Archive
Good luck to Phillipstown School!
It was almost exactly a month ago that the Ministry of Education – at the behest of this shabby, poor-excuse-for-a-government, announced the closure and “merger” of several schools in Christchurch;
.
Acknowledgement: TV3 – Tears, shock as Chch school mergers announced
.
Phillipstown School was one of three schools chosen to “merge” with others – in effect another closure.
However, tonight (30 June), Phillipstown School will be following in the footsteps of Salisbury School (see previous blogpost: Why Salisbury School was right to be wary of this government) in refusing to take this threat to their existence lying down. In a press release today, Phillipstown School made it’s position crystal clear,
The Board of Phillipstown School will be filing judicial review proceedings in the Christchurch High Court on Monday. The School is seeking a declaration that the Minister of Education’s decision to close Phillipstown school and merge it with Woolston school from the beginning of 2014 is illegal and in breach of the Education Act 1989.
Acknowledgement: Scoop Media – Phillipstown School launches Judicial Review
As Board of Trustees Chairperson, Wayne West, said on Scoop Media,
“The Minister’s decision appears to be based on mistakes of fact. The statutory consultation required with the School and with the parents of students was also illegal because the officials refused to give us the information needed to respond to claims about the costs of remediating the earthquake damage at the school, and other property related issues. The Minister cited both of these as key reasons for her decision.”
Acknowledgement: IBID
As this blogger has pointed out previously, it seems to be the height of callousness and indifference to the stress and suffering of Christchurch people over the past two years. With two major earthquakes and thousands of aftershocks; damaged infra-structure; disrupted services; closed or struggling businesses; and the heart of the city all but destroyed – National Ministers seem content to add human-imposed misery upon Cantabrians.
This is the worst possible time to be “rationalising” any public service in that city.
I believe that National will suffer badly in the next election if they persevere with their appallingly-concocted plans.
This blogger supports schools in Christchurch; the staff; the parents, and children, to help preserve their already stressed communities. They deserve support and assistance – not further under-mining of public services.
I hope their request for a Judicial Review is successful.
And I hope that National MPs in the Canterbury electorates receive the full opprobrium of voters, at the next election, for their shameful conduct. Perhaps it is time for Cantabrians to send a “seismic political shock” to this government?
Good luck, Phillipstown School!
.
*
.
Previous related blogposts
Four schools to close in Aranui, Christchurch
.
.
= fs =
Citizen A: With Martyn Bradbury, Julie Fairey and Keith Locke
– Citizen A –
–
– 27 June 2013 –
–
– Julie Fairey & Keith Locke –
–
This week on Citizen A host Martyn Bradbury, Julie Fairey & Keith Locke debate the following issues:
Issue 1: Poll Dive for David Shearer. Does this latest Herald Digi-Poll scare Labour’s caucus into reconsidering Shearer as leader?
Issue 2: Would a NZ First backed GCSB bill be the worst outcome for New Zealand?
Issue 3: And what did Auckland mayor Len Brown give away to get the support of this National-led Government?
Citizen A screens on Face TV, 7.30pm Thursday nights on Sky 89
.
*
.
Acknowledgement (republished with kind permission)
.
.
= fs =
The wealthy pontificating to the poor…
.
.
And with that comment in mind, our household watched, and cringed, and boiled with anger, as we watched The Vote on TV3 last Wednesday (19 June).
First of all was the question that TV3 deemed we should consider and reply to;
“Our kids: The problem’s not poverty, it’s parenting. Do you agree? Yes. No.”
What a loaded question!
Why not, “Our kids: The problem’s not poverty, it’s low incomes?”
Or, “Our kids: The problem’s not poverty, it’s successive governments enacting neo-liberal policies?”
Or – and I personally love this one – “Our kids: The problem’s not poverty, it’s the middle classes who have grown comfortable with their lot and have given up on the notion of an egalitarian society?”
The problem with the alternative questions is that they involve complex ideas; recent history; and looking at choices that Middle Class voters have made since 1989. In short, those questions involve thinking.
As the question stood on the night; “The problem’s not poverty, it’s parenting” – there was no real thinking involved. It was all about how people felt on trigger words such as social welfare; solo-mums; parental responsibility; etc.
Once those trigger words began to percolate through the minds of aspirationist middle class and angry working-class viewers, the results were wholly predictable; 63% voted ‘Yes’. (And the 36% who voted ‘No’ correlates roughly with the percentage of voters who supported Labour and the Greens at the 2011 general election – 38.54%).
.
Source: The Vote
.
If we were ever truly a caring, sharing, egalitarian society, it’s hard to see how.
The very nature of the question invited an emotive, rather than an considered, intelligent, response. It practically demanded plain old repetitive bigotry rather than insight, and the three panellists, Christine Rankin, Bob McCoskie, and Hannah Tamaki – all social conservatives – were more then happy to oblige.
Platitudes; cliches, mis-information, and smug instructions on how to feed a family on $20 a week… all came from the well-fed; well-clothed; expensively groomed; healthy; and high-income earning likes of Tamaki, McCoskrie, and Rankin.
It fed perfectly into every stereotype that New Zealanders have seen and heard since Once Were Warriors blew in our faces on our big screens in 1994.
And right on cue, the prejudiced; the mis-informed; and the plain spiteful came out and vented their bile on The Vote’s Facebook page. I was going to provide a few examples – but why bother? We’ve seen that kind of bigotted response already.
So how accurate was the voting response? There were claims that people could send in multiple votes from the same ‘platform’ (cellphone number, IP number, Twitter account). If so, the result would be rendered meaningless. One could imagine 3,000 Destiny Church members texting repeated ‘Yes’ votes with unholy speed.
Ten text messages, on average, from each member would equate to 30,000 “votes”. And with texting fees kindly waived by telcos, people could text to their hearts’ content. Free of charge. Ad nauseum.
(By contrast, our household studiously played the game fairly; we each voted once only, by text.)
However an unattributed statement from TV3’s ‘The Vote‘, on Bryan Bruce’s Facebook page, Inside Child Poverty, stated categorically that “you can only vote once on each platform“.
.
Acknowledgement: Inside Child Poverty New Zealand
.
If that is true (and it is by no means a given), then that raises equally disturbing questions about the nature of our society.
If the 63% “Yes” voters are reflective of New Zealanders then that says something about our much vaunted reputation of being a fair-minded, compassionate, egalitarian society.
Perhaps it was never so. Perhaps only a third of us can lay claim to being fair minded and tolerant – whilst the remainder two thirds simply make use of the generosity of their more liberal fellow-Kiwis?
I would like to think that is not true. I would like to think that is not true.I desperately want to believe it is not true.
Instead, perhaps the real emotion at play by those Two Thirds is not hatred of the poor – but fear of becoming like them. Add to that mix an unwillingness by many to even accept that poverty exists – hence endlessly repetitive cliches such as “Real poverty only exists in Africa” or “They spend all their money on Sky, pokies, booze, and cigarettes”.
It’s all a defense mechanism, of course. By denying a problem, you don’t have to do anything about it. Nor feel guilty at not doing anything about it.
My belief is that the poor are being blamed not simply because they are poor – but because they have not succeeded under neo-liberalism. They are poor despite the promises neo-liberal “Bright New Future” . The architects and builders of this Neo-liberal Nirvana don’t like being shown that their new paradigm is severely flawed not working as it should.
That is why there is so much anger being directed at the poor. They are the proof that the School of Chicago theory of economics – that the Market shall provide – is a fraud.
Neo-liberalism’s acolytes, the politically powerful; the wealthy; the aspirationist Middle Classes; the technocrats – all stand accused of failure by the poorest; most powerless; most vulnerable people in our society. The mere presence of the poor and dispossed points an accusatory finger at the neo-liberal establishment and those in society who support it.
And doesn’t that just piss them off?
So come 2014 (if not earlier) let’s piss Neo-liberal’s Acolytes off a little further. It’s time for a center-left wing government to take office. Because after my shame, anger, and frustration wore of, I was filled with even more determination to play my part in changing our society.
We need to re-set our nation’s moral, social, and economic compass.
And watching The Vote was just the determination I (and our household) needed. So thank you Ms Tamaki, Ms Rankin, and Mr McCoskrie – I feel more motivated than ever to make New Zealand a decent society again.
We will not surrender.
.
“We need to give the homeless and other disenfranchised a voice. Homelessness is not a choice, a decision, a lack of effort.
When I first came to New Zealand there were hardly any homeless people but now there are heaps, so where have we gone wrong?” – Simon Buckingham, Auckland Lawyer and one-time homeless person
.
*
.
Meanwhile, in another Universe far, far away…
.
Acknowledgement: The Guardian – £13tn hoard hidden from taxman by global elite
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 24 June 2013.
.
Other Blogs
The Daily Blog: 126 Meals for $20 – show us how?
.
.
= fs =
Green Party action on deep-sea drilling
.
.
The Green Party is considering further action on the problematic issue of deep-sea drilling of our coasts. Environmental spokesperson on Mining and Toxics, Gareth Hughes writes,
The Government is currently taking bids from oil companies to explore 189,000 square kilometres of our coastal waters.
The Government should know that Kiwis don’t want their beaches threatened by the risks of oil drilling, so we’ve set up a competing bid, the Kiwibid to allow Kiwis to voice their opposition to these plans.
If you’re ready to take action on deep sea oil drilling, join me for a live online Q and A session about what’s happening and how you can help. Join the Q and A session to discuss ways to encourage New Zealanders to sign up to the Kiwibid, and find out other ways we can work together to stop oil drilling.
When: Next Wednesday, 26 June at 8:00pm
Where: At your computer, live and online
Watch the livestream online: HereIf you have questions about deep sea oil drilling and how you can help, I would love to hear them.
Email me your questions (kiwibid@greens.org.nz) then tune in to see the answers.
Thanks, and I hope you can join me next Wednesday.
Gareth Hughes
Deep sea drilling is an issue – and potential crisis – that I believe has not yet filtered into the public consciousness (too much bloody X Factor, Seven Sharp, and cooking porn on TV). Should a worst case scenario come to pass, our coastline could end up facing a crisis surpassing that of the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010.
Consider for a moment that it took the most technologically advanced nation on this planet; with almost unlimited resources and wealth; nearly three months to cap the oil gush.
