Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Tony's wonderful duck
Tony Reigler has a lot of ducks. He's created a lagoon for them to float on, so it's no surprise that they've gathered there - Big Lagoon at Taramoa, to nest, feed and generally dabble about. There are geese too, and swans. Not to mention scaups and shovellers and my favourite grey-fronted herons.
Inside of Tony's house, there are ducks also, of the carved and molded sort: decoys of every hue and shape. The model that took my eye was this odd and beautifully crafted leather duck decoy, made long ago, by a boot-maker from Palmerston North. It's stitching is immaculately done and the whole thing is as sound as a bell. I asked Tony about the decoy and recorded his story for our radio show and will play it next week. He spoke very well indeed and his knowledge of decoys was matched only by his passion for the living versions and the habitats they require - waterways; ponds, lagoons and wetlands.
Here's Tony with his little leather duck in hand.
Inside of Tony's house, there are ducks also, of the carved and molded sort: decoys of every hue and shape. The model that took my eye was this odd and beautifully crafted leather duck decoy, made long ago, by a boot-maker from Palmerston North. It's stitching is immaculately done and the whole thing is as sound as a bell. I asked Tony about the decoy and recorded his story for our radio show and will play it next week. He spoke very well indeed and his knowledge of decoys was matched only by his passion for the living versions and the habitats they require - waterways; ponds, lagoons and wetlands.
Here's Tony with his little leather duck in hand.
Fallow for PM
(Inserting the stiletto between the ribs is a fine art. Michael Fallow of the Southland Times is the master artist.)
Trials and trails
Did the editor write Thursday´s editorial? Myross Bush school is trialling a lower speed limit - not trailing it.
SHIRLEY GOODWIN
* Though the editor was not, himself, part of the flawed writing or proofreading process in that editorial, he remains accountable for any mistakes in it. It´s one of the trials and tribulations of editor-ship - Michael Fallow.
Trials and trails
Did the editor write Thursday´s editorial? Myross Bush school is trialling a lower speed limit - not trailing it.
SHIRLEY GOODWIN
* Though the editor was not, himself, part of the flawed writing or proofreading process in that editorial, he remains accountable for any mistakes in it. It´s one of the trials and tribulations of editor-ship - Michael Fallow.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Pupils smell the (Fairtrade) coffee
Aparima college student Hollie Guyton , 17, with a Fairtrade coffee cup, along with (left) Abby Simpson (left) and Sarah Menzies, both 12. The school has been recognised as a Fairtrade school.
Aparima College has become the first Fairtrade school in Southland.
Student Hollie Guyton, 17, said being recognised as a Fairtrade school was a good start in her plans of Riverton becoming a Fairtrade town.
To become a Fairtrade school Aparima College had to complete requirements set by Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand, including using two or more Fairtrade certified products within the school, promoting Fairtrade to students and achieving progress goals, she said.
The school had introduced Fairtrade tea and coffee in the common room and Fairtrade bananas in the canteen, she said.
They had also completed a day of lessons and activities with the students, which included Fairtrade chalk-drawing and colouring competitions.
The school planned to work Fairtrade into its curriculum for junior students and paint a mural somewhere within the school, Hollie said.
Holly, along with a committee of students, planned to have the town certified as Fairtrade by the end of the year - four businesses had already achieved the status, she said.
''It's pretty exciting for us. In a large farming community we know how hard it is to produce food.
''Everyone in the community is behind Fairtrade and we've had a really positive response.''
Aparima College is the only school south of Dunedin listed as Fairtrade.
Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand marketing and communications officer Angus CoullntsT nte said yesterday it was fantastic to see a student motivating an entire community to become Fairtrade.
The school was a good step forward in that direction, he said.
''It would be fantastic to see more smaller towns becoming fairtrade.''
WHAT IS IT
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Source: Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Old carved vessel found on beach
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Southland Museum and Art Gallery education and visitor services co-ordinator Colin Anderson holds part of a carved vessel found on a Southland beach this month.
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A conservator will visit Invercargill next month to inspect what is believed to be part a carved vessel found on a Southland beach.
Riverton conservationist Robert Guyton found the piece of wood when walking from Oreti Beach to Riverton.
Southland Museum and Art Gallery historian David Dudfield said the boat was made some time after Europeans arrived in New Zealand.
It had been made by drilling holes into the wood then knocking out the wood between the holes to make a hull, Mr Dudfield said.
It had a hole for a rudder peg so it was likely it could be set on a course when launched, he said.
The age and purpose of the boat were not known but when the conservator visited the museum a lot more could be discovered, including the type of wood used in making the hull, Mr Dudfield said.
Mr Guyton noticed a small wooden object ''about the size of a post box'' at the high tide mark on the beach.
''It was a small, wooden ship carved from a single log. It had been adzed out and had a keel,'' he said.
The vessel could once have had a deck because there were remains of pins embedded in the wood, he said.
Knowing such boats were carved by stranded sealers looking for rescue in pioneer times he decided to carry it back to his Riverton home.
Having already had experience with wooden artefacts, he put the object into a burlap sack and kept it wet when he got home before taking it to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
People who found artifacts on the beach should bring them to the museum for identification.
If the artifact turned out to be Maori taonga it was important to recognise the fact because there were processes to follow, Mr Dudfield said.
Riverton conservationist Robert Guyton found the piece of wood when walking from Oreti Beach to Riverton.
Southland Museum and Art Gallery historian David Dudfield said the boat was made some time after Europeans arrived in New Zealand.
It had been made by drilling holes into the wood then knocking out the wood between the holes to make a hull, Mr Dudfield said.
It had a hole for a rudder peg so it was likely it could be set on a course when launched, he said.
The age and purpose of the boat were not known but when the conservator visited the museum a lot more could be discovered, including the type of wood used in making the hull, Mr Dudfield said.
