New Zealand Listener Issue 47, 2022

The country’s public water services are not a “patchwork shambles”, as Listener writer Jane Clifton asserts. This is the same type of exaggerated claim the government has used to push through its politically motivated reforms. There are several reasons for the nationwide angst over Three Waters. First, underlying distrust. The government has arguably brought much of its misery upon itself by not being upfront in its election manifesto about the type of radical reforms being proposed. It therefore had no mandate to pursue them without extensive community consultation, which has not occurred. Second, constitutional change. It is widely acknowledged that Three Waters has major implications for both our constitution and the future role of local government. That being the case, any reform proposals should at least have awaited the current “Future for…

WINNING CAPTION Rex McGregor, Auckland FINALISTS Anthony Albanese: “Just grin and bear it, Fumio.” – Mike Lynch, Upper Hutt Albanese: “Let’s form a koalalition.” – Helen Carver, Dannevirke Fumio Kishida: “Are we well-armed enough against China?” – Joanne Buchanan, Lower Hutt Albanese: “Mine’s bigger than yours.” – Vic Evans, Nelson Albanese’s koala: “Pooh! This guy should chew some eucalyptus leaves.” – Joe Lee, Palmerston North Caption: Highly trained “sniffer” koalas check out visitors for drugs, contraband and the odd eucalyptus leaf. – Mike Hamblyn, Dunedin Caption Competition {listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo at right to listenercaption@aremedia.co.nz, with “Caption Competition No 487” in the subject line. Alternatively, entries can be posted to “Caption Competition No 487”, NZ Listener, PO Box 52122, Kingsland, Auckland 1352. Entries must be received by noon, Tuesday, November 22. THE PRIZE In a “forensic examination of…

So far, the End of Life Choice Act seems to have been successfully and compassionately administered (“Death wish list”, November 12). Prior to the referendum which preceded the act, numerous organisations spent large sums of money advertising their opposition to it. The bulk of this emanated from religious zealots, churches, and bishops of a variety of denominations, all trying to dissuade the public from voting in favour, while painting the bleakest of pictures as to the disastrous fate awaiting them if they did. One specious argument (among many) was that suicide rates would increase. According to the Deputy Chief Coroner, the suicide rate per 100,000 in the last financial year was significantly lower than the average rate over the past 13 years. Meanwhile, the church leaders who so vigorously opposed the act, and…

“You affect the world by what you browse.”– Tim Berners-Lee“You know how there’s always that one co-worker who doesn’t stop talking and won’t let you get any work done? That’s basically what it’s like having a kid.”– Seen on Twitter“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”– John Lubbock“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”– Nelson Mandela“Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.”– Gertrude Stein“It is of immense importance to learn to laugh at ourselves.”– Katherine Mansfield“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”–…

1. Which film was not directed by Howard Hawks? □ The Big Sleep□ Rio Bravo□ Only Angels Have Wings□ Niagara 2. Sweden used to drive on the left-hand side of the road. True or false? □ True□ False 3. Which NZ poet wrote the lines “and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle, The magpies said”? □ RAK Mason□ Allen Curnow□ Ursula Bethell□ Denis Glover 4. For how many days was Liz Truss Prime Minister of the UK before resigning? □ 39□ 41□ 44□ 49 5. Who was the fifth Doctor in the Doctor Who TV series? □ Peter Davison□ Colin Baker□ Tom Baker□ Paul McGann 6. What is the most common religion in India? □ Buddhism□ Sikhism□ Hinduism□ Islam 7. The colours of the flag of Romania are: □ Red, white, blue□ Red, white, green□ Blue, yellow, red□ Orange, white, blue 8. Which country’s citizenship…

November has been a strange month in the UK. At the time of writing, not a single monarch has died, nor a prime minister resigned. The pound hasn’t plummeted and, although there remains a gaping black hole in the nation’s finances, the markets have calmed down. In short, there has been no major catastrophe thus far, no political or constitutional crisis. And the absence of the kind of car-crash drama to which we’ve grown accustomed, and perhaps addicted, has left us all feeling a little flat. As the nights grow longer and the weather chillier, there’s little on the horizon to lift the autumnal spirits. According to the Bank of England, we’re heading into the longest recession in history, one that will be deepened and protracted by the belt-tightening required by inflation…