New Zealand Listener Issue 35 2018

It’s a great relief for owners of Nissan’s 30 kilowatt-hour (kWh) Leaf to learn it’s not their cars’ costly electric batteries that are faulty but rather some of the more easily fixed software that monitors them. And yet this whole avoidable episode has proved an important lesson for New Zealand in our uptake of new, green technology. We know wide uptake of the Leaf – New Zealand’s bestselling electric car – and its ilk would have a swift effect on emissions reduction. In terms of sequestering carbon, an electric vehicle (EV) is, on average, the equivalent per year of 22 pine trees averaged over a 30-year growth cycle. Given the alarming new scientific assessment, published in the National Academy of Sciences journal of proceedings, PNAS, revealing that even a modest continuation of…

WINNING CAPTION Chris Brown, Tauranga FINALISTS Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: “Security panicked when I said we had ices here.” – Hans Zindel, Palmerston North Judi Dench: “And 007, while you’re there, tell Q these new microphones are ridiculous!” – AC Lindsay, Katikati Camilla: “So that’s what the commoners mean by trickledown effect.” – Tony Clemow, Kamo Camilla: “Charles is going deaf. I ordered some nice cuisine and a cake. I got two ice creams with a flake.” – Peter Davidson Camilla: “I don’t lie back and think of England. I whistle a happy tune, like this.” – Maureen Lee, Glenfield, Auckland Camilla: “My favourite is hokey-pokey.” Dench: “Don’t you mean hanky-panky?” – Bruce Eliott, St Heliers, Auckland Dench: “They’re cones of silence.” – Keith Davidson, Blenheim Caption Competition {caption@listener.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo above to caption@listener.co.nz, with…

As an open-minded, liberal, left-leaning New Zealander, I am horrified at free speech being restricted and subverted because of the idea that hate speech should be banned (Editorial, August 11). I attended the University of Auckland event at which Don Brash and others debated whether PC culture has reached the point of limiting freedom of speech. Nearly all of the 500-plus people in the audience wanted to hear the debate and didn’t have a problem with Brash. About 25 protesters heckled the members of Brash’s team, who included a Pasifika male and a female from the university debating society. It was wonderfully ironic. A free and just society allows ideas to be presented and contested regardless of whether they can be construed as offensive or hateful. Ray Calver (Grey Lynn, Auckland) In the debate about…

“Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.” – US humorist Robert Benchley “We don’t need Space Force. Please wait until Nasa finds life before you try to kill it.” – Stephen Colbert “Facebook and Twitter banning Infowars means the only place I can read insane right-wing conspiracy theories is in official White House press releases.” – New Yorker writer Jason O Gilbert ”One thing they never tell you about being a parent is that the elevator-buttonpushing part of your life is over.” – Elizabeth McCracken “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look upon my works, ye mighty, and please take a moment to tell us what you thought. We really value your feedback.” – David Taylor in Private Eye “Temper…

… workers were supplied with headgear to shade heads and necks, and were encouraged to drink plenty. Press, 30/1/18 Elsewhere Ed Hillary writes from base camp after climbing Everest to his girlfriend’s father, and president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, Jim Rose. Listener, July 14 “It was in semi-eruption, we got stuck up there because the clouds rolled in, and the wine changed and we started to choke to death, we thought we were going to die…” Canvas, 4/8/18 The suspected stock rustling was reported by the farmer on Wednesday, and comes after a recent stocktake. stuff.co.nz, 21/6/18 When I say the base of the table could be a mirror to your soul, what I mean is it’s a mirror. Wear pants. Canvas, 18/11/17 LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND: Entries must describe New Zealand events. The first sender of those…

1. Who painted a famous work titled Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I? ❑ Henri Matisse ❑ Gustav Klimt ❑ JMW Turner ❑ Frida Kahlo 2. What would you do with a Zamboni? ❑ Groom ice ❑ Shake dice ❑ Grind spice ❑ Trap mice 3. Who was the song Candle in the Wind originally written in honour of? ❑ Natalie Wood ❑ Princess Diana ❑ Grace Kelly ❑ Marilyn Monroe 4. True or false? Some fish are warm-blooded. ❑ True ❑ False 5. Which company is estimated to be the most valuable of all time, adjusting for inflation? ❑ South Sea Company ❑ Standard Oil ❑ Apple ❑ Dutch East India Company 6. What is the phrase “tiredand emotional” used as a euphemism for? ❑ Drunkenness ❑ Psychosis ❑ Pregnancy ❑ Poor judgment 7. Which film was promoted with the tagline “Everyone has one special thing”? ❑ Boogie Nights ❑ X-Men ❑ Forrest Gump ❑ Rain Man 8. Which novella includes the line,…