Mr Guyton noticed a small wooden object ''about the size of a post box'' at the high tide mark on the beach.
''It was a small, wooden ship carved from a single log. It had been adzed out and had a keel,'' he said.
The vessel could once have had a deck because there were remains of pins embedded in the wood, he said.
Knowing such boats were carved by stranded sealers looking for rescue in pioneer times he decided to carry it back to his Riverton home.
Having already had experience with wooden artefacts, he put the object into a burlap sack and kept it wet when he got home before taking it to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
People who found artifacts on the beach should bring them to the museum for identification.
If the artifact turned out to be Maori taonga it was important to recognise the fact because there were processes to follow, Mr Dudfield said.
Mud and clarity
Kimberly Crayton-Brown reports:
A Bluff property owner has applied to Environment Southland for a consent to dump 160 cubic metres of Greymouth Petroleum drilling mud on to his land.
The mud was used during the company's gas exploration at Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, which started in July.
Consents officer Jess Crawford said Graham Laidlaw had applied for the consent for his Ocean Beach property.
A consent was required to discharge a contaminant to land, and because of what was in the drilling mud, she said.
The contents of the synthetic mud are considered commercially sensitive and have not been made public by the company.
However, the information is contained in the consent application which will be made public when it is approved. The council was waiting on a peer review from Taranaki before approving the consent, Ms Crawford said.
At the Environmental Management Committee meeting yesterday councillor Robert Guyton said making the information public would "take away some of the fear people have of the unknown". He was surprised the information was a secret, as presentations from the industry to council had said no-one should worry about the contents of drilling muds or fracking liquids.
Cr Jan Riddell said it was appropriate the information was dealt with in public as it would take the suspicion out of the issue.
A Bluff property owner has applied to Environment Southland for a consent to dump 160 cubic metres of Greymouth Petroleum drilling mud on to his land.
The mud was used during the company's gas exploration at Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, which started in July.
Consents officer Jess Crawford said Graham Laidlaw had applied for the consent for his Ocean Beach property.
A consent was required to discharge a contaminant to land, and because of what was in the drilling mud, she said.
The contents of the synthetic mud are considered commercially sensitive and have not been made public by the company.
However, the information is contained in the consent application which will be made public when it is approved. The council was waiting on a peer review from Taranaki before approving the consent, Ms Crawford said.
At the Environmental Management Committee meeting yesterday councillor Robert Guyton said making the information public would "take away some of the fear people have of the unknown". He was surprised the information was a secret, as presentations from the industry to council had said no-one should worry about the contents of drilling muds or fracking liquids.
Cr Jan Riddell said it was appropriate the information was dealt with in public as it would take the suspicion out of the issue.
Good on ya, Kimberly. I'm betting there's more to come on this muddy tale.
I find it very hard to believe that claims of 'commercial sensitivity' were sufficient to justify the suppression of the details of what's in these 'drilling muds'.
I'm ordering my copy of the consent application now.
Get Down to Earth #2
Get Down to Earth #2 is on-air. Topics covered this week: rhubarb (better than Key's watery offering!), laundry the old-fashioned way, walking to town (along the beach), introducing the Eco Fest (with Becs) and down to earth gardening tips from me. To listen, click on this link to the podcast menu, then choose ours. Happy listening, listeners!
Comment on Key and Dotcom
I enjoy reading comments from people who have seen through the spin.
Here's one such.
Glg3
27 September 2012 at 6:26 am
The Doctom scandal will be the end of Key. He obviously discussed the Dotcom takedown and, I assume promised to help, a long time ago. Who he promised – the US govt or Hollywood entities I dont know. He took care to make sure he would have NO involvement with Dotcom, so he could not be blamed for interfering.
His biggest mistake is he went too far. He made sure any electorate issues arising from Dotcom were referred to Simon Power. He obviously made sure no-one passed him any information about the raid. He said publically he had never heard of Dotcom before the raid. Unfortunately Key is head of the SIS and the GCSB. The SIS was also heavily involved in the planning for the raid. And they, as well as the police were going all out to cooperate with the US. Who told them to do that?
It is impossible to believe not one Minister or Official never mentioned Dotcom. it is impossible for someone who has said in the past his morning routine involves reading the Herald never saw ONE front page article about Dotcom over the years.
It is impossible that Keys electorate office would refer all Dotcom queries to another MP WITHOUT BEING ORDERED TO.
This is just another stuff up by those who think they are entitled to act without adhering to the rule of law.
Here's one such.
Glg3
27 September 2012 at 6:26 am
The Doctom scandal will be the end of Key. He obviously discussed the Dotcom takedown and, I assume promised to help, a long time ago. Who he promised – the US govt or Hollywood entities I dont know. He took care to make sure he would have NO involvement with Dotcom, so he could not be blamed for interfering.
His biggest mistake is he went too far. He made sure any electorate issues arising from Dotcom were referred to Simon Power. He obviously made sure no-one passed him any information about the raid. He said publically he had never heard of Dotcom before the raid. Unfortunately Key is head of the SIS and the GCSB. The SIS was also heavily involved in the planning for the raid. And they, as well as the police were going all out to cooperate with the US. Who told them to do that?
It is impossible to believe not one Minister or Official never mentioned Dotcom. it is impossible for someone who has said in the past his morning routine involves reading the Herald never saw ONE front page article about Dotcom over the years.
It is impossible that Keys electorate office would refer all Dotcom queries to another MP WITHOUT BEING ORDERED TO.
This is just another stuff up by those who think they are entitled to act without adhering to the rule of law.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Poison pen letters from Wetville
Tonight at 5pm on the National Radio news, I learnt that Tony Ryall openly admitted he didn't bother to look at the miners' proposal. Not even the slightest pretence at respect for the work of the miners.
