Weekend social 13/10/2017
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2:24 pm, October 13th, 2017 - 17 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?
17 comments on “Weekend social 13/10/2017 ”
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
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Itâs been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
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The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
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The Governmentâs planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willisâ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulationâs report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whÄnau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
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A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under Nationalâs Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Governmentâs latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willisâ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Governmentâs books to surplus. ...5 days ago
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Te PÄti MÄori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te PÄti MÄori government. This warning comes ahead of todayâs third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers⊠again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
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The Governmentâs announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning itâs a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxonâs âlocalismâ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing.   ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to âsuper chargeâ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the countryâs gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-nationalâs disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is appalled with the Governmentâs new child poverty targets that are based on a new âpersistent povertyâ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Governmentâs attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Governmentâs Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets.  ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata MÄori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata MÄori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for MÄori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Billâwhich allows landlords to end tenancies with no reasonâignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Todayâs announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the countryâs rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willisâ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
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Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Memberâs Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Governmentâs Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
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Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. âI would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. âThe appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Boardâs capacity ...5 days ago
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More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. âIn the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...5 days ago
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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Weekend – Cooking for friends (as we do a lot of weekends).
Home made beef and blue cheese sausages, and some beef short ribs.
smokey goodness.
Home made sausages! The very definition of NZ politics.
Good on you for having people around and cooking. Makes one human and so alive!
In truth – im a really social person, and passionate about cooking for people. We do it often.
I love cooking with fire – be it BBQ (charcoal or wood fired low and slow – never gas), or in the pizza oven.
Often cooking for up to 50 – 60 people.
Grew up cooking on open fires (Africa). We got to appreciate the varied flavours imparted to food by indigenous woods. (Ironwood, Acacia, Camelthorn) In NZ I still retain traditional method of a fire on the ground with grid-iron balanced on a few stones above the coals. Especially good is marinated fish (King, Hapuka) – taking care not to overcook. Pizza works well too on manuka! but requires far less heat. Removed onto a flat board, coals are spread onto the grid and lowered down to sizzle the cheese on top of the pizza at the end.
Do you find blue cheese goes quite sweet when it’s heated?
Yep – I have started using a harder (but stronger) cheese. But even when sweet – goes well with the beef.
Working on a nice chicken and chilli recipe.
The harder blue sounds like the way to go, the softer ones can be a bit rough taste wise once they’re heated.
Yumo
Replacing the compression tank thingy in the water pump, at least it won’t be as messy to put it on as it was to remove. And thanks to information via a drain laying genius friend from up north, I now know about the basics of water pumps with compression tanks, so I can’t get shafted at the shop, yays đ
On my tank water pump was an air tank which was kept up to pressure with a bike pump. It pumped out variable pressure which was a pain especially in the shower, so I put an electronic one on instead. Reliable. Constant water pressure.Maintenance free.
Ian, thanks for that tip, the old tank is 18 years old, and the bladder had burst inside, yes it is an air tank like you describe. I will have to check out if they have any electronic ones and what the price difference is, never knew you could get an electronic one.
It’s a beautiful day here in Motueka, looking forward to having running water again by the end of the day đ
The old impeller pump was easily adapted to the electronic one about 14 years ago. I took the pump in and had the new electronic fitted to be sure of the right connections.
And yes a brilliant cloudless day in Blenheim as well.
Ahhhh running water one of the beautiful priviledges of modern living. Went with the standard compression chamber tank this time, most affordable for us at present.
Feeling a bit pleased with myself, no labour costs required, and the nice fella at the plumbing supply store didn’t treat me like a brainless bimbo, even gave me a free roll of threader tape.
And it’s another stunning day. Fantastic weather for the last day of the school holidays.
Enjoy your day Ian
Three episodes into ”The Man in the High Castle” Its based on a Philip K Dick story involving a scenario whereby Germany and Japan win WW2. Excellent viewing and free on the below website. I haven’t watched TV for years, can’t bear the ads, so it’s good to catch up.
http://xmovies8.fm/watch/bxqzn4GJ-the-man-in-the-high-castle-season-1.html
Also watched ”Taxi Driver” which I hadn’t seen since it first came out. Still a great movie after all this time!
If you’re a reader then Philip Roth’s ‘The Plot Against America’ is a brilliant alternative history where Lindbergh (the aviation hero and Nazi sympathiser) has beaten Roosevelt at the 1940 election. It’s a novel but in an autobiographic style as it follows the Roth family in New Jersey as America slides into anti-semitism. Next to American Pastoral it’s probably my favourite Roth novel.
I’m going Yowie hunting in a year or two,… Blue mountains , Aussie.
Australian Yowie Research – Home
http://www.yowiehunters.com.au/
I’ll let you all know how I get on.
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