Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Morning in Auckland

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  • Ian Dalziel,

    - ask the question "Do either of your parents have a criminal conviction"

    well that's one way to achieve a con-census...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    a con-census

    badoom tish

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Neither does telling them you identify as 'a' when you also have equal amounts of 'b', 'c', and 'd' ancestry when it comes to health stats.

    That depends entirely on what 'a' is. But mostly, yes it does prove useful.

    Schools ask students what ethnic group they are from when they enrol so each school has it's own records of their ethnic breakdown to run their own programs as a response, so the census matters for diddly squat there. The government gets this info fed back to it and it's a lot more 'live' than a census every several years.

    OK. Tell me how many 5 year olds are going to be rocking up to start school at the beginning of next year, what their genders and ethnicities are, their likely locations, and family incomes, so that the Ministry can prepare to provide funding for each school and a total budget, without looking at census data.

    It isn't perfect (particularly the longer out from the census date), but it is useful.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    NZ research shows a job application by someone with a name like Anand Satyanand is much less likely to result in a job interview than an identical one by someone called John Smith or similar. That's without clapping eyes on the person or hearing their voice.

    Consider the damage that does to all of us as a nation. About one in three Aucklanders were born overseas (compared with about one in six over the whole country, I think - can't find the number to link to). At the recent TEDxAuckland innovation event, a show of hands revealed that *two* thirds of the attendees were born overseas. Join the dots.

    And there's been a dark and long-running gag in Toronto that it has the world's highest-qualified taxi drivers.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Peter grower,

    Here's how you deal with the census.

    When the census people come to your dwelling they always ask how many people will be there on census night.

    If you dont want to do a census, subtract yourself from the number of people who will be there and request that many census forms (one short ).

    That way you will never have to do a census.

    Its my total lack of trust and respect towards our 'leaders' that I'm expressing.

    Maybe one day the census will come with little colored stars that all the different types of humans can wear ........

    Since Dec 2006 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    There's some full and frank feedback (from both ends of the spectrum of awesome) on Ben's blog, in response to his brief note of thanks.

    This whole thing is making me think that Malcolm Gladwell is completely wrong about twitter/facebook and social activism. The lunch counter sit-ins worked precisely because they grew out of social networks; if the participants had had electronic media to augment their communications, they'd have used them without a second thought.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Which is all very interesting, but doesn't help the Ministry of Health, Education, Police, Corrections, various university researchers, historians etc when they want useful information. It's been put into the census because it's useful information to have.

    (See also people who write 'Jedi' as their religion, which also annoys me).

    Those two points are interesting. Yes, no doubt that it helps to know which "group" you come from for health purposes. Medication purposes, immigration for historical etc. But that can be accessed when you go to the hospital unless you are unconcious. It is a "public good" - or it bloody well should be.

    The bit about my being a Jedi - which I ticked BTW. :-) "Public Health" is a secular activity. It gets screwed by the likes of non blood tranfusing daleks. I would like to suggest that knowing my religion is not that useful for the "public good".

    Hmmmm.......When does "first do no harm" kick in if religion needs to be taken into account??? If it is life and death and you don't know my religion, will you let me die rather than give me a tranfusion that will 'save me' but without my knowledge?

    Oops. Maybe hijacked too far here.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    This whole thing is making me think that Malcolm Gladwell is completely wrong about twitter/facebook and social activism. The lunch counter sit-ins worked precisely because they grew out of social networks; if the participants had had electronic media to augment their communications, they'd have used them without a second thought.

    I don't get this, I really don't. If people can understand the necessity and utility of the telephone, why not Twitter? Why does it make sense to be snobby and scathing about one and not the other?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Equal Opportunity forms in the UK also have a "White Other" option as well as White British

    It even has it's own wiki.

    Although the first thing that sprang to mind as suitable for putting in the 'other' space after 'white' was: 'man at the hammersmith palais'.

    The second thing was 'trash'. Which is of course heavily freighted with it's own racist baggage.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    NZ research shows a job application by someone with a name like Anand Satyanand is much less likely to result in a job interview than an identical one by someone called John Smith or similar.

    I know of a Guy named Anand Satyanand who was made a judge, ombudsman, and Governor-General; don't know of any John Smiths appointed to any of these positions, so I'm not sure you're right :-)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    And try answering 'John Smith' at a police checkpoint... even if it is your name.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Its my total lack of trust and respect towards our 'leaders' that I'm expressing.

    A classic line from the likes of those who won't vaccinate (and NOT limited to this) their kids. An example of the need for information and the benefits of herd immunity is useful for the Public Good. Knowing that you even exist helps me and my fellow citizens to be accommodated by those you don't trust when they come to build (eg) hospitals, schools and roads.

    As for our Leaders. You and I get what we deserve. Everyone exercsing their voting rights would probably alleviate that issue significantly.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Around 20 years ago an offender with a fairly common anglo name appeared before Judge Avinash Deobhakta. He'd pleaded guilty to stealing a street sign because it happened to be the same as his surname. Probably due to the contrition he showed, the judge allowed as to how he might well have been tempted to do something similar in his younger days, only he'd never happened upon a Deobhakta Street.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    OK. Tell me how many 5 year olds are going to be rocking up to start school at the beginning of next year, what their genders and ethnicities are, their likely locations, and family incomes, so that the Ministry can prepare to provide funding for each school and a total budget, without looking at census data.

    The goalposts are either moving or widening. Or have been sold to Bob Dwyer. What does any of that have to do with ethnicity? (apart from the ethnicity bit) ;)

    There are separate sections for gender, family income, usual residence, numbers living in the household etc.

