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@taniwharugby said in NZ Politics:
amazing this gets so little coverage in comparison to what Tiwai was getting and the lengths the Govt went to, to keep Rio Tinto in NZ.
It's not so much keeping RT in NZ it's about using/subsidising them to provide work and income in Southland.
Not an ideal situation but IMO it is better to subsidise power and have people in work. Even if it is cost neutral on a purely financial basis the social and long term effects are massive and would eventually land costs somewhere.I am guessing that the Marsden situation also carries the complication that while importing refined fuel will increase import numbers the margin between crude/refined is probably lower than the margin between bauxite/Aluminium.
All about the balance of payments. -
@crucial my point is more how the Govt seemed intent on keeping Tiwai open, no matter the cost (which is significant) yet seems very little appetite to do the same for the Refinery, which would be less ongoing cost to the Govt (power subsidies) but similar number of job losses.
The Refinery is or was looking at a massive solar farm as well, but will get better carbon credits by planting some trees in the south island.
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@taniwharugby said in NZ Politics:
@crucial my point is more how the Govt seemed intent on keeping Tiwai open, no matter the cost (which is significant) yet seems very little appetite to do the same for the Refinery, which would be less ongoing cost to the Govt (power subsidies) but similar number of job losses.
Could be because the Refinery is fundamentally uneconomic now - refining has got much cheaper overseas.
Whereas, Tiwai is only uneconomic because of the formula used for transmission charges. Power cost and everything else stacks up.
I don't know by the way - just spitballing!
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@taniwharugby said in NZ Politics:
@crucial my point is more how the Govt seemed intent on keeping Tiwai open, no matter the cost (which is significant) yet seems very little appetite to do the same for the Refinery, which would be less ongoing cost to the Govt (power subsidies) but similar number of job losses.
The Refinery is or was looking at a massive solar farm as well, but will get better carbon credits by planting some trees in the south island.
I got the point. I have no idea what the govt have or haven't looked at around this but am guessing that other factors than straight job loss would come into it.
The balance of payments argument is one factor. Known or potential new opportunities for work another (eg Port expansion, Rail delevopment).
There will be some longer term impact modelling that will inform the govt on how interested they should be, just as there is work being done to try and spread reliance on RT in Southland so that we aren't at their mercy. -
@mick-gold-coast-qld said in NZ Politics:
@pakman said in NZ Politics:
Nanaia Mahuta
I saw this a little while ago and thought "How stupid". I've never heard of the fat sheila attempting to play international political games at the adults' table - as unimportant as she is - but I was amused by this accurate aside I read here today about her dimwittery:
"China’s communist regime celebrates Jacinda Ardern’s attempts to drift away from Five Eyes intelligence network – as Beijing heaps praise on the ‘cooperative’ New Zealand leader
It’s just as well that NZ is a completely inconsequential country, or this could be quite serious."
You blokes surely need to elect people into government who have some sort of maturity about them! You won't though.
I always wondered if Jacinda donned her Muslim headwear when meeting with the Chinese government?
Oh, only some Muslims huh?
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@dogmeat said in NZ Politics:
Bernard Hickeys take on Labour seemingly about to walk back on infrastructure and health / education spending and pivot to an austerity budget and why in his opinion it is - A BAD THING
Would really like to see a thorough review of the Auckland fuel tax now ...
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Another successful programme bought to you buy the inventors of Kiwibuild
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@canefan dont have an issue with the initiative, problem is, if the GOvt have parameters on what constitutes a healthy lunch, many kids that have grown up eating rubbish, are gonna waste alot.
Miss 12 is a fussy so and so, she has only eaten the fruit and sweet that comes with it.
I know the business owner that won one of the contracts to supply schools, and I applaud what they are trying to do (even before the healthy lunch program) but they need to realise this is gonna be a gradual thing.
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@taniwharugby said in NZ Politics:
@canefan dont have an issue with the initiative, problem is, if the GOvt have parameters on what constitutes a healthy lunch, many kids that have grown up eating rubbish, are gonna waste alot.
Miss 12 is a fussy so and so, she has only eaten the fruit and sweet that comes with it.
I know the business owner that won one of the contracts to supply schools, and I applaud what they are trying to do (even before the healthy lunch program) but they need to realise this is gonna be a gradual thing.
