Archive for August, 2010

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  Who lives in the real world? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I must admit, I did a double-take this morning when I read John Key’s comment that Secondary teachers’ plans to strike next month shows “how disconnected they are from the real world”. Who would you say is more connected to the “real world”? The thousands of teachers at the coalface of our secondary schools? Or [...] read more
  August 31, 2010 4:00 pm - 42 Comments
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  The 90′s: Nirvana, The X Files & attacking workers rights - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  This is my latest article for Auckland University’s Craccum magazine: On the spectre of bourgeois opposition to the advancement of the glorious workers advancement struggle. I probably showed my age in a previous article talking about an old TV show Voltron, but this week I’d like to touch on some other pursuits of the 90s: [...] read more
  August 31, 2010 11:28 am - 14 Comments
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  Valuing our teachers properly - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The media tends to pitch a teachers’ strike as an attack on students – who will no doubt be thrilled to have a day off school should the planned secondary schools strike go ahead. However, the real issue is the Government’s hostility towards teachers, who are calling for improved wages and conditions. read more
  August 30, 2010 3:18 pm - 84 Comments
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  Make a submission in support of fairness at work - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Parliament’s Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee has allowed only a very short timeframe for people to make submissions on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 2).  Submissions close on 13 September. If it is passed in its current form, this Bill will: extend the fire at will provisions under which employees can be dismissed [...] read more
  August 30, 2010 1:52 pm - 5 Comments
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  Case for wider probe of ACC entitlement-cutting culture now even stronger - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  ACC’s use of Dr. Felicity Goodyear-Smith to advise on sexual abuse claims can only have resulted from catastrophic systems failure or a sick culture. New Zealanders need to know which, and Minister Smith must take steps to thoroughly investigate so the problems can be fixed read more
  August 30, 2010 10:58 am - 11 Comments
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  General debate, August 30, 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
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  August 30, 2010 9:46 am - 85 Comments
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  Puhoi: This town is becoming like a ghost town - by frog

  
  
  
  Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s uneconomic Puhoi-Wellsford Holiday Highway is facing some unanticipated difficulties – from the Speaker of the House and National MP whom Joyce hopes to succeed as the MP for the Rodney electorate, Lockwood Smith. “No off-ramp for Puhoi”, read the innocuous headline on a brief story buried in [the NZ Herald]. No [...] read more
  August 29, 2010 6:54 am - 19 Comments
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  Key Government hides from the truth about oil - by frog

  
  
  
  Make your submission on the draft Energy Strategy by 5pm on 2 September read more
  August 29, 2010 6:47 am - 78 Comments
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  Russel Norman on Back Benches (ETS special) - by frog

  
  
  
  The pub was packed last Wednesday evening, with a solid Green contingent supporting Russel! You briefly can see our table at the end of Chapter 2 when Wilber won a book about something or other. You can watch the show at http://tvnz.co.nz/back-benches/s2010-e26-emissions-trading-special-video-3736153 I think Russel did really well – as usual there was a lot [...] read more
  August 28, 2010 11:28 am - 27 Comments
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  When will we have real police culture change? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  In 2007, the Herald named Louise Nicholas New Zealander of the Year for her brave exposure of police violence against women. However, as I blogged a couple of weeks ago, female victims of “police misconduct” like Louise have been told they will not be compensated. This week they also witnessed the edifying sight of former [...] read more
  August 27, 2010 1:05 pm - 161 Comments
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  It must be time for a Tolley thread - by frog

  
  
  
  I’m busy for a lot of today, but it must be time for a thread about one of the most incompetent Ministers ever. So, I’ll borrow stuff. What’s your view on the competence of OUR CHILDREN’S Minister of Education? read more
  August 27, 2010 7:32 am - 35 Comments
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  Wainuiototo (New Chums) Beach: Paradise subdivided? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Wainuiototo or New Chums beach on the coastal Hauraki/Coromandel is ranked in the top 20 wild beaches in the world. The land adjacent to this gorgeous silent place has withstood several development attempts thus far. The latest attempt is by developers from Queenstown, who know all about making real estate suitable for the enjoyment of [...] read more
  August 26, 2010 5:36 pm - 46 Comments
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  Last chance to get Dominion Road bus/cycle way - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Just a reminder that the last day for submissions on the redesign of Dominion Road is this Sunday, 29th of August. I’ve commented on this issue before so will be brief.  Auckland City Council is planning to redesign Dominion Road, one of the busier roads in central Auckland. Their plans for redesign currently involve letting [...] read more
  August 26, 2010 4:13 pm - 5 Comments
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  Don’t pine for our clean green brand, stop GE! - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Crown research institute Scion has applied to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to conduct a field test of genetically engineered (GE) pine trees on a 4 hectare site in Rotorua and the public submission process is now open. We need to keep GE in the Lab and not release modified organisms into the environment. [...] read more
  August 26, 2010 1:50 pm - 15 Comments
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  Have your say on the draft Energy Strategy (or lack of one) - by frog

  
  
  
  It is ironic that there is so little to criticise inside Gerry Brownlee’s draft Energy Strategy, but that’s because there is almost nothing in it! Fortunately there is a Green Party submission guide ready and waiting to help you have your say. read more
  August 26, 2010 1:37 pm - 18 Comments
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  Police culture, Police bars, and pack rapist Shipton’s little helpers - by frog

  
  
  
  Public confidence in and respect for the Police is being undermined by their increasing aloofness and sense of privilege and the continued perception of the Police as tolerating thuggery and corruption. Sadly, on recent evidence, it doesn’t look as though that is about to change. read more
  August 26, 2010 12:21 pm - 24 Comments
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  Parliament’s chance to combat animals suffering - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  Most New Zealanders never get to see how pigs and hens suffer in intensive farms in New Zealand, because industrial farms are hidden away, in corrugated iron sheds down back roads in rural areas, and farmers wont let us visit their farms to see for ourselves the conditions that animals are forced to endure in these ‘farms’. read more
  August 25, 2010 6:34 pm - 12 Comments
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  Gollum saves a wild river - by frog

  
  
  
  A tiny freshwater fish called Gollum has proved instrumental is saving one of our last remaining wild rivers from the threat of a hydro dam. A special tribunal has agreed to a variation on the Kawarau Water Conservation Order that would prohibit the damming of the Nevis river , a tributary of the Kawarau.  The [...] read more
  August 25, 2010 4:11 pm - 5 Comments
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  Employment Court deals a blow to fire at will law - by frog

  
  
  
  A couple of weeks ago the NZCTU released a video featuring Heather Smith who had been dismissed under the Government’s fire at will legislation after the ownership of the pharmacy she worked at changed hands. Heather has now had her day in the Employment Court, and has won. Although this is a big victory for Heather, it is only a small victory for fairness in the workplace. The fire at will law needs to be repealed altogether, not... read more
  August 25, 2010 8:17 am - 24 Comments
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  General debate, August 25, 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
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  August 25, 2010 7:36 am - 31 Comments