Podcasts about life choice act

Just over three years ago the End of Life Choice Act became law.

ACT Party leader David Seymour gave his State of the Nation speech this week, hot on the heels of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's. He covered everything from tax cuts to the End of Life Choice Act - but a key point stuck out to many of those listening... If the soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister is hardly on the same page as the rest of the coalition, how can we trust that they are operating efficiently? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two former members of a committee tasked with checking over assisted deaths to ensure the law worked as it should say the system is so broken they wouldn't have known if someone had wrongly died. Doctors Jane Greville and Dana Wensley repeatedly raised concerns about incomplete information about a patient's health and the risk of coercion. In one case, a patient with suspected dementia who could not speak English was approved for assisted dying without a translator in the room. ACT Leader David Seymour was behind the End of Life Choice Act and joins Jack Tame to discuss how this happened. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A regulatory impact assessment of David Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill has failed a quality assurance test carried out by his own Ministry for Regulation. The Ministry for Regulation says not enough work has been done to assess the possible impacts of the Treaty Principles Bill for it to be passed into law. Act MP and health spokesperson Todd Stephenson was on Q+A to talk about his member's bill to expand access to assisted dying, which seeks to remove the 6-month time limit on a terminal diagnosis. He also discusses the so-called ‘gag rule' against health professionals bringing euthanasia up as an option to patients, the state of palliative care funding, and the ongoing review into the End of Life Choice Act. Louise Upston rejects official advice $3b a year needed to fix child poverty. The coalition government disagrees with advice provided by officials that $3 billion a year is needed to reach the country's child poverty reduction target. Minister for Child Poverty Reduction Louise Upston said the government was taking a different approach to the previous Labour government. We're having a chat with Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March about what National is trying to do. ================================== Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠ Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

It is nearly five years since the End of Life Choice Act became law, and nearly three years since it was implemented, allowing some terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live to be helped to die by a doctor. 

A Ministry of Health review three years after euthanasia became legal might re-ignite debate. The Ministry is asking people to share their thoughts on the Act. It says 344 people had an assisted death in the year to March 31. General Practice NZ chair, Bryan Betty, says the Act is working as designed. But he says some groups and people still strongly oppose it, despite its rigorous safeguards. "The reason for doing a review like that is to uncover those types of issues and to see how this has been operating - and if there are any things there that we should be thinking about going forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hospice leaders and the architect of New Zealand's assisted dying laws are calling for major changes to the End of Life Choice Act when it comes up for review later this year. Political editor Jo Moir spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Since November 2021 terminally ill New Zealanders have had the right to seek a medically assisted death, provisioned by the End of Life Choice Act. Since then, from more than 1400 applicants, 565 people have had an assisted death. Not everyone with a terminal illness meets the criteria, but for those who do, researchers say access can be difficult to navigate. The Ministry of Health is required to review the law in November next year. Dr Jessica Young, a sociologist and senior research fellow at Victoria University, is leading a team of researchers examining the experiences of people who are using the assisted dying pathways. And fellow team member Dr Jeanne Snelling, a senior law lecturer at the University of Otago, is zeroing in on legal aspects of the legislation.

Health authorities have received multiple complaints about the Assisted Dying Service, including a lack of facilities willing to provide it and claims of discrimination against patients with a terminal illness who chose to use the service. Since the End of Life Choice Act came into place two years ago more than 600 people with a terminal illness have used the service. Sally Wenley reports.

