The Minister of Health, little Simeon Brown, directed Health NZ in March, according to recently released OIA documents, to:. “Prioritise medium-term (circa 3 years) agreements with private providers prior to moving towards longer-term agreements (circa 10 years),” he wrote to Levy. Such deals … [Read more...]
South Island must not be left behind…
An open letter by Colin Meurk ONZM regarding possible move of research base from South Island. Time is running out. We must understand the looming dire consequences of losing the last Govt Head Office (HO) in the South Island. We must SECURE the HO of the new BIOECONOMY Public Research … [Read more...]
Garry writes 17 June – Regulatory Standards Bill
This week we are considering the Regulatory Standards Bill. We want to encourage as many people as possible to turn their minds to the ramifications of this Bill. Reminder to come to our Tuesday Club meet up this Tuesday ON ZOOM 5pm for catch up, 5.30 to start to discuss Regulatory Standards Bill … [Read more...]
Roger Bridge Obituary:
I was a Labour City Councillor and Mayor. One thing I learned in office was that my tribalism was often challenged by people who I thought would be against my beliefs. That was so often not the case. One person I enjoyed working with was Roger Bridge. We should not have got on. He was a serious … [Read more...]
USA is in a terrible mess, let their society be a warning to us all:
In the past week, an American senator attempted to ask questions at a press conference in Los Angeles. He identified himself and was manhandled out of the room forced to the floor and handcuffed. Imagine if you were a Latino on a farm, or behind a coffee bar, and watched this disgraceful … [Read more...]
Regulatory Standards Bill – how to submit
This Tuesday 17 June on Zoom 5pm to catch up, event to start at 5.30 Yes - another chance to find out more about how to inform your submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill. We will show an interview between Melanie Nelson and Russell Norman as a starter, raise the key issues to address … [Read more...]
St Francis, Te Kaha and homelessness
Garry's Musings 27 May 2025 Pope Francis has died. I admired his teachings and how he lived how he said he should. It was fascinating to witness the world grappling with his messages as he shared his dying with us all. Here’s but a few of his messages which summarise him … [Read more...]
Craig Rennie from CTU on Budget
If you work in the sectors below here are your cuts buried in this year’s budget: You see only cuts at this Budget. But some changes in the Budget are harder to justify than others. … [Read more...]
Garry on the 2025 Budget
Early in my life I worked as the accountant at what is now called Ara. One year, as I attempted to balance the budget of a rapidly growing institution with expanding financial demands, I cut the budget of the library. One of the Tuesday club regular attendees will recall this event. The librarian … [Read more...]
Slow death of the Newspaper editorial…
Slow death of the newspaper editorial - Knightly Views with Gavin Ellis Consensus is an increasingly rare commodity. For that reason, I view the death of the editorial with more than sadness. I see it as counterproductive. As a society, we must harness whatever means we can to draw people back … [Read more...]