This was my suggestion to the Green Party on this problematic issue,
Like many New Zealanders, I’ve taken the stranding of the m.v. Rena on 11 October 2011, and the subsequent oil spill, as a clear warning that New Zealand is incapable of containing such a disaster. Regardless of the mealy-mouthed reassurances by National ministers (none of whom have soiled their own hands to help clean the East Coast beaches of Rena’s oil), it’s fairly evident that if we couldn’t cope with the Rena – then a Deepwater Horizon type disaster would be utterly beyond our resources.
An oil spill of Deepwater Horizon proportions – which took the Americans EIGHTYSEVEN days to contain – would be an immense enviromental disaster of our coast.
So how to prevent National from implementing it’s policy of permitting deep sea drilling/prospecting?
1. Put all oil companies on notice that any contracts will be cancelled by an incoming Labour-Green-Mana government and that there will be no compensation.
This gives them fair warning of potential change of government policy.
After all, if National can change legislation such as labour laws, which previous governments have implemented, then a progressive government has the same sovereign right.
2. Set up a Crown-owned entity which will have all off-shore leases transferred into their ownership. This crown company should be independent; funded through the Remuneration Authority (so that political interference can’t choke of funding for company directors); and a contract made between Government and this Crown company to hold all leases in perpetuity. The Board of Directors should comprise of Iwi, environmental groups, local bodies, and representatives of other groups. If National can attempt to commit future governments to a contract with Skycity to build a new conference centre, then a center-left government should be able to do likewise.
If Option 2 is unworkable, then option 3,
3. Demand a US$1 billion bond per oil drilling facility; demand that each company commit to long-term corporate-entity representation in New Zealand (so legal papers can be served locally, if necessary); demand that all disputes be covered under NZ jurisdiction; demand that fully staffed, state-of-the-art oil containment technology be held in each distinct area where deep sea drilling is being undertaken. And any other safety, legal, financial matters not covered here.
4. Hold accountable every Minister of the Crown who signs a deep-water oil drilling consent. Accountability to include being charged with negligence, malfeasance, and contributing to any resulting oil spill. Prison terms to be considered.
Option 4 is particularly relevant. Considering that the Pike River Mine disaster was a direct consequence of National’s “reforms” to the Mines Inspectorate in the early 1990s; and considering that none of the Ministers responsible were ever help accountable (Kate Wilkinson’s token resignation being only a sacrificial goat); and considering that 29 men lost their lives as a result of National’s policies, it is evident that government ministers need to be held to account for their actions .
I especially have a fondness for Option 4: Hold accountable every Minister of the Crown who signs a deep-water oil drilling consent… Prison terms to be considered.
It is high time that government ministers who enact legislation that eventuate in dire consequences, should be help to account.
If government Ministers were held personally responsible it might slow down the process of so-called “reforms” and reduce Bills passed under “Urgency”.
After all, National demands the same responsibility from the rest of us.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 23 June 2013.
.
.
= fs =
Radio NZ: Focus on Politics for 28 June 2013
.
– Focus on Politics –
.
– Friday 28 June 2013 –
.
– Brent Edwards –
.
Starting today, as with Citizen A, this blog will be posting regular links to Radio NZ’s Politics on Nine to Noon and Focus on on Politics. This will give visitors to this blog access to three excellent political programmes on one website. Click on the “Broadcast” category at the top navigation bar for past programmes.
.
.
Click to Listen: Focus on Politics for 28 June 2013 ( 17′ 31″ )
A weekly analysis of significant political issues. A week after submissions closed on the Government’s new spy legislation there are doubts about whether it has enough support to get it through Parliament.
John Key;
“… and by the way, very senior Labour members within that caucus understand completely the importance of national security and of keeping New Zealanders safe. And the very question they might have to ask themselves if one day there was the equivalent of the Boston Bombings in New Zealand would they be the very same Members that would stand up and say they prevented New Zealanders being kept safer than they otherwise could be. No they wouldn’t, they’d run for the hills.”
.
.
= fs =
Big promises by mayoral candidate, John Morrison?
On 23 May, right-wing Wellington City Councillor, John Morrison announced his candidacy for the Wellington Mayorlty,
.
Acknowledgement: Dominion Post – Morrison throws hat in ring for mayor
.
The election campaign has begun in earnest, with Morrison taking swipes at incumbent mayor, Celia Wade-Brown. Morrison is supported by right-leaning, corporate media such Fairfax/Dominion Post.
The Dominion Post has never been particularly supportive of Mayor Wade-Brown, choosing instead to under-mine her position at ever available oppportunity (see previous related blogposts: Sean Plunkett’s parking tickets, Curioser and curioser? More Dom Post BS?).
Every time the Dominion Post refers to “Wellington’s lack of leadership” is a coded attack on Mayor Wade-Brown. Keep an eye on the Dominion Post is you read it. Every so often an editorial, column, or other piece will use that meme; “Wellington’s lack of leadership“.
It is subtle and pernicious character assassination.
Cr Morrison is now engaged in his own campaign to fulfill his mayoralty aspirations.
This is an example of his current advertising;
.
Acknowledgement: Dominion Post 19 June 2013 (scanned hardcopy)
.
I was intrigued at one of the statements in his advertisement, and emailed Cr Morrison for clarification,
.
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 11.00AM
From: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Mayoral Candidacy Questions
To: John Morrison <john.morrison@wcc.govt.nz>Kia John,Regarding your advertisement, ‘John Morrison for Mayor’ in the Dominion Post on 19 June, you referred to ticking “2000 jobs and $800 million on offer”.Can you clarify what you mean by “2000 jobs and $800 million on offer”?
Specifically, what is “2000 jobs” referring to?
And what does “$800 million on offer” mean?
I look forward to any light you can shed on this matter. In fairness, please note that I may use any details you provide as part of a blogpost I am compiling.
Regards,
Frank Macskasy
Blogger
Strangely, Cr Morrison’s election advert kinda reminds me of other promises that right wing politicians make (and never quite fulfill),
.
Acknowledgement: TVNZ – Budget 2011: Govt predicts 170,000 new jobs
.
…
.
= fs =
The gentrification of Te Papa
Post.
.
Te Papa – Our Place?
What does $17.50 buy at a supermarket? Or $10.50?
For a low-income family who are struggling to pay rent ($300 – $400 p/w); power ($30 – $50 p/w); medicine ($5 per prescription); insurance; school fees; car rego and fuel; debts; etc, $17.50 or $10.50 can mean the difference between food in the pantry or fridge – or running out of bread, milk, potatoes, eggs, cheese, before the next pay-day or State social security payment.
If you’re earning $1,100 a week (gross), $17.50 or $10.50, you have discretionary income for to buy tickets to a Te Papa exhibition.
If you’re on minimum wage ($13.75/hr) and earning $550 a week (gross), buying tickets to a Te Papa exhibition is the last thing on your mind.
Since 1984, the concept of User Pays has been firmly embedded in our society. It was part of neo-liberal “reforms” where, in exchange for six tax cuts since 1986, individuals were expected to pay for services that, previously, had been free (collectively paid for by everyone).
The most well-known example of this is tertiary education. Once upon a time, it was free. Post 1992, student fees were introduced, along with student loans, and a measure of User Pays resulted. (See previous blogpost: Greed is good?)
The rationale for the implementing a new User Pays regime was that higher education was a “private good”. However, as more and more highly trained/skilled professionals leave New Zealand, that notion of “private good” seems to be questioned more and more.
If the loss of thousands of professionals and tradespeople migrating to Australia weakens our economy, this becomes a socio-economic loss for us. For Australia, it becomes a socio-economic good. This part of the equation seems to have escaped the attent of “free” market neo-liberals.
We lose out when we assign an arbitrary monetary value to something that benefits society as a whole – as well as it’s individuals – and some or many are excluded, solely on the basis of inability to pay.
Because in the final analysis, that is what User Pays is; if you can’t pay, you can’t use it.
This was highlighted (again) to our household recently when we considered attending an exhibition that Te Papa is currently holding,
.
Source: Te Papa – Warhol Immortal
.
The description of the Exhibition was intriguing and it seemed to offer an interesting way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.
Then we saw the price of admission,
.
Source: IBID
.
$17.50 admission price!?
No thanks.
One of us in our household, with a strong interest in art, will still visit the exhibition. For the rest of us, for whom it would only have been a mildly entertaining/interesting event, we would rather spend that money elsewhere.
However, the thought occurred to me; how many low-income families, or individuals, would not have the same choice whether to attend or not, as we did?
How many people would see $17.50 as the difference between food for the mind or food for their bellies? For a low income family of four, the Family “Concession” of $46.50 could buy food for a several days, or make a payment on their power bill to stave off disconnection for a while longer.
I put this to Te Papa in a recent email,
.
From: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
To: bridgetm@tepapa.govt.nz
Date: 9/06/2013 at 12:51 p.m.
Subject: Exhibitions.
I am aware that it has long been Te Papa policy to charge for various exhibitions.For example, you current exhibition on Andy Warhol has the following charges for entry;
Adult – $17.50
Child (5–15 years) – $10.50
Child (under 5 years) – Free
Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) – $46.50 Concession – $15.50 Friend of Te Papa (adult) – $11.50 * Friend of Te Papa (child) – $6 *10+ adults (per person) – $11.50
School group (self-guided, per person) – $8 Audio guide – $5I would submit to you that the amounts listed above are beyond the ability of many low income families to pay, and therefore this policy excludes a sizeable sector of the community.
Whilst I understand that many of these exhibitions incur a cost, that your current charging regime means that many miss out.
I would remind you that Te Papa is a public facility which has been paid for by tax/ratepayers.
I would like to suggest that Te Papa reconsider their admission fees policy, with a view to making it more inclusive for those on low/fixed incomes.
My suggestion is that Te Papa make the last two days of an exhibition,
1. Free entry for Community Services Card holders
or,
2. Entry upon a coin donation for Community Services Card holders
and,
3. Free entry for all schoolchildren from low-decile schools.
The current system, I submit is totally unfair and maintains a two-tier class structure where some are deemed second class citizens simply by their inability to pay an entrance fee.
This is especially unfair on children of low income families who miss out on cultural and history aspects of our nation.
Enjoying our culture and history should not be predicated on ability to pay.
– Frank Macskasy
.
To their credit, Te Papa responded promptly,
.
