Weekend social 26/10/2012
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2:00 pm, October 26th, 2012 - 11 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?
11 comments on “Weekend social 26/10/2012 ”
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- Opening statement for Whāriki Indigenous Small Business RoundtableKei ngā tōpito e wha o te āo e rere ana te mihi maioha ki a koutou nō tawhiti, nō tata mai e tāpiri ana ki tēnei taumata kōrero mo te ao hokohoko arā mā ngā pākihi mo ngā iwi taketake Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa – Pai Mārire. ...6 days ago
- New members appointed to KāpuiaThe Government is adding four additional members to Kāpuia, the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. “I’m looking forward to having Pamela MacNeill, Huia Bramley, Melani Anae and Katherine Dedo join Kāpuia and contribute to this group’s ...6 days ago
- Timeline confirmed for Emissions Reductions PlanCabinet has agreed to begin consulting on the Emissions Reduction Plan in early October and require that the final plan be released by the end of May next year in line with the 2022 Budget, the Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw confirmed today. “Cabinet’s decision allows organisations and communities ...6 days ago
- Pay parity pathway for early learning teachers confirmedPay parity conditions and higher funding rates for education and care services will come into force on 1 January, 2022, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government signalled this work in Budget 2021. “From 1 January, 2022, centres opting into the scheme will receive government funding and be ...6 days ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Conference 2021Kia Ora tatau katoa. Ka tuku mihi ki nga nēhi, He pou Hauora o Aotearoa, E ora ai tatou. Whakatau mai I runga i te kaupapa o te ra Te NZNO conference. Tena koutou tena koutou Tena tatou katoa Good morning, and thank you inviting me ...6 days ago
- Government investment in farmer-led catchment groups sweeps past 150 mark171 catchment groups have now been invested in by the Government 31 catchment groups in the Lower North Island are receiving new support More than 5,000 farmers are focussed on restoring freshwater within a generation through involvement in catchment groups Government investment in on-the-ground efforts by farmers to improve land ...7 days ago
- Fight to protect kauri on trackThe Government is pitching in to help vital work to protect nationally significant kauri forests in Auckland, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. “Ensuring the survival of these iconic trees for future generations means doing everything we can to prevent the potential spread of kauri dieback disease,” Kiri Allan said. ...7 days ago
- Joint statement of Mr Bernard Monk; Hon Andrew Little, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry,...[Note: The Parties have agreed on terms to fully and finally settle the proceeding and will jointly issue the below statement.] At the heart of this litigation are the lives of the 29 men tragically lost at the Pike River mine on 19 November 2010 and to whom we pay ...1 week ago
- More financial support for businessesToday’s decision to keep Auckland in a higher COVID Alert Level triggers a third round of the Wage Subsidy Scheme which will open for applications at 9am this Friday. “The revenue test period for this payment will be the 14th to the 27th of September. A reminder that this is ...1 week ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand provides further humanitarian support for AfghanistanAotearoa New Zealand is providing a further $3 million in humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “There is significant humanitarian need in Afghanistan, with the crisis disproportionately affecting women and girls,” said Nanaia Mahuta. The UN has estimated that 80% of the quarter of a million ...1 week ago
- Innovative te reo prediction tool announced in Te Wiki o Te Reo MāoriA new Māori language prediction tool will play a key role in tracking our te reo Māori revitalisation efforts, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. He Ara Poutama mō te reo Māori (He Ara Poutama) can forecast the number of conversational and fluent speakers of te reo Māori ...1 week ago
- Further Government support for people to access food and essential itemsThe Government is responding to need for support in Auckland and has committed a further $10 million to help people access ongoing food and other essential items, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced today. This latest tranche is targeted at the Auckland region, helping providers and organisations to distribute ...1 week ago
- Half a million Pfizer vaccines from DenmarkThe Government has secured an extra half a million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from Denmark that will start arriving in New Zealand within days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “This is the second and larger agreement the Government has entered into to purchase additional vaccines to meet the ...1 week ago
- Inland Revenue providing essential COVID support for businessesInland Revenue is seeing increased demand for Resurgence Support Payments and other assistance schemes that it administers, but is processing applications quickly, Revenue Minister David Parker said today. David Parker said the Resurgence Support Payment, the Small Business Cashflow (loan) Scheme and the Wage Subsidy are available at the same ...1 week ago