Nice try but no potato for New Zealand couple's giant find A New Zealand couple who believed they had dug up the world's largest potato in the garden of their small farm near Hamilton have had their dreams turned to mash after Guinness World Records wrote to say that scientific testing had found it wasn't, in fact, a potato after all. 紐西蘭一對夫婦相信，他們在漢密頓附近自家小農場的菜園中，挖到世界上最大顆馬鈴薯，但金氏世界紀錄寫信告知他們，科學檢測發現這玩意兒完全不是馬鈴薯後，他們的幻想破滅了。 Colin Craig-Brown, who first hit the tuber of a gourd with a hoe last August when gardening with his wife Donna, said it sure looked and tasted like a potato. 去年8月，科林‧克雷格—布朗和太太多娜一起做園藝時，率先用鋤頭挖到葫蘆塊莖，並認為這看起來且嚐起來絕對就是馬鈴薯。 After months of submitting photos and paperwork, the couple got the bad news from Guinness in an email. 在提交照片和文件數月後，這對夫婦收到金氏世界紀錄用電子郵件寄送的壞消息。 "Dear Colin," the email begins, going on to say "sadly the specimen is not a potato and is in fact the tuber of a type of gourd. For this reason we do unfortunately have to disqualify the application." 信件以「親愛的科林」起頭後接下去說：「很遺憾，這個樣本不是馬鈴薯，實際上是某種葫蘆的塊莖。因此，很不幸的，我們必須撤銷這次的申請。」   Next Article   New Zealand announces measures to keep out omicron variant 紐西蘭宣布防範Omicron變種病毒株的措施 New Zealand will shorten the gap between second COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters and push back the phased reopening of its borders in measures announced Tuesday to keep the omicron variant at bay. 紐西蘭週二宣布遏制Omicron變種病毒株的措施，將縮短接種新冠病毒疫苗第二劑以及加強劑的間隔時間，並延後逐步重新開放邊境的時間。 COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkin told reporters the government has agreed to a ``suite of precautionary measures'' in light of the threat posed by the omicron strain of the coronavirus. 新冠病毒疫情因應事務部長希普金向記者說，鑑於新冠病毒Omicron病毒株構成的威脅，政府已經同意「一套預防措施」。 The gap between a second vaccine dose and a booster will be shortened from six to four months, meaning 82 percent of vaccinated New Zealanders will be due for a booster by February. 第二劑和加強劑疫苗的施打間隔，將從6個月縮短為4個月，這表示82％已接種疫苗的紐西蘭人，將在2月前接種一劑加強針。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1531064 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1495418   Next Article   New Zealand announces measures to keep out omicron variant New Zealand will shorten the gap between second COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters and push back the phased reopening of its borders in measures announced Tuesday to keep the omicron variant at bay. 紐西蘭週二宣布遏制Omicron變種病毒株的措施，將縮短接種新冠病毒疫苗第二劑以及加強劑的間隔時間，並延後逐步重新開放邊境的時間。 COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkin told reporters the government has agreed to a "suite of precautionary measures'' in light of the threat posed by the omicron strain of the coronavirus. 新冠病毒疫情因應事務部長希普金向記者說，鑑於新冠病毒Omicron病毒株構成的威脅，政府已經同意「一套預防措施」。 The gap between a second vaccine dose and a booster will be shortened from six to four months, meaning 82 percent of vaccinated New Zealanders will be due for a booster by February. 第二劑和加強劑疫苗的施打間隔，將從6個月縮短為4個月，這表示82％已接種疫苗的紐西蘭人，將在2月前接種一劑加強針。   Next Article   Middle Earth beckons in Air New Zealand safety video 中土在紐航飛安影片中召喚影迷 Fight a hobbit for an aisle seat? Get life jacket instructions from a beautiful female elf? Only on a plane to Middle Earth - or in an Air New Zealand safety video. 跟哈比人爭奪走道旁座位？由美麗的女精靈解說救生衣使用方式？這種事只會發生在飛往中土的飛機上，或者在紐西蘭航空的飛安宣導影片裡。 The company's latest in a series of variations on the usual dull pre-flight safety instructions has lifted a page from J.R.R. Tolkien's classic "The Hobbit" in the run-up to the world premiere of the film later this month, a bid to attract visitors to the nation where much of the film was shot. 紐航曾數度讓這種通常枯燥乏味的起飛前安全說明影片面目一新，而最新的一段影片則取自作家托爾金名著「哈比人歷險記」中的段落，並且趕在本月底由這部小說所改編的電影全球首映前推出，企圖吸引遊客前往電影拍攝地點紐西蘭觀光。 "An Unexpected Briefing," a play on the movie's title of "The Hobbit： An Unexpected Journey," features crew members explaining flight safety to passengers embarking on a pilgrimage to Middle Earth, Tolkien's land of treasure, dragons and magic rings. 這段影片名為「意外的簡報」，不但片名仿效電影「哈比人：意外旅程」，片中的機組人員更向準備前往中土，也就是托爾金作品裡充滿寶藏、惡龍和魔戒之地朝聖的乘客解釋飛安說明。 Director Sir Peter Jackson, who received Academy Awards for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, makes a cameo appearance in the four-minute video, playing a passenger among the Orcs, pointy-eared elves and furry-footed hobbits that otherwise pack the seats. 曾因「魔戒」三部曲獲奧斯卡獎的導演傑克森也在這段四分鐘的影片中客串一角，坐在擠滿了半獸人、尖耳朵精靈和毛毛腳哈比人的機艙裡。 Die-hard Tolkien fans have flocked to the town of Matamata in the country's North Island, which earlier this year began tours to the set of Hobbiton, the town from which the story's hero, Bilbo Baggins, starts his journey. 托爾金的死忠書迷早已湧向紐國北島的馬塔馬塔市，當地於今年初開始推出哈比城場景的旅遊行程，哈比城則是故事主角巴金斯展開探險旅程的出發地。 Wellington, where Jackson and his Weta Workshop and studios are based, also has been cranking up the publicity machine before it rolls out the red carpet later this month. 傑克森及其威塔工作室所在地威靈頓同樣也在本月底電影正式上片前，全力發起宣傳活動。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1495418; https://monyear.pixnet.net/blog/post/66206828   Next Article   Mittens the cat could become New Zealander of the Year Mittens, a famous feline from Wellington, is in the running to be voted New Zealander of the Year, going up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. 來自威靈頓的知名母貓「米坦斯」，正在角逐紐西蘭年度人物票選，對上紐西蘭總理賈欣達．阿爾登與衛生部衛生事務首長艾希莉．布魯斐德博士。 The feline joins a host of nominees for the annual Kiwibank award, including figures from sectors such as politics, media, health, music and design. 這隻母貓獲得年度奇異鳥銀行獎的多項提名，該獎項包括政治界、媒體界、衛生界、音樂界與設計界的年度人物。 Other nominees for New Zealander of the Year include microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles and lawmaker Chloe Swarbrick. 其他紐西蘭年度人物的被提名人，還有微生物學家蘇西．威爾斯，與國會議員克羅伊．史瓦布里克。 The Wellington Museum has also dedicated a mini exhibition to Mittens and his adventures, named "Floofy and Famous." And in May the mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, gave Mittens the key to the city, an honor previously granted to "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson. 威靈頓博物館也已經為米坦斯與牠的冒險辦了一場迷你展覽，名為「蓬鬆而知名」。5月時，威靈頓市市長安迪．佛斯特也給米坦斯這座城市的鑰匙，一項以前曾授予「魔戒」導演彼得．傑克森的榮譽。   Next Article   New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients／紐西蘭表決通過絕症病患安樂死合法化 New Zealanders have voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia for people with a terminal illness － clearing the way for the controversial proposition to become law in 2021. 紐西蘭人已投票贊成絕症病患安樂死合法化——剷除讓此一具有爭議性的提案在2021年立法的障礙。 More than 65% of voters backed the proposed law, according to preliminary results of a referendum announced by the country's electoral commission Friday. 根據該國選舉委員會週五宣布的公投初步結果，超過65%的選民支持這項法律議案。 Lawmakers voted 69-51 to approve the End of Life Choice Act 2019 last year before sending the issue to a referendum. 該法案在（紐國）國會議員去年以69比51通過「2019終結生命選擇法」後，送交公投。 More than 2.4 million people took part in the poll, which was conducted alongside New Zealand's general election on October 17. 超過240萬人參加與10月17日紐西蘭大選一同舉行的投票。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1422581; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1396855