From: ridget MacDonald <BridgetM@tepapa.govt.nz>
To: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 4:15 PM.
Kia ora Frank
Thank you for your email comments and concerns regarding Te Papa’s exhibition pricing. I will pass your comments on to relevant staff for consideration for upcoming exhibitions.
We are very conscious of the need to make our exhibitions as accessible to a wide range of people.
You may not be aware that for every charge-for exhibition we also have the Wellington Free Day in partnership with the Wellington City Council. This means that upon proof of local residence, for example a library card, rates invoice or utility bill with a local address, all Wellingtonians can attend the exhibition free of charge on that day. This has been very popular for past exhibitions and we have been delighted to have a large number of families attend.
The Wellington Free Day is held on a Thursday, open late till 9pm, and advertised by us and also the Wellington City Council online and in The Dominion Post. The date for the Wellington Free Day has not yet been announced for Warhol: Immortal.
Our free events programme complements our exhibition programme and offers our visitors opportunities for insight into related subject matter through films, performances, floortalks, workshops, children’s Discovery Centre activities and much more. We have also included a selection of works from the exhibition on our new website http://www.arts.tepapa.govt.nz/on-the-wall/warhol-immortal. This site and activities such as our blogs support our programmes and offer behind the scenes information and glimpses into collections and exhibitions.
Thank you for your interest in our exhibitions at Te Papa.
Ngā mihi
Bridget
Bridget M [full surname redacted]
Senior Corporate Affairs Adviser
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa | 55 Cable Street, PO Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand
[other contact details redacted]
.
I wrote back to Bridget,
.
Kia Ora, Bridget,Thank you for your prompt reply.
The Wellington Free Day is a good start. As Te Papa is New Zealand’s National museum, it would be even better if all low income families could somehow benefit from a special day or on-going discount upon presentation of a Community Services card.
This would encourage out-of-towners to participate, as well as Wellingtonians.
The Wellington Free Day is a step in the right direction.
.
As I pointed out, Te Papa is New Zealand’s national museum. As such, the benefits of exhibitions should be made accessible to as many people as possible.
Whilst the “Wellington Free Day” is a good start – for which I applaud Te Papa – one has to ask; why Wellington only? Shouldn’t we have a “National Free Day”* where as many New Zealanders as possible can have the opportunity to visit their own museum?
As I pointed out in my 9 June email, the last two days of an exhibition could be easily made free-entry for all Community Card-holders (and their immediate family).
Otherwise, Te Papa’s admission policy will continue to be discriminatory, excluding those New Zealanders for whom User Pays is a barrier to enjoying part of our culture that the rest of us take for granted. In effect, this creates a two-tiered society, with those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder missing out. (Though some might argue – with justification – that free access based on presentation of a Community Services card, also constitutes a form of discrimination. The Lesser of Two Evils Factor might apply here.)
Not only is this a dangerous thing, to discriminate and alienate a group of people from society; but it is also morally wrong. This is another indication that our society is fracturing, splitting along a socio-economic rift.
The fact that this is happening, and New Zealanders think this is ok, is a sad reflection of the times we live in.
This is the neo-liberal paradigm. We are living it now.
Te Papa – Not everyone’s place?
Addendum
A link to this blogpost will be emailed to Te Papa.
This blogger wishes to thank Bridget for her timely and candid responses to my emails.
* Postscript
I don’t mean a day free of the National-led government. Though that is a tempting thought. Post 2014 will be a National-free government.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 15 June 2013.
.
.
= fs =
Beware of unstable government!
.
.
In case anyone has missed it, Dear Leader and his Ministers have been consistantly spreading the message, warning us about the potential perils of a Labour-Green-Mana(-NZ First?) coalition government.
.
“ Only National can provide a strong stable Government that keeps debt down and delivers on jobs. The alternative is big spending, big borrowing, and huge uncertainty. Any way you look at it – a Labour-led Government would owe our future.” – Steven Joyce, 22 November 2011
.
“If anyone thinks Labour and the Greens are going to deliver stable government, they’d better think again.” – John Key, 19 July 2012
.
“ The sharemarket value of Contact Energy, Trust Power and Infratil shares alone fell by more than NZ$300 million yesterday afternoon. That value was taken out of the pockets of hard-working KiwiSavers, the New Zealand Super Fund and small shareholders across New Zealand. If Labour and the Greens could do that in just a few hours, imagine what they would do if they ever got near being in government.” – Steven Joyce, 19 April 2013
.
“There is not going to be a difference between centre left and centre right; it’s going to be a Labour government dominated by the Greens.
This would be the issue of 2014 and voters needed to be aware of the differences.
All of those differences between Labour and the Greens will need to be reconciled by Election Day.
If there is to be no Transmission Gully if a Labour/Green’s Government gets in then we need to understand that; they won’t be able to fudge that.” – John Key, May, 2013
.
“ Normally, elections are fought between the centre left and the centre right. That is not what’s going to take place next year. David Shearer has cut his cloth and it is wrapped around Russel Norman … that now becomes an election between the centre right and the far left.” – John Key, 28 May 2013
.
Well, we’ve seen “unstability” since November 2011.
One of National’s coalition Ministers was investigated by the Police for electoral fraud, and is now before the courts facing a private prosecution, charged with filing a false electoral return.
Another coalition Minister has just resigned his portfolios after allegations that he leaked document(s) to a journalist.
And National’s other coalition partner, the Maori Party, seems unsure how many co-leaders it has;
.
.
I think from now on, Key and his ministerial cronies may lie low a bit and keep comments of “unstable government” to themselves.
Instability? We’re seeing it now, in spades.
This blogger is picking an early general election – this year.
After that, this country can settle down to a coalition government of stability. One that doesn’t include Key, Banks, Dunne, et al.
About bloody time.
.
.
*
.
References
National.co.nz: Labour plus Greens equals billions more debt (22 November 2011 )
Dominion Post: Key’s game is ripping into Greens (19 July 2012)
Interest.co.nz: National’s Steven Joyce dismisses Labour-Greens power policy as ‘bumper sticker politics at its most destructive’ (19 April 2013)
FW: Key fires warning shot over ‘green-dominated’ labour (May, 2013)
ODT: And so it begins (28 May 2013)
.
.
= fs =
When false advertising is hyperbole, so it’s ok
.
Acknowledgement: Fairfax Media – Pepperoni-less pizza not false advertising
.
Well, so the Advertising Standards Authority has deemed that false advertsing is ok when it’s showing products or services ‘‘in a hyperbolic manner”?!?!
It’s unclear how this “practice is likely to be understood by most viewers” when we don’t know what’s in a product like a pizza until we see it. By then, it’s generally too late.
This decision does not serve the consumer very well. In fact, the ASA may have set a nasty precedent for businesses not to live up to their advertising.
Because it seems to me that if the complainant in the pizza case bought a product with 24 pieces of pepperoni on it and was sold a pizza with only eight pieces, then the up-shot is;
- The customer has received only 33% of what was offered in the advert,
- The company has made a profit by keeping 66% of the pepperoni,
- The company has profited by deception.
This isn’t “hyperbole”, this is fraudulent business practice. And it beggars belief that the ASA believes this is acceptable?!
As one wag pointed out on the Fairfax Comments,
“The advertising standards authority does not work as advertised.” – Scathsealgaire
Ah, ya gotta love capitalism. A new way to rip of people every day.
.
.
= fs =
Sparks fly with yet more shocking right wing nuttery…
.
.
It’s a funny old world we live in…
On the one hand, the likes of Karl du Fresne denounce Radio NZ as a left-wing organisation; journalists are branded “leftist”; and media pundits feel the need to defend journos from being labelled as “left wing partisans” – whilst at the same time openly partisan, right-wing columnists like John Armstrong and Fran O’sullivan are (mostly) unchallenged as they spread their pro-National messages.
Armstrong’s recent column was nothing more or less than an unpaid Party political broadcast (for National, in case there was any doubt),
.
Acknowledgment: NZ Herald -Get-tough Greens preparing for battle
.
Out of 31 paragraphs, Armstrong dripped political diarrhoea from nearly every one. Even the Greens’ democratic process took a hammering,
“So much for democracy. Not that too many at the conference seemed to mind. By all accounts, the motion to streamline the party’s antiquated remit system easily obtained the required 75 per cent backing to effect a change to the party’s standing orders.”
Pardon moi?! WTF?!
The Greens “easily obtained the required 75 per cent backing to effect a change to the party’s standing orders” – and Armstrong still derides the process with a curt “So much for democracy”? He thinks that a 75% acceptance of a remit isn’t democractic?!
I think if the Nats had won 75% of the vote in 2011, Armstrong would be spinning a completely different story. He would’ve wet his incontinence-knickers at such a result.
It’s fairly self-evident that Armstrong’s pro-National leanings have clouded his judgement to such a degree that he no longer recognises when his diatribes are bizarre, biased – and quite frankly – bullshit. He isn’t the Herald’s “chief political commentator” – he’s National’s media-liaison/spin doctor.
It’s a wonder that his salary isn’t paid directly by National Party Head Office.
Armstrong also commented,
“National Party-aligned bloggers were not the only people asking in the wake of that attack who was being Muldoonist now.”
Well, actually, Mr Armstrong, not many people were asking that. Only you and your pals, the National Party-aligned bloggers.
Perhaps Mr Armstrong and the National Party-aligned bloggers should be a little less thin-skinned. If John Key can throw muck at Russell Norman and the Greens, I’m sure that our smile-and-wave Dear Leader John Key can take a few jibes thrown back at him. Or is the Prime Minister so weakened by constant criticism from the media, public, and Left that he desperately needs shielding from those Big Bad Bolshie Greens?!
Oh, the poor wee flower.
This next bit by Armstrong illustrates the desperation of the Right wing and their venal, lapdog journos,
“Norman appeared to offer further evidence of that later in the week when he rounded on the chairman of the Electricity Authority, Brent Layton.”
“Rounded”?!
Good lord, did Russell actually bite that poor man, Brent Layton?! Russell by name, Russell by breed?!
Whatever did Layton do to deserve such a “rounding”?!
Oh yeah. This,
.
Acknowledgment: NBR -Power authority head attacks Greens-Labour electricity plan
.
