NZ Politics

Seymour pointed to New Zealand's attendance rates having fallen from 69.5 percent in term 2015, to 39.9 percent in term two 2022.

That's actually quite a shocking statistic, there must be a large number of kids simply never attending school at all to have an average that low.

Posting mainly for the very good first comment on this article, which queries how they might actually achieve 50,000 fewer jobseeker recipients in six years when the population will grow, many recipients are either already working and can't get more hours, or have health conditions limiting or preventing them from working.

The answer of course is to game the KPI like a good CEO as it only measure numbers of recipients, not the actual outcomes you'd want as a result - people into secure and sustainable work.

Expect more hoops to jump through and more punitive measures to discourage people from getting support or kicking them off to juice the numbers.

Its particularly fucked up when you think about how as a system, we require unemployment to control inflation. So we're creating unemployment and then punishing people for being subjected to it.

From Whangārei to Invercargill, thousands are expected to take to the streets in Friday's climate strike.

But it is not just about the climate crisis: The event is led by a coalition including Toitū Te Tiriti, Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, and School Strike 4 Climate.

They have six demands. To keep the ban on oil and gas exploration, end the Fast Track Approvals Bill, toitū te Tiriti o Waitangi, climate education for all, lower the voting age to 16 and to "free Palestine".

"Our government has signalled changes to the plan, including a reduced focus on institutional racism and colonial racism against Māori, which would render the plan pointless as all instances of personal racism result from the institutional racism of our society," Ngata said.

Uhh, what? What absolute nonsense is this?

Honestly, this whole thing feels like the forum getting the pip because we weren't making this all about them, and taking their ball and going home.

And then there's Bullshit like this.

Maori aren't the only group in NZ on the receiving end of racist behaviour.

The government's transport plan is at odds with economic growth and a step backwards for the climate, a group of 88 academics says.

"Road transport dependency is costly to the society as a whole, in terms of environmental degradation; illnesses and injuries associated with traffic, air pollution, and noise; low efficiency of transport of people and goods; infrastructure building and maintenance; direct user costs; and land use."

Second, the plan was a step backwards on climate change, with 39 percent of emissions coming from transport. They referred to the climate action tracker run by independent scientists, which was already rating New Zealand's response as "highly insufficient".

It would also reduce public transport funding, saying this could mean whole neighbourhoods without access and making it harder for those with lower incomes or disabilities to get around.

The submission highlighted a lack of walking and cycling infrastructure, despite evidence about the benefits of these.

"The GPS' intention to reverse speed limit reductions and reduce traffic calming funding can be expected to increase road traffic injuries and deaths," it said.

Finally, aiming to fast-track infrastructure would allow decisions to be made despite evidence suggesting risks to human health and natural environments, they said.

Instead, the academics urged the government to set targets for shifting to healthier and more efficient urban and inter-city transport, prioritising public transport, walking, cycling, while rail and coastal shipping should be prioritised for long-distance freight.

The plan should also reduce space dedicated to roads and curb subsidies for driving, while focusing on health and liveability, they said.

Why would you want sickness to spread at schools? This will get kids sick, it will get their teachers sick, kids will take it home to parents and get them sick. What’s the impact to education but also to the wider workforce and productivity?

Sounds like the condition of the building is indeed very poor, to be honest.

Vandalised would be a more accurate description.

Posting this mostly to comment on the near daily culture war distractions being peddled by the government to distract from all the horrible shit they're doing, and the effect this is having to embolden bigots and fascists to commit more extreme acts.

Cool cool cool

I am sure this will have no effect on healthcare delivery in the country right folks?

Another body blow to public services.

Austerity is going to hit hard.

I am sure they will completely ignore all advice and warnings from the IMF.

Get ready for a GST rise

It sounds like other KO tenants suffer the worst, to be honest.

Utterly shameful the previous government let it get this far.

This one should have happened a long time ago, a lot of the resistance to state housing being built stems from the antisocial behaviour from a minority of tenants. Living next to social housing shouldn't be something to dread.

Analysis story by RNZ

It's certainly been an interesting time to be in the Green party.

Four separate offences at three different stores, almost 10k worth of items.

Oh man I don't know what's funnier, the shit this guy says or the fact that his voters believe him.

He isn't angry. It's fake outrage. He is playing from the Trump handbook. He wants to be our version of Trump.