Since it was legalised last year, 143 people have used the End of Life Choice Act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An investigation has been launched after a complaint was laid about an assisted death in a public hospital.A family member of the person who died laid a complaint about their experience at the hospital to the Ministry of Health.The ministry's assisted dying secretariat has upheld the complaint and referred it to the Health and Disability Commissioner, who has begun an investigation.Further details, including the location of the hospital, were not known. The ministry and commissioner's office declined to give further details.It was one of four complaints in the first five months of the Assisted Dying Service, which came into force in November after a majority of New Zealanders backed legal euthanasia in a public referendum. The three other complaints had been resolved.The Assisted Dying Registrar's first annual report on the service - which covers the period from November to March - shows that there had been no breaches of the law so far. Aside from the complaints received by the ministry, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, the report by registrar Kristin Good said.Patients and family members reported they were happy with the process, with the support from doctors, and the "peaceful" and "dignified" deaths of their loved ones.End of Life Choice Society president Ann David said she had received glowing reports about the service. She said even patients who were "bitterly disappointed" to not qualify for an assisted death had been counselled "with warmth and compassion" by their doctors.She told the story of an elderly woman who had not wanted to die in her room in a rest home and arranged to die in a beautiful outdoor setting in the bush."Within minutes she fell into a sleep from which she never awoke. She had avoided a prolonged and gruelling death, remaining instead in personal control to the end."The latest data shows that 400 people have applied for an assisted death up to June, and 143 people have died.Around 80 per cent of applicants were Pakeha, and more than half were older than 65. The majority of applicants for the service had been diagnosed with cancer.The number of people having their applications rejected was high by international standards - possibly because of the relatively strict criteria to access assisted dying in New Zealand.A total of 68 people (17 per cent) were deemed ineligible, more than half of them because they did not have a terminal illness which was likely to end their life within six months.Act Party leader David Seymour, who led the law change, said the ministry had done an "outstanding job" in running the service so far.He noted that some applicants had died waiting for approval from the ministry."In some ways, they are the most tragic cases. But if nobody died waiting for approval, you might ask if [the process] was going too quickly. And if too many people did, then you might ask if it was too rigorous." Act leader David Seymour said he still felt the End of Life Choice Act was too strict and that more people should be able to access assisted dying. Photo / Mark MitchellSeymour said the "one big failing" of the law was the decision to narrow its scope to exclude people with "grievous and irremediable" conditions - such as motor neurone disease.He said he agreed to this amendment to ensure that the law would pass, but still felt people with these conditions should be able to access euthanasia.The registrar's report said that one of the main themes of feedback to the ministry was that the threshold for accessing euthanasia was too high."The legislation is not as enabling as some people were hoping for with the criteria making an assisted death more restrictive than overseas jurisdictions."This was coupled with hope for a broadening of criteria over time."John Kleinsman, a bioethicist at Catholic organisation The Nathaniel Centre, said he hoped...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Kate Grundy discusses assisted dying and the New Zealand End of Life Choice Act 2019

People enduring unbearable suffering from a terminal illness are now able to ask for medical help to end their lives. The End of Life Choice Act was put to a binding referendum at last year's election with just over 65 percent of voters supporting it. It came into effect yesterday - exactly one year later. Emma Hatton compiled this report. [audio_play] RNZ sought to clarify what data would be collected but the Health Ministry did not respond on time.

The End of Life Choice Act has come into force and assisted dying is now legal in New Zealand. The first assisted death here is expected to happen sometime in December. Eligible patients can now begin the process - which takes four to six weeks. Hundreds of people are expected to apply to choose how and when to die. 

