The Government has axed two investigations aimed at improving the pay of women as it tries to save money by controlling public sector salaries.

State Services Minister Tony Ryall said the investigations would “generate an additional form of remuneration pressure that is unaffordable in the current economic and fiscal environment”.

It’s the now familiar Nat buzz-line, blaming the economic environment, but I suspect that there may be a more sinister reason at work here. It may be that the Nats simply don’t care about women. The Greens have a well developed policy on women’s affairs and pay equity issues, so I thought that before I started forming the conclusion that the nats simply don’t care, I had better check out what the official National party policy is on Women’s Affairs. What I found was probably the National Party’s most coherent and well articulated policy:

I think a blank white page with a picture of a bloke says all that needs to be said!

I hopped over to the Hand Mirror, expecting that I would get the usual coherent feminist perspective to counter balance my decidedly male perspective, but clearly they have been left almost speechless by this arrogant stupidity. However, Catherine Delahunty found her voice and let rip here.

It is clear that a crusty old boys network is firmly in charge of the Beehive once again. But I have to ask. Can they afford to alienate over half of their potential voters like this? Apparently, they think that kiwi women will forget all about this come 2011.

Question 10. Women do the vast majority of cooking and shopping, and increases in food prices are a burden borne disproportionately by women. What do you think our government can or should do to ensure that everyone has access to good food?

Food labelling of ingredients including place of origin and a bit of community gardening – not so much for the food but for the fun!

That corresponds with the Otago Daily Times earlier this week, which opined:

What is inconsistent about the opposition to country-of-origin food labelling is that the rationale of New Zealand food exporters in claiming the benefits from the “clean, green” imagery ensures New Zealand-produced food is so-labelled, with few exceptions.

The “Made in New Zealand” is a proud and valuable label indeed.

Yet in this country it is far easier to find out where your shirt was made than where your breakfast originated…

But it does not really matter why consumers decide to buy or not to buy food for there could be any number of reasons, rational and irrational, and they may have nothing whatever to do with food safety.

Some people, for instance, want to ensure the food they eat has the least possible “carbon footprint”.

They should be able to make informed decisions about their purchases, whatever they may be, without difficulty, and if there is an extra national economic benefit, so much the better.

Anna McM at the Hand Mirror continues a fascinating discussion on the value, or otherwise, of rugby. You’ll also want to read as background the Hand Mirror’s earlier pieces on the casual way our rugby media has brushed aside accusations of rape against the English rugby team as either a distraction from the more important business of football, or an incentive to fire up for the big game.

Poneke enjoys a bus ride home and even beats his or her friend who was riding in a taxi.

The Standard continues to talk about peak oil,  this time joining Sue Kedgley and Keith Locke questioning whether the correct response to $2.10 for petrol is really more tarmac in our major cities. I guess Steve will be introducing himself to Poneke on the bus!

No Right Turn come up with yet another reason to oppose tasers.  (Actually given the two options Idiot/Savant presents, personally I might opt for the taser treatment.)