Archive for June, 2009

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  It’s not the fishing; it’s how we’re fishing - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  Dolphin down: it’s not a good look for our international reputation or our tourism industry, let alone our most iconic dolphin. DOC notified on Friday that another Hector’s dolphin has been killed by a commercial fishing vessel with an observer on board: H182/09 – A Hector’s dolphin capture was reported from a commercial fishing vessel [...] read more
  June 15, 2009 4:37 pm - 29 Comments
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  General Debate June 15, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  I have a million ideas for a post, and not a moment to spare. But you folks have been doing a pretty good job without me today. Carry on! read more
  June 15, 2009 1:44 pm - 66 Comments
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  General Debate June 14, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Saying bye-bye to the by-election. What’s next? What do the results tell us? The All Blacks are soundly defeated by the French in Dunedin. Pandemic will stay in the news for at least 24 months – Ryall. read more
  June 14, 2009 10:31 am - 134 Comments
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  5 reasons to vote Russel + get more muscle in Mt Albert - by frog

  
  
  
  Faster cheaper buses and trains will do more to cut congestion than another motorway. Aucklanders want to swim in clean water at their beaches and breathe clean air. Local government can be local and it can look after museums as well as footpaths. Smart Green ideas like home insulation means we use less energy and [...] read more
  June 12, 2009 10:12 am - 102 Comments
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  Some Mt Albert by-election Highlights - by frog

  
  
  
  Some of the campaign highlights include Russel and Metiria’s visit to Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Nga Maungarongo, a Maori language primary school in Haverstock Rd, Mt Albert. The school community is worried about a Housing New Zealand proposal to increase the density of a state housing complex. Principal Dianne Pomare told Russel and Metiria [...] read more
  June 11, 2009 4:54 pm - 16 Comments
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  Dumping on Communities - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Taranaki Marfell Park toxic drums saga is sadly typical of the difficulties communities face getting support in dealing with toxic sites. In 1993 my partner and I (while working for Greenpeace) toured the country speaking with virtually all the Regional Councils about the contaminated sites in the region. Our main focus was PCP (a [...] read more
  June 11, 2009 4:11 pm - 5 Comments
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  Oil touches US $70/bbl - by frog

  
  
  
  It seems like a very strange deja vu.  It wasn’t that long ago that we were witnessing a steep and steady increase in the price of oil. I don’t think that today’s price – US$71.89/bbl has any longevity. Whether up or down, it will keep moving, as I predicted last October: If I get out [...] read more
  June 11, 2009 3:22 pm - 41 Comments
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  Procurement: which costs are saved? - by frog

  
  
  
  The Government has just announced it is to review and reform state sector procurement. The Government Procurement Reform Agenda is based around four key themes: ·         Cost savings. ·         Building procurement capability and capacity. ·         Enhanced business participation. ·         Improved governance, oversight and accountability. Cost savings:  just to the Government’s expenditure or also saving costs [...] read more
  June 11, 2009 11:55 am - 4 Comments
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  General Debate June 11, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Mt Albert heats up. New Zealand wins Fossil of the Day again, for a third time. Rodney Hide continues his steamrolling of Auckland’d democratic institutions. What are you thinking about? read more
  June 11, 2009 9:45 am - 39 Comments
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  Waiheke does it better - by frog

  
  
  
  The Visy Mountain video from Scott Ewing on Vimeo says it all.  For news, resources, further information and action ideas go to waihekedoesitbetter.org.nz. read more
  June 10, 2009 6:00 pm - 6 Comments
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  Forestry bullies seek to fell our Aussie Bob - by frog

  
  
  
  Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown may lose his seat if he doesn’t pay court costs of A$240,000 to Forestry Tasmania by the end of the month. The costs relate to a landmark Federal Court case that Bob took in 2006 against the state owned enterprise. He alleged that Forestry Tasmania were breaching Federal threatened [...] read more
  June 10, 2009 1:50 pm - 13 Comments
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  Hard-hearted immigration policy does NZ reputation damage - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  I’m glad New Zealand Immigration has cancelled its edict that a Lithuanian visitor, Jurga Skiauteris, must hop on a plane, despite medical advice that she should stay put in new Zealand  because of complications with her pregnancy.   What a heartless policy New Zealand Immigration has towards pregnant women here on temporary visas.   It [...] read more
  June 10, 2009 1:18 pm - 27 Comments
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  Good on John Angus – Children’s Commission has lucky escape - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  I would like to be among the first to congratulate the new Children’s Commissioner John Angus for coming out so clearly in this morning’s New Zealand Herald supporting the section 59 law change. It is great that Mr Angus is not shying away from being the advocate for children that his new role demands, rather [...] read more
  June 10, 2009 10:49 am - 193 Comments
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  General Debate June 10, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Play nice, me hearties! Arrgghh! read more
  June 10, 2009 9:29 am - 33 Comments
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  Have your say on electoral finance reform - by frog

  
  
  
  The Government is currently consulting on a review of electoral finance, while it may sound a bit boring, at heart it’s about how we stop the corrupting influence of big money on politics.  Stopping big business from influencing politics is probably not Nationals strongest suit …. So its really important that they hear from the [...] read more
  June 9, 2009 3:48 pm - 19 Comments
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  The politics of water - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Water management is in the news today and that’s because the management of freshwater resources in New Zealand is at a crisis point. Across the country water quality is declining in rivers and lakes while wetlands and streams are drying up. Freshwater ecosystems have collapsed in many parts of the country and most lowland rivers [...] read more
  June 9, 2009 1:31 pm - 22 Comments
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  Green MPs Support 350 Challenge - by frog

  
  
  
  Green MPs support Bill McKibben’s campaign to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, down from the current 389 ppm which is going up every year.  Scientists believe this would keep the global temperature rise to less than 2C. Meanwhile, the NACT government struggles with denial.  National’s “target” is a 50% reduction [...] read more
  June 9, 2009 7:00 am - 42 Comments
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  Bain verdict time for sober reflection - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  It’s good that the Police have said they will learn from the Bain case if there is any thing they could have done better.   However, it shouldn’t just be admitting they did a few things wrong at the beginning.   The review needs to cover the whole of the last 15 years – since [...] read more
  June 8, 2009 4:58 pm - 24 Comments
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  Hello Hywind - by frog

  
  
  
  Its not every day that we basically run a press release from an oil company, but today is World Oceans Day and this is thought-provoking in a good way and I’ve blogged on this topic before.. Testing the world’s first full-scale floating wind turbine has begun off the coast of Norway. The Hywind Pilot is [...] read more
  June 8, 2009 3:51 pm - 8 Comments
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  Our Ocean – the Heart of the Earth - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  Today is World Oceans Day.  A staggering 80 percent of all the life on Earth is hidden beneath the waves. The ocean is the planet’s heart. Its pulsating currents and tides drive the natural forces which maintain life on our planet. It controls our weather, cleans our atmosphere, and is the original source of life-giving [...] read more
  June 8, 2009 1:42 pm - 14 Comments