The work of the workers.
The work of the men who have buried their comrades not yet two years ago.
The prime minister and his cronies didn't mind dressing up and lamenting a 'work of God' back then. They don't mind killing off the industry now.
Yes, I'm aware that enthusiasts of capitalism consider such outrage to be naive. Makes the world go round and all that.
Bullshit.
There is no respect in this process. None whatsoever.
The work of the workers.
The work of the men who have buried their comrades not yet two years ago.
The prime minister and his cronies didn't mind dressing up and lamenting a 'work of God' back then. They don't mind killing off the industry now.
Yes, I'm aware that enthusiasts of capitalism consider such outrage to be naive. Makes the world go round and all that.
Bullshit.
There is no respect in this process. None whatsoever.
Letters From Wetville are hot and angry. Read more through the link.
Steven Joyce's sick political play
Very few things are truly sickening in politics, but Steven Joyce's attempts to shift the anger at the closure of the Spring Creek mine on the West Coast, from his own National Party who have levered Solid Energy to dismiss hundreds of miners at Spring Creek, so that they can sell off the SOE, by blaming the Labour and Green parties for not 'calling off the objectors to the environmental damage' the proposed open cast mine on the Denniston Plateau would cause, is.
Joyce, and the others in his party, have, to my way of thinking, sunk to a low that I'd not really expected to see and hear. Perhaps I was naive to think that no New Zealand politician would play such a disgraceful political card, but here we are, at that point. I can only hope that it becomes apparent to ordinary New Zealanders that what Mr Joyce is doing, is sick.
*Update - Hot Topic makes this observation:
Joyce is breaching the Sub judice rule.
Joyce, and the others in his party, have, to my way of thinking, sunk to a low that I'd not really expected to see and hear. Perhaps I was naive to think that no New Zealand politician would play such a disgraceful political card, but here we are, at that point. I can only hope that it becomes apparent to ordinary New Zealanders that what Mr Joyce is doing, is sick.
*Update - Hot Topic makes this observation:
Joyce is breaching the Sub judice rule.
Presenting the Silver Award
St Teresa's school in Bluff.
They did all the hard work. I arrived in time for the photo.
Typical.
Smashing Christchurch
The Political Scientist will open your eyes to the reality of where Christchurch sits just now, with this article on the changes to their schools.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Miners sold down the river by Solid Energy
The Spring Creek miners know they are helpless victims of the Government's sell-down of Solid Energy in preparation for asset sales and are marching on Parliament to express their disgust.
Good.
They have been canon fodder here.
*Update - a Coaster speaks (comment lifted from another blog)
The only reason Spring creek has closed is because they are preparing Solid Energy for sale. In the short term the underground miners are a liability, it is as simple as that.
This exact same situation with coal price has existed before here in Greymouth and Solid Energy didn’t ditch the staff then.
And ask yourselves this, if it is uneconomic to mine Spring creek, how the hell is it economic to start a brand new open cast mine at exactly the same time?
We are being lied to, I have my contacts at Spring Creek and I can tell you right now, they can extract coal from the mine far quicker than they can from a new open cast operation.
This is bullshit, this sort of crap should loose National the next election, but it won’t, because enough people in this country are so well attuned to swallowing bullshit.
Good.
They have been canon fodder here.
*Update - a Coaster speaks (comment lifted from another blog)
The only reason Spring creek has closed is because they are preparing Solid Energy for sale. In the short term the underground miners are a liability, it is as simple as that.
This exact same situation with coal price has existed before here in Greymouth and Solid Energy didn’t ditch the staff then.
And ask yourselves this, if it is uneconomic to mine Spring creek, how the hell is it economic to start a brand new open cast mine at exactly the same time?
We are being lied to, I have my contacts at Spring Creek and I can tell you right now, they can extract coal from the mine far quicker than they can from a new open cast operation.
This is bullshit, this sort of crap should loose National the next election, but it won’t, because enough people in this country are so well attuned to swallowing bullshit.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Climate change position dispute
By BRUCE HITCHCOCK
CLIMATE change is back on Environment Southland's agenda after councillor Robert Guyton asked the council at last Wednesday's meeting if it had a stated position on global warming caused by human activity.
The Environment Court recently ruled regional councils should plan for climate change but leave regulation to the Government, so he was keen to clarify where Environment Southland stood on the issue, he said.
Speaking after the council meeting, Cr Guyton said the question had produced some heated debate outside of the chambers, some councillors believing man-made climate change did not exist.
He believed the council had a duty to lead the preparing for climate change in the same manner that the council planned and prepared for floods.
"Council has to have a view to be a model for the rest of the community to follow."
To produce policy which was required by the Government to take into account man-made global warming and not take a stated position on the issue struck him as being at odds and he planned to keep bringing the question up until it was resolved, Cr Guyton said.
"They want to have a bob each way so they are not embarrassed if they take a position which is later proven wrong."
Chairwoman Ali Timms said as a regional council Environment Southland did not need to take a position on climate change but did have to make policy for it.
Planning for climate change was compulsory for the council under the Resource Management Act and other legislation, she said.
The council was required to take a precautionary approach in planning for global warming but was not required to take a public position on the issue., Ms Timms said.
"The fact that we plan for it makes it known that we think it is an issue...[that] we take it quite seriously.
Cr Nicol Horrell said he, like many rural people, was a climate change skeptic.
He suspected Cr Guyton wanted to use a formal position on the issue for his own anti-mining agenda.
"The big issue for us all is we take a pledge to do the best for Southland and it's [climate change] outside our brief really."
The council was already taking a pragmatic approach to sea level rise, he said.
Like a lot of farmers, I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea the emissions trading scheme is going to save the planet.