By RNZ From today, medically assisted dying is legal in Aotearoa but doctors are warning people may not be able to use it straight away. The End of Life Choice Act has come into effect one year after nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders voted in favour of it in a referendum. The legislation was originally put forward by the Act leader David Seymour, and his deputy, Brooke van Velden, said its requirements will be strict. "I'm just pleased that after decades of work from human rights campaigners up and down New Zealand people suffering terribly at the end of their lives will finally have choice, compassion and dignity in their last few days. "We expect that at the beginning only a few people will ask to access assisted dying and only a few doctors will be willing to be part of the process. "But like all laws, over time more people will know that this choice is available and more people will access it and more doctors will provide it," van Velden said. To be able to ask for assisted dying, a person must have a terminal illness that is likely to end their life within six months, and must be competent to make an informed decision. The medical director of the College of General Practitioners, Bryan Betty, said while assisted dying is now legal, patients wanting to undergo it may not be able to take advantage of the new legislation right away. He said it will take time for the legislation to establish itself and one year is a short space of time in which to get everything in order. Betty said only about 60 clinicians are currently willing to help facilitate assisted dying. "Look I think it's been a very short process to get this up and running - 12 months - so my expectation is it will be a bit of a slow burn I think as this unfolds over the next year or two until it becomes embedded in practice." He said palliative care remains underfunded and under-resourced, creating an unlevel playing-field when it comes to assisted dying. If more money and support went into palliative care, patients could make fully informed decisions. Last month the government announced the appointment of three experts to monitor assisted dying. They are: medical ethicist Dr Dana Wensley, nursing executive Brenda Close and palliative care consultant Dr Jane Grenville. - RNZ 

Maata Wharehoka (Ngati Tahinga, Ngati Koata, Ngati Apakura, Ngati Toa, Ngati Kuia) lives with a painful lung disease - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Her chronic pain is such that she'd seriously consider euthanasia if she met the legal requirements when the End of Life Choice Act takes effect on 7 November. . Wharehoka is also spokeswoman for Parihaka Pa, where she has been a caretaker of the marae for over 30 years. This coming Friday 5 November marks 140 years since Maori were evicted from the peaceful settlement.

Maata Wharehoka (Ngati Tahinga, Ngati Koata, Ngati Apakura, Ngati Toa, Ngati Kuia) lives with a painful lung disease - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Her chronic pain is such that she'd seriously consider euthanasia if she met the legal requirements when the End of Life Choice Act takes effect on 7 November. . Wharehoka is also spokeswoman for Parihaka Pa, where she has been a caretaker of the marae for over 30 years. This coming Friday 5 November marks 140 years since Maori were evicted from the peaceful settlement.

AMONG the headlines for Wednesday, October 13, 2021, Malaysia's new Covid-19 cases rose to 7,950 today, a slight increase from yesterday's numbers, which stood at 7,276. In a tweet, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the overall total of COVID-19 cases in the country now stood at 2,361,529 since the pandemic started. Earlier today, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that, about 90.6 pct of the adult population in the country have completed their COVID-19 vaccination as of yesterday. Also, New Zealand's Health Minister Andrew Little said that the country's health system is ready to implement the End of Life Choice Act, making assisted dying legal in New Zealand. Little said the government had appointed a three-person specialist committee to oversee the operation of the act. The End of Life Review Committee members includes a medical ethicist, a doctor specializing in end-of-life care, and a health practitioner. Listen to the top stories of the day, reporting from Astro AWANI newsroom — all in 3-minutes. We bring you the headlines, weekdays at 5 pm. Stay informed on astroawani.com for these news and more.

Dr Dave Maplesden and Dr Jo Scott-Jones discuss "snippets" of information that are important to New Zealand General Practice This month a bleeding risk tool in atrial fibrillation, current medication issues, the End of Life Choice Act and more. A video version of this podcast is available on the Pinnacle Practice website here https://www.pinnaclepractices.co.nz/resources/clinical-zoom-meeting-snippets-june-2021/