Aside from the curious situation of a State sector CEO making political comments which are outside his purview, it seems clear that far from being the innocent injured party in an unprovoked political attack – Russell Norman was responding to an under-handed, well-planned, partisan assault on the Greens and Labour from Mr Layton himself.
As Norman said – and with considerable truth, I might add,
“Dr Layton’s extraordinary foray into political debate is nothing more than a National Party-appointed civil servant who has failed to do his job and is now trying to protect his patch.”
Perhaps if Layton can’t stand the political heat, he should stick to his role as a civil servant running a government department. Being a well paid civil servant for the Electricity Authority, he should be over-seeing lower power prices for all New Zealanders – but instead has done the bidding of powercos and stood by as electricity prices continue their inexorable climb.
After the 2014 election, this may not be a problem for Mr Layton. He will no doubt be “persuaded” to seek employment elsewhere.
So basically, what we have with Armstrong’s “column” is National Party propaganda spin with a bit of Green-bashing thrown in . Simon Lusk, Cameron Slater, and David Farrar couldn’t have organised it better. (Or, maybe they did?)
The only question that remains to be answered: why is the NZ Herald paying John Armstrong’s salary?
.
.
= fs =
The Bad Oil
.
.
The stats;
Event: Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion & oil spill
Date: 20 April 2010
Human death toll: 11
Animal death toll: unknown
Est. Oil Spilled: 4.9 million barrels of oil
Depth of water: 1,500 metres
Depth of well: 10,680 metres
Time to cap oil spill: 87 days
An international petroleum drilling expert, Stuart Boggan, has advised an oil and gas conference in New Plymouth that capping an oil blow-out, similar to the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, would take two weeks;
.
Acknowledgment – Radio NZ – Gear to cap oil rig has to be shipped from
.
Two weeks.
Assuming that a similar disaster occurs here, of the east coast of New Zealand, at the Raukumara Basin – which is deeper than the Gulf of Mexico – how much oil could be released in those two weeks?
A simple bit of math: 4.9 million barrels divided by 87 days equals: 56,322 (approx) barrels per day.
At 56,322 barrels per day, that would see 788,500 barrels over two weeks.
One barrel of oil is equivalent to 158.9 litres (approx).
788,500 barrels equates to 125,292,650 litres. One hundred and twenty five million litres.
By comparison, the oil spill from the grounding of the M.V. Rena on 5 October 2011 released 1,800 litres (1,700 tonnes) of heavy fuel oil and a further 213 litres (200 tonnes) of marine diesel into the sea (see: Rena ‘worst maritime environmental disaster’);
.
Acknowledgment – The Guardian – New Zealand oil spill – in pictures
.
The oil spill affected a coastline from Mt Maunganui to Maketu – and further beyond;
.
Acknowledgment – BBC – Salvage crew returns to New Zealand oil spill ship
.
It took hundreds of volunteers several weeks and months to clean up a mess caused by “only” 2,013 litres of oil and diesel.
Now imagine the horror of 125 million litres gushing from a deep-sea well at the Raukumara Basin that could be five to six times deeper than the position of the Deepwater Horizon rig.
Remember the the depth of water at the rig was around 1,200 to 1,500 metres.
The Raukumara Basin in some areas extend to over 6,000 metres (6 kilometres) in depth;
.
Source: Ministry of Economic Development – Raukumara Basin Fact File [699 kB PDF]
.
When, on 24 October 2012, Prime Minister John Key was challenged in Parliament over the safety of deep sea drilling, this was the exchange,
Questions for oral answer
5. Oil and Gas Exploration—Deep-sea Oil-drilling and Environmental Risk
5. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement, “We’re not environmental bandits. If we don’t believe drilling can take place in a way that is environmentally sustainable and wouldn’t put at undue risk the environment, we wouldn’t go with it.”; if so, why?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) : I stand by my full statement, which included that we want to balance our economic opportunities with our environmental responsibilities; because it is true.
Dr Russel Norman: How is deep-sea drilling not putting the environment at undue risk, when just this month Dayne Maxwell of Maritime New Zealand said about the Government’s oil response equipment: “Most of the response equipment that we have is designed for near-shore sheltered conditions, and really there isn’t available internationally any equipment specifically designed to operate in the rough kind of conditions offshore that we have in New Zealand.”?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well, that is one person’s view. I think it is also worth remembering that if somebody gets a permit to go and undertake these activities in the exclusive economic zone, not only would this Government be filling a gap that was previously left open but also there would no doubt be conditions on that. Finally, as I said yesterday, there have been 50,000 wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico. Is the member arguing that all of those wells were a high risk and should have been closed up?
Dr Russel Norman: How is deep-sea drilling not putting the environment at undue risk, when the head of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association said in April 2011: “You know, there is no absolute guarantee that disasters won’t happen, and if you had a major catastrophe, it would be just as bad as you have in North America.”—aka Deepwater Horizon?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Firstly, I mean, the member asked me yesterday about the head of Anadarko. One of the things he did say to me in the meeting was that there were a lot of learnings that had come out of that situation, and that they can be applied so that those things do not happen again. Secondly, if the member is reflecting on a comment by an individual that basically says there are no guarantees in life, well, actually, that is true, but, on the same basis, the member will never get on a plane again, never get in a car again, never get on a train again, never do a lot of things he does, because the risk is that something very bad can happen.
Dr Russel Norman: How is deep-sea drilling not putting the environment at undue risk when a leak at 2.5 kilometres under water cannot be fixed by divers, and companies are forced to rely on robots and relief rigs, and this is diametrically different from operating in shallow water, like the case in Taranaki, where the deepest production well is only 125 metres deep?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: All of those issues in mitigation of any risk would have to be considered as part of an application to drill in the exclusive economic zone.
Dr Russel Norman: How is deep-sea drilling not putting the environment at undue risk, given that the Gulf of Mexico disaster was stopped only when a second rig drilled a relief well, and this Government will not require a relief rig to be on site during deep-sea drilling operations in New Zealand?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member is jumping to conclusions. He does not know what conditions will be set. But, in the end, I mean, this is really the fundamental problem, is it not, with the Green Party. What Green members are arguing is that everything contains some risk, so they do not want to do anything, except that they want to give lots and lots of money away, which is why they come up with the only solution that that person could come up with—print it!
Dr Russel Norman: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That was not a question about the Prime Minister’s former job as a currency speculator. It was about deep-sea oil production. [Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order! I think we will consider it a draw at that point.
Dr Russel Norman: Given that the Prime Minister is putting enormous weight on this new piece of flimsy legislation, the exclusive economic zone Act, how does he think that this particular piece of legislation will plug an oil leak at 2.5 kilometres under water? Does he plan to shove the legislation in the hole? Does he think that might work?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think it is unlikely a couple of bits of paper will work. But let us cut to the chase here. We are a Government that is actually filling a gap that has been missing from our environmental protection. That member has been in the House for how long? And how many members’ bills has he put in about this issue? Oh, that is right—none. What he is focused on is printing money. That is his focus of attention.
Dr Russel Norman: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was not about the Prime Minister’s currency speculation—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! On this occasion I invite the member to reflect on the question he asked. It kind of invited the sort of response he got.
Dr Russel Norman: Why has this Government taken a major anti-environmental turn since the 2011 election; is it because of the rising influence of Steven Joyce and others—environmental bandits within the National Party—who now dominate Cabinet and the Prime Minister?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Shock, horror! It is Steven Joyce’s fault. No. It is because this is a Government that wants, in an environmentally sensible and considered way, also to grow the economic opportunities for New Zealanders. That member wants to go down to the West Coast and say it is really bad that people are losing their jobs, potentially, at Spring Creek, while at exactly the same time he is stopping them getting a job down the road. I call that hypocrisy.
I have re-printed nearly all the text of that exchange to show the reader that,
- National has no answer to critical safety issues surrounding deep-sea drilling,
- National is willing to engage in risky commercial behaviour for short term gain,
- John Key has a cavalier, foolish attitude when it comes to serious issues like this.
In the Radio NZ article above, Stuart Boggan said that deep water drilling is not that complicated and Anadarko has been doing it successfully for 15 years in 15 countries.
Early last year, a US Federal Judge made a determination that flatly contradicted Mr Boggan’s optimism;
.
Acknowledgement: Wall Street Journal – Judge Rules BP, Anadarko Liable in Gulf Spill
Which makes this comment by Energy and Resources Minister, Simon Bridges a dangerous farce,
”These obligations include comprehensive environmental assessments, extensive safety case requirements and also detailed oil spill contingency planning.”
Acknowledgement – NZ unprepared for deep water oil spill – Greens
What kind of “comprehensive environmental assessments, extensive safety case requirements and also detailed oil spill contingency planning” can possibly exist when an industry insider admits that no such safety “assessments”, “requirements”, or “contingency planning” is available should a Gulf of Mexico-style blow-out occur?
John Key, Simon Bridges, and other National ministers are either badly informed or outright lying.
This government is engaged in risky, reckless policies that – if a disaster occurs – could have repercussions that would dwarf the Rena oil spill.
In fact, Energy Minister Bridges’ only response to this potential crisis has been to criminalise any sea-going protest against deep sea drilling.
.
Acknowledgement – TV3 – Crackdown on drilling protesters
.
It’s like a bad, bad dream… Except it’s all real.
Truly, the lunatics are in charge of the asylum.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 7 June 2013.
.
*
References
NY Times: Gulf Spill Is the Largest of Its Kind, Scientists Say (2 Aug 2010)
Fairfax Media: Rena ‘worst maritime environmental disaster’ (11 Oct 2011)
Wall Street Journal: Judge Rules BP, Anadarko Liable in Gulf Spill (22 Feb 2012)
Fairfax Media: NZ unprepared for deep water oil spill – Greens (4 March 2013)
TV3: Crackdown on drilling protesters (31 March 2013)
Radio NZ: Gear to cap oil rig has to be shipped from UK (6 June 2013)
Previous related blogposts
On the smell of an oily rag (11 Oct 2011)
Petrobras withdraws – sanity prevails (5 Dec 2012)
Mining, Drilling, Arresting, Imprisoning – Simon Bridges (23 May 2013)
Other blogs
The Jackal: Eyewitness account of the Gulf of Mexico disaster
.
.
= fs =
Why Salisbury School was right to be wary of this government
.
.