- New Zealand marks 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacksNew Zealand is expressing unity with all victims, families and loved ones affected by the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks, and all terrorist attacks around the world since, including in New Zealand. “Saturday marks twenty years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people ...2 weeks ago
- Speech to SPREP Environment MinistersTalofa Honourable Ulu of Tokelau Faipule Kelihiano Kalolo Tēnā koutou katoa and warm Pacific greetings from Aotearoa to your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. The new science released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on 8 August paints an alarming picture of the projected impacts of climate change on the ...2 weeks ago
- Additional Resurgence Support Payments to support businessBusinesses affected by higher Alert Levels will be able to apply for further Resurgence Support Payments (RSP). “The Government’s RSP was initially intended as a one-off payment to help businesses with their fixed costs, such as rent. Ministers have agreed to provide additional payments to recognise the effects of an ...2 weeks ago
- More Dawn Raids scholarships announcedDetails of the ‘Manaaki New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarships’, a goodwill gesture that follows the Government’s apology for the Dawn Raids of the 1970s, were released today by Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio. “These scholarships that are targeted to the Pacific will support the kaupapa of the Dawn Raids’ ...2 weeks ago
- One-way quarantine-free travel for RSE workers starting in OctoberOne-way quarantine-free travel for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu starts in October New requirement for RSE workers to have received their first vaccination pre-departure, undertake Day 0 and Day 5 tests, and complete a self-isolation period of seven days, pending a negative Day 5 ...2 weeks ago
- Govt boosts Pacific suicide prevention supportApplications have opened for the Pacific Suicide Prevention Community Fund as the Government acts to boost support amid the COVID delta outbreak. “We know strong and connected families and communities are the most important protective factor against suicide and this $900,000 fund will help to support this work,” Health Minister ...2 weeks ago
- Govt parks the expiry of licenses, WoFs and regosAs a result of the Delta outbreak, driver licences, Warrants of Fitness (WoFs), Certificates of Fitness (CoFs), vehicle licences (‘regos’) and licence endorsements that expired on or after 21 July 2021 will be valid until 30 November 2021, Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced today. “While this extension won’t officially ...2 weeks ago
- COVID-19 community fund to provide support for vulnerable women and girlsMinister for Women Jan Tinetti today announced a $2 million community fund that will provide support for women and girls adversely affected by COVID-19. “We know that women, particularly those who are already vulnerable, are disproportionally affected by the kind of economic disruption caused by COVID-19,” Jan Tinetti said. ...2 weeks ago
- Next phase of support for Fiji’s COVID-19 response announcedA further NZ$12 million of support for Fiji’s COVID-19 response has been announced by Foreign Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta today. The package builds on previous tranches of assistance Aotearoa New Zealand has provided to Fiji, totalling over NZ$50 million. “Fiji remains in a very challenging position in their response to ...2 weeks ago
- Robotic asparagus harvester aimed at addressing industry challengesThe Government is backing a $5 million project to develop a commercial-scale autonomous robotic asparagus harvester, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures) is contributing $2.6 million to the project. Project partner Robotics Plus Limited (RPL) will build on a prototype asparagus ...2 weeks ago
- Additional Pfizer vaccines to arrive tomorrowMore than a quarter of a million additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine are on their way from Spain to New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The additional doses will arrive in Auckland on Friday morning to help meet the current surge in demand for vaccination. “It’s been ...2 weeks ago
- Young people to have their voices heard in Youth Parliament 2022The dates and details for Youth Parliament 2022 have been announced today by Minister for Youth Priyanca Radhakrishnan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Youth Parliament is an opportunity for 141 young people from across Aotearoa New Zealand to experience the political process and learn how government works. ...2 weeks ago
- Boosting support for tertiary students affected by COVID-19Students facing a hard time as a result of COVID-19 restrictions will continue to be supported,” Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government is putting a further $20 million into the Hardship Fund for Learners, which will help around 15,000 students to stay connected to their studies and learning. ...2 weeks ago
- COVID-19: Immediate relief available for Māori and iwi organisationsThe Government has reprioritised up to $5 million to provide immediate relief to vulnerable whānau Māori and communities during the current COVID-19 outbreak Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. The COVID-19 2021 Whānau Recovery Fund will support community-driven, local responses to gaps in access and provision of critical ...2 weeks ago