His research before the meeting had led him to believe the case for carbon dioxide causing climate change might be overstated, he said.
Taking a formal position on the issue that was again becoming contentious was not a good idea for the council, he said.
CLIMATE change is back on Environment Southland's agenda after councillor Robert Guyton asked the council at last Wednesday's meeting if it had a stated position on global warming caused by human activity.
The Environment Court recently ruled regional councils should plan for climate change but leave regulation to the Government, so he was keen to clarify where Environment Southland stood on the issue, he said.
Speaking after the council meeting, Cr Guyton said the question had produced some heated debate outside of the chambers, some councillors believing man-made climate change did not exist.
He believed the council had a duty to lead the preparing for climate change in the same manner that the council planned and prepared for floods.
"Council has to have a view to be a model for the rest of the community to follow."
To produce policy which was required by the Government to take into account man-made global warming and not take a stated position on the issue struck him as being at odds and he planned to keep bringing the question up until it was resolved, Cr Guyton said.
"They want to have a bob each way so they are not embarrassed if they take a position which is later proven wrong."
Chairwoman Ali Timms said as a regional council Environment Southland did not need to take a position on climate change but did have to make policy for it.
Planning for climate change was compulsory for the council under the Resource Management Act and other legislation, she said.
The council was required to take a precautionary approach in planning for global warming but was not required to take a public position on the issue., Ms Timms said.
"The fact that we plan for it makes it known that we think it is an issue...[that] we take it quite seriously.
Cr Nicol Horrell said he, like many rural people, was a climate change skeptic.
He suspected Cr Guyton wanted to use a formal position on the issue for his own anti-mining agenda.
"The big issue for us all is we take a pledge to do the best for Southland and it's [climate change] outside our brief really."
The council was already taking a pragmatic approach to sea level rise, he said.
Like a lot of farmers, I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea the emissions trading scheme is going to save the planet.
His research before the meeting had led him to believe the case for carbon dioxide causing climate change might be overstated, he said.
Taking a formal position on the issue that was again becoming contentious was not a good idea for the council, he said.
Stewart Island
I went to the island. It was like this.
I visited gardens and orchards. This is Karen. Her orchard is delightful. Kaka are a problem for her. And deer.
She has a small-but-growing flock of Stewart Island sheep.
On the ferry back to Bluff, a dog bit a child, on the lip.
This dog.
This child.
Also aboard was a dog who didn't.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
No toilets in John Key's perfect world
Key stated that on his perfect world, there'd be no toilets.
It's difficult not to lampoon the man for that claim. The possibilities are endless, given the obvious image of the over-stuffed residents, Key included, his words invoke. I'm thinking Violet Beauregard here. Or even Kim Dotcom.
What a silly thing to have said. Not offensive though, as his slur on Metiria Turei was, when he said in the House that she was 'barking mad'.
Not a nice man, nor a wise man, that John Key.
Meanwhile, on Planet Key...
It's difficult not to lampoon the man for that claim. The possibilities are endless, given the obvious image of the over-stuffed residents, Key included, his words invoke. I'm thinking Violet Beauregard here. Or even Kim Dotcom.
What a silly thing to have said. Not offensive though, as his slur on Metiria Turei was, when he said in the House that she was 'barking mad'.
Not a nice man, nor a wise man, that John Key.
Meanwhile, on Planet Key...
Plant the roadsides
This woman's already begun.
"Several years ago, Bergmann, a painter by training, started asking questions about the fate of the world’s pollinators. And while she’s not an environmentalist per se, Bergmann’s art and graphic design work never stray far from the environmental sphere. To her, the complex and shifting relationships between pollinators and plants have always begged further investigation. Bergmann’s response to what she learned is a work-in-progress called the Pollinator Pathway, a mile-long corridor of pollinator-friendly, mostly native plants stretching between two green spaces in the heart of Seattle."
"Several years ago, Bergmann, a painter by training, started asking questions about the fate of the world’s pollinators. And while she’s not an environmentalist per se, Bergmann’s art and graphic design work never stray far from the environmental sphere. To her, the complex and shifting relationships between pollinators and plants have always begged further investigation. Bergmann’s response to what she learned is a work-in-progress called the Pollinator Pathway, a mile-long corridor of pollinator-friendly, mostly native plants stretching between two green spaces in the heart of Seattle."
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Today's letter
The beach that stretches from Riverton to Invercargill must be one of our region's least known treasures.
I walked it on Sunday, along with a group
of friends, and we all had a wonderful time; foamy waves splashed, gulls
wheeled and the sun shone down on us for the whole 6 hours it took to
complete the walk.
On one side, there were sand dunes littered with shells
and feathers, on the other, the wave-filled bay with Stewart Island
seeming to float out in the strait. It's the kind of walk a family could
do, if they were reasonably fit and had a good tide-timetable.
You can
even walk it in bare feet! It's surprising how accessible an adventure
like the Oreti/Riverton beach walk is for us Southlanders.
We are very
lucky indeed.
Robert Guyton
Hughes busts frackers
Oh dear oh dear!
Gareth Hughes has revealed significant contamination issues in Taranaki as a result of fracking on tonight's TV3 news. Seems the industry is not anywhere near as clean as it's been claiming. 300 cubic meters of contaminated soil from Taranaki, trucked to Wellington for 'safe disposal' - how very embarrassing. Seems like they're fracked now - even the Government has changed the wording of it's support for the practice - no longer confident that it's safe.
Am I surprised?
Not at all.
Am I disappointed in what I was told by the industry leaders when they visited the Council earlier this year?
Yes.
But not surprised.
I'll link to the news item when it comes up.
"3 News can reveal hundreds, potentially thousands of cubic metres of soil have been contaminated by toxic chemicals at a gas field in Taranaki."
