Therein just one of the problems with KiwiBuild.  “Don’t you want more affordable housing?” some ask.  It would be good, but the solution isn’t easy, and while ‘cheap’ shouldn’t necessarily mean unimaginative, it has often been the result, both in NZ and elsewhere.  The state houses that were built by the government beginning in the mid-1930s are fairly identifable as such from the street.

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The Los Angeles City Council on Friday ordered the housing department to come up with recommendations for preserving the covenants that keep apartments affordable. Those covenants typically keep rents between about $350 and $1,300 for a one-bedroom, depending on income and family size. (The average price of a one-bedroom in Los Angeles is $1,745 per month [$NZ 2,640].)

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He and co-author Shaun Barnett were interviewed on the Radio NZ Saturday Morning show yesterday — listen here (34 minutes) — on their about-to-be-launched, well-illustrated hardback book Leading the Way which is a centennial history of New Zealand’s first tramping club, the Tararua Tramping Club. 

In 1994, Chris authored the book Tararua: the story of a mountain range.

These days tramping is a popular leisure pursuit, but in 1919 it was viewed as a very odd way to spend your time. The book explores the history of the club and how tramping — a uniquely NZ term — has changed over the century.

For some details on his other books, see this Roger Childs article on the Kapiti Independent News website in June 2018.

This is the state of them as has existed since 2016. (Click for the full view.) All four wards have a Community Board, and all have one ward councillor, except Paraparaumu-Raumati which has two.  The area of the Paekakariki Community Board is smaller than it is for the Ward, which includes Raumati South.

The Waikanae Ward — which includes Peka Peka and Reikorangi — represents about 22% of the Kapiti Coast District population. Unfortunately, the fiasco of last year’s government census means that up-to-date demographic info isn’t available.

 

by Roger Childs

The famous southern hemisphere rugby series has reached the sharp end, and within a few hours we find out whether the final will be played in Christchurch, Buenos Aires or Canberra. Unfortunately, the Wellington ‘Cake Tin’ is not in the running.

The quarter finals went according to the script and top four teams won at home. The first semi today sees the Jaguares playing at home in Argentina against the travelling Brumbies. The Australian side had had a mixed season, but when it comes to the finals the earlier record counts for nothing. They were impressive last week in their easy 38 -13 win over the Sharks, but will find the Jaguares, who have many international players, a much tougher proposition. The Brumbies have also had to travel thousands of kilometres and will not have many supporters in the crowd! 

Back home the Hurricanes are up against it in Christchurch tonight. The Wellington franchise was well beaten by the Crusaders in the two matches earlier in the season. The defending champions also have the home advantage with the crowd behind them, and it is hard to see their well balanced, star studded side losing. 

However, a few weeks ago in Suva they were thrashed by the Chiefs, so they are definitely beatable. But with the strong desire to reclaim the title on their home turf, in front of their adoring fans, a place in the finals is the likely outcome. Their biggest advantage over the Hurricanes is their tight five, and one would expect their scrummaging superiority to be a key factor in the result.

The Hurricanes nevertheless are capable of stepping up. Their backline is classy and in T.J. Perenara, the Barrett brothers and Ben Lam they have potential match winners. Led by their resurgent hooker Dane Coles and inspirational loosie, Ardie Savea, they have a fit and mobile forward pack. The return of All Black Vaea Fifita from suspension will strengthen the side and there will be no lack of motivation for the visitors.

A critical factor in both semi’s is for teams to avoid yellow cards. It is hard enough to win with 15 players on the field without losing one for ten minutes. Last week the Highlanders were in with a chance at 14-17, but an idiotic no-arms barge by Liam Squire gifted the match to the Crusaders. In Wellington, the Hurricanes also a lost a player for 10 minutes and had to  dig deep to gain a narrow victory over the Bulls.

The semi’s should result in the home teams prevailing, but upsets are not out of the question.

Update: The Jaguares thumped the Brumbies 39-7 and the Crusaders defeated the Hurricanes 30-26. —Eds

Firstly, in Godzone, oops, sorry, Jacindaland.

“You are to be decolonized” from the Whale Oil Blog —

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The first hint of the propagandising happening since the clown-show took office came on 10 June from the lips of useful idiot Chester Borrows, head of Andrew Little’s ‘Safe and Effective Justice’ advisory group commenting on why our justice system is ‘not fit for purpose’ and about ‘racism embedded in every area of the criminal justice system.’ He placed the root cause of high Maori incarceration at the feet of ‘colonisation’:

“The on-going nature of colonisation, people tend to think of this is something that’s really historic, in actual fact if you take away the economic base of a community and then under-educate them in a foreign language it’s not surprising that a few generations down the track they are corralled in the lowest decile suburbs failing in every area of the social sector and that’s the story of colonisation around the world.”

Let’s be clear on three points.  Firstly; the economic base of pre-colonial life in these islands was grounded in feudal slavery, not the oppressive slavery of the Pharaoh’s, or of Rome, or of the plantation owners in USA’s South, but slavery nonetheless. While freeing the slaves on 6 February 1840 did have the effect of overthrowing the system and undermining the pre-existing hierarchy I’m sure no sane person would seriously recommend a return to human bondage as desirable. I’m sure Borrows doesn’t want that either. He simply wants to pretend that life wasn’t so before the rule of law, property rights and voting rights for Maori were established, all under colonial law.

Secondly; apart from being an insult to our forefathers, Maori and Non-Maori, who worked so hard to get Native Schools up and running, Borrows’ ‘taught in a foreign language’ throwaway is poppycock – it is simply not true. English was a required part of the curriculum at those schools but was not the compulsory language of instruction, it’s a myth.