- Digital tech is the future, but a new report shows Australia risks being left in the past
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shazia Sadiq, Professor, The University of Queensland Headway/Unsplash.com, CC BY-SA Digital technologies are now at the heart of our everyday lives, as anyone who has swapped their office for a videoconferencing screen, or downloaded a contact-tracing app, knows only too ...36 mins ago - Which federal MP is spending the most on Facebook advertising? (Hint: it is not Craig Kelly)Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Scanlon, Senior Lecturer in Communication, Deakin University Mick Tsikas/AAP Which federal MP spends the most on Facebook advertising? If you guessed Prime Minister Scott Morrison or Labor leader Anthony Albanese — or even headline-grabbing backbenchers Craig Kelly or Andrew ...36 mins ago
- Therapy for babies showing early signs of autism reduces the chance of clinical diagnosis at age 3Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Whitehouse, Bennett Chair of Autism, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock A therapy for infants showing early signs of autism reduces the chance of the child meeting diagnostic criteria for autism at three years of age. ...36 mins ago
- New Zealand has ramped up vaccination rates, but too many people remain concerned about vaccine safe...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Croucher, Professor and Head of School of Communication, Journalism, and Marketing, Massey University Fiona Goodall/Getty Images After five weeks in the strictest lockdown, Auckland will move to level 3 restrictions from midnight on Tuesday, for at least two weeks. ...36 mins ago
- Climate change is testing the resilience of native plants to fire, from ash forests to gymea liliesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael Helene Nolan, Postdoctoral research fellow, Western Sydney University One year following the 2019/20 fires, this forest has been slow to recover. Rachael Nolan, CC BY-NC-ND Green shoots emerging from black tree trunks is an iconic image in the days following bushfires, ...36 mins ago
- Scientists still don’t know how far melting in Antarctica will go – or the sea level rise it wil...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chen Zhao, Research associate, University of Tasmania The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest mass of ice in the world, holding around 60% of the world’s fresh water. If it all melted, global average sea levels would rise by 58 metres. But ...36 mins ago
- Decoding the music masterpieces: Stravinsky’s The FirebirdSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Davie, Lecturer in Piano, School of Music, Australian National University Kent G Becker/flickr, CC BY-SA On June 25 1910, Igor Stravinsky’s ballet The Firebird opened to acclaim at the Paris Opéra. The success propelled its composer, then aged 28, ...37 mins ago
- A hectic day in the life of a wastewater tester
With an increased demand for wastewater testing in order to monitor the spread of Covid-19, ESR scientists are feeling the pressure. Chris Schulz meets one in the middle of a hectic day at work.The chilly bins begin piling up early. They range in size – from small polystyrene packs to ...54 mins ago - Live updates, September 21: Bloomfield denies ‘spinning’ for the government as elimination strat...Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 21, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Say hello at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz.8.00am: Bloomfield denies ‘spinning’ for the government as elimination strategy questionedA tense face-off between Mike Hosking and Ashley Bloomfield on Newstalk ZB this morning saw the director general of health push back at an assertion ...57 mins ago
- ‘A calculated risk’ as restrictions easedAuckland’s move to level three has left some experts worried that delta could spring back to life as hundreds of thousands of people are called back to work, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.We’ve never been here before. One of the most infectious variants of Covid-19 is still appearing unexpectedly in ...2 hours ago
- Timeline: How Covid-19 left Auckland with a man on bail
Why could a recently released prisoner cross the Auckland boundary and how was he infected? Political reporter Katie Scotcher traces his steps. ...2 hours ago - Anti-terror law back before Parliament today, but faces oppositionLegislation introducing a new offence for planning a terrorist attack comes back to Parliament today, after being expedited as a result of the LynnMall attack. ...2 hours ago
- How Australia is laughing all the way to the bank
Commitments to more investment in research like this year's infectious diseases funding are critical to sustainably recovering from this month's very sharp economic contraction. ...2 hours ago - Illusions Of History: How Misunderstanding The Past Jeopardises Our Future
The 2.8 percent jump in GDP in the June quarter 2021 does not mean that the government’s economic strategy is sound. In fact, it is dangerous wishful thinking based on a false reading of history, according to a new research report from The New Zealand ...3 hours ago - Call To Address Pay Equity For Community Social Workers Gathers Urgency On Social Workers’ DayOrganisations representing community social services and social workers have joined forces to launch a collective call for pay equity and fair funding this Social Workers’ Day, September 22. Employers, union representatives and social worker advocates say ...3 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 21 September3 hours ago
