Archive for March, 2010

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  Dirty Rivers Rafting Tour update - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  OK, I haven’t actually done that much rafting lately. But I did visit some dirty rivers, in particular the Awanui which supplies Kaitaia. You can read about it here. And if you want to hear about the classic case of a community getting shafted by dirty farming – read this one, which Don Nicholson from [...] read more
  March 21, 2010 2:57 pm - 5 Comments
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  General debate, March 21, 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
  Enjoy the autumnal equinox! After a dirty campaign from Labor, there is a tidal shift in Tasmanian state politics, where the Greens now hold the balance of power. The Greens gained 21% of the primary vote (+6% on 2006), and have a confirmed four seats in the 25-seat Parliament with a fifth possible. Perhaps the [...] read more
  March 21, 2010 7:33 am - 34 Comments
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  Working with the Government via MoU - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  There are the practical, tangible measures from the MoU with National – homes getting insulation into the ceilings and under their floors, the Waikato River Trail open for cycling – and then there’s the political component which is a bit harder to measure. read more
  March 19, 2010 3:17 pm - 21 Comments
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  Privatisation in education legislation - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The word opposition doesn’t always describe Labour’s voting patterns. In fact, Labour have voted with National almost exactly as often as the Maori Party, even though Labour is the official opposition, and the Maori Party is actually part of the Government! [For the political junkies, Labour have voted with National 12 times at first readings, [...] read more
  March 19, 2010 2:46 pm - 18 Comments
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  Wake Up Cantabrians! Your democracy is at stake! - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  I can’t believe the people of Canterbury are going to allow a democratically elected Council—Environment Canterbury—to be thrown out and replaced by an unelected and unaccountable political appointee—most likely Jenny Shipley. What is happening in Canterbury is eerily similar to what is happening in Auckland—layers of democracy are being quietly got rid of and replaced [...] read more
  March 19, 2010 11:31 am - 37 Comments
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  Factory farming reprieve - by frog

  
  
  
  Some fantastic news late last night – the companies applying to start factory-style dairy farms in the Mackenzie Country have shelved their effluent consent applications, citing costs. This is a real victory for the Greens, the environmental movement, and everyone who’s spoken up in opposition to the proposals since we revealed them in December. More [...] read more
  March 19, 2010 10:45 am - 27 Comments
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  Firefighters deserve clean air in their workspace - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  The Green Party are siding with the firefighters in their bid to have extractors installed at their workplaces. The DominionPost reported yesterday that the Fire Service was dragging its feet over the installation of diesel fume extractors at fifteen fire stations around the country. The extractors are expensive — $15,000 per unit — and the [...] read more
  March 19, 2010 9:45 am - 8 Comments
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  Drunk in charge of a sickness benefit - by frog

  
  
  
  No amount of work-testing is going to get people who cannot work because of alcohol or drug dependency back into the workforce. All that will do is make them feel harassed and more likely to sink deeper into the faux refuge of their dependency. read more
  March 19, 2010 8:17 am - 20 Comments
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  McCully, it’s time to bring home Bethune - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I’m looking forward to meeting the Steve Irwin and her crew when they arrive in Wellington tomorrow. While life goes on as normal in Parliament it seems the Government has forgotten we have a Kiwi sitting, right now, in a Japanese jail. I asked the Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, on Tuesday what he was [...] read more
  March 18, 2010 2:32 pm - 28 Comments
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  Metiria grills the PM on mining contradictions - by frog

  
  
  
  Metiria Turei grills the Prime Minister on his government’s confused and contradictory statements about the mining of protected Schedule 4 lands on the conservation estate. Her question was: Does he stand by his statement “Notwithstanding the public consultation process, it is my expectation that the Government will act on at least some of these recommendations [...] read more
  March 18, 2010 1:56 pm - 4 Comments
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  Dodging Roger’s Bill - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Yesterday the National Party shot down Sir Roger Douglas’ dreams of returning New Zealand back to Victorian England by saying they will not support his Members’ Bill which would have re-introduced youth rates. It’s a rare piece of good news out of the Beehive, but let’s face it; the bill was a stupid idea to [...] read more
  March 18, 2010 12:51 pm - 12 Comments
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  Mapua Contamination – Secrets and Lies - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This week a Ministry of Health Report came out on the health effects of the dubious remediation at the toxic site in Mapua. The way the Ministry of Health’s media release read, glossed over the risks to the community, which could now be declared negligible. I only had to read the Executive Summary of the [...] read more
  March 18, 2010 10:47 am - 6 Comments
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  General Debate 18th March 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
  Misc links: Nats to pay miners to dig up national parks Video: what we know about climate science Lehman Brothers: the next Enron Israeli envoy sees “historic crisis” with U.S.: report National Rules Out Supporting Roger Douglas Youth Rate Bill read more
  March 18, 2010 10:45 am - 39 Comments
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  The Nubrella and other cycling news - by frog

  
  
  
  Tip of the pen to the Cycling Advocacy Network who provided me with most of these links. First off – welcome to the Nubrella – a hands-free umbrella you can wear while cycling. So long, as CAN says, “you don’t mind looking like you’ve been partially devoured by a giant transparent caterpillar”. So will the [...] read more
  March 18, 2010 9:00 am - 9 Comments
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  “Shortly or whenever” - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Gerry Brownlee will release the mining discussion paper “soon”, he said in Question Time today. But when is “soon”? Is it tomorrow, is it next week, next month, next century? Lindsay Tisch was filling in for Lockwood today during Question Time so he tried to help me understand what “soon” meant. Dr Russel Norman: I raise [...] read more
  March 17, 2010 8:11 pm - 13 Comments
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  Save Radio NZ meeting – pictures and report - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  Save Radio NZ meeting – a packed St John’s in the city – Wellington  150 people showed up last night to a Save Radio New Zealand meeting organised jointly by myself and Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson. Gaylene Preston and Jon Johansson also spoke, along with many members of the audience, all voicing their concern [...] read more
  March 17, 2010 4:33 pm - 9 Comments
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  Ignoring the evidence again on drug law reform - by frog

  
  
  
  In which Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne takes a head-in-the-sand approach to recommendations by the Ministry of Health’s Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs. read more
  March 16, 2010 11:26 am - 280 Comments
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  Taking a Hiding - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  You know your plans are not being well received when one of the major players in the sector speaks out against them. Mr Hide has already faced widespread public opposition to his plans for the Auckland Super City, as well as from other politicians, the current Auckland councils and now the President of Local Government [...] read more
  March 15, 2010 3:34 pm - 23 Comments
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  Canterbury DHB needs to rethink drug rehab policy - by frog

  
  
  
  The Canterbury DHB’s new alcohol and drug rehabilitation services policy flies in the face of the principle of harm minimisation and discriminates against people whose drug and/or alcohol problems have resulted in them falling foul of the criminal law. Often these are the very people who the greatest danger to themselves and others in the community and are most in need of help. read more
  March 15, 2010 12:52 pm - 13 Comments
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  Joyce controlled transport for Auckland? - by frog

  
  
  
  As I noted last week, Granny Herald has finally woken up to the dangers of Rodney Hide and Steven Joyce’s plans for local government in Auckland. They’ve been running a useful series of articles about the proposed council controlled organizations. In particular, the Herald (and mayors) are concerned that all responsibility for transport issues, will [...] read more
  March 15, 2010 9:00 am - 9 Comments