Gareth Hughes has revealed significant contamination issues in Taranaki as a result of fracking on tonight's TV3 news. Seems the industry is not anywhere near as clean as it's been claiming. 300 cubic meters of contaminated soil from Taranaki, trucked to Wellington for 'safe disposal' - how very embarrassing. Seems like they're fracked now - even the Government has changed the wording of it's support for the practice - no longer confident that it's safe.
Am I surprised?
Not at all.
Am I disappointed in what I was told by the industry leaders when they visited the Council earlier this year?
Yes.
But not surprised.
I'll link to the news item when it comes up.
"3 News can reveal hundreds, potentially thousands of cubic metres of soil have been contaminated by toxic chemicals at a gas field in Taranaki."
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Black day for democracy in Canterbury
The Political Scientist covers what has been a well-buried story - National's continued denial of democracy for Cantabrians.
Saturday’s editorial in The Press - titled ‘Black day for democracy in Christchurch‘ – is astoundingly blunt:
The brief statement announcing the continued suspension of democracy at Environment Canterbury will take a place in New Zealand history. It outlines the most radical denial of voting rights that this nation has experienced in recent times – a fact that disadvantages Cantabrians and besmirches the Government.
And,
That the Government has prolonged this system – it is called dictatorship – is deplorable and foolish. It not only denies the province healthy administration but it strengthens a backlash against National in the province.
And again,
At the time of the original appointment of the commissioners, people wereoutraged, even though ECan was not popular and regarded as partly paralysed. Cantabrians hated a main branch of their democracy being removed. Had the earthquakes and the difficult and prolonged recovery not diverted the anger, National would have paid a penalty here in the 2011 general election. The anger will return now, this time with an added intensity.
The Government,
relies on the assertion that the commissioners provide efficiency, strong governance, effectiveness, problem-solving, stability.Those are the justifications of every tin-pot dictator, echoing thesentiments of Suva.
Planet Key
What's it like on Planet Key, John?
Why, it's a lovely place, the Prime Minister grinned, a place where golf courses are plentiful, as place where every day is a holiday, "Nirvana' you could call it, but I call it "Hawaii".
Why, it's a lovely place, the Prime Minister grinned, a place where golf courses are plentiful, as place where every day is a holiday, "Nirvana' you could call it, but I call it "Hawaii".
Metiria Turei: Will homeowners on “Planet Key” now be allowed to default on their mortgages and then claim it is OK because they did not read the documents; will business people on “Planet Key” now be allowed to sign illegal contracts under his new “don’t read, don’t care” defence?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not know so much about “Planet Key”, but my expectations are it would be a lovely place to live, it would be beautifully governed, golf courses would be plentiful, people would have plenty of holidays to enjoy their time, and what a wonderful place it would be. But I would expect people on such a place—referred to as nirvana—to comply with the law, and that is what Mr Banks did.
GE - you'll love it!
(Nice work, Stephan. Keep it up.)
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table a report by the Sustainability Council that shows that tens of millions of dollars of Government money has been spent on GE pasture plants, with no return.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Steffan Browning: Is he concerned that the New Zealand Crown research institutes sponsoring this conference have all seriously breached their GE field trial approval conditions?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE: No, I am not aware that that is the case, but I am concerned that the Crown research institutes periodically get attacked at their GE facilities. For example, recently, I think $100,000 worth of crops were damaged at a Scion facility by Wild Greens activists. I think that is a difficulty because that actually does create risks.
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table the 2009 Plant and Food Research report prepared by Biosecurity New Zealand that shows that Plant and Food Research breached its own GE field trial conditions.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table the University of Canterbury's 2011 report that shows that AgResearch breached its GE field trial monitoring requirements.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection?
Hon Gerry Brownlee: It is publicly available.
Mr SPEAKER: Well, members can object. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table the 2008 Biosecurity New Zealand report that shows that Scion has breached its GE field trial conditions.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table a report by the Sustainability Council that shows that tens of millions of dollars of Government money has been spent on GE pasture plants, with no return.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Steffan Browning: Is he concerned that the New Zealand Crown research institutes sponsoring this conference have all seriously breached their GE field trial approval conditions?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE: No, I am not aware that that is the case, but I am concerned that the Crown research institutes periodically get attacked at their GE facilities. For example, recently, I think $100,000 worth of crops were damaged at a Scion facility by Wild Greens activists. I think that is a difficulty because that actually does create risks.
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table the 2009 Plant and Food Research report prepared by Biosecurity New Zealand that shows that Plant and Food Research breached its own GE field trial conditions.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table the University of Canterbury's 2011 report that shows that AgResearch breached its GE field trial monitoring requirements.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection?
Hon Gerry Brownlee: It is publicly available.
Mr SPEAKER: Well, members can object. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table the 2008 Biosecurity New Zealand report that shows that Scion has breached its GE field trial conditions.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Beach feet
Monday, September 17, 2012
Details of the ship
Shunda and Raymond (and anyone else interested), here are some details of the hull I found washed up on the beach. You can see the adzing and some drill holes as well as some tiny points along the rim that look as though they might have been nails or pins at some stage. They are big files so you can click on them for close up.
Key´s ethical low-point
Police documents released last week show that John Banks solicited campaign
donations from Kim Dotcom, and that the election return Banks signed was
false because it declared these donations as anonymous.
The police decided not to prosecute on the basis that Mr Banks said he hadn't checked the declaration.
"The Prime Minister's persistent defence in this debacle has been that his Minister promised that he didn't break the law.
The police consider a law was broken but can't prosecute because of a time restriction," Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today.
"By not taking firm action over the John Banks affair John Key is effectively telling New Zealand that signing false documents is okay as you don't check them.