- Newsroom daily crossword, Tuesday 21 September3 hours ago
- Auckland is heading into alert level three. How do the rules change?As of 11.59pm tonight, Tuesday September 21, greater Auckland moves from level four to level three. What are the rules?The Spinoff is committed to clear, timely and independent coverage of the Covid crisis – help us keep that work free for all to read by joining Spinoff Members now.Which parts ...4 hours ago
- Why improving air quality is key to preventing Covid outbreaks in schoolsNew Zealand classrooms are often crowded, damp, mouldy and poorly ventilated – prime conditions for Covid to spread. And with new strains affecting children more than ever, making our schools safer should be an urgent priority, writes public health researcher Julie Bennett. Children in most parts of the country have returned ...4 hours ago
- Level 3 'till Christmas': Government's great gamble
The Government will entrust contact tracers with the mission of stamping out the Delta outbreak, but the consequences of failure are disastrous, Marc Daalder reports Analysis: Less than an hour after Jacinda Ardern announced Auckland would move to Level 3 from Tuesday night, epidemiologists and disease modellers formed a party ...4 hours ago - Montague faces hurdles before MMA world title bid
Travelling the globe on her own, unsure of when she'll return home, Kiwi MMA fighter Michelle Montague won't be deterred on her way to a world title bid in Kazakhstan Michelle Montague isn't letting a series of obstacles derail her plans to become a mixed martial arts world champion for a second time. ...4 hours ago - How 'traffic light' system for reopening borders will work
The Government will take 10 factors into account when determining how risky each country is once the borders reopen. ...4 hours ago - Oliver Hartwich: A torpedo to European security
France is furious, Europe is weakened and the concept of alliances is in doubt after the big move by the United States and Britain to use Australia in their cold war with China ...4 hours ago - Neil Gaiman recommends
A round-up of good things for Māori writing and Māori writers First the good news: there is no bad news in this story about recent developments in Māori writing. This story is purely and only about things happening to Māori writers and Māori writing which are pretty damned good. THE ...4 hours ago - Wellbeing budgets not a PR exercise
A recent critique of the Government’s wellbeing budgets misses the larger context that they are part of a growing international movement. It also fails to acknowledge the complexity of the issues being addressed, argues Justin Connolly. Dennis Wesselbaum recently called for better public policy to support greater wellbeing in New ...4 hours ago - Human connection trumps internet connection, for young and old
There's a new Covid-created opportunity to narrow the digital divide – and business and government leaders know they need to work with grassroots community workers to grasp that opportunity | Partnership content Aunty Hei lives by herself near Māngere, where the people and experiences of South Auckland slosh together in ...4 hours ago - A 'next level' plan for Covid in 2022
When it comes to New Zealand’s Covid-19 response, we should be able to think big and consider far-fetched and expensive options in order to avoid more lockdowns, argue Professor Philip Hill, Tony McFall and Professor Kurt Krause If there is one thing that's clear to everyone in New Zealand as we move forward into ...4 hours ago - Keeping a secret, secret
Our name suppression laws seem easy to circumvent - and applying to have your name kept out of the media often seems to fuel a quest to publish. What are the rules really aimed at? When a rich and connected Auckland couple broke Covid rules to holiday in Wanaka, the ...4 hours ago - Courier delays expected as Auckland businesses open up to fulfil backlog orders
NZ Post asks for patience as Auckland drops alert levels to allow deliveries of non-essential items. ...4 hours ago - Three lockdown lessons for the environment
A study on the habits of Victoria University of Wellington students and staff during lockdown revealed three notable lifestyle changes. Andrew Wilks looks at how locking down improves sustainability. Comment: Pandemic lockdowns are tough—anxiety levels are raised, social contact is limited, and work life is turned upside down. For most of ...4 hours ago - Modern slavery: Time for NZ legislation
Several proposed Members' Bills have failed in the NZ Parliament and this country has fallen behind other nations in forcing businesses to prevent forced labour being used in their products. Modern slavery: we may look on the very idea with horror, but most New Zealanders regularly buy goods produced overseas ...4 hours ago - Who gives a tweet about MIQ misery
The government’s choice of a randomised electronic queue for the distribution of 3,000 MIQ rooms yesterday had one surprising benefit. It showed just how many New Zealanders were desperate enough to stand in e-line – more than 26,000 according to Stuff. It also reminds us that while ministers and ...11 hours ago - New Zealand government takes a calculated risk to relax Auckland’s lockdown while new cases contin...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Plank, Professor in Applied Mathematics, University of Canterbury Fiona Goodall/Getty Images The decision to move Auckland to alert level 3 from midnight on Tuesday is a calculated risk by the government. New daily cases in Auckland have stayed stubbornly ...14 hours ago
