UK government signals urgent inquiry into overmedicalisation of gender non-conforming children
This is a medical scandal affecting children and teens, and the left is still largely in denial of it.
Social issues
Greens: Urgent action needed to soften inflation blow for low income NZers
The Green Party says that if the Government is concerned about fiscal stimulus, the best approach would be to broaden the tax base to cover untaxed capital gains or wealth of the richest New Zealanders… Alongside broadening our tax base, the Green Party proposes a suite of policies.
Green Party press release
RNZ’s weird take on MIQ
RNZ’s recent shock horror reporting on a memo from November 2021 proposing a wind back of MIQ is severely deficient. The framing is one sided and ignores the subsequent emergence of Omicron as a variant of concern.
The battle lines for the next election
Despite Labour seeing the country through the biggest public health threat seen in the last century and despite improving numbers of houses and a reduction in child poverty some on the left are buying into National’s despair lines. And the issues on which the next election will be fought are becoming clearer.
Why trust in the media is declining
A recent study into New Zealand’s media suggests that trust in what the media says is declining and that views of what is good and bad media is more and more dependent on the participant’s world view.
Go well Ashley Bloomfield
With a sense of regret for many of us this week Ashley Bloomfield announced his pending resignation as Director General of Health.
Greens call for rent freeze
The Green Party has published a reasonable plan to make renting more affordable for low income New Zealanders. There’s nothing extreme-communist-scary here, it’s well within the values of the NZ electorate.
Why in the middle of a pandemic an immediate change to Orange is magical thinking
National’s friends are in unison complaining that the Government should be announcing now when we will be back into Orange. But our exemplary performance compared to other nations suggests strongly that the Government should continue to respect the medical advice it is receiving.
National still has a culture problem
This week National found itself the centre of media suggesting that its treatment of women is still not acceptable. A couple of Young […]
Kia kaha Louisa Wall
Earlier this week Louisa Wall announced that she is retiring as a Member of Parliament. History will confirm that she was one of our best Parliamentarians.
Covid and political capital
Jacinda Ardern has burned significant political capital on dealing with Covid. But it is something that a responsible Political leader, of which there are few, would do.
Act’s generous donors and its anti Treaty campaign
This has not had the media attention that it deserves but Act has raised, to use the technical term, a shit load of money recently. And it is using this money to engage in some good old fashioned racist dog whistling.
Can This Government Be Saved?
Can Labour win a third term? Here are some pathways up, and some pathways down.
Government announces significant changes to traffic light settings and mandates
The Government has announced changes to Covid policies relating to traffic light settings and mandates.
Luxon thinks helping poor people is Bottom Feeding
Chris Luxon has admitted in National media that provision of assistance to the poor is “bottom feeding”.
Crisis, What Crisis?
There is only so much New Zealand and its government can do to soften the blows of the instability that are besetting the world. And the problem is without dramatic change New Zealand will remain one of the most car-addicted, petrol reliant societies on earth for several decades to come.
The right to protest Christchurch version
Christchurch Council has billed Destiny Church for traffic management fees relating to recent protests. For once I am firmly if reluctantly on the side of Destiny Church. Exercising the right to protest should not attract Council bills.
National’s politicisation of Covid over the past two years
A slightly deeper review of National’s response to the Covid epidemic over the past two years. The overwhelming impression is that they have always complained about supposed Government incompetence in handling the pandemic and have always argued for the loosening of restrictions no matter how justifiable.
Why Sweden is changing its gender transition policy for children and young people
In the last couple of weeks, Sweden has joined a small, but growing number of countries that have changed their policies regarding medical gender transition for children.
Women who challenged the male domination of sport
History PhD student @LottieHistory wrote a twitter thread recently on the work women have done to participate in sport.
Denazifying Ukraine
One of Vladimir Putin’s objectives in the Russian incursion into Ukraine was to “denazify Ukraine.” With the breakdown in the agreement to allow a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol, this task will be much harder and the terrorist toll much higher. Once Russia has succeeded however, the world will be a better place for it.
Convoy protest aftermath 5/3/22
A general discussion post.
Real protestors do not burn kids playgrounds
Wellington protestors recent activities in torching a 100 year old Pohutukawa, burning a kid’s playground and threatening to occupy Wainuiomata Marae suggests they are being given PR advice by Vladimir Putin.
Convoy protest aftermath 4/3/22
A general discussion post.
Convoy protest 3/3/22
A general discussion post.
Convoy protest 2/3/22
A general discussion post.
Two years of living dangerously
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the first Covid case in New Zealand. What a time it has been.
Convoy protest 29/2/22
A general discussion post.
Convoy protest 28/2/22
A general discussion post.
Don’t give up New Zealand: omicron, vaccination protection, and why it’s the wrong time to ‘let it rip’
Act as if you have Covid, and look to protect others around you – Ashley Bloomfield
New research shows vaccination protects against omicron. Along with all our other tools – what we do now matters.
This is the knife edge for New Zealand: do we lapse into neoliberal “I’m ok Jack”, and not worry about others? Or do we step up and act collectively to protect us all?
Convoy protest 27/2/22
A general discussion post.
The difference between the Wellington protests and the pro Ukraine protests in Russia
Currently in this world there are two significant protests occurring, both similar but at the same time completely different.
Convoy protest 26/2/22
A general discussion post.
Convoy protest 25/2/22
A general discussion post.
Watch China’s next move
Why should we in New Zealand give a damn about Ukraine? My answer is: China.
Omicron is not mild
More people in the US have died from Omicron than Delta. In New Zealand we, collectively, still have a choice about just how bad this is going to get. Not everyone is going to contract covid in this wave, and there is great value to individuals and society in slowing spread and avoiding getting covid where possible.