This is an ethical low point of his term as Prime Minister.¨
Russel Norman refrains from making chicken noises at John Key, but still reads him his pedigree. Key´s behaviour is shameful. His protection of Banks is as dingy as it gets in politics. So many people hoped Key would be better than this.
He isn´t.
Here´s Russel Norman´s full statement:
The Prime Minister's test for ethical behaviour has reached a new low, now it's okay to sign false documents so long as you don't check them first, the Green Party said today. Police documents released last week show that John Banks solicited campaign donations from Kim Dotcom, and that the election return Banks signed was false because it declared these donations as anonymous. The police decided not to prosecute on the basis that Mr Banks said he hadn't checked the declaration. "The Prime Minister's persistent defence in this debacle has been that his Minister promised that he didn't break the law. The police consider a law was broken but can't prosecute because of a time restriction," Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today. "By not taking firm action over the John Banks affair John Key is effectively telling New Zealand that signing false documents is okay as you don't check them. This is an ethical low point of his term as Prime Minister. "Everyday New Zealanders can't get away with signing documents without reading them so why should John Banks? "If you sign a mortgage document or other legal contracts you can't walk away from them just because you didn't read them. "John Banks and John Key have one set of rules for themselves and a different set for everyone else. "It's not surprising the voters of Epsom are now saying no more tea parties and want John Banks gone. "The reason Key will continue to fudge his rules for acceptable Ministerial behaviour is because he needs John Bank's vote to push through their unpopular agenda of asset sales, job losses and increasing inequality." said Dr Norman.
The police decided not to prosecute on the basis that Mr Banks said he hadn't checked the declaration.
"The Prime Minister's persistent defence in this debacle has been that his Minister promised that he didn't break the law.
The police consider a law was broken but can't prosecute because of a time restriction," Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today.
"By not taking firm action over the John Banks affair John Key is effectively telling New Zealand that signing false documents is okay as you don't check them.
This is an ethical low point of his term as Prime Minister.¨
Russel Norman refrains from making chicken noises at John Key, but still reads him his pedigree. Key´s behaviour is shameful. His protection of Banks is as dingy as it gets in politics. So many people hoped Key would be better than this.
He isn´t.
Here´s Russel Norman´s full statement:
The Prime Minister's test for ethical behaviour has reached a new low, now it's okay to sign false documents so long as you don't check them first, the Green Party said today. Police documents released last week show that John Banks solicited campaign donations from Kim Dotcom, and that the election return Banks signed was false because it declared these donations as anonymous. The police decided not to prosecute on the basis that Mr Banks said he hadn't checked the declaration. "The Prime Minister's persistent defence in this debacle has been that his Minister promised that he didn't break the law. The police consider a law was broken but can't prosecute because of a time restriction," Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today. "By not taking firm action over the John Banks affair John Key is effectively telling New Zealand that signing false documents is okay as you don't check them. This is an ethical low point of his term as Prime Minister. "Everyday New Zealanders can't get away with signing documents without reading them so why should John Banks? "If you sign a mortgage document or other legal contracts you can't walk away from them just because you didn't read them. "John Banks and John Key have one set of rules for themselves and a different set for everyone else. "It's not surprising the voters of Epsom are now saying no more tea parties and want John Banks gone. "The reason Key will continue to fudge his rules for acceptable Ministerial behaviour is because he needs John Bank's vote to push through their unpopular agenda of asset sales, job losses and increasing inequality." said Dr Norman.
Radio Guyton
Today @ 9:30
I've linked to the podcast, should you wish to listen to our first, somewhat stumbling effort. We're honing it, as a result of hearing it play this morning, and believe me, we'll be sharp as tacks for our next programme, to be recorded this week. If you have gone to the trouble of listening, any feedback, kindly or otherwise, would be much appreciated.
I've linked to the podcast, should you wish to listen to our first, somewhat stumbling effort. We're honing it, as a result of hearing it play this morning, and believe me, we'll be sharp as tacks for our next programme, to be recorded this week. If you have gone to the trouble of listening, any feedback, kindly or otherwise, would be much appreciated.
Expunging spam
My spam folder has filled like a bath into which a tap drizzles constantly - there are thousands of the little drips in there. At Armchair Critic's suggestion, I've disabled the 'allow anonymous comments' function, in an effort to stem the flow. Sorry, anonymii. Nothing personal, just a little housekeeping. You could, quite easily, chose an id and use that. I'd certainly be disappointed to lose you over an identity issue :-)
Robert
Robert
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Flotsam
On my hikoi to Oreti, along the beach between the dunes and the sea, I found the hull of a ship. It had been carved from a single piece of wood, had a keel and looked to me like something historical and important. I can't really tell much about it, other than it's well made and seems old. Martini, a fellow beach-walker, lugged it for hours, on my behalf, and now I have it, wrapped in a wet sack, back here in Riverton. Tomorrow, I'll have it looked at by the people at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, in the hope that they can identify it. Here's a photograph of the soggy hull, taken when I found it. Maybe someone will know something of it.
Walking along the beach to Invers
That's what I'm doing today. I'm not going alone. The Invercargill Pakour troupe is accompanying me, or rather, I'm tagging along with them. They'll be leaping and springing over logs and dunes, as is their way, and I guess I'll have to follow suite as best I can. It'll be exhausting, but those sturdy lads and lasses like to train by carrying large rocks and logs, so lugging me the last few kilometres will be a breeze, should I swoon and be unable to continue. It's about 14 km and the weather's perfect. I've charged up 3 batteries for my camera and so long as I remember to pack it, I'll get some beachy shots to post tonight.
Unsubstantiated gossip
(Found elsewhere and clearly marked 'unofficial', but if you've an interest in the kiwifruit industry, or in the series of trials the country has faced over the past 3 or 4 years, you might be interested.)