- COVID will likely shift from pandemic to endemic — but what does that mean?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University Most people are wondering when and how the COVID pandemic will end and there are still no easy answers. The word “endemic” is regularly mentioned, especially among public health leaders and ...14 hours ago
- Why you shouldn’t make a habit of doing a ‘just in case’ wee — and don’t tell your kids to...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer King, Honorary Clinical Lecturer, University of Sydney Shutterstock We’ve all done done a quick “just in case” wee before heading out or because we’re passing the bathroom. If you’re a parent, you might have also told the kids to ...15 hours ago
- Why is southeast Asia so concerned about AUKUS and Australia’s plans for nuclear submarines?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania The announcement of a new strategic alliance between Australia, the US and UK (AUKUS) has caught many by surprise. Besides France, which reacted with fury over Australia’s scrapping of a major submarine deal ...16 hours ago
- Relief for Auckland – more rules for Mangatangi
Aucklanders can breathe a sigh of relief stepping down to Alert Level 3, but for a small community in Waikato it's back to Alert Level 4, for now Cabinet has decided to move Auckland out of lockdown at 11.59pm on Tuesday after it received advice that there is "no significant ...16 hours ago - Coalition gains a point in Newspoll, but Morrison slides back into net negative ratingsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne AAP/Joel Carrett This week’s Newspoll, conducted September 15-18 from a sample a little over 1,500, gave Labor a 53-47 lead, a one-point gain for the Coalition since ...18 hours ago
- Australia’s COVID plan was designed before we knew how Delta would hit us. We need more flexibilit...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Lukas Coch/AAP The great economist John Maynard Keynes, when accused of inconsistency on some policy, is credited with saying: “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you ...18 hours ago
- ‘No other people popular like Franco Cozzo in Melbourne’: a new film explores his colorful, hard...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Nichols, Senior Lecturer – Urban Planning, The University of Melbourne Sharmill Films Review: Palazzo di Cozzo, directed by Madeleine Martiniello Every Melburnian over 40, and many under, knows (or thinks they know) who Franco Cozzo is. He rose to ...19 hours ago
- Whiteness in the time of COVID: Australia’s health services still leaving vulnerable communities b...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Menzel, Assistant Professor – First Nations Health, Bond University Due to the ongoing effects of colonisation, First Nations peoples often experience socio-economic disadvantage and health inequality. The pandemic has no doubt worsened these conditions for some. In addition, the health ...19 hours ago
- The way out of Alert Level Four Covid confinement (it seems) is to get arrested and be freed on rema...
The Beehive website has been focused on Covid-related news in recent days – each of the last four press statements from ministers is related to Covid-19 issues and, for good measure, we can include a statement which arrived in our email in-tray yesterday from Peeni Henare which has not yet ...20 hours ago - End funding to the Kahukura programThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for the Government to end funding to the Kahukura meth rehab program after a devastating analysis of the program from Judge Russell Collins. Executive Director the Union Jordan Williams says, “The ...20 hours ago
- Closing the digital divide requires ‘constant attention’, say education expertsEach day of lockdown is exacerbating the digital divide for many, but experts say the answers will be found in the communities worst affected.The divide between the digital haves and have-nots continues to be one of the major fallouts from this pandemic, according to education minister Chris Hipkins. Despite more ...20 hours ago
- The desperate crowd in the MIQ lobby
With the unveiling of the MIQ virtual lobby booking system this morning, Kiwis trying to get home are starting to wonder if they ever actually will A few weeks ago, the announcement of a virtual lobby and queue system coming to the MIQ booking system got hopes up worldwide ...20 hours ago - “Purpose-built MIQ facilities are urgently needed”The Opportunities Party (TOP) says the Government must not waste any more time and provide facilities that are fit-for purpose for the long-term management of this persistent virus. “25,000 Kiwis are trapped overseas and unable to return because ...21 hours ago
- The Spinoff Covid tracker: 15 live graphs that tell the story of delta in AotearoaEverything you need to know about how the Covid-19 pandemic is tracking in New Zealand, through regularly updated data visualisations.The Spinoff Covid tracker brings together all the relevant Covid data – cases, tests, vaccination and mobility – in one place.The aim of this page is to show the numbers in ...21 hours ago