    I presume kindergartens next to primary schools also provide a further indication in case the primary school hasn't noticed who lives in the neighbourhood already.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I would like to suggest that knowing my religion is not that useful for the "public good".

    Largely I agree with you. Except I work with historians who use census data to try and make sense of our past.

    The more people subvert the intent of the questions (basically, knowing what religions everyone in NZ follows) the less we will know about ourselves, now and in the future.

    I know someone whose fulltime job is researching and teaching about NZ's religious history. He uses census data as part of that picture. If there's half a million Jedi and two thirds of respondents have put their ethnicity as "New Zealander" what can he say with any certainty about what that says about the changing nature of Pakeha and their religious beliefs and practices? We'd know less about ourselves and I don't see any counterweighing positives.

    I guess I just don't see any harm in filling out your survey form conscientiously, as the designers would like you to. There is actually small good that comes from doing so, even if you can't see it.

    Consider the census to be like the Domesday Book. How would our world be richer if everyone had subverted that process? And that was largely done to be able to collect taxes, the census data can't get you into any trouble at all.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I presume kindergartens next to primary schools also provide a further indication in case the primary school hasn't noticed who lives in the neighbourhood already.

    Lots of children don't go to kindergarten. And lots of children go to a kindergarten which may or may not be near where they go to school. My daughter's childcare is near my work but her school will be near her home.

    There isn't any complete way that this data is gathered apart from the census.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    OK. Tell me how many 5 year olds are going to be rocking up to start school at the beginning of next year, what their genders and ethnicities are, their likely locations, and family incomes, so that the Ministry can prepare to provide funding for each school and a total budget, without looking at census data.

    The goalposts are either moving or widening. Or have been sold to Bob Dwyer. What does any of that have to do with ethnicity? (apart from the ethnicity bit) ;)

    There are separate sections for gender, family income, usual residence, numbers living in the household etc.

    I presume kindergartens next to primary schools also provide a further indication in case the primary school hasn't noticed who lives in the neighbourhood already.
    <quote> OK. Tell me how many 5 year olds are going to be rocking up to start school at the beginning of next year, what their genders and ethnicities are, their likely locations, and family incomes, so that the Ministry can prepare to provide funding for each school and a total budget, without looking at census data.

    The goalposts are either moving or widening. Or have been sold to Bob Dwyer. What does any of that have to do with ethnicity? (apart from the ethnicity bit) ;)

    There are separate sections for gender, family income, usual residence, numbers living in the household etc.

    I presume kindergartens next to primary schools also provide a further indication in case the primary school hasn't noticed who lives in the neighbourhood already.

    If I may answer this.....every year, we are required to fill out the RS61. It is a breakdown, for the Ministry of Education, of ethnicity, primarily. In addition, in order to keep our equity funding (which kindergartens get for being less than 1km away from a Decile 1/2 school) we have to give a breakdown of every one's addresses. So yes, the MOE is well aware of the area that each school/kindergarten services in terms of ethnicity. And they also know who lives in the area, and can use census data to figure out the other data they may need.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    There isn't any complete way that this data is gathered apart from the census.

    Utter nonsense. We are selling our house and moving in a few months taking our 4 year old with us. Our neighbours have just done the same and have a pre schooler. None of this will be on the last census records. Neither will the state housing subdivision that went in up the road after the last census.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    I despise Paul Henry. Why doesn't TVNZ realise that he's out of touch with mainstream New Zealand standards of civility and good taste, and sack him outright? As for 'the audience,' I suggest that TVNZ's Chief Executive take a good hard look at what's going on here, before things escalate to a consumer boycott.

    Bring back Sunrise!!!

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    NZ research shows a job application by someone with a name like Anand Satyanand is much less likely to result in a job interview than an identical one by someone called John Smith or similar. That's without clapping eyes on the person or hearing their voice.

    A friend - New Zealander of Indian extraction (looks Indian, sounds as "Kiwi" as I do, bro) - changed his name from the Indian one his parents gave him to the nicely generic Sunny Andrews because he was having difficulty getting job interviews. Response rate went up dramatically, and because he sounds more Kiwi than Paul Henry it wasn't a problem to get past the phone interview stage. Once you're in someone's office and talking to them about fush and chups it's a bit more difficult for them to dismiss your potential purely on grounds of race.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    I put that question to an acquaintance, and it turned out she "watches" Breakfast much the same way I listen to Morning Report -- most of the time, it's just white noise

    So long as it's white noise, PH will be happy. He'd be most unimpressed to be non-white noise :P

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    "If you asked me who'd be my favourite actor, I'd have to say that Edward Woodward would be."

    he would, would he?

    I wouldn't know about that, but Edward Woodward would.....

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    standards of civility and good taste, and sack him outright?

    Well to sack him outright would imo, be rather in a similar boat as he puts himself, that being of a higher ground. As much as I can do a number of better thoughts than of this man, I would happily give him 3 warnings before I showed him the door. 3 would probably only take one show or a few at most. Then that would teach him a lesson in civility.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Utter nonsense. We are selling our house and moving in a few months taking our 4 year old with us. Our neighbours have just done the same and have a pre schooler. None of this will be on the last census records.

    Which is why the census gets done every 5 years. Imperfect but better than not having census data.

    See also electoral rolls which are also only accurate-ish on the day that they get closed.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    And there's been a dark and long-running gag in Toronto that it has the world's highest-qualified taxi drivers.

    When I worked at Pizza Hut as a teenager, one of our drivers was a top-flight cardio-thoracic surgeon from the Ukraine.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

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