frog blog Archive

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  Frog Week with Gerry and Tim

  
  
  
  It’s frog week! My favourite week of the year. But this one comes under a large grey cloud. My local native frog rellies have not been faring well for a while. They’re threatened by all sorts already. But now they have a new predator – Gerry with his sidekick Tim. All New Zealand’s native frog species are now threatened by mining. read more
  September 29, 2009 6:02 am - 3 Comments
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  Our company was a guest in China

  
  
  
  According to the Sunday Star Times this morning: [A] Christchurch political scientist says Fonterra’s lack of understanding of the Chinese political and business environment meant the dairy giant was out of its depth before it had even bought its 43% shareholding in China’s largest dairy company, Sanlu, in late 2005 for $US107m. That remains one of my [...] read more
  September 21, 2008 1:55 pm - 5 Comments
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  Up go the hoardings

  
  
  
  With an election date announced it suddenly becomes legal to erect hoardings all over the country. And, it seems this game is not just reserved for political parties.  For instance, just near Havelock North, a locality that knows better than most the importance of horticulture to our social and economic wellbeing, these signs have started [...] read more
  September 12, 2008 4:38 pm - 36 Comments
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  What if this was the only tree left to hug?

  
  
  
  Ecorazzi is back with the best environmental gossip about Paris Hilton.  This time they have a snap of her in a ’save the trees’ tee-shirt: read more
  September 7, 2008 8:49 pm - 8 Comments
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  Europe’s long term planning

  
  
  
  The Sunday Herald’s series on voters on swinging Nutsey St today features Dutch immigrant Robin Romein who isn’t that impressed with any of the New Zealand political parties, but at this stage is leaning towards voting Green as a protest against the short sightedness of the two old major parties. “I don’t think National and Labour [...] read more
  September 7, 2008 8:23 pm - 9 Comments
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  The emergency exits

  
  
  
  A warning message that more than just America needs to be listening to, rather than reading cheap airport novels. hat tip: Celcias read more
  September 6, 2008 8:05 am - 7 Comments
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  Roy Morgan poll

  
  
  
  I’ve always been a bit wary of the Roy Morgan poll since the 2005 election where it proved itself to be a bit of an outlier, especially in relation to the Greens.  Nevertheless its consistency of support for ‘third’ parties seems easier to believe than the up again, down again fluctuation that other polls often [...] read more
  September 5, 2008 7:45 am - 19 Comments
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  Emissions trading scheme – credits, biodiversity and agriculture

  
  
  
  Jeanette gave her second reading speech on the Emissions Trading Scheme last week and it’s worth pulling out a few quotes to discuss some of the technical details.  First let’s look at one of the changes the Greens made to the free credit allocations for trade exposed industries: In a further amendment, the Minister must consider [...] read more
  September 2, 2008 8:34 am - 11 Comments
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  More than 3000 new houses a year

  
  
  
  Sue Bradford launched the Greens’ housing policy last night in Otahuhu.  The policy signals an important shift from seeing houses as an investment for landlords to a home for people in need.  The NZPA story highlights some of the key points including: raising the rate of building and acquiring state houses through Housing New Zealand Corporation [...] read more
  September 2, 2008 8:20 am - 38 Comments
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  An emissions trading subsidy for fishing?

  
  
  
  The Hive noted on Friday that: The revised [Emissions Trading Scheme] contains an enormous new subsidy for the fishing industry. This was, surprise, surprise negotiated by NZ First… Fish subsidies are the direct cause of over fishing. We are opposed to any subsidisation of this industry. The original ETS has no subsidy going [...] read more
  August 31, 2008 4:19 pm - 7 Comments