Thursday, November 10, 2011

29 men killed at the Pike River mine - 25 charges laid against three parties...

 
 
 
The Department of Labour has laid 25 charges against three parties relating to health and safety failures at Pike River Coal Mine.

Twenty-nine miners died at Pike River after a series of explosions nearly a year ago.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $250,000 and they were laid at Greymouth District Court this morning.

The Department of Labour say they are currently unable to name the charged parties as they either have name suppression or the right to apply for name suppression.

They are also unable to identify specific charges as this may lead to identification of those involved.

Due to the high public interest in the case the Department of Labour say they are endeavouring to ensure names can be published where possible.

It has taken 357 days for the Department of Labour to conduct this investigation, an investigation they say is the most complex they have undertaken.

More than 200 interviews were conducted by a team of 15 people.
 
Acknowledgements: 3 News

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Pike-River---health-and-safety-charges-laid/tabid/423/articleID/232321/Default.aspx#ixzz1dMp39sxf
Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Damming our damned rivers

The Environment Canterbury logoImage via WikipediaAUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 06: Russel Norma...Image by Getty Images via @daylife

 

Fed Farmers have welcomed National’s $400 million water storage and irrigation investment announced yesterday.

Of course Fed Farmers would. Damming rivers to store water for irrigation means farmers can convert more land to dairying, which is highly profitable at the moment.

But Fed Farmers pretend that damming rivers to store water for irrigation won’t hurt the environment.

This is wishful thinking. Nearly every study on water quality shows that land use intensification leads to water pollution.

Fed Farmers say that no water storage or irrigation project will go ahead unless it stacks up environmentally, and they go on to give the example of the Opuha Dam as a project with increased economic performance and environmental benefits. However, in January, the principle surface water quality officer at Environment Canterbury linked the Opuha Dam to an increase in toxic algae blooms in the Opihi River.

National and Fed Farmers want to pretend we can have more cows and cleaner rivers. Unfortunately science shows we can’t.

If they have to resort to citing a river with toxic algal blooms as an example of environmental benefit, then we are in trouble.
Indeed, science shows we have a freshwater crisis on our hands. More than one half of our monitored rivers are unsafe for swimming, one third-of our lakes are unhealthy, and two-thirds of our native freshwater fish are at risk or threatened with extinction.

But there is hope: we have a plan to make our rivers and lakes clean enough to swim in again. We will introduce standards for clean water that deal with the causes of pollution, as well as a charge for irrigation water that will fund water clean-up initiatives.

Acknowledgements: Russel Norman,  NZ Greens
 
Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Welfare reform won't protect the vulnerable children in NZ...

Māori PartyImage via WikipediaJohn Key at his victory speech at SKYCITY, Auc...Image via WikipediaI've said it before and I guess I will have to say it again, this blog was never intended as a political forum, but with the current National Party Government here in New Zealand on target for re-election in about three weeks or so, I just can't let things pass without some comment.

Welfare reform is one of the main planks of this right-wing administration this time in. But welfare reform will not protect our vulnerable children from the hands of those adults whose duty it is to tend to their needs. How many more young children will be maimed and killed in this country because our child protection agency, CYF (Child, Youth and Family) appears unable to do their job efficiently because they lack the necesssary resources. At least that is what their critics keep on saying.

Benefit cuts will only put more pressure on those poor families who struggle anyway. Now the onus will be on them to look for work if they want to retain their welfare benefits. I don't know what these right-wingers have for brains and what flows in their  veins - ice-cold water it seems.

I will predict that if National is re-elected  three weeks from this Saturday, NZ society will erupt in a way not seen for decades. National may not last its full term, John key will seek that job he covets in the World Bank, and his successor will be condemned for all eternity. It is not the Kiwi way, it is not how we do things in this country - well thats what we said when we had to endure a mean spirited and unfeeling administration during the 1990's - this offspring of that detested government could be worse, taking different directions, but with the same agenda. Their asset sales program is universally opposed by the NZ public, but those moronic National voters will ensure it becomes policy - unless National is unable to get a majority because it lacks a coalition partner.

National thinks it will be able to govern on its own, but that is not going to happen under an MMP electoral system. When it comes down to actually casting a vote, some of those alleged supporters in current polls will have second thoughts. The Act Party candidate, John Banks, must win in Epsom, and the Maori Party must retain their current number of seats, but it is doubtful if either happens. Results in other electorates could also affect the outcome of the election. They say a week in politics is a long time - well there is still three weeks to go!
Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Melborne Storm SG Ball (U18) commenced training recently...

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted by at 10 comments:

How would National's so-called welfare reform affect children?

blogged at positivensuccess.blogspot.com/2008/...Image via WikipediaAdult and child collecting coal or coke. Toron...Image via WikipediaPovertyImage via Wikipedia
 

Changes to welfare announced by the Minister for Social Development must be carefully assessed for their likely impact on children to ensure no unintended consequences such as an increase in child poverty, said Every Child Counts today.