- Australian students say they understand global issues, but few are learning another language compare...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Richardson, Research Director, Surveys and International Assessments, Australian Council for Educational Research students More Australian 15 year olds feel they are familiar with global issues such as climate change, migration, causes of poverty and equality between men and women than ...21 hours ago
- TOP says purpose-built MIQ Facilities are urgently needed“25,000 Kiwis are trapped overseas and unable to return because we have severely limited MIQ spaces. 25,000 Kiwis unable to see terminally ill loved ones, unable to celebrate milestones with friends and families, and unable to return to live in ...21 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – September 20 2021Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here. Today’s content AUKUS, foreign affairs, trade Audrey Young (Herald): Preparing ...22 hours ago
- All the locations of interest on an interactive NZ map, sorted by exposure time and date of listingView all places of interest on the maps below, and sort by both the dates of potential exposure and the days when added. Plus: a searchable table with all locations. Built by the Spinoff’s head of data, Harkanwal Singh.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid story depends on support from Members. ...22 hours ago
- Whanganui racetracks sees half a dozen greyhounds injuredAt a racing meet last Wednesday, six dogs were injured at the Whanganui greyhound racing track. Two of the dogs suffered broken legs, with a third suspected. Two of the dogs are undergoing x-rays to confirm. ...22 hours ago
- How the pandemic propelled these home cooks to social media stardomLooking to spice up their weeknights, cooped-up New Zealanders have been seeking culinary inspiration on their phones, and these three clever cooks have capitalised. Greeting her 29,000 followers with a peppy “It’s Friday!” Polly Markus, of Miss Polly’s Kitchen, gestures enthusiastically at the camera while explaining her latest creation.Describing the meal, ...22 hours ago
- Health reforms: Wider role for pharmacistsTo mark World Pharmacists Day on 25 September, the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand is calling for the Government to ensure a wider range of healthcare services are available at your local pharmacy. According to Professor Rhiannon Braund, president ...23 hours ago
- Waikato cases throw wrench into Govt's works
Analysis: Three new cases in the Waikato and the spectre of more than a week of community transmission have derailed the Government's likely decision to move Auckland to Level 3, Marc Daalder reports With the Cabinet poised to move Auckland down to Level 3 after the country's longest ever Level ...23 hours ago - The battle of Highland Park: Supermarkets stand-off despite public promise
Supermarkets in stand-off despite public promise to Commerce Commission ...23 hours ago - The battle of Highland Park: Supermarkets in stand-off despite public promiseBetween two Countdown supermarkets is an open air shopping mall that has been left desolate by the country's warring supermarket chains – and regardless of shiny promises to the Commerce Commission, nothing is changing yet Barber Marja Bol cut a lot of locals' hair over the seven years she worked ...23 hours ago
- NZ Left Out of the AUKUS Military InitiativeThe recently announced military alliance between the United States, the United Kingdom, and the government of Australia is related to strategic and vital sales of naval weapons capability and not a unique new defence strategy. ...24 hours ago
- The hunt for New Zealand’s best meal kit delivery serviceJihee Junn crunches the numbers on a recent study comparing the biggest players in the meal kit game. As a single, childless individual who doesn’t really mind filling up on five bowls of oatmeal a day, I can’t say I’ve ever been one to fully embrace the meal kit movement. But ...24 hours ago
- Undersea internet cables connect Pacific islands to the world. But geopolitical tension is tugging a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda H A Watson, Research Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University Cable coming ashore from a ship. Coral Sea Cable System If you’ve ever emailed a resort in Fiji or Vanuatu about that long-awaited holiday, it’s likely your email travelled ...1 day ago
- Why unions support vaccination — but not employer mandatesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne The American union movement has split over President Joe Biden’s proposal for companies with more than 100 employees to vaccinate their workforces against COVID-19. With increasing numbers of employers mandating COVID-19 ...1 day ago
- People dropped whisky into their noses to treat Spanish flu. Here’s what else they took that would...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philippa Martyr, Lecturer, Pharmacology, Women’s Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock We’re researching COVID-19 in a fast-paced world with new data becoming available all the time. We track which interventions work well and which ones ...1 day ago
- Yes, Australia is buying a fleet of nuclear submarines. But nuclear-powered electricity must not com...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University Shutterstock The federal government on Thursday announced a landmark defence pact with the United States and United Kingdom that involves this nation acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. The question of nuclear submarines in ...1 day ago
