Archive for October, 2010

• 

  Employment inspiration in Mental Health Awareness Week - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This morning I attended a very positive event in Thames hosted by the Like Minds Like Mine team from Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki. It was a breakfast for employers to network with agencies like Workwise and Workbridge on the theme of the benefits of employing people with impairments. One of the town’s largest employers, [...] read more
  October 6, 2010 12:27 pm - 2 Comments
• 

  Trade Me joins the fight to protect rainforest! - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  You may recall back in May, I and a group of NGOs went to Trade Me to ask them to stop the sale of unsustainably and illegally logged kwila furniture and decking on their site. Today we have great news! Since then Trade Me have worked with us to change their rules, so that all [...] read more
  October 6, 2010 11:38 am - 2 Comments
• 

  23 things they don’t tell you about capitalism - by frog

  
  
  
  Ha-Joon Chang writes in his latest book: Economists are not some innocent technicians who did a decent job within the narrow confines of their expertise until they were collectively wrong-footed by a once-in-a-century disaster that no one could have predicted. Far from being an inward-looking, hermetic discipline, economics has been a hugely powerful – and [...] read more
  October 6, 2010 10:40 am - 18 Comments
• 

  Factory farming in the Mackenzie Basin – again - by frog

  
  
  
  NZ Herald reports: Three companies are trying again to secure land use rights for large-scale dairy farming in the Omarama and Ohau regions of the South Island. They want to develop 16 dairy farms with up to 17,850 cows housed in cubicles. Looks like it’s the same people with the same sort of plans as [...] read more
  October 5, 2010 12:38 pm - 4 Comments
• 

  It’s a war on youth - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  It hasn’t been a good year for under-twenty year olds. Hopefully if you’re young, you’re out having fun and don’t really give a toss what those old fogies in Government are up to. But if you’ve followed some of the changes this year, you could be mistaken into thinking that someone’s declared a war on [...] read more
  October 5, 2010 11:32 am - 44 Comments
• 

  Paul Henry should actually apologise - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Paul Henry has expressed his racism on TV. Talking to John Key about the Governor General Anand Satyanand, and Anand’s replacement next year, he said: “Is he even a New Zealander?” Henry asked. ”Are you going to choose a New Zealander who looks and sounds like a New Zealander this time?’ That is just plain [...] read more
  October 4, 2010 7:18 pm - 50 Comments
• 

  Stop the East Coast drilling plans! - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Yesterday the communities of the Te Tairawhiti and Whakatane again lit fires on their beaches to highlight their opposition to the offshore oil drilling proposals. They are highlighting the lack of legal opportunities for community input as well as the sheer madness of risking the environment for a fossil fuel. The hapu of Ngati Porou [...] read more
  October 4, 2010 4:03 pm - 6 Comments
• 

  Have your say on John Key’s plans to undermine ACC - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  On Friday, the Government released consultation papers on levy increases and experience ratings for ACC. They are calling for submissions by 29 October.  Let them know what you think!  Reading between the lines, the papers also make clear that there is no financial crisis in ACC. As we have pointed out all along, ACC is [...] read more
  October 4, 2010 2:53 pm - 5 Comments
• 

  A short lesson for Sir Peter on employment relations - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  I have no doubt that Sir Peter Jackson is a well-meaning person, with the interests of his workers at heart. But he does need a short lesson in how to relate to unions. So, Sir Peter, I would advise that: 1. You don’t attack the legitimacy of a union, as you have with Actors Equity. [...] read more
  October 4, 2010 12:14 pm - 10 Comments
• 

  How to stop drink driving? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  A few days ago the Government announced another set of tough penalties for teen drink drivers. They have effectively reduced the blood alcohol limit for teenage drink drivers to zero. I think it is a case of youth scapegoating but I’m not complaining about this because we need to cut down on teen drink driving [...] read more
  October 4, 2010 9:58 am - 19 Comments
• 

  General debate, October 4, 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
  Do enjoy your second week of Parliamentary recess. read more
  October 4, 2010 6:28 am - 19 Comments
• 

  No more deaths by prejudice - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  The recent suicide in the US of Tyler Clementi highlights the need for us to take effective action to create a more supportive world for young gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and intersex people. Despite New Zealand’s great progress, things are not yet much different for young people than they were 35 years ago. read more
  October 3, 2010 2:47 pm - 46 Comments
• 

  Scary speech of the week award: “Double Southland dairy cow numbers” - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  The Land and Water Forum’s recent report suggests we need to see some tougher regulations around water pollution in New Zealand. But the scary speech of the week award goes to Chairman of South Port (Bluff) John Harrington. Speaking to South Port shareholders, he suggested doubling the dairy cow numbers in Southland. read more
  October 1, 2010 5:27 pm - 10 Comments
• 

  Play it one more time: “National’s not going to be raising GST…” - by frog

  
  
  
  “If we do a half decent job at growing our economy, I’m confident that won’t be happening and that’s not on our agenda.” – John Key read more
  October 1, 2010 9:29 am - 32 Comments
• 

  The Italian Job (i) - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  It’s hard to be in Rome (a first for me) and not just rave about the experience of being in what is a truly remarkable city.  Arrived early yesterday (Wednesday) morning after 30-odd hours of travel, and spent a few hours being a tourist (the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Equestrian Monument aka the Wedding Cake), [...] read more
  October 1, 2010 2:37 am - 1 Comment