Hi there!歡迎收聽Look Back Sunday回顧星期天，在這個節目John老師會彙整過去不同國家與主題的熱門跟讀文章，讓你可以在十五分鐘內吸收最精華的世界時事趣聞！我們這週聽聽紐西蘭相關的文章，Let's get started! Topic: About New Zealand- Mittens the cat could become New Zealander of the Year Mittens, a famous feline from Wellington, is in the running to be voted New Zealander of the Year, going up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. 來自威靈頓的知名母貓「米坦斯」，正在角逐紐西蘭年度人物票選，對上紐西蘭總理賈欣達．阿爾登與衛生部衛生事務首長艾希莉．布魯斐德博士。 The feline joins a host of nominees for the annual Kiwibank award, including figures from sectors such as politics, media, health, music and design. 這隻母貓獲得年度奇異鳥銀行獎的多項提名，該獎項包括政治界、媒體界、衛生界、音樂界與設計界的年度人物。 Other nominees for New Zealander of the Year include microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles and lawmaker Chloe Swarbrick. 其他紐西蘭年度人物的被提名人，還有微生物學家蘇西．威爾斯，與國會議員克羅伊．史瓦布里克。 The Wellington Museum has also dedicated a mini exhibition to Mittens and his adventures, named "Floofy and Famous." And in May the mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, gave Mittens the key to the city, an honor previously granted to "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson. 威靈頓博物館也已經為米坦斯與牠的冒險辦了一場迷你展覽，名為「蓬鬆而知名」。5月時，威靈頓市市長安迪．佛斯特也給米坦斯這座城市的鑰匙，一項以前曾授予「魔戒」導演彼得．傑克森的榮譽。 Next Article Topic: New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients／紐西蘭表決通過絕症病患安樂死合法化 New Zealanders have voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia for people with a terminal illness － clearing the way for the controversial proposition to become law in 2021. 紐西蘭人已投票贊成絕症病患安樂死合法化——剷除讓此一具有爭議性的提案在2021年立法的障礙。 More than 65% of voters backed the proposed law, according to preliminary results of a referendum announced by the country's electoral commission Friday. 根據該國選舉委員會週五宣布的公投初步結果，超過65%的選民支持這項法律議案。 Lawmakers voted 69-51 to approve the End of Life Choice Act 2019 last year before sending the issue to a referendum. 該法案在（紐國）國會議員去年以69比51通過「2019終結生命選擇法」後，送交公投。 More than 2.4 million people took part in the poll, which was conducted alongside New Zealand's general election on October 17. 超過240萬人參加與10月17日紐西蘭大選一同舉行的投票。Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1422581; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1396855 Next Article Topic: Sheep Farmers in New Zealand Adapt to Changing Tastes ST. ANDREWS, New Zealand — About three decades ago, when Andrew Fraser began raising sheep, wool was among the star exports of this nation. Its other sheep products — lamb and mutton — were supporting actors. 約30年前傅瑞澤開始養羊時，羊毛是紐西蘭的明星出口品，其他綿羊產品如羔羊肉和羊肉只是配角。 Today, the situation is reversed. New Zealand's sheep meat exports are up, while wool faces intensifying competition from synthetic fibers. Although sheep farming is still enmeshed in the fabric of New Zealand's cultural identity, it is another economic activity that this nation is retooling for a globalized world. 如今情勢逆轉，紐西蘭羊肉出口增加，羊毛卻面臨人造纖維日益激烈的競爭。雖然養羊這種經濟活動仍與紐西蘭的文化認同緊密交織，但紐西蘭正在調整它，以適應全球化的世界。 “Wool has traditionally been — and still is — a very good product,” Mr. Fraser said. “The trouble is that now, a similar product can be manufactured out of used Coke bottles and all sorts of stuff. 傅瑞澤說：「羊毛一向是，也仍然是很棒的產品，問題是現在可用廢可樂罐和各種東西做出類似產品。」 From 1982 to 2011, New Zealand's sheep population declined to 31.1 million from 70.2 million, according to government data, as many sheep pastures were converted to dairy farms or other uses. The roughly 17,000 sheep farmers who remain still earn money from selling the fleece of their animals. But on many sheep farms, meat has replaced wool as the primary profit maker. 官方資料顯示1982到2011年紐西蘭綿羊從7020萬隻降到3110萬，許多牧羊場轉養乳牛或改作他途。現在大概還有1.7萬羊農，雖仍賣羊毛賺錢，許多養羊場羊肉卻已取代羊毛成為最大財源。 Since 1990, the value of New Zealand's annual exports of raw wool and manufactured wool products has declined to about $700 million from $1.2 billion, according to government data. By contrast, lamb and mutton exports have increased almost threefold to $2.3 billion. And dairy exports, worth $1.9 billion in 1992, have soared to $14.1 billion. 官方資料顯示，1990年以來每年羊毛和羊毛製品的出口額，從12億美元減為7億美元；羔羊肉和羊肉年出口額卻增為23億美元，幾乎是原來的三倍，乳製品出口額也從1992年的19億美元大增為141億。 New Zealand, with 4.4 million people, is the world's third-largest wool producer behind Australia and China, according to Beef and Lamb New Zealand, a farmer- owned industry group. It supplies 45 percent of all carpet wool globally, the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group said in a report last year. 紐西蘭牛羊肉協會（牛羊農同業組織）資料顯示，人口440萬的紐西蘭是全球第三大羊毛生產國，僅次於澳洲和中國大陸。去年澳盛銀行發布報告顯示，紐西蘭供應全球四成五的地毯用羊毛。 Yet more than 90 percent of New Zealand's wool is exported in raw form, rather than in finished products like carpets or upholstery, leaving it vulnerable to swings in commodity markets. 不過，紐西蘭羊毛逾九成以未加工形態出口，而非做成地毯、椅套等成品，易受原物料市場價格波動影響。 Farmers said the wool industry would benefit from having a unified voice to promote New Zealand wool abroad as a highend fiber that, in their view, beats synthetic alternatives in several categories, including overall quality and environmental sustainability. Having a single voice could help the industry reach beyond China, its primary export market by far, into relatively untapped markets like the United States. 許多羊農希望羊毛業團結起來，向海外宣傳紐西蘭羊毛是高檔纖維，在整體品質與促進環境永續發展等好幾個方面，（他們認為）都勝過人造纖維，這樣一定有幫助。一旦有統一的聲音，羊毛業就能在目前最大出口市場中國大陸以外，打入美國等相對未開發的市場。 But New Zealand's wool industry is viewed as highly fragmented. There were 35 wool exporters operating across the country last year, “a huge level of decentralization” given the industry's relatively modest export earnings, the Banking Group reported. 外界卻認為紐西蘭羊毛業分散得厲害。澳盛銀行指出，去年紐西蘭全國有35個羊毛出口業者，由於出口獲利相當微薄，這個產業可說是「極度分散」。 “Everyone's sort of undercutting each other,” said Ross Andrews, a South Island farmer who earns around $3 a kilogram for his carpet-grade wool. 南島羊農安德魯斯出售地毯級羊毛，每公斤約賺3美元，他說：「每個人多少都在削價競爭。」 Wool growers long assumed that their industry would somehow look after itself, but there is now a clear need to promote wool over synthetic fibers, said Sandra Faulkner, an industry advocate. According to an industry group, Beef and Lamb New Zealand, wool accounts for 1.3 percent of global fiber production and synthetics 61.4 percent. 行銷紐西蘭羊毛的桑德拉．福克納說，羊農一直以為羊毛業終究會挺過難關，不過現在真的有必要宣傳羊毛比人造纖維好。紐西蘭牛羊肉協會資料顯示，羊毛只占全球纖維產量1.3%，人造纖維卻占61.4% 。 “It's about identifying ourselves in the luxury marketplace, which is where we've always belonged,” Ms. Faulkner said. 福克納說：「我們要立足於精品市場，我們本來就屬於那裡。」 Peter Lyon, the supervisor of a South Island shearing team, said farmers' views on how the wool industry should evolve typically depend on factors like whether they have reliable export contractors, the quality of wool they produce and their level of debt. 南島剪羊毛團隊督導里昂說，羊農對於羊毛業何去何從的看法，常取決於某些因素，如他們有沒有可靠的出口貿易公司、生產羊毛的品質和債務的多寡。 In the mid-20th century, wool growers were often “asset-rich and cash-poor,” Mr. Lyon said . “But you can't afford to be cashpoor today or you'll get thrown out. ” 里昂說，20世紀中期羊農經常「資產多，現金少」，「但在這個時代，你不能沒現金，否則很難生存」。Source article: https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0067/268494/web/ Next Article   Topic: Got Hangover ? New Zealand's 'morning maids' help clean up post-party mess 宿醉纏身？紐西蘭「晨光女僕」幫你收拾派對殘局 A New Zealand maid service cleaning up the homes of hung-over party-hosts has been inundated with requests for their services, from home and abroad. 紐西蘭一家專門協助舉辦完派對卻宿醉纏身者打掃房子的女僕服務公司，接獲來自國內外源源不絕的訂單。 Flatmates Rebecca and Catherine launched their cleaning service in Auckland. The service picks up the pieces from parties – cleaning up revellers' debris （including vomit at NZ$10）, cooking or buying breakfast for hung-over hosts – even doing coffee and painkiller runs. 住在同一間公寓的芮貝卡和凱瑟琳，是在奧克蘭市展開這項清潔事業。她們的服務是收拾派對結束後的殘局，包括清理尋歡作樂者留下的垃圾（有嘔吐物再加10紐幣），為宿醉的派對主人打理早餐，甚至還可以跑腿買咖啡或止痛藥。 Since launching on Facebook in early May, Rebecca and Catherine have been receiving requests from around the country, as well as calls from people in the US and Canada interested in franchising the startup. 芮貝卡和凱瑟琳5月初開始在「臉書」上接受預約，此後收到來自全國各地的訂單，也有美國和加拿大民眾表示，有興趣加盟這項新興事業。 Rebecca and Catherine are both in full-time employment, and squeeze their business into their nights and weekends. 芮貝卡和凱瑟琳都有全職工作，因此都是擠出夜晚和週末時間來做這項生意。 "When people answer the door they are usually really apologetic about the state of their house. But we've both been in our 20s and partied so it's nothing we haven't seen before," laughs Catherine. 凱瑟琳笑說：「當人們來開門時，通常都是一副對家裡的狀況感到十分抱歉的模樣。但我們倆都是廿來歲，也都參加過派對，還有什麼慘況沒見識過。」Source article: http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=1048326&day=2016-11-03   每日英語跟讀Podcast，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing 每週Vocab精選詞彙Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab 每週In-TENSE文法練習Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense

每日英語跟讀 Ep.K035: About New Zealand- Mittens the cat could become New Zealander of the Year Mittens, a famous feline from Wellington, is in the running to be voted New Zealander of the Year, going up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. 來自威靈頓的知名母貓「米坦斯」，正在角逐紐西蘭年度人物票選，對上紐西蘭總理賈欣達．阿爾登與衛生部衛生事務首長艾希莉．布魯斐德博士。 The feline joins a host of nominees for the annual Kiwibank award, including figures from sectors such as politics, media, health, music and design. 這隻母貓獲得年度奇異鳥銀行獎的多項提名，該獎項包括政治界、媒體界、衛生界、音樂界與設計界的年度人物。 Other nominees for New Zealander of the Year include microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles and lawmaker Chloe Swarbrick. 其他紐西蘭年度人物的被提名人，還有微生物學家蘇西．威爾斯，與國會議員克羅伊．史瓦布里克。 The Wellington Museum has also dedicated a mini exhibition to Mittens and his adventures, named "Floofy and Famous." And in May the mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, gave Mittens the key to the city, an honor previously granted to "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson. 威靈頓博物館也已經為米坦斯與牠的冒險辦了一場迷你展覽，名為「蓬鬆而知名」。5月時，威靈頓市市長安迪．佛斯特也給米坦斯這座城市的鑰匙，一項以前曾授予「魔戒」導演彼得．傑克森的榮譽。   Next Article New Zealand votes to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill patients／紐西蘭表決通過絕症病患安樂死合法化 New Zealanders have voted in favor of legalizing euthanasia for people with a terminal illness － clearing the way for the controversial proposition to become law in 2021. 紐西蘭人已投票贊成絕症病患安樂死合法化——剷除讓此一具有爭議性的提案在2021年立法的障礙。 More than 65% of voters backed the proposed law, according to preliminary results of a referendum announced by the country's electoral commission Friday. 根據該國選舉委員會週五宣布的公投初步結果，超過65%的選民支持這項法律議案。 Lawmakers voted 69-51 to approve the End of Life Choice Act 2019 last year before sending the issue to a referendum. 該法案在（紐國）國會議員去年以69比51通過「2019終結生命選擇法」後，送交公投。 More than 2.4 million people took part in the poll, which was conducted alongside New Zealand's general election on October 17. 超過240萬人參加與10月17日紐西蘭大選一同舉行的投票。 Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1422581; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1396855 每日英語跟讀Podcast，就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing 每週Vocab精選詞彙Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab 每週In-TENSE文法練習Podcast，就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense   用email訂閱就可以收到通勤學英語節目更新通知。

