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The Big Questions

Filed under: General — Downunder @ 3:32 pm Fri 3rd August 2018

What is New Zealand’s Future?

I think we have been asking what the hell is going on for a long time now but it seems we have a new book exploring that question also.

I haven’t read it, so perhaps it’s asking different questions.

There is an interesting list of contributing authors shown on the front cover.

Penguin Books

Writers are: Dame Anne Salmond, Judge Andrew Becroft; Rod Oram; Jacinta Ruru; Felicity Goodyear-Smith; Tim Watkin; Patrick Reynolds; Jarrod Gilbert; Stuart McNaughton; David Brougham, Jarrod Haar & Yumiko Olliver-Gray; Golriz Ghahraman; Theresa Gattung; Peter O’Connor; and Leonie Freeman.

Looking forward to seeing comments on what concerns are expressed by this group of contributors.

Footnote: That’s not my thumb – mine is much better looking than that!

7 comments

7 Responses to “The Big Questions”

1. mama says:

   Sat 4th August 2018 at 6:37 am

   Hopefully the tip of the toungue questions involve humanity on a base level.

   Surely it would be to miss the point if happiness and state of mind were not put before ‘the state of the nation”,,

2. Downunder says:

   Sat 4th August 2018 at 8:51 am

   From RNZ this morning. Obviously this question is well advanced in some people’s minds with a review of the Human Rights Act to consider a variety of specified situations well removed from family and child.

   The controversial therapies purport to be able to cure people of their same-sex attractions, or suppress them, using a range of techniques.

   There have been growing calls in New Zealand for the practice to be outlawed.

   A petition launched by Young Labour and the Young Greens calling for the practice to be banned has so far collected more than 14,000 signatures.

   Conversion therapies were an “off-the-wall” practice that shouldn’t be happening in a civilised society, Mr Little said.

   The government isn’t considering a ban at the moment, but there would be a review of the Human Rights Act next year, and the issue could be incorporated into that, he said.

   “There’s quite a big programme of work and if we can weave it in around something like that, then that’s something it would be good to hear submissions to a select committee about.”

   The Green Party supports banning conversion therapy and rainbow issues spokesperson, Jan Logie, said they would work with other parties in Parliament to try and get a ban across the line.

   “I think the therapy is gross and dangerous and is seeking to deny and suppress our diversity, and that causes real harm,” she said.

   Ms Logie said the Greens would be accepting the petition from the Young Greens and Young Labour.

   Once that petition has been presented to Parliament, it will be referred to a select committee, which will hear submissions on it.

3. Evan Myers says:

   Sat 4th August 2018 at 9:10 am

   The United Nations is broke, again.

   Not surprising given it’s distance and perhaps failure in its original goals.

   The US and Australia have walked away from an agreement we have already signed.

   Is our Human Rights Act going to evolve to some dictate on Human Duties?

   There may well be some big questions to be answered.

4. mama says:

   Sat 4th August 2018 at 9:54 am

   I can not even believe we have a spokes person for rainbow issues in our government when there are plenty of old issues left unresolved in the likes of the family court.

   We need to come back to reality, look at the real issues eating away at society not pick up new issues to please a minority when the majority are screaming out for change…

   Housing, Poverty, Family!!!!, Surely with a new Mum in a ‘Normal” relationship at the helm we can get some semblance of rationality with these BIG QUESTIONS!! MAN.

5. Downunder says:

   Sat 4th August 2018 at 10:14 am

   Family Court is more than an unresolved issue.

   It’s a political divide where some people view their dispute as Mum Dad and the children, while it operates on the basis of law of the individual.

   ‘Family’ in its diverse interpretation opens the door to a much larger range of issues perhaps even in a human rights court rather than a ‘family’ court.

6. Evan Myers says:

   Tue 7th August 2018 at 8:08 am

   Here’s a biggy.

   Family members who have lost relatives to suicide say they are desperate for change, the inquest system needs an overhaul, and mental health services need drastic improvements.

   I’ve seen that message on this website often enough – will that actually happen?

7. DJ Ward says:

   Sat 4th June 2022 at 8:29 pm

   This is definitely, a think big project.
   And will be a hard decision, to actually do it.

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300589778/how-a-shallow-lake-nestled-high-in-the-central-otago-hill-country-could-electrify-the-country

   There is some arguments, against the idea.
   Electric cars, will charge during low use times.
   So ultimately, there may be no low use time.
   It’s location, doesn’t solve transmission problems.
   Choke points, may already be always at capacity.
   If other hydro powers the uphill pump, the ideas flawed.

   It is an excellent way, of not actually using water.
   And can also help, with drought or irrigation projects.
   This is actually best, supporting parts of the network.
   If a line in the network, always uses more than 10 MW.
   Then any plan works, if it’s less than that.
   The main artery of the network, becomes less stressed.
   Adding, to peak supply.

   Since hydro can be very stable, in its output.
   It is better than solar or wind, for supply.
   The project can avoid that, by what powers the up hill pump.
   You don’t need perfect supply, to drive a pump.
   While it’s overall a great battery idea, for variable generation.
   For economic reasons, it could still spot price.

   As for size, it’s about financial viability.
   10 MW with 1/2 a day outputting, is just enough for a business.
   The dams, can be much smaller.
   You would need 100 more of them, to match this plans scale.
   But it’s also, 100 more artificial wetlands.