"Every Child Counts fully supports welfare reform that enables people to improve their circumstances and increase the wellbeing of their children. However, making these changes requires careful policy design. Child impact assessments are essential," said Every Child Counts Steering Group member Rev'd Dr Hone Kaa today.

"Welfare changes that are made without a focus on children are likely to lead to significantly greater hardship and vulnerability for children.

"Those with a long memory will recall that the 1991 budget made significant changes to benefit levels and in the process drove child poverty rates to a record 44 percent in 1994.

"The Welfare Working Group itself has recommended to government that any changes to welfare be subjected to child impact assessments. Such an assessment would allow the government to identify and mitigate any negative impacts on children.

"How the welfare changes will affect children is a critical question because the majority of children below the poverty line in New Zealand, over 200,000 children, are in fact in families on the benefit," said Dr Kaa.

Every Child Counts accepts fully the basic premise of the reforms, namely that the way out of poverty is through paid work. But the corollary is that well-remunerated jobs must be available, along with quality childcare. Second, job seekers must have the necessary skills and health to be in those jobs, or be adequately supported to enable them to get the jobs available.

"We are uncertain that those conditions currently apply and I am therefore very concerned at the impact of those proposals on the children," concluded Dr Kaa.
 
That is a very good question: How would these refoms affect children and future child poverty? These are questions that will have to be answered.

Sponsored Links

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted by at 1 comment:

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Kiwi three year old Sangster wins Victoria Derby at Flemington


Young Cambridge trainer Trent Busuttin stole the spotlight on one of Australasia's biggest race-days with the win by his stable star, Sangster, in the A$1.5 million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington yesterday.
Sangster held off Induna by a head while Sabrage finished third in the three-year-old classic.
Busuttin, who turned 32 on Tuesday, said the Derby winning result was "just fantastic - a dream come true."
"We were three deep the whole way and I though we were no hope at the 600 metres. Hughie (Bowman, jockey) said before race that he didn't want to hit the front until the 200 metre but he was in front at the home turn," Busuttin said.
"We planned for this day for a long time and to his credit the horse delivered. We had a few hiccups along the way but he's got the race that counted."
Busuttin trains Sangster for a syndicate which paid $19,000 for him at the Karaka ready-to-run sale last November.
'He was a big skinny horse but we gelded him and he filled out and he showed he could gallop from day one.'
Busuttin brought Sangster to Sydney in August to experience Australian racing. He won one race then was placed three times in four runs leading up to Saturday's Derby.
Busuttin grew up with racing in his blood. His father, Paddy, is currently training in Asia and has been one of New Zealand's leading trainers for many years. His best horse was top stayer Castletown which won three consecutive Wellington Cups over the then distance of 3200 metres.

The historic Melbourne Cup also over 3200 metres will be held on the next day of the Flemington spring meeting - the second Tuesday in November. Another Kiwi? probably not, but it would be a good result.

 

 

     

     

 




Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted by at 41 comments:

Friday, October 28, 2011

Maori Rugby League at Mt Smart 2010...

16 October 2010. New Zealand Maori vs England

New Zealand Māori Rugby League Events

NZMRL vs England - Pregame mix and mingle

Download flyer (PDF - 218kbs)

2010 NATIONAL ANNUAL NZMRL TOURNAMENT
Download NZMRL Tournament Officials & Rules (PDF - 18kbs)
Where: Rotorua - Puketawhero Park
When: 22 – 24 October 2010
Grades: Wahine Toa, Waka (Mens), Rohe (Mens)
Entry Fee: $1,500 (plus GST) Per team
Entries Close: Monday 18 October
Powhiri: Tangatarua Marae, Waiariki Polytechnic, Rotorua
Please contact John Devonshire or Titia Graham for:
  • registration forms.
  • verification of membership to NZMRL for funding purposes. NOTE: we will do this once we receive your completed registration form.
  • Any other queries.

24 October
NSW Under 16 vs NZ Maori Under 17 Tournament team, Rotorua
Under 17 grade NZMRL Tournament team 2010:
1. Mitchell RobertsCounties – Manukau
2. Isaac RobinsonTaranaki
3. Pride Petterson - Robati Te Aroha
4. Chavez Glozier Tamaki Makaurau
5. Phoenix Mamaia Counties Manukau
6. Reagan HaikaRaukawa
7. Carlos HoteneTamaki Makaurau
8. Laquail Neilson Counties – Manukau
9. Daniel WalkerTe Aroha
10. Rangikino PaulTamaki Makaurau
11. Kouma SamsonTamaki Makaurau
12. Tamatererewa KoopuWaikato
13. Tyla HepiCounties Manukau
14. Trent BishopTamaki Makaurau
15. Morgan Timoti – CookTamaki Makaurau
16. Aaron CouttsTaranaki
17. Brook WateneTe Aorha
CoachKeith Hanley
ManagerMarama Puketapu
TrainerDave Robinson
Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)