From 25 years ago when voluntary euthanasia for the terminally ill was so controversial that the Federal Government of Australia used a hitherto unknown section of the Australian Constitution (s122) to overturn the Northern Territory's Rights of the Terminally Ill Act to today when politicians can't act fast enough getting behind assisted dying laws as a show of compassion and humanity, the right to die has come a long way. And so 2020 draws to a close with New Zealand finally passing a binding referendum that will see an End of Life Choice Act introduced in that country while Queensland makes Dying with Dignity an election promise. Meanwhile in Tasmania, politicians are falling over themselves as defenders of human rights at the end of life. This Doxit Podcast discusses the pros/ cons of a medicalised legislative model, in terms of who is served and who is excluded from eligibility, asking is this the best way forward?

In this episode we talk with Jess Young about her role on the "Yes for Compassion" campaign in New Zealand, the joys and challenges of being an academic while advocating for social change, and moral bond of qualitative research. Artwork & AudioPhoto by Clark Tibbs on UnsplashMusic by City Plaza - Dan Bodan

“I'm crossing you in style some day” Last Thursday, Tiffany & Co. American luxury jewellery, founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany, agreed to a $15.8 billion dollars deal with the French Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy LVMH Group. A deal was closed after several months of tense and stressful negotiations, Tiffany will finally be bought at $131,50 dollars per share, a little bit less from the original price of $135 per share, “saving” about $425 million dollars off the original price tag, which made this purchase, in any case, one of the largest acquisitions in the luxury retail business. For further informations, other cases and legal news, listen to our podcast this week! Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Other news on this week's Podcast: - New Zealanders approved the End of Life Choice Act and Chilean citizens voted to draft an entire new Constitution; - Turkish President filed a criminal complaint against Dutch far-right leader; - A Hong Kong Court charged former pro-independence group leader, with crimes under the new 2020 national security law. Don't forget to follow, rate and review us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us!

On Friday, the Preliminary results of the End of Life Choice referendum & Cannabis legalisation and control referendum were released, with the final results for both of the referendums and General Election to be released this Friday 6 November 2020. The preliminary result for the End of Life Choice referendum showed that New Zealanders voted overwhelmingly in favour with 65.2% voting yes & 33.8% voting no, on the question "Do you support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force?" This morning on Pacific Breakfast we will discuss both, beginning with The End of Life Choice referendum. Joining us for more on the End of Life Choice referendum results now is Dr Sinead Donnelly. * Dr Sinead has no professional link to Victoria University, Wellington as noted in the introduction for this interview.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday, the Preliminary results of the End of Life Choice referendum & Cannabis legalisation and control referendum were released, with the final results for both of the referendums and General Election to be released this Friday 6 November 2020. The preliminary result for the End of Life Choice referendum showed that New Zealanders voted overwhelmingly in favour with 65.2% voting yes & 33.8% voting no, on the question "Do you support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force?" This morning on Pacific Breakfast we will discuss both, beginning with The End of Life Choice referendum. Joining us for more on the End of Life Choice referendum results now is Dr Sinead Donnelly. * Dr Sinead has no professional link to Victoria University, Wellington as noted in the introduction for this interview.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A euthanasia activist says the new bill is a victory for both himself and those who fear their final days.The End of Life Choice Act looks set to take effect next year with 65.1 per cent of voters in favour of assisted dying. Cancer sufferer Stu Armstrong has long argued people should have the option to chose a death that reflects their life and beliefs.Armstrong told Chris Lynch while he was campaigning, the horror stories only snowballed.He says it's important these people have a fair and dignified death on their own terms - not one dictated by the hospital system, or other people.Listen above.

The End of Life Choice Act will come into force in a year's time. According to preliminary referendum results released on Friday afternoon, 65.2 percent have voted in favour of the End of Life Choice Act. The final results, including special votes, will be released on Friday. The "Yes" vote triggers legislation which has already passed through Parliament. Kathryn Ryan discusses the outcome with "Yes for Compassion", former husband of Lecretia Seales, Matt Vickers, and palliative care specialist and New Zealand's representative of The Australian & New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine, Dr Catherine D'Souza.

The Medical Association is preparing itself for a busy year ahead with the End of Life Choice Act set to come into force. The preliminary referendum result shows 65.1 percent of voters supported the Act and 33.8 percent opposed it. The Association's chair Dr Kate Baddock told reporter Eva Corlett one of the tasks will include compiling a list of doctors who are willing to be involved in the process.