Viking2 (7,547) Says:
September 15th, 2012 at 8:27 am
A quiet update from the BOP.
No ones gossiping off course Officially. BUT
It has become apparent the the Kiwifruit industry will struggle to survive. The Spring has bought with it an upsurge in the number of orchards with PSA. Orchards previously free up to 2 months ago are succumbing rapidly.
Numbers being gossiped are in the 70-75% range.
Time someone actually made the extent of the issue clear and told Key he has another 1 billion disaster on his hands.
On average that billion dollar of exports creates an money go round of about 6 times. So the BOP will be down in GDP by around that 6 billion dollars.
Now you all thopught the Rena was bad but at least that disaster actually bought greater GDP to the Bay via insurance spend.
PSA is already causing people to leave this area becuase the work has stopped.
Gossip has it that 200 orhards will not survive financially and 200 more will struggle. That was an estimate before spring. It seems that unless there is an antibiotic available that is able to be used within the next few wekks the industry will succumbe.
The new strain of gold appears to be vulnerable and green is also contracting the PSA.
Just gossip around the town but it seems to be backed by growers quietly admitting that things are stuffed.
Thought you’d like to know before Key and co put their hands in your pockets once more.
Viking2 (7,547) Says:
September 15th, 2012 at 8:27 am
A quiet update from the BOP.
No ones gossiping off course Officially. BUT
It has become apparent the the Kiwifruit industry will struggle to survive. The Spring has bought with it an upsurge in the number of orchards with PSA. Orchards previously free up to 2 months ago are succumbing rapidly.
Numbers being gossiped are in the 70-75% range.
Time someone actually made the extent of the issue clear and told Key he has another 1 billion disaster on his hands.
On average that billion dollar of exports creates an money go round of about 6 times. So the BOP will be down in GDP by around that 6 billion dollars.
Now you all thopught the Rena was bad but at least that disaster actually bought greater GDP to the Bay via insurance spend.
PSA is already causing people to leave this area becuase the work has stopped.
Gossip has it that 200 orhards will not survive financially and 200 more will struggle. That was an estimate before spring. It seems that unless there is an antibiotic available that is able to be used within the next few wekks the industry will succumbe.
The new strain of gold appears to be vulnerable and green is also contracting the PSA.
Just gossip around the town but it seems to be backed by growers quietly admitting that things are stuffed.
Thought you’d like to know before Key and co put their hands in your pockets once more.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
It's calling me
It's time I got busy inside of my tunnelhouse, sowing seeds. When the soil warms just another degree, it'll be right for planting, but having vegetable, flower and herb plants ready to take their place under the open sky depends on seeds sown now under cover. I've trays filled with compost. I've seeds tinned and jarred, waiting patiently. I just need to open that door and step inside...
...tomorrow, I will!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Ray-dee-o show
We've done it - laid down the first 'Get Down to Earth' show.
It was fun and only slightly lame, but we'll tune it up each time we do it - next time too, I'll remember, when asked by Robyn, what I've been doing in the garden 'this week'. The show runs on Monday morning at 10:30 am, then on Saturday in the same time slot.
When it plays on Monday, Kim, the techie will put it up as a podcast and I'll drop it into my blog, in case someone would like to listen. If you're a Southlander, you could listen live, on 96.4fm.
I love our twinkly theme music and this week I chose 'Flowers on the Wall' as the break. All very wholesome, unless you've watched Pulp Fiction.
It was fun and only slightly lame, but we'll tune it up each time we do it - next time too, I'll remember, when asked by Robyn, what I've been doing in the garden 'this week'. The show runs on Monday morning at 10:30 am, then on Saturday in the same time slot.
When it plays on Monday, Kim, the techie will put it up as a podcast and I'll drop it into my blog, in case someone would like to listen. If you're a Southlander, you could listen live, on 96.4fm.
I love our twinkly theme music and this week I chose 'Flowers on the Wall' as the break. All very wholesome, unless you've watched Pulp Fiction.
Parata stuffs-up...again!
So glossy, so eloquent, so prone to stuffing things up, royally - Hekeia Parata, Minister of Education, how do you do what you do?
The awful botch-up around the announcements regarding the Christchurch schools is real salt-poured-into-the-wound stuff.
Have you no shame?
Have you no minders?
Kiwiblog, the site where every National Party foobar is defended to the bitter end, provided some very revealing comments on Parata-fail issue:
The awful botch-up around the announcements regarding the Christchurch schools is real salt-poured-into-the-wound stuff.
Have you no shame?
Have you no minders?
Kiwiblog, the site where every National Party foobar is defended to the bitter end, provided some very revealing comments on Parata-fail issue:
-
greg207 (6) Says:
September 14th, 2012 at 9:26 am
It’s not just poor comms material, it was also the fact they didn’t give Principals and BOT Chairs enough of a heads-up. How could they be so naive and hamfisted about this – I’m just a Christchurch yokel but I would have thought a big, well-funded Ministry could do a better job of this? Or is it the Minister’s and her office’s fault? Be interested in the Wellington view.
-
Nigel (437) Says:
September 14th, 2012 at 9:34 am
As sloppy a government announcement as I have ever seen, to do it to a city under such pressure from the quakes just cruel.
But her performance on Campbell live was a shocker, talking points & no displayed empathy for what she was inflicting.
-
Mark (769) Says:
September 14th, 2012 at 9:38 am
What is it about the Ministry of Education and Hekia Parata that makes it such a communication nightmare for the government. What happened to the consultation process here? Shirley Boys High School principal John Laurenson clearly had no idea what the ministry was proposing which is unbeleivable mismanagement.
One wonders how many of these PR fuckups Parata can survive.
E patu ana
"A 1000-strong gathering of Maoridom has voted to boycott the Government’s fast-track consultation over asset sales and agreed to a united front on Maori water rights."
