Posts by Julie Fairey

Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First

  • OnPoint: On Freedom of Speech,

    Ah but the vasectomy comment was made to deflect questions on something Key was uncomfortable about, being held accountable for massive cuts to early childhood education funding.

    But I digress.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: On Freedom of Speech,

    Good point Gio, it isn't mutually exclusive and it is ok to have a higher standard. I've just been perturbed how many people I have seen making the argument "my tax dollars shall not pay for this", as if that is the only or even the best argument.

    I'm sure I read or perhaps heard somewhere in all the debate over the last week that our BSA system hasn't been reviewed in over 20 years, does anyone know if that's correct? Seems like perhaps it's time?

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: On Freedom of Speech,

    I hope this doesn't count as a derail, but I'm genuinely interested in the narrative that what Henry said was partly not ok because he was on TVNZ, the state-owned broadcaster.

    So would it have been ok if Oliver Driver had said it on Sunrise? (in a hypothetical world where Oliver Driver was a dick of the magnitude of Paul Henry and Sunrise still existed, of course)

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: On Freedom of Speech,

    Thank you for this Keith. It is full of WIN, along with all the swears. I also really like David Hood's point that the freedom of speech argument some make, taken to it's logical conclusion becomes (even more) absurd. I've been wondering how that security guard TVNZ fired for challenging Christine Rankin had been feeling, prior to Henry going. It seemed that Henry, employed for his speech, was entitled to say whatever, yet someone employed for other purposes was not.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Voting Local 2010,

    I totally agree with you for once Craig! ;). No democratically elected body should ever function as a human rubber stamp - people have been elected to represent, and whether you follow the delegate or the trustee way of thinking on how that should work rubber stamping is no way to function.0

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Voting Local 2010,

    Len didn't have a ticket, but he did work assiduously on building loose alliances for over a year before the vote. Both with individuals running for Council and tickets like City Vision, seeking their cooperation to ensure he was considered The centre-left candidate for mayor. Certainly more councillors affiliated, loosely or by their own direct "I want to/can work with Len"-type proclamation (eg Penny Webster) were voted in than C&R (I.e pro Banks).
    Hope that makes sense, sorry if it doesn't, tWas a long day and newborns don't take account of exhausting electoral victories when calling for a 2.30am feed ;)

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Voting Local 2010,

    Thanks JLM. Quite surprised to be honest, but looking forward to the challenge! Been a while since I won an election (that's what happens when you spend seven years in the Alliance). Feels v odd to be honest!

    Locally while we have had our best result ever for the local board, winning two out of six spots, we lost wonderful councillor Glenda Fryer which is a blow. Cathy Casey will fly the centre-left flag, and Chris Fletcher won the other spot by topping the poll. V relieved not to have Paul Goldsmith.

    So excited about Len, and the fact he has the numbers to make some positive change!

    And possibly evenore excited about the results in Tamaki-Maungakiekie, which bode v well for Carol Beaumont in 2011.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Voting Local 2010,

    V interesting thread this, thanks everyone.

    I'm a candidate for my local board on the centre-left affiliated ticket, and just wanted to point out it's actually quite tricky to get your profile and pic up on the elections2010 site. I haven't managed it yet. It's also privately run, and sponsored by Local Govt NZ, so bit of a strange beast really.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Radiation: This Is Not My Dan Carter,

    Saw some shorts or saw Charles Mesure in his shorts?

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ideology for Evidence,

    Through my work I've had to follow quite a bit of the research about the impact of childcare on young children (although not in any detail I must admit) and what seems to come out pretty consistently is:

    Either beneficial or neutral impact on the child as long as:
    1. The early childhood education service they are in is good quality (this is particularly influenced by as high as possible percentage of qualified teachers, and low child:teacher ratios)
    2. The child isn't in the service for more than about 7.5 hours a day (there's some differing stuff on this, but most that I've seen seem to come out about there)
    3. The mother doesn't feel guilty about the arrangement (not sure about implications for fathers' guilt, suspect it's not as prevalent)

    People go on and on about the "stressful environment" argument - that children, especially babies, have increased cortisol if they are in a stressful environment. However this presupposes that home is not a stressful environment, or doesn't significantly contribute to a child's stress. And the best way for an early childhood service to not be a stressful environment is to follow the stuff under 1 above, and to have the lowest possible staff turnover to enable children to build permanent relationships with teachers.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

Last ←Newer Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 24 Older→ First