- Delayed graduations, no formals — the class of 2021 has had a hell of a year. They need mental hea...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caroline Hunt, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Sydney Shutterstock In August this year, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published research charting the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of young people. In the first ...1 day ago
- The fraying tempers and fracturing resolve of Victoria’s endless lockdownThe state of Victoria has now spent almost two months in lockdown, its seventh since the pandemic began. It’s little surprise that the mood has turned so dark in recent days, writes Joe Nunweek, a New Zealander based in MelbourneI got home to Aotearoa from Narrm for a few weeks’ ...1 day ago
- Level change at risk from three cases in Waikato
Three new Covid cases just outside the Auckland boundaries prompt a call for Auckland's Level 4 lockdown to be extended and to include the Waikato A testing centre is being set up at a marae in the Waikato settlement of Kaiaua today after three community cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in ...1 day ago - The path to 90% vaccinationIt’s possible we won’t be able to get there, but the country has a target and the promise of doing away with level four lockdowns in the future, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.The country’s vaccine programme now has a semi-official target of 90%. The director-general of health says we should ...1 day ago
- Live updates, September 20: Alert level decision to be announced as Covid confirmed in WaikatoWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 20, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Say hello at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz.Today’s agenda 1pm: The latest delta Covid case numbers will be revealed by the Ministry of Health in a press release. We’ll be looking for two crucial things: the number of unlinked cases and whether the ...1 day ago
- NZX posts big gain, awaits rare IPO
Business & Investing: Index changes boost the NZX, Stride announces only the third IPO of the year, plus all eyes on this week's Fonterra full year result ...1 day ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Monday 20 September1 day ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 20 September1 day ago
- Meng Foon: In times of crisis we need to look deeply in the mirror The easier it is for us to dehumanise others and see them as anonymous or two-dimensional caricatures, the easier it is for us to turn them into targets of our own unexamined frustrations, writes race relations commissioner Meng Foon.Most of us here in Aotearoa New Zealand, I think, care about ...1 day ago
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How New Zealand blew its chance to arrest climate change New Zealand’s now seen three decades of rising emissions. But 30 years ago, we were almost carbon neutral for carbon dioxide. We had a chance to turn it all around, but political mistakes, missed opportunities, and creeping climate scepticism, meant ...1 day ago
living in battered chch east with battered and abandoned houses adjacent and vermin (rats) taking over the neighbourhood and the puzzlement of our chickens not laying makes me wonder if the rats sit ready to pounce each morning on the freshly laid eggs.
can rats carry chicken eggs away? if not, how can they be encouraged to both start laying and lay in a particular same spot each day?
never seen so many rats
vto
Is this something that phoning the Chch CC would help with? They ought to be ready to help. Or ringing the Health Dept to get some responsible body to give a response.
Feed the chickens where rats cant get the food, and leave no food out. Make sure rats cant get at the girls at nigt whilst they are roosting. They will lay in a dark spot in the morning, make sure that it is out the way of rats…p.s. you will know if rats have eaten eggs, there will be plenty of evidence.
PS VTO egg laying is energy intensive hard work, give the ladies protein such as a little cat food, tell them they are lovely and eggs will appear…their crests will go much redder when they lay. Also by day a rat would be very silly to tangle with a hen.
summer league badminton – my team beat the national age group champs last night! (but they were all U15 : )
back at work from 0230 tonight testing a major oracle db upgrade.
meanwhile my family are sending me photos of themselves at Bland Bay in Northland
hopefully i’ll get there tomorrow
Weekend social is for non political chat.
Two comments moved to Open mike – r0b
study. Assessment never ends…
Eventually it does. But then there’s always something else…
This weekend I will be mostly playing Husker Du. Putting the needle to the shellac right now and this one goes out to CV, who I’ve been a bit hard on this week for no good reason. Sorry, bud. All power to the peeps at Vinyl Countdown, for having all the good stuff. Spin the black circle!
quite an enjoyable weekend . Saturday the regional 2 area of the Labour honoured my wife and me and 6 other members with delicious dinner and presented with certificates.This is on top off our Gold badge award back in 1994. A bonus was the arrival of Paul and Dorothy Jellicich . Old friends and Dorothy was a member of the Kirk government . A night my wife and I will allways remember. Sunday the LDEC a Tokoroa then back home to hear the Sunday opera on the concert station. Great weekend..
Respect and honour to you, TPP and spouse.