Ka pai tena. Interesting to note that they haven't voted to stop the asset sales, as reported by the media, nor did they vote to claim ownership of all water, likewise claimed by the media.
The kotahitanga shown at this hui is extraordinary and exciting. The thought that seems to have entered everyone's mind is, how will Key be able to work his way around this in order to win his fight to sell the assets? Is that where he are at? Our Prime Minister, employing his trading cunning to outsmart Maori?
Interesting times. Divisive. Stimulating.
Troll Queen
Gordon Campbell respects Paula Bennett not one teensy bit. His view on her methods and behaviour are revealing and worth noting.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Water wrongs
"A Crown witness from the Office of Treaty Settlements at the Waitangi Tribunal hearing conceded that given the Crown diverts and captures certain tracts of water in order to use to create hydro-electric power, and that it controls it to the exclusion of all others, it was a characteristic of ownership.
This admission they noted undermined the Government’s base proposition that no one owned the water.
They concluded that selling state assets to foreign investors would not be in the interests of all New Zealanders."
That sums the issue up nicely.
Shove that 3-year old into care, or else!
 |
| Paula Bennett |
15 hours of ECE for a 3 year old is not recommended by kindergartens. They’ll only take a child up to 12 hours a week at that age.
Some parents may wish to follow the Steiner educational model that doesn’t start children in school until age 7.
Some parents want to have a choice about the educational environment they put their children into. Not all ECE is suitable for all children. One of my colleagues went through three services until she found one to suit her daughter.
Some families chose to home school their children to provide them with an alternative positive schooling environment.
Some parents may wish to follow the Steiner educational model that doesn’t start children in school until age 7.
Some parents want to have a choice about the educational environment they put their children into. Not all ECE is suitable for all children. One of my colleagues went through three services until she found one to suit her daughter.
Some families chose to home school their children to provide them with an alternative positive schooling environment.
Jan Logie, Green MP points to some of the many flaws in National's draconian demand on parents who are receiving a benefit.
Paula Bennett though, cares not a jot.
What she says, GOES!
Angry Gerry
 |
| Gerry Brownlee |
Gerry Brownlee say he's "extremely angry at the way some people were characterising the Government."
Gosh!!
Who could be saying unkind things about National?
People in Christchurch, it turns out. They're not singing Gerry's praises, nor those of the National Party.
Ingrates!
Gerry hit back though! he said, of those detractors,
"I’m sick of these people carping and moaning"
Crumbs, Gerry! That's a bit strong. I hope you didn't go on.
He did.
Gerry then said that their views weren't representative and that their problem was that they had time to,
"buggerise around on Facebook all day".
Buggerise?
Very Parliamentary, that language, Gerry and very gracious of you to describe your constituents in that way.
Go Gerr!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
What do we think of the "Social Contract"?
Various commenters have their say (without their knowledge :-)
"Vulnerable kiwis used to be looked after without major stigma attached. Until the early 80s really, co-inciding with the return of high unemployment levels. Bennies are now demonised and hunted down like rogue beasts at every turn - childcare obligations a reasonably paid person would have trouble meeting with travel involved, dodgy over priced drug testing, pointless work ready seminars–transport needed, constant time wasting ‘jolly up’ meetings with case workers-transport needed. “Pass Cards” for certain young bennies to be able to spend their miserable entitlement."
"Wedged into all the yapping about that imaginary construct “personal responsibility”, I’ve recently heard that the basis for “welfare reform” is The Social Contract. Which social contract they mean hasn’t been explained. I think it must be a new definition, made for media soundbites, that stops just short of examining the division between inalienable or natural rights and political or legal rights.
What National are doing is saying that the citizen’s social contract to give up some freedoms to the ruler is all there is to the social contract; a distorted interpretation to support authoritarian or control fantasies. It’s short hand for, “Do what I say, because I have power”. The bit they’ve conveniently left out, is that citizens give up some freedoms, to be protected.
Would someone in parliament ask Bennett and Key which rights, under the concept of a Social Contract, are beneficiaries being protected?
Of course they can’t answer that without exposing that it is they who are breaking the social contract. What they’d say, is that they are “freeing the beneficiary”. Missing out, as they like to do, an acknowledgement of the reality they are “freeing the beneficiary” into: they aren’t going back home to the farm where they can persue their own ends, they’re out on the street with nothing. The state is no longer protecting the citizen. The citizen becomes, stateless. You cannot, as a ruler, refuse a person their inaliable rights and think you’re taking the high moral ground or supporting a social contract.
But money, yes money, and power. It’s all anyone wants these days. Manipulation, control, hatred, all so easily accepted. It’s quite the country were making here."
What National are doing is saying that the citizen’s social contract to give up some freedoms to the ruler is all there is to the social contract; a distorted interpretation to support authoritarian or control fantasies. It’s short hand for, “Do what I say, because I have power”. The bit they’ve conveniently left out, is that citizens give up some freedoms, to be protected.
Would someone in parliament ask Bennett and Key which rights, under the concept of a Social Contract, are beneficiaries being protected?
Of course they can’t answer that without exposing that it is they who are breaking the social contract. What they’d say, is that they are “freeing the beneficiary”. Missing out, as they like to do, an acknowledgement of the reality they are “freeing the beneficiary” into: they aren’t going back home to the farm where they can persue their own ends, they’re out on the street with nothing. The state is no longer protecting the citizen. The citizen becomes, stateless. You cannot, as a ruler, refuse a person their inaliable rights and think you’re taking the high moral ground or supporting a social contract.
But money, yes money, and power. It’s all anyone wants these days. Manipulation, control, hatred, all so easily accepted. It’s quite the country were making here."
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September 14th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Hekia Parata really needs to improve her Comms. She seems to be a walking political disaster.