New Zealand Listener Issue 34 2019

It was a milestone in New Zealand’s journey towards greenhouse-gas reduction when farm leaders last month agreed to their sector being measured up for transition into the Emissions Trading Scheme – much earlier and with less cavilling than predicted. That’s what makes it so disappointing that our political parties are returning so rapidly to the fray. National’s new petition against what it insists is a punitive “car tax” is disingenuous. No less disreputable, however, is the Green Party co-leader James Shaw’s labelling of National leader Simon Bridges as a climate denier. He’s not. As transport minister, Bridges launched the first electric vehicle incentive scheme in 2016, and both he and the current National transport spokesperson, Chris Bishop, drive electric cars. Certainly, National is entitled to make its point about the fairness of…

Protecting and caring for people is at the heart of Volvo Cars’ philosophy, which is why the guiding principle behind everything they make is, and always has been, safety. This ethos inspired concepts such as the design and implementation of the first three-point safety belt, the first booster cushion for children, and the Side Impact Protection System. Implementing these innovations has helped save countless lives and prevented injuries for people all over the world. Test drive a new Volvo today and discover how they’re making our roads safer for everyone. Visit volvocars.com/nz…

General practice’s problem is that over the years, it has been too successful (“Who you gonna call”, August 10). Highly efficient in the face of declining state co-payments, and extraordinarily responsive to the demands of DHBs and the whims of more than one Minister of Health, general practice now finds itself strapped to a Catherine wheel. A fractured health system is doing what it can to disintegrate the remnants of primary care. Already we are seeing buy-outs of practices by foreign-owned entities. Now we hear fast-food thinking being applied – Big Quacks and Shamburgers coming your way soon. Don’t believe that technology such as health portals will save us. That will only help to make it harder for the least-resourced of the population to compete for the doctor’s attention. It is contentious to…

Fred Cockram, Levin FINALISTS Boris Johnson: “Now I’ll demonstrate my grasp on Brexit.” – Kate Highfield, Hastings Johnson: “This is how Boris pulls the votes in – fishy!” – Kevin Boyce, Raumati Beach Johnson: “We will use popgun diplomacy.” – Geoffrey Scrase, Lower Hutt Johnson: “I’m going to pull Brexit out of the bag – just like this.” – Tom Brockett, Christchurch Johnson: “What tiger? What tail?” – Mike Hamblyn, Dunedin Johnson: “I threw my line out, opened a can of worms and they fell for it hook, line and sinker.” – Peter Scanlan, Lower Hutt Johnson: “Oh drat! The lifeline’s run out.” – Peter McDonald, Whangārei Johnson: “I said to Theresa, ‘Put ‘em up!’.” – Lester Calder, Napier…

“Donald Trump thinks the Bill of Rights is just one more invoice he doesn’t have to pay.” – Christian Britschgi in The Week“Meeting one of my heroes: Brian Lochore, ‘Good to meet you. So, acting, eh?’ Me: ‘Good to meet you, too. Yeah. So, rugby?’ – Quite long for a New Zealand conversation. We pretty much left it there.”– Sam Neill“Senator Elizabeth Warren said that President Trump disgraces the office of the president every single day, which isn’t fair, because he’s really only in the office like twice a week.”– US comedian Seth Meyers“Romaine lettuce: killed five people in two years and pulled from every grocery store in the country. Guns: there’s been 248 shootings in 2019 so far and you can still get a gun at Walmart.” – screenwriter…

Age Concern helps make losing a driver’s licence easier for elderly people Stuff.co.nz, 4/5/19 “I kinda just role my eyes, OK, that’s fine.” Sunday Magazine, 19/5/19 … West Auckland residents raised alarm this month, saying rodents as big as cats were wandering about Titirangi town centre showing scant regard for shoppers. NZ Herald, 28/6/19 Seven fires in rubbish bins around Napier early on Tuesday morning have sparked fears an arsonist is at work. Hawke’s Bay Today, 25/6/19 Back then, the business broke new ground with its importation of frozen stallion semen from France, aided in part by David’s former role at the Beehive. NZ Life & Leisure, July/August 2019 Oysters Available – Subject to availability Otago Daily Times, 21/6/19 LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND: Entries must describe New Zealand events. The first sender of those accepted will receive a $5 Booksellers voucher. Enclose…