On Thursday 23 October over 100,000 nurses, doctors, midwives and teachers are going to strike. Whilst not a general strike in the sense that workers across the employment spectrum go on strike, this is expected to be the biggest in New Zealand in decades. It is too small to be called a general strike. It … Continue reading The coming mini-general strike in New Zealand
The struggle of young New Zealanders to get work
In yet another announcement likely to negatively impact on young people and families with young people, the Government is announcing a further crackdown from November next year on eligibility for help. The attack by Mrs Upston and Mr Luxon is also strikingly ignorant of current incomes for a lot of people when balanced against the … Continue reading The struggle of young New Zealanders to get work
Government ignores lessons of Christchurch in weakening seismic compliance
Repertory Theatre 05 September 2010, a day after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake (R. Glennie) When New Zealand went to bed on 03 September 2010, probably no one had given the slightest thought to a seismic odyssey beginning in Canterbury in the small hours of the following morning. Fewer still imagined the horror it would unleash … Continue reading Government ignores lessons of Christchurch in weakening seismic compliance
The case for protecting New Zealand’s environment
Twizel landfill - an example of waste infrastructure in rural N.Z. (R. Glennie) You have probably seen the adverts promoting 100% Pure New Zealand. Nice glossy adverts with somewhere like Milford Sound on a clear day with Mitre Peak reflecting nicely in the water. They look great and are certainly effective at drawing people in. … Continue reading The case for protecting New Zealand’s environment
Ending the “War on Science” in New Zealand
When I was in my last year at high school - some 25+ years ago - there was a documentary on television that Mum and Dad thought I should watch. It was about Ireland's stunning turn around from a relatively lack lustre economy to a booming info-technology driven place. It must have been well watched … Continue reading Ending the “War on Science” in New Zealand