Background
It was on 31 October last year that Education Minister, Hekia Parata, announced her decision to close both Salisbury School in Nelson and McKenzie Residential School in Christchurch. Both were schools specialising in support high-needs children with varying degrees of disabilities. Parata said,
“After carefully considering all the information provided to me, including the responses from the schools, and information provided at my meetings with the Boards of the schools, I have decided to close the two schools.
At the very heart of this difficult decision lies the opportunity to provide services and support for more children with complex needs in their local community. We can link local services with the remaining residential provision to achieve a more personalised and high quality approach for children and their families.
I am satisfied that this combination of services will make sufficient provision for all children with special education needs both locally and nationally.”
Acknowledgment – Beehive – Final decision on residential special schools announced
In an attempt to alleviate shock and disbelief throughout the country, Parata offered an alternative – a so-call “Intensive Wraparound Service“,
“The Intensive Wraparound Service will be extended to support students with complex needs to remain in their community and attend their local school. The service will be based in every region with a trained facilitator, usually a psychologist…
[…]
… Funding from closing the two residential schools will be redirected into the Intensive Wraparound Service. The net result will be better support for more students and keeping communities together.”
Acknowledgment – IBID
The parents and staff of Salisbury students would have none of it. Parata’s decision to close the school and merge with co-ed Halswell Residential School in Christchurch. Female students would be relocated to mix with male students.
The implications of such a move did not escape parents and teaches. They realised that mixing highly vulnerable girls – many with considerable mental disabilities – with boys and adolecent young teenagers, was a potential for disaster. There was grave risk of sexual abuse, amongst other problems (I refuse to call them “issues”.)
Salisbury school and parents rejected the planned closure.
On 26 November last year, Salisbury school mounted a legal challenge to Parata’s decision.
By 11 December, a Court decision ruled that National’s move to close the school was unlawful. Justice Robert Dobson condemned Parata’s descision because of “the prospect of greater risk of sexual or physical abuse“.
On 22 May, this year, Parata had fully backed down and announced that her Ministry would not be appealing the Court decision. Parata gave this gobbledegook statement to the media,
‘‘The arguments that we were making at the time were valid and remain valid, but a different decision has now been made, and I am pleased for Salisbury that that is the case, and keen now to resume normal transmission.’’
Acknowledgment – Nelson Mail – U-turn stuns, delights Salisbury
Salisbury School won the battle, with Courts accepting that female students would be put at risk by attending a co-ed school.
One also had to question the reality of any so-called “Intensive Wraparound Service” that Parata had promised.
Intensive Wraparound Service
In a May 2012 Ministry of Education report (Development of a new intensive wraparound special education), the author wrote,
Two Residential Special Schools also provide an outreach service4. Salisbury’s service caters for a minimum of 30 students, while Halswell School caters to a maximum of 36 students.
Figures from 2010 show the Government invested approximately $84,200 in each student who attended a Residential Special School in the year.
This figure contrasts with an annual investment of approximately $7,700 in each student who attends a state and integrated (or non-residential) school or approximately $29,000 for each student who meets the criteria to receive support through an intensive wrap-around service.
Note the figures mentioned;
Residential School Student: $84,200 per student
State/Integrated School Student: $7,700 per student
Intensive wrap-around service Student: $29,000 per student
So by relocating special needs students from Salisbury to a mainstream school, with so-called “Intensive wrap-around” support, there was a saving to the State of $55,200 per student.
It is not beyond suspicion that the attempted closure of Salisbury School; with attendent risk to female students; was a particularly nasty attempt at cost-cutting by this bottom-line focused government.
Indeed, more than a suspicion, the report clearly stated,
It is important to note the new service:
– provides an opportunity to use existing funding in new ways, achieving better value for money and more efficient use of resources
This government appears to be content to play with peoples’ lives to save a few bucks.
Current Issues
Later in May this year, there were revelations that several Whangarei schools were unable to cope with severely disturbed – and violent – young students. Radio NZ reported,
A Whangarei school principal says a system designed to improve support for at-risk children appears to be bogged down in paperwork.
The Gateway programme began two years ago to co-ordinate the roles of Child, Youth and Family, doctors, schools and mental health services for children in care.
But Horahora primary school principal Pat Newman said from what he has seen, the gateway is blocked.
He said he has been trying since March to get an assessment for a young pupil with serious anger problems who hurts other children on a daily basis.
Mr Newman said various agencies have filed their observations about the boy and though he clearly needs specialist help, there has been no action. Now his classmates are afraid of him and have begun to exclude him.
Child, Youth and Family said it understood the boy was doing well at school, but if his Gateway assessment throws up other issues it will address them.
The head of another school, who has asked not be named to protect the identity of children, said disturbed new entrants are increasingly common, and he has had a teacher close to leaving because of their appalling behaviour.
In the worst case, he said a boy was not only violent to teachers and children, his behaviours were also sexualised.
The principal said the boy would leave the school whenever he felt like it and had to be watched and tracked constantly to keep him safe.
Acknowledgment – Radio NZ – Paper-work seen as blocking support for children
A further Radio NZ report stated,
Northland primary school principals say they are seeing growing numbers of violent new entrants and getting less support to deal with them.
Three Whangarei primary school principals have complained about a lack of support for new entrants with serious psychological problems.
Another principal in Northland says research is urgently needed on the growing numbers of violent and unmanageable children entering the school system.
Principals said they are having to beg for specialist help and teacher aides while the Government spends $60 million on a behavioural management programme for teachers.
Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association vice-president Marilyn Dunn said there has been an influx of new entrants to Northland schools raised in homes where they have seen violence, methamphetamine and alcohol abuse since they were born.
Ms Dunn said such children are often aggressive and need the help of a teacher aide for prolonged periods to keep them and others safe.
She said the Government’s new Positive Behaviour for Learning programme for teachers does not provide for this and schools need far more specialised help.
Acknowledgment – Radio NZ – Teachers having to cope with more violent new entrants
The same report added,
But the Ministry of Education on Monday defended the level of support available to schools dealing with violent or disturbed children.
The ministry said its special education teams are working with between 3000 and 4000 pupils throughout New Zealand who exhibit particularly challenging behaviour. It said the teacher aide budget in Northland is unchanged.
However principals say in practice, that amounts to a funding cut – because they are dealing with growing numbers of damaged children and there is now less funding to go around.
Acknowledgment – IBID
And as usual, Key admitted he didn’t know if there been an increase in violent cases in Whangarei.
Another report also questioned how much community support was being given to vulnerable people with psychiatric conditions,
The brother of a man killed by a mentally ill former flatmate says not enough is being done to care for mental health patients living in the community – often with tragic results.
Cambridge man Graeme Moyle’s older brother, Colin Moyle, was bludgeoned to death in his Auckland home by psychiatric patient Matthew Ahlquist in May 2007.
[…]
“I believe not enough resources are available to care for mental health patients in the community, especially at the higher end. The reason many are on the street is because there’s not enough beds for them and there’s nowhere to put them.”
[…]
“Whilst we endeavour to provide the best possible care to service users, we are mindful that despite our best intentions, in any organisation as large and complex as ours, there will be times where things don’t go to plan,” Ms Jenkin said. “In such situations we will generally formally report serious incidents and undertake a service review to understand what went wrong, and why, in order to improve the services that we provide to those that need them.”
In the 1990s, New Zealand went through a period of de-instutionalisation. Patients from mental health hospitals and other institutions were relocated back into the community. The Bolger-led National government of the day assured the public that as institutions were emptied, resourcing and funding would follow.
The opposite seemed to happen and many ex-patients ended up in living in squalor or out on the streets. One well known case in the 1990s involved a female ex-psychiatric patient who slept in public toilets; gathered cigarettes butts from gutters; and was at considerable personal risk. She seemed to have no support or safety network whatsoever.
The plaintive cries from Whangarei principals for more support suggests that funding for high needs students is severely lacking.
Promises of support for disturbed students are not materialising into actual funding.
This blogger is personally aware of one solo-mother who has a son with high-functioning autism. The young lad, 12, has recently come to the attention of emergency services (police and fire brigades) with his extreme behaviour.
He requires full-time support from a teacher aid – but is receiving only half the hours that should be allocated to him.
I know this kid. He’s a good sort. With full support he could become a stable, productive member of society.
Without support, and allowed to go “off the rails”, he will end up in prison.
Cost to tax-payer: $95,000+ per annum.
The staff, management, and parents of Salisbury school students were correct to fight this government. Their fears that Parata and other National Ministers were offering hollow reassurances of “Intensive wrap-around” services was well-founded.
If we’ve learned anything these last five years it is this; What National giveth; National taketh.
The parents of Salisbury School students were not about to put this matter to the test, nor put the well-being of their daughters into the ‘caring’ hands of Hekia Parata, Bill English, et al.
“Wraparound”?
I don’t think so.
Not this Weetbix government.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 31 May 2013.
.
*
.
References
Ministry of Education: Development of a new intensive wraparound special education (PDF) (May 2012)
Beehive: Final decision on residential special schools announced (31 Oct 2012)
Nelson Mail: Salisbury School mounts legal bid (26 Nov 2012)
TVNZ: Special needs school closure declared unlawful (11 Dec 2012)
Nelson Mail: U-turn stuns, delights Salisbury (22 May 2013)
Radio NZ: Paper-work seen as blocking support for children (27 May 2013)
Radio NZ: Principals frustrated with ‘gateway’ programme (audio – 27 May 2013)
Radio NZ: Childrens’ charities struggle to secure funding (audio – 27 May 2013)
Radio NZ: Teachers having to cope with more violent new entrants (27 May 2013)
Fairfax Media: ‘Too little resourcing’ for mentally unwell (29 May 2013)
.
.
= fs =
Can you feel it?
.
.
The Arab Spring, the Occupation Movement, Turkey, Brazil… something is happening. We are witnessing history being made. Those who Rule and those who Profit are being challenged…
The 21st Century is where it begins… (apologies to ‘Torchwood’ for nicking their slogan)
.
.
= fs =
National dragged kicking and screaming to the breakfast table
.
.
“We all instinctively know that hungry kids aren’t happy and healthy kids. I want this to be the first of many schools and businesses that we put together. I’m interested in what works and I am humbled by the support this idea has received already. We are going to put together the package while in Opposition. We are not waiting to be in Government, because all our kids deserve better.” – John Key, 4 February 2007
Mounting pressure on National has finally yielded results; Prime Minister Key today announced that funding would be provided for some food in schools.