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Meanwhile, in the United States of Europe

In America, individual states have the legal right not to enforce Federal Laws they consider to be unconstitutional. But that’s apparently not in the case in Europe:-

The initiative [to “present a global plan of action against hate speech and hate crimes on a fast-track basis”] should be deeply concerning and is likely to serve only to silence critics of the UN, including its agenda on migration and the GCM.

• The EU, for its part, according to statements by Hungary and Austria, does not appear to agree that implementing the Global Compact should be up to every EU member state. Instead, the EU is working on making it legally binding, even for those EU countries who have not adopted the Compact.
• “A ‘secret document’ has been published on work by the European Commission’s legal service to formulate ‘lengthy and devious’ legal grounds for suggesting that the compact is, after all, mandatory for EU member states.” — Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

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Awanui Drive was created circa 1980 with a covenant of no streetfront fences, so a few homeowners created hedges; in these cases with a variety of species rather than just one.

by Roger Childs

…  the prospect of a referendum would ease the minds of MPs who are uncertain.   It would be their chance to share power with the people, thereby devolving some of their own responsibility for getting it right from their own shoulders onto ours.  —Waikanae resident and End of Life Choice advocate, Ann David

Priceless friendship

A couple of years ago I met some friends who I hadn’t seen in a while. After the usual greetings, I inquired about the dog Jasper and they told me the sad story of having to put the animal down.

The three of them had been inseparable for years and were a frequent sight along the Waikanae River banks. However, they have moved on and the new dog Topaz is a great source of joy and companionship, just as Jasper was.

The loss of a pet is hard to take, but the time comes to make the tough decision. When the animal is getting little pleasure from life, you don’t want it to suffer any more. At least pet owners, can decide to end the existence of a cat, dog or horse, when quality of life, dignity and self-respect has gone.    

Not long ago, we had to make that choice for our cat of 15 years. After providing loyal and faithful service, and friendship for so long, it was sore, listless and losing control of its body.

It was a traumatic time for the three of us, but we felt that Fluffy understood.  The process was carried out with care and consideration, and there was little discomfort for the animal.

Dying with dignity or not

Many years ago a close friend went back to The Netherlands to spend time with her brother during his last few days. He had an incurable disease, had minimal quality of life and was not going to improve. Because the Dutch had passed enlightened legislation allowing euthanasia, the brother was able to choose to die with dignity.

Over 30 years ago, I watched my mother die, very slowly. In the days before scans and hospices, she had a brain tumour which was incurable and was admitted to hospital for her last few months. 

She spent over 60 days as a “human vegetable”, was incontinent, and not able to recognise anyone or talk. This was a lady who in earlier times had been a loving, energetic and vibrant women, and here she was, having to wait for death until her heart stopped beating.  She was not going to improve, her dignity and self respect was gone and we all wanted her to be out of her discomfort and anguish.

It was interesting that in the speeches relating to the second reading of the End of Life Choice Bill mid week, a number of MPs referred to the undignified death of a parent. Amy Adams (pictured) referred to the gruesome, painful and dehumanising death of her mother.

Readers will also remember the tragic case of the courageous Lecretia Seales some years ago. She failed in her attempt to be able to legally shorten her life and die with dignity.

Legislative action needed

Legislative action is long overdue and it is sad to see some in medical profession, as well as Christian and family groups holding out against what would a very humane and enlightened law. 

When we make the choice of euthanasia for our pets, we are thinking of them, especially when they are losing control of their bodies; are sore and uncomfortable, and not going to get better. Thousands of humans are in a similar condition and wish to die with dignity.

Opponents have raised concerns about 

• possible coercion
• getting rid of “inconvenient” family members
• disabled and maginalised people being vulnerable
• certain ethnic and religious communities being opposed 
• pressure going on sick people who have relapses.

However the bill sets out very clear safeguards and processes, and no-one would have euthanasia imposed on them.

The time has come to make the choice possible for New Zealanders when they have lost their dignity and self-respect, have no quality of life and want to pass on.

The New Zealand First party is keen to see this incredibly important issue decided by the people in a binding referendum. Instead of the burden being imposed on the consciences of MPs, “direct democracy” seems the best way to go.

The old saying: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” From snopes.com

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In June 2019, scammers attempted to swindle millions of social media users by presenting a movie- and television-streaming service called “PlayJoltz,” which spammy, fabricated online posts claimed was “better than Netflix” and was available for free for (you guessed it) a limited time only.

We received multiple inquiries about PlayJoltz after it was promoted on Facebook and Twitter in almost-identical posts, each targeting readers from a different nation.

For example, on 25 June the website worldnews24.co published a post with the headline “There is a Better Service Than Netflix…and It’s Free for the Canadian!” The article went on to report that:

“The streaming giant Netflix has lost thousands of Canada users this week because of a new competing service which just came out and is lifetime free for the people living in North America (US & CA). The new service is called Playjoltz and provides an identical streaming service to that of Netflix but with a lot of extras. The users admit it is much faster, cleaner and with many more movies/series than Netflix. They currently give a free access to the first 5,000 people who subscribe even though it seems they have almost reached this number.

“With an almost unlimited selection of HD movies and TV series having an incredibly good image quality and that loads up at blazing speeds on all devices (TV, smartphones, computers, tablets), it is not surprising that thousands of people have already switched from Netflix to this new service, Playjoltz, since it has been launched 3 weeks ago. Playjoltz informed us that the last day to subscribe for free is 27 June, 2019.”

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