Doctors are gearing up for a hefty year of planning and preparation with the End of Life Choice Act set to come into force. The preliminary referendum result shows 65.1-percent of voters supported the Act and 33.8-percent opposed it. Eva Corlett reports.

The End of Life Choice Act will come into force in a year's time. According to preliminary referendum results released on Friday afternoon, 65.2 percent have voted in favour of the End of Life Choice Act. The final results, including special votes, will be released on Friday. The "Yes" vote triggers legislation which has already passed through Parliament. Kathryn Ryan discusses the outcome with "Yes for Compassion", former husband of Lecretia Seales, Matt Vickers, and palliative care specialist and New Zealand's representative of The Australian & New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine, Dr Catherine D'Souza.

There have been celebrations and commiserations today - with the initial results of the two referendums released. Preliminary results of the referendum on the End of Life Choice Act show 65-point-1-percent of voters in favour of the legislation and 33-point-8-percent opposed. However, the Cannabis Legislation and Control Bill is unlikely to become law: the vote in that referendum is 46-point-1-percent in favour and 53-point-1 opposed.

A new survey has found that more than half of all Pasifika and Māori South Auckland  voters who were asked oppose the End of Life Choice Act referendum and believe that the  legalization of recreational cannabis will have a negative impact on the community.  South Auckland voters were surveyed in the My Truth Movement: General Election 2020  survey, designed by The Cause Collective, a social change organization focused on the  wellbeing of Pacific peoples and South Auckland communities. The purpose of the survey  was to understand the influences and preferences of South Auckland voters for the New  Zealand General Election 2020 including the two referendums.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alongside the General election tomorrow, the country will also have it’s say on two referendums - 2 referendums - On the Cannabis Legalisation & Control Referendum & End of Life Choice Referendum.  Late last year The ‘Doctors Say No’ Open Letter opposing euthanasia was presented to M.P.’s at Parliament.  The Open Letter stated that ‘Doctors want no part in assisted suicide’, noting the World Medical Association, which represents physicians in 123 countries and the New Zealand Medical Association positions that “physician assisted suicide and euthanasia are unethical, even if they were made legal.”   The letter has now gained 1,786 signatures from doctors the width & breadth of the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 2 days until the 2020 General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, joining us now for an overview of the past week is AUT Journalism academic Richard Pamatatau. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 6 days until the 2020 General election this Saturday 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates & Party Leaders from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. This morning we’re joined by Hannah Tamaki, leader of the Vision New Zealand Party & Vision New Zealand candidate for the Waiariki electorate.  Hannah has worked amongst many diverse communities, for over 40+ years, assisting many to positively transform their lives.   Over the years Hannah has assisted her husband to build a large, successful, history-making movement. Faith and family are very important to Hannah.  She can lay claim to many achievements, however, she would say her greatest achievements are her three children, ten grandchildren and now two great-grandchildren. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this year's General Election, New Zealand voters have the right to chose in a referendum on whether we support the End of Life Choice Act 2019. Emma Rankin, a nurse in training at AUT joins Jeremy Kendall in discussing what this bill entails and how the scripture informs our decision. Support the show

With 9 days until the 2020 General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, joining us now for an overview of the past week is AUT Journalism academic Richard Pamatatau.   A journalist for more than twenty years, including stints as Radio New Zealand’s Pacific Issues Correspondent, deputy editor to NZ Info Tech Weekly and a contributor to The New Zealand Herald. He is a contributor to the book Reimagining Journalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 9 days until the 2020 General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, joining us now for an overview of the past week is AUT Journalism academic Richard Pamatatau.   A journalist for more than twenty years, including stints as Radio New Zealand’s Pacific Issues Correspondent, deputy editor to NZ Info Tech Weekly and a contributor to The New Zealand Herald. He is a contributor to the book Reimagining Journalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Leao Tildsley, New Conservative Party Candidate for Kelston in Auckland.  Leao has been in New Zealand since she was 4 years old, living and working in West Auckland. Leao attended Henderson High and Kelston Girls. Leao has been working and living in the Kelston electorate most of her life.  Some of her roles over the years include - Community Developer for Community Waitakere, part of the Whau local homeless network, community chaplain for Vision West, community art teaching, as well as helping to create the Te Puna markets. During lockdown, she led the teams feeding homeless in Auckland city each night, and assisted with care parcels through Fair Food. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Leao Tildsley, New Conservative Party Candidate for Kelston in Auckland.  Leao has been in New Zealand since she was 4 years old, living and working in West Auckland. Leao attended Henderson High and Kelston Girls. Leao has been working and living in the Kelston electorate most of her life.  Some of her roles over the years include - Community Developer for Community Waitakere, part of the Whau local homeless network, community chaplain for Vision West, community art teaching, as well as helping to create the Te Puna markets. During lockdown, she led the teams feeding homeless in Auckland city each night, and assisted with care parcels through Fair Food. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Hon Poto Williams, Labour Party candidate for Christchurch East.  Poto has worked in the community sector for most of her professional life, including mental health, disability, community health and family violence. Understanding recovery models and the role that communities play in supporting and sustaining our people is an important aspect of her work experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Hon Poto Williams, Labour Party candidate for