It’s a limited programme;
- Increasing the ‘KickStart’ School breakfast programmes from two to five days a week
- $9.5 million over five years from the State
- A further $9.5 million to be sought from Fonterra and Sanitarium
- $1.5 million to Kidscan over three years to provide clothes, health and hygiene products to children from poor families
- Targetting schools with decile rating 1-4. (“Higher decile schools that want and need it, can opt in during 2014“, says Paula Bennett. see: Breakfast programme part of the solution)
It’s a basic breakfast, weetbix and milk. But it’s a damn sight better than nothing. Anything that gives hungry children a better chance at some basic nutrition and a better chance at learning, has to be welcomed.
Never mind National’s core-support naysayers. They most likely never had to endure any degree of hunger (except maybe getting home late to a dinner of salmon, courgettes, greek-style salad, with a decent pinot gris).
The only thing that worries me is that this $19 million programme relies heavily on support from private companies; Fonterra and Sanitarium. Either one of those companies could pull the plug, citing commercial reasons; shareholder dissatisfaction; or no particular reasons at all.
This happened in mid 2011, when the Countdown Supermarket chain withdrew it’s support from a Red Cross-operated programme. As the Herald report on 27 May 2011;
Child poverty campaigners want the Government to take over feeding hungry children in low-income schools after the supermarket chain Countdown torpedoed a Red Cross breakfast programme.
[…]
Countdown spokesman Luke Schepen said the supermarket chain gave more than $1 million in food and other help to the Red Cross breakfast programme from its start in 2007 until the end of last year.
Red Cross wrote to the 61 decile 1 schools in the programme this month saying it could not find another sponsor and the programme would finish at the end of this term.It advised the schools to apply to the Kickstart programme run by Fonterra and Sanitarium, which provides milk and cereal to more than 400 schools twice a week.
Acknowledgment – NZ Herald – Govt urged to take over school food programme
It’s interesting that Countdown began it’s assistance in 2007. That was the year that then-leader of the Opposition, John Key, launched National’s own Food in Schools initiative;
.
Acknowledgment – Scoop – National launches its Food in Schools programme
Two years after Key released the policy statement above, Countdown withdrew from the programme. A cynic might suggest that Countdown had fulfilled it’s bargain with National and could safely walk away.
Is that what we’ll see with Fonterra and/or Sanitarium? That, after a couple of years, when the issue of hungry kids has faded from public consciousness, Fonterra and/or Sanitarium will announce their withdrawal from the ‘KickStart’ programme?
Considering that Fonterra is a farmers co-op and the rural community have traditionally voted National; and considering that the Seventh Day Adventist church is a conservative religious group, whose members most likely also vote National – these are natural allies to the Tories.
Let’s hope that this is not a cunning trick by National to down-play this problem and create a false assurance to the public that the government is “doing something”. That really would be cynical.
Some final points…
The Polls
Of all the reassuring events recently, two polls on TV1 and TV3 reconfirmed my faith in the generosity of most New zealanders. Both showed over-whelming support for introducing food in schools;
In favour: 70%
Opposed: 26%
Undecided: 4%
In favour: 74%
Opposed: 23%
Undecided: 3%
Most surprisingly, Patrick Gower revealed that 66% of National voters were in favour of a Food In Schools programmes, with only a “hard core” of one third opposing it.
Well done those 66%. You folk still have a soul and a heart.
The Naysayers
Your naked selfishness and utter lack of empathy verges on the sociopathic. You would condemn innocent children to hunger simply because of some twisted, perverted desire to punish parents who don’t measure up to your own precious ‘standards’.
Really, go fuck yourselves.
The Public
As Hone Harawire pointed out yesterday (27 May) on TV3, it was public pressure that forced National to pay attention to this growing problem in our society, and to come up with something – anything! – as a solution.
It is inconceivable that we cannot do something for the children of the poorest families in our own country. Especially when Sweden, the UK, Canada, etc, already offer this most basic service.
Why do we call New Zealand “Godzone” if not to practice what we preach in terms of egalitarianism and helping one another.
This achievement was the result of a broad people’s movement. Whether it was Bryan Bruce and his incredible documentary, “Inside Child Poverty“- or individual citizens such as this Facebook user wrote,
“ The simplest way to address this would be to increase the minimum wage, my wife teaches in a decile 1 school many parents who are working are struggling. Living in the eastern bay of plenty average incomes here are the lowest in NZ. Parents working as pickets or packers in the kiwifruit industry earn bugger all. The myth that those struggling to feed their kids are on the dole is exacting that, many are working long hours , but if you are on the minimum hourly rate in NZ, you only need a doctors bill, or. Car repairs and your family budget is negatively impacted. The concentration of wealth in New Zealand was never better illustrated, than when recently it was revealed that, the CEO of solid energy NZ was suspended on indefinite leave on full pay at home gardening on $5,000 a week. Contrast that with people working 40 hours plus a week and end up with less that $350.00. Lift the minimum hourly rate so working parents don’t have to struggle to put food in the table…” – Alex Dobie
– Thousands of New Zealanders put unrelenting pressure on National and sent one, simple, message to John Key; do the right thing.
The Message
.
from: Frank M <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: Sunday Star Times <letters@star-times.co.nz>
date: Tue, May 28, 2013 at 12:36 PM
subject: Letters to the editor.
The Editor
SUNDAY STAR TIMES.Sir/madam,
National’s “food in schools” programme relies heavily on the private sector (Sanitarium, Fonterra, etc) to provide breakfasts in schools.
The problem with this policy is that a private business offering charity can walk away any time it decides, leaving the programme unsupported.
Prime Minister Key says,
“This is something that corporates do because they have a corporate social responsibility. So I’d imagine there are situations where they could walk away but they’re pretty unlikely to because it’s pretty good for their brand – because it’s genuinely a nice thing that they’re doing.” (28 May)
“Pretty unlikely”? Really?
That is precisely what happened in mid-2011 when the Countdown supermarket chain withdrew contributing to the Red Cross’s food in school programme.
Let’s hope we don’t see a replay of that event.
On a related note, it is appropriate for Sanitarium to be contributing to a Food in Schools programme. Being owned by the Seventh Day Adventist church, Sanitarium pays little or no taxes because it’s owner (the church) has charity status.
At least now Sanitarium can put something back into the community.
-Frank Macskasy
(address and phone number supplied)
.
The Children
Whatever reservations I might have on National’s motivation and long-term agenda, the main thing here is that more children will be fed at schools. That is a positive step, and one to be encouraged.
Until a Labour-Greens-Mana coalition can implement Hone Harawira’s Food In Schools Bill, National’s programme is better than nothing.
At least it will put nutrition into young, empty bellies. And really, that is what counts.
.
.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 28 May 2013.
.
*
Previous related blogposts
On child poverty, to the Sunday Star Times…
Budget 2013: Suffer the little children… to starve
Budget 2013: Child poverty, food in schools, and National’s response
References
Scoop: National launches its Food in Schools programme (
NZ Herald: Govt urged to take over school food programme (27 May 2011)
Beehive: Breakfast programme part of the solution (28 May 2013)
Dominion Post: Key: Food in schools here to stay (28 May 2013)
NZ Herald: Schools gets $9.5m breakfast funding boost (28 May 2013)
Radio NZ: Govt gives $9.5m to expand food in schools programme (28 May 2013)
Dominion Post: Govt rolls out expanded food in schools (28 May 2013)
.
.
= fs =
A conversation that never happened…
.
There are, unfortunately, people who actually believe this sort of thing…
.
.
Let’s put it to the test, shall we?
*ring, ring.
ring, ring.
ring, ring.
ring-*
“Hullo, welcome to Meridian Electricity. How may I help you?”
“Hi! I have a $250 power bill and I’ve run out of money. Can you flag it? I have lots of love in our household and we are very morally upstanding people.”
“That’s no problem. I’ve deleted your bill. Have a nice day.”
“Thank you. God bless.“
See? That’s how you deal with poverty.
.
.
= fs =
Pay Walls – the last gasp of a failed media business-model?
.
.
NZ, Wellington, 25 May – Journalists and other staff working for Fairfax media, were told last week of a review that the company was carrying out. Management told staff that times are tough; advertising revenue was down; and that job losses had not been ruled out. Incredulous staff were told that there would have to be a reshuffle to make things work and that their would be job losses.
Staff were given no further details.
According to Radio NZ,
Acting general manager Andrew Boyle says there are potential job cuts across the entire company, from advertising to editorial.
Acknowledgment: Radio NZ – Fairfax looks at job cuts
And according to Stop Press,
He’s unable to say how many of Fairfax NZ’s roughly 1800 staff will be affected by the restructuring, as the company is still in early consultation with its business departments. However, he does expect it to be wide reaching including editorial, sales and operational roles. Pre-press (ad placing) and a contact centre run by Fairfax are also in the scope, he adds.
Acknowledgment: Stop Press – Job cuts on the horizon for Fairfax, company looks towards paywalls
Fairfax NZ acting general manager, Andrew Boyle, was quick to make reassuring noises to his readers,
“We still intend to be the largest newsroom in the country. We know competing with quality local content is vital to our future.”
Acknowledgment: NBR – More jobs at risk as Fairfax continues to restructure
Which was reinforced with his statement to Stop Press,
“At the end of all this we will remain the largest newsroom in the country and we won’t compromise what we’ll do for our readers.”
Unfortunately, if past trends with the Dominion Post, Evening Post, and The Dominion are any indication, Mr Boyle’s optimism is not confirmed by past experience.
Since 1983, newspapers in Wellington have gone through radical changes in both style; the number of titles available – and page-count.
Whilst prices have risen, the number of pages has dropped.
