New Zealand Listener Issue 35 2019

‘Gloom from the climate change frontline”, read a headline in the Economist last week about the report on land use and food waste from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The major headlines here at the time were about the Reserve Bank of New Zealand jolting the dollar downwards and surprising markets by dropping the Official Cash Rate by half a percentage point to just 1%. Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr did not quite say, “Come on, you slackers, get out and spend”. But the new interest rate said it for him. We can continue to spend, thus keeping the economy growing, without destroying the Earth. The bank’s monetary policy committee “acknowledged the importance of additional spending from households, businesses and the Government, to meet inflation and employment targets”. Business confidence, the committee…

I was disappointed to read the comments by former Health Workforce NZ chairman Des Gorman (“Who you gonna call?”, August 17), who implies the new generation of GPs are lazy, choosing to work part-time and “cherry-picking” patients so they don’t get the complex, difficult ones. This, he says, compounds the overall shortage of GPs. Medicine has become more complex and patients have multiple problems and medications to juggle. Hospitals are overwhelmed by their workloads, so such things as prostate-cancer monitoring and blood-count monitoring for myeloma, to mention just two, that were previously managed in hospital clinics are now in GP land. There is poverty that we have never seen before that somehow we have to coordinate services for. For instance, last week, I had a chap weighing 170kg come into my room…

David Atkinson, Whangārei FINALISTS Paula Bennett: “Damn, we’re out of Key.” – Steve Godsiff, Timaru All chant: “Lux-on, Lux-on, Lux-on.” – Robbie Blair, Warkworth Bennett: “Like a Bridge in troubled waters, I will lay thee down.” – Brian Marks, Paihia Bennett: “It’s not a Goldsmith you need, Simon, it’s an alchemist.” – Owen McMahon, Auckland Simon Bridges: “We only have to keep this up till 2020.” – Peter Riddick, Auckland All sing: “We hope you might/swing to the right/Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!/Deep in the heart of taxes.” – Max Tasman, Auckland…

“After one look at this planet, any visitor from outer space would say, ‘I want to see the manager.’”– William S Burroughs, quoted in the Times“Welcome. Sit. Stay.”– introduction to a veterinarians’ conference“Going to bed ridiculously early on clean-sheet nights is one of life’s greatest luxuries.”– Nigella Lawson“We need to start naming guns after women – that way Republicans will try and regulate them.”– comedian Chelsea Handler“Unfortunately, the working title, ‘A line in the sand’, did not make it to print.”– business writer Chris Keall on $3m of cocaine found on a beach“Turning the UK off and on again isn’t the worst idea.”– Guardian production editor Ian Ford on England’s big power cut“The comforting theme from Boris’ career is that he keeps on getting fired.”– comedian Adam Kay“Love never dies…

There are calls for Wellington’s ‘‘embarrassing’’ airport bus service to be overhauled but operator NZ Bus says it’s not going anywhere. Dominion Post, 7/8/19 This three bedroom home has been lovingly renovated for you with simple décor and neutral colours leaving you room to add your flare. Guardian, 26/6/19 When the Healthy Homes Standards kick in, all rentals will need ceiling and underfloor heating which is at least 120mm thick. Manawatū Standard, 1/7/19 My husband has really been trying NZ Herald, 11/7/19 With 20 years in the fashion business under their best, the couple remain committed … Indulge, 6/7/19 “I just want to go home,” he says through smiling eyes. Viva, 3/7/19 LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND: Entries must describe New Zealand events. The first sender of those accepted will receive a $5 Booksellers voucher. Enclose name, address and source/date; TV and radio…

1. Which of these words was deemed too distasteful to screen in a 1952 episode of I Love Lucy? ❑ Passion ❑ Pyjamas ❑ Pregnant ❑ Pleasure 2. Which of these characters does NOT feature in the legends of King Arthur? ❑ Uther Pendragon❑ Herne the Hunter ❑ Morgan le Fay❑ The Green Knight 3. Which film genre was popularised by the studios Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest? ❑ Western ❑ Kung Fu❑ Horror ❑ Fantasy 4. True or false? It’s possible to shoot arrows around corners and obstacles. ❑ True ❑ False 5. Which of these nuts or seeds is indigenous to Australia? ❑ Almond❑ Macadamia❑ Walnut❑ Cashew 6. True or false? Humans and Neanderthals are thought to have interbred. ❑ True ❑ False 7. Which city’s construction was made possible by restarting a series of ancient, abandoned canals? ❑ Phoenix❑ Athens…