagine replacing the front wheels with these.
http://www.loopwheels.com/
that’s cool. Have you tried them?
Am thinking now about how much r and d we could be doing with bikes instead of cars.
No, God knows I want to. My condition is aggravated by vibration, but, as I get much pain relief from riding – this would be a win, win.
Wouldn’t more r & d be great. We have the good grade of coal in NZ to make these and other carbon fibre goodies.
An interesting weekend read, Jonathan Eig’s new book on the birth of the pill and four key figures associated with it.
See review of the book here: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/02/07/in-review-the-birth-of-the-pill/
Phil
Sorry mate, but that looks like link pestering to me. This is weekend social, how about you tell us what you think about it?
Just found a cd whilst cleaning up – Kate Nash
love this song, so funny. And no it’s not the one they put in an add.
This Sunday the Labour Party Stall at the Lions Market Cambridge. Come and chat with the branch members who fly the flag in the most Tory Blue Town in Aotearoa . Perhaps buy a raffle ticket !