To illustrate;
Monday 20 May 2013
Tittle: Dominion Post
Price: $1.70
Page count: 24
Front Page Headlines (stories):
- “Mystery as China blocks NZ meat”
- “The tragic toll of asthma”
Monday 26 May 2003
Title: Dominion Post
Price: $1.00
Page count: 44
Front Page Headlines:
- “Millions creamed from pokies”
- “Only two All Black canes expected”
- “Woman with rifle threatens shoppers”
- “Hollingworth resigns for sake of office”
- large photo-story of father/son Tae Kwon Do contestants in national competition
Monday 24 May 1993
Title: The Dominion
Price: 60 cents
Page count: 44
Front Page Headlines:
- “Cyclist killed in horrific accident”
- “Woman dies in domestic related incident”
- “Referendum may not have Senate vote”
- “Bolger rules out Aussie marriage”
- “Hutt Council may scrap its school recreation programme”
- “EnergyDirect faces another court challenge”
- + 6 mini-item single-column stories
- + photo-story on rugby league player, Robert Piva
Title: The Evening Post
Price: 60 cents
Page count: 28 (TV Week: 16 pages)
Front Page Headlines:
- “Projects blamed for Hutt debt”
- “Eve determined to keep going”
- “Waite caps off Kiwi golf clean-up”
- “Million Cambodians vote for peace”
- + 6 mini-item single-column stories
Monday 23 May 1986
Title: The Dominion
Price: 25 cents
Page count: 20
Front Page Headlines:
- “Sea and air rescue of 20,000 gears up”
- “Grampa takes a bow”
- “Rock fall injures rafters”
- “Car batters wineshop”
- “Bodies found in snow”
- “Tear gas use defended”
- “Mosely ends racing career”
- “Tour lifts cloud for Dairy Board Chief”
- “Tories get jobless vote”
- “Wholesalers seek change in margins”
- “Wages action meets tough line”
- “Douglas expects Cabinet reversal”
- + 6 mini-item single-column stories
- + 1 mini-item story
Title: The Evening Post
Price: 25 cents
Page count: 36
Front Page Headlines:
- “Freeze stretched to Feb 29 – Back-dating kills allowances”
- “Ferries sale, planes fly – Storm battering travellers”
- “600 bed down on board”
- “Her new car met train”
- “Gale shuts out containership”
- “Edward lunches with Cabinet”
- “Mud, water rupture hill road fill”
- “The longest gale”
Generally speaking, as the price of newspapers has risen, the page count has dropped, and the number of news stories on the front page has also reduced in number. Content within newspapers has most likely also reduced.
According to one source, whilst readership levels remain fairly positive, advertising revenue has also dropped by at least 40% in the last financial year alone.
Staffing levels have also been slashed. Three years ago, about a hundred sub-editors were made redundant – a process that began in 2008, but received very little media coverage (see: Fairfax says 100 further jobs to be cut in NZ ). Those who were kept on were reassigned to “hubs” that Fairfax set up to supply a centralised news service to service its various metropolitan dailies.
Only Fairfax’s on-line staffing levels – those who maintain the Stuff.co.nz website – have shown an increase in numbers, as the company diverted more resources to it’s web presence.
Financially, APN’s NZ Herald is in an even worse financial state. So much so that APN has not found any willing buyers for the ailing newspaper and remains on the market to this day.
According to Stop Press, Boyle is considering pay-walls Fairfax NZ’s online publications,
“We’re investigating quite actively what paywalls might mean. There’s a lot of modeling and research work being done but I can’t tell you a definitive time line for it or what it might look like.”
Both Fairfax and APN are actively considering the pay-wall model – but are afraid to make the first move, lest the other hold off, and readers flock to a free web-version of their competitor.
As Whakatane Beacon editor, Mark Longley pointed out,
“If one major newspaper website charged and the other one remained free, well, that would be a tough call.”
There are already three pay-to-view publications in New Zealand; the Listener, Whakatane Beacon, and the Ashburton Guardian.
On TV3 News, Ashburton Guardian editor, Coen Lammers said,
“If you want to know about Ashburton you have got to come to us, people have no choice really. If they value our journalism they’ll pay for it.”
Acknowledgment: IBID
That may work well in a town or small city, but in larger cities people have recourse to alternative sources of news. In fact, this blogger questions whether a pay-wall will turn around the fortunes of these large media chains when the problem is not with the readership – but with the content of their publications.
As the numbers above show (with one exception), the page count has dropped dramatically since 1983. It’s not possible to offer a similar service to readers even as page numbers drop – and advertising clients still have their advertisements crammed into fewer remaining pages.
Something has to give, and it has unfortunately been the quality of news presented.
To give an example; in the mid 1990s, the Evening Post alone assigned two reporters to covering Wellington City Council issues. A third reporter was assigned part time. The Dominion most likely also had their own reporters covering Council issues.
This blogger has learned that the Dominion Post – an amalgamation of the former Evening Post and The Dominion – has assigned just one reporter to cover Council business.
How is that geared toward improving coverage of City Council issues?
Another case in point; “fluff pieces” dominating the front page does not help to present a serious, credible image of a newspaper;
.
Acknowledgment; Dominion Post, 21 May 2013
.
Whilst burying serious news stories – of a nature that may will have incalculable consequences for the future of our country – somewhere in the back pages, does not scream Serious Media;
.
Acknowledgment; Dominion Post, 21 May 2013
.
Putting Fairfax’s Stuff (a god-awful name, by the way) website behind a pay-wall simply presents the same reduced news service, with a price-tag attached. This is not a clever business model. Especially when the “consumer” has free alternatives to choose from.
If Fairfax (and APN) are finding that revenue from advertising is falling, perhaps it is appropriate for management to re-visit their business strategy. Their model may be wrong when they treat print advertising separate from their online service.
Perhaps if Fairfax and APN proprietors treated both print and online media as a combined service, their clients may think more favourably about using it. Shoe retailers are masters at presenting a good deal for shoppers.
The last thirty years have shown that reducing the quality of media publications has proven disastrous in terms of building readership and a strong advertising base. Trying to ‘sting’ readers for using an on-line service harks back to the old “cost-plus” business mentality. That didn’t work out well either.
If Fairfax and APN want to grow their revenue then they need to get a lot more clever than simply putting their hands out and expecting readers to ‘cough up’. They will be mightily disappointed.
There is good reason why this blogger ceased buying newspapers ten years ago. I have a reasonably good memory that harks back to fine journalists like Lidia Zatorski who use to cover the Wellington City Council brief. If the mayor so much as sneezed – Ms Zatorski and her colleagues knew about it.
The Dominion Post is a pale shadow of it’s predecessors. My current short-term subscription of the Dompost confirms to me that nothing much has changed for the better (and said subscription will shortly be cancelled). Quite simply, the Dompost is hardly worth the paper it’s written on.
As a customer, this is how I see it.
And really, isn’t the customer always right?
Good luck on the pay-wall.
I’ll be on the other side.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 27 May 2013.
.
*
Source Acknowledgments
Various individuals
References
National Business Review: Fairfax says 100 further jobs to be cut in NZ (26 Aug 2008)
Stop Press: Sky TV profits up, APN suffers losses, and Fairfax not doing so well (22 Feb 2013)
Stop Press: Job cuts on the horizon for Fairfax, company looks towards paywalls (21 May 2013)
Radio NZ: Fairfax looks at job cuts (21 May 2013)
National Business Review: More jobs at risk as Fairfax continues to restructure (22 May 2013)
TV3 News: News sites to adopt pay wall (24 May 2013)
NZ Herald: Maori TV payout and the year of the paywall (24 May 2013)
.
.
= fs =
Joyce on manufacturing
.
In January this year, Labour, Green, NZ First, and Mana parties held an inquiry (after the Parliamentary Finance Select committee rejected a request for a similar investigation) into the loss of 40,000 jobs from the manufacturing sector in the past four years.
.
Acknowledgement: Radio NZ – Exporters tell inquiry of threat from high dollar
.
In case anyone believes National’s claim that this was a “political stunt” (see: Opposition determined to manufacture a crisis), the comments from manufacturers who participated in the Inquiry took it deadly seriously. Whilst politicians like Joyce suckle on the tax-payer’s teat, exporters and manufacturers actually have to earn a living.
They were not impressed and made their feelings known;
Mike Eggers;
“We’re told to get smarter and I find that irritating and insulting. I’m about as smart as they get in my little field. How the hell do these people get smarter? For a politician to tell somebody else to get smarter – he’s risking his life.”
A W Fraser;
“We know that – we’ve known that for a very, very long time. Of course we get efficient, of course we try and work as hard as we can to be efficient – it’s the only way we can exist. It drives me insane when people say, ‘Get efficient’. What do you think we are – idiots? We’re not.”
Acknowledgement: IBID
The Inquiry made its findings known;
Recommendation 1: The government adopt macroeconomic settings that are
supportive of manufacturing and exporting, including:
- a fairer and less volatile exchange rate through reforms to monetary
policy;
- refocusing capital investment into the productive economy, rather
than housing speculation;
- and lowering structural costs in the economy, such as electricity prices.
Recommendation 2: New Zealand businesses are encouraged to innovate.
Research and Development tax credits, with a stronger emphasis on
development, should be introduced as part of a package for innovative
manufacturing, supporting exports and quality jobs.Recommendation 3: The Government adopt a national procurement policy
that favours Kiwi-made and ensures that New Zealand manufacturers enjoy
the same advantages as their international competitors.Recommendation 4: The tax system is used to boost investment in new
technology and machinery. An accelerated depreciation regime should be
implemented for the manufacturing sector.Recommendation 5: A wide range of funding is available for manufacturers to
invest in their business and employees. Measures to encourage the availability
of venture capital and mezzanine funding should be continued, including
government funds through commercial-managers.Recommendation 6: Businesses are supported to achieve 21st Century
organisation and practices. Policies such as NZTE’s focus on Lean
Management, and the work of the High Performance Work Initiative should
be extended. Apprenticeship training support for the sector should be
reviewed immediately.Recommendation 7: Manufacturers are given a voice in FTA negotiations.
From the outset of FTA negotiations the interests of manufacturing must be
explicitly addressed. Negotiating teams must keep the sector informed.Recommendation 8: Measures to encourage foreign direct investment in
manufacturers should be consistent with the strategic direction of New
Zealand’s manufacturing and exports.Recommendation 9: Government should lower compliance costs wherever
they can be consistent with maintaining New Zealand’s values including
workers’ rights, environmental standards, and product quality assurance.Recommendation 10: Manufacturing’s ability to create jobs and boost exports
should be recognised in national, regional and industry policies.Recommendation 11: Taskforces of government local government,
businesses and unions, be established to assess and act on new business
and job opportunities in the wake of major closures or restructuring in the
manufacturing sector.
For full details of each Recommendation, read the full report.