I agree, I have no problem with the sentiment, but they might want to look around and see what other successful programmes are already doing before they storm in
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My Kids go to a Decile 2 school and now get the "Government Lunch", what this means to me as the parent who used to make the lunch/regulate and check the leftovers - so I knew where my kids were at with the eating is
1.Apart from asking the kids what they had, what they liked/didn't eat - nothing, there is nothing for a parent to gauge and evaluate how your child is eating
2. Stats, unfortunately just like when Kids Can gave the whole class a pair of shoes - now my kids are included in the stats for needing school provided lunches
3. This is all being paid for by tax payers for all the kids regardless of their status so children aren't stigmatized
4. There was already a breakfast club ( which my kids would always put there hands up for despite the breakfast at home)
5. The lunch club (again my kids would from time to time put their hands up for despite the meals made for them at home)So as parents who took an interest in the well being of our children that is now not good enough and the state knows better?
I get the very unfortunate side that children aren't feed well but I don't think that this solution is correct and excuse the pun but shouldn't Education actually be the answer here
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@blackeyeagain said in NZ Politics:
My Kids go to a Decile 2 school and now get the "Government Lunch", what this means to me as the parent who used to make the lunch/regulate and check the leftovers - so I knew where my kids were at with the eating is
1.Apart from asking the kids what they had, what they liked/didn't eat - nothing, there is nothing for a parent to gauge and evaluate how your child is eating
2. Stats, unfortunately just like when Kids Can gave the whole class a pair of shoes - now my kids are included in the stats for needing school provided lunches
3. This is all being paid for by tax payers for all the kids regardless of their status so children aren't stigmatized
4. There was already a breakfast club ( which my kids would always put there hands up for despite the breakfast at home)
5. The lunch club (again my kids would from time to time put their hands up for despite the meals made for them at home)So as parents who took an interest in the well being of our children that is now not good enough and the state knows better?
I get the very unfortunate side that children aren't feed well but I don't think that this solution is correct and excuse the pun but shouldn't Education actually be the answer here
Treating a problem that needs a knife by using a sledgehammer
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@canefan said in NZ Politics:
Treating a problem that needs a knife by using a sledgehammer
... swung by bureaucrats and paid for by taxpayers. It's well meaning, but (like many government initiatives) 'is this the most effective use of our communal effort (aka money)'?
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@nzzp said in NZ Politics:
@canefan said in NZ Politics:
Treating a problem that needs a knife by using a sledgehammer
... swung by bureaucrats and paid for by taxpayers. It's well meaning, but (like many government initiatives) 'is this the most effective use of our communal effort (aka money)'?
Yeah. I don't know what the answer is. But seeing reports of the waste to date does not tell me we are on the right track. Hearing that they will blanket supply all kids in certain deciles to spare the feelings of those who need it does not tell me we are on the right track
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@nzzp said in NZ Politics:
@canefan said in NZ Politics:
Treating a problem that needs a knife by using a sledgehammer
... swung by bureaucrats and paid for by taxpayers. It's well meaning, but (like many government initiatives) 'is this the most effective use of our communal effort (aka money)'?
And more importantly "is the outcome going to be any better?"
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Or are we now dragging kids that were been fed a well balanced and monitored diet by the very same people who do have the kids best interests at heart down to a "school sized lunch"
Does this mean the skinny kids get more because they need to put on weight or less because they obviously don't need as much - in the eyes of the teachers who are most likely looking over 20-30 kids at lunch time
And vice versa for the PC brigade - are the Fat kids fed more because they obviously eat it or less because you know Health Nutrition Balance? -
@blackeyeagain we still send our kids lunch.
TR Jnr eats both, Miss 12, well, who knows what she eats, 12 year old girls are odd little creatures.
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Providing school lunches is one of the best points about Japan. In every state elementary and junior high school, nutritious lunches are given to all kids. From every source, my own kids, friends, students at uni from less-than-fortunate homes, I have yet to hear someone say anything negative about it. It is the greatest leveler in this society. Every kid gets one nutritious meal a day regardless of background in a society where child poverty is increasing.
Whatever unique spin you put on it in opposition, social engineering, socialism, kids don't like the food (just f%#k off!), done right it is the best use of tax-payer's money I can think of. Just feed the friggen kids and shut up! -
@old-samurai-jack What has happened to cause increasing child poverty in one of the most prosperous nations on earth?
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