Posts by dave stewart
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Why is the focus always to build more houses in Auckland? Why not incentivise Aucklanders and new migrants to move to other centres where there is not such a crush on housing and other infrastructure? Obviously those people would need jobs, but it doesn't take much imagination to figure out ways of facilitating that. e.g. special economic zones with different tax regimes to encourage commerce & industry to set up in cities such as Whangarei, Wanganui, Masterton, Greymouth & Dunedin. All good places to live, with plenty of relatively affordable housing - just not enough jobs! Oh, that's right, that would require leadership with vision and courage.
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And what about the tradition in NZ for low participation in postal referendums? I suspect that this factor will work very much in the favour of the new flag camp. Because will not many who dislike the idea of a new flag, or have issues with the process tend to express their discontent by abstaining from the referendum? Whereas anybody committed to supporting change will be very motivated to participate.
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I chose not to vote in the first referendum because I was disappointed in all 5 options selected for that referendum (including "Red Peak", which I thought was equally crap). However I have been committed to change since before even the short list of 40 were presented, primarily because I strongly believe that the current flag is well past its use by date. I therefore intend to vote for the new flag, not because I endorse it as a my preference for a new flag, but because I think any flag is an improvement on our existing one. Hell, I would even be voting for "Laser Kiwi" if that was now the choice! My personal favourite was Otis Frissell's "Manawa", and I do think it is sad that there is no reference to Maori (by including e.g. a Maori motif, or a stylised hint of one) on whichever flag we end up with out of this process. What does that say about cultural inclusiveness? And why did the "Tino Rangatiratanga" not even make the shortlist of 40? Anyway, I predict a close result, because people will grasp that this opportunity is unlikely to occur again anytime soon, and maybe best not to look a gift horse (donkey in this case) in the mouth!
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And I guess I should be grateful that having Pharmac in NZ enables me to access my medication at low cost - really hope the TPPA doesn't alter that.
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I too have inhaled a whole arsenal of asthma drugs: intal, berotec, beconase, becotide, flixonase, flixotide, ventolin, serotide, symbicort, salamol are the ones I remember.
My earliest memories of asthma are being yelled at for being lazy in PE at primary school as an 8 year old when in fact I couldn't breathe. I had similar experiences on a number of occasions throughout my school years. Fortunately today's teachers are a) more aware of respiratory problems such as asthma, and b) are more compassionate in general.
My experience with all these drugs is that they are quite effective for a few years, and then that effectiveness wanes - almost as if the body develops an immunity to the drugs. They also all cause oral thrush - so I spent most of my teenage years plagued by bad breath, until some kind soul suggested brushing my teeth and rinsing immediately after using my inhaler.
I also remember being convinced of the psychological effect that either having or not having my inhaler would have. If I found myself doing sport without my inhaler I would invariably have an asthma attack. If I had my inhaler in my pocket I would be fine.
And I have a compelling reason to blame the NZ climate and NZ's cold & damp houses for respiratory problems: for the 5 years I lived in tropical south east Asia my asthma symptoms magically disappeared - only to arrive again immediately after arriving back in NZ. I don't live in a cold, damp house anymore, but I pity those that do and are plagued by respiratory problems largely caused by this.
As I have got older I have become less vulnerable to acute asthma attacks, but more vulnerable to chronic asthma related respiratory problems, and I have spent many winters afflicted by bronchitis, pneumonia or chest infections, and my daily asthma drug cocktail now consists of Symbicort, Flixonase & Lorafix. It's best not to wonder too much about any long term negative consequences of this intake of pharmaceuticals! -
OnPoint: Sunlight Resistance, in reply to Katharine Moody,
On the subject of the AB's. Perhaps it is only when they choke to script in next year's RWC that the love for this bunch of blue crooks will start to wear off. And given the apparent cosiness between the black team and the blue team there would be some poetic justice for their downfalls to be intertwined so.
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Haven't seen any media comment lately about appointment of donkey's childhood mate as spook chief. Surely that was dodgy enough to revisit that subject again in the current context?