Source: Manufacturing Inquiry Report
Joyce’s response? There was no crisis.
“Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First and Mana are determined to manufacture a crisis in manufacturing. The massive problem for them is that while individual firms face real challenges at different times, no crisis exists.”
Acknowledgement: Scoop – Opposition determined to manufacture a crisis
Dear Leader also made the same astounding assertion,
“Quite honestly there is no manufacturing crisis in New Zealand; there are challenges for some manufacturers. ”
Acknowledgement: Fairfax Media – Opposition manufacturing inquiry report released
There we have it: no crisis exists.
40,000 jobs lost since 2008 – but Key and Joyce insist, no crisis exists.
It is the measure of this shonkey, incompetant, self-serving government that National ministers can deny the existence of a crisis when companies are folding and 40,000 people have lost their jobs.
I wonder if Key and Joyce’s attitude would be different if Labour were in power and 40,000 jobs had been lost in the last four years under theitr watch? Would they still insist there was no crisis exists ?
I think we all know the answer to that question.
.
.
= fs =
Dunne on worker’s rights
.
.
Despite his political problems, and despite being on the wrong side of the asset sales debate, Ohari MP, Peter Dunne has come out firmly opposed to Jami-Lee Ross’s strike-breaking Bill (Employment Relations (Continuity of Labour) Amendment Bill).
Ross’s Bill would effectively allow employers to break strikes by employing scab labour to take over the worker’s jobs. Effectively, it would be constructive dismissal if workers dared to strike for any reason.
The Bill also allows employers to change worker’s conditions at will.
This is a nasty, repressive, anti-worker’s Bill that is much worse than the Employment Contracts Act of the 1990s. It is the ‘wet dream‘ of every far-right, anti-unionist fanatic who wants workers to be little more than de facto slave-labour.
For some, it appears that Ross’s vile Bill is a step too far.
On 18 June, the NZ Herald reported,
[Peter Dunne] said he would not be backing National MP Jami-Lee Ross’s bill allowing employers to hire contract workers when their employees go on strike.
Mr Dunne said it was a step too far and he thought the right to strike was an important part of industrial law.
“I think this is really the Ports of Auckland Bill, frankly. And while I understand the motivation behind it, I think it’s too big of a sledgehammer to deal with this specific issue.
“I think that there will be people who will misuse it, and I think that’s detrimental.”
Acknowledgement: NZ Herald – Dunne breaks silence by taking to Twitter
Dunne is 100% spot on – “this is really the Ports of Auckland”. It is an attempt by neo-liberals to destroy any remaining vestige of workers representation through their unions. It is anti-democratic. It is repressive. It is what drove the workers in Poland to rise up and form their free, independent trade union, Solidarnosc.
Is that the road that Ross and his shadowy backers are wanting to choose? The road to State suppression of workers?
If so, Mr Ross, be warned. People will only take so much before they fight back. Hard.
This blogger congratulates Mr Dunne on his sense of fairness, and hopes he will not cave to pressure from National ministers or employers.
.
.
*
.
Previous related blogpost
Surveillance laws, Strikebreaking, & Subversive groups
.
.
= fs =
Citizen A: Martyn Bradbury, Efeso Collins, & Selwyn Manning
.
– Citizen A –
–
– 20 June 2013 –
–
– Efeso Collins, & Selwyn Manning –
–
.
.
Citizen A: With Martyn Bradbury, Efeso Collins, and Selwyn Manning discuss the following issues:
Issue 1: Is the Glen Innes housing redevelopment for middle class gentrification or for state tenants?
Issue 2: Does the Gambling Bill re-write mean Auckland will remain cursed by pokies?
Issue 3: Does NZ need employment law to legalize scabs?
Citizen A screens on Face TV, 7.30pm Thursday nights on Sky 89
.
*
.
Acknowledgement (republished with kind permission)
.
.
= fs =
Media Review for 26 May: Q+A, Susan Wood, & some casual racism
.
Sunday morning TV current affairs yielded a wide range of issues discussed; Len Brown and the Auckland Unitary Plan; Hekia Parata’s political career; US-NZ relations; New Zealand Universities; the high incidence of asthma in Maori; the Living Wage campaign; the rising careers of Dayna Grant and Maisey Rika; and the recently released findings of the Independent Police Complaints Authority. Plus the obligatory ‘plug’ for TV3′s “X Factor” on TV3′s “The Nation“.
On the issue of the IPCA’s report, “Q+A” host, Susan Wood introduced the issue with this segment;
SUSAN WOOD: “And the police conduct authority delivering it’s findings on the Urewera raid. Some road blocks and searches found to be unlawful. Some on the receiving end thinking about compensation.”
[cut to:]
RUATOKI CITIZEN: “Because you know, stress and all that kind of stuff. Cleaning the house. Because it took quite a while. That tear gas is quite hard to get rid of. I had to paint the ceiling.”
SUSAN WOOD: (smiling) “Who’d have known?”
Time Stamp: 1.05 – 1.20
TVNZ – Q+A – Series 2013, Episode 12
A screen-shot captures the moment when Wood made light of the young man’s experience, with her flippant, dismissive remark,
Yes, Susan. Who’d have known that a white pakeha could so openly lack empathy with fellow New Zealanders, in our own country, that had been terrorised by a para-military exercise that our own IPCA labelled as unlawful, unjustifiable and unreasonable?
Who would have thought, Susan, that women and young children could be locked up in a garage for nine hours under guard, without food, and a supposedly reputable journo like you could make light of it?
Who’d have thought, Susan, that an entire small town could be locked down and sealed off from the rest of the country in a scene straight out of C.K. Stead’s “Smith’s Dream/Sleeping Dogs” – and it would be an object of mirth for you?
When something like this – perhaps one of the most shameful events in our recent history – is so casually dismissed by you, then perhaps you should reconsider if you’re in the right job.
Your flippancy might be suitable on the cyber-sewer that is Whalesoil or David Farrar’s marginally less odious Kiwiblog, like this insensitive clod, anonymously revelling in his racism,
Kiwiblog – Greens see racism everywhere
Is that the kind of racist moron you’re lining up with, Susan?
Sorry, but one expects better from a supposedly experienced, professional in our media. Just because they were brown folk and poor, and not like your refined middle-class neighbours in your fine, leafy suburb – a bit of empathy mightn’t go astray here.
Or has the mask slipped, revealing the true attitudes of white mainstream media in this country?
.
.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 26 May 2013.
.
.
= fs =
NZ Herald mis-represents Green Party spokesperson on synthetic ‘highs’
.
Acknowledgment: NZ herald – Legal highs linked to deaths – coroner
.
In a shocking piece of misleading journalism, the NZ Herald yesterday (14 June) mis-quoted Kevin Hague, the Green spokesperson on Health issues.
Herald journalist Kurt Bayer claimed that the Greens supported using animals for testing “party pills” (also known as synthetic ‘highs’). Bayer wrote,
“The SPCA and Greens today finally agreed that some animal testing of party pills was necessary for the sake of keeping young people safe.”
Source: Legal highs linked to deaths – coroner
This was shown to be wrong when the Greens posted their actual media release on-line on their website. The release stated,
“The Green Party welcomes the Psychoactive Substances Bill as it is reported back to the House today, and is delighted that an amendment limiting animal testing has finally been included, despite the submissions on animal testing being rejected by the chair of the Select Committee…”
Source: Bill a win for communities and animals
The Green Party statement went on to specifically state their opposition to animal testing,
“However, we will still be putting forward our amendment to rule out the use of data from animal testing being used as proof of safety.
“Our amendment is much simpler and more practical to enforce than the Minister’s amendment and doesn’t allow any animal testing.
“We have not seen any evidence that we need to allow animal testing of recreational drugs. In fact, the evidence we have seen is that all the proposed animal tests can be replaced with modern and effective non-animal tests,” said Ms Mathers.”
Source: IBID
The Green Party statement was in stark contrast to the story penned by Bayer and published online at 3:15 PM on Friday Jun 14. The offending portion stated,
The SPCA and Greens today finally agreed that some animal testing of party pills was necessary for the sake of keeping young people safe.
An amendment limiting animal testing has now been included in the Psychoactive Substances Bill.
“This bill is a necessary and practical step to end the harm caused by allowing untested drugs to be the market,” said Green Party health spokesman Kevin Hague.
“We support strong regulation for party pills and legal highs – we can’t continue to put our communities at risk.”
The third and fourth paragraphs appear to indicate Green support for the first paragraph, which is erroneous.
The Green Party position was more accurately reported on Radio NZ’s website,
.
Acknowledgment: Radio NZ – Animal testing must be last resort in legal highs tests
This issue was brought to this bloggers attention by Facebook user Jeanette Wilkinson who, at first, took the Herald story at face-value. Ms Wilkinson wrote on the DiscussioNZ page,
“I am extremely disappointed with the Green Party right now…in fact your credibility has taken a huge dive in my eyes upon reading this article below …especially where it mentions the Green Party finally deciding that SOME animal testing is required on animals for vile dangerous and totally unnecessary evil party pills and substances … I thought the Green Party would have some common sense and not support this at all and be inclined to have unnatural and dangerous chemical highs banned completely!”
When the actual Green Party policy was brought to Ms Wilkinson’s attention she accepted that the Green Party’s actual position had been mis-represented, and also added,
” I also believe that synthetic highs should be illegal and banned then none of this controversy would be happening and wouldn’t that be a much better result for all moreso our young people?”
In a series of tweets by this blogger, I brought Kurt Bayer’s attention to the mis-reporting of Green Party policy on animal testing, and asked for his response,
.
.
@KurtBayerAPNZ Hi Kurt. Your story “Legal highs linked to deaths-coroner” appears to have misquoted Green policy. http://tinyurl.com/mq6k6gx
@KurtBayerAPNZ Will you be publishing a correction? Note, I am in process of blogging this story.
@KurtBayerAPNZ I can email you my draft blogpost for you to comment on. Would like your response on the record.
As at midnight on Saturday, no response had been received from Bayer.
It will be interesting to see if the Green Party pursues this matter through the Press Council.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 16 June 2013.
.
*
.
References
Green Party: Bill a win for communities and animals (14 June 2013)
NZ Herald: Legal highs linked to deaths – coroner (14 June 2013)
Facebook link: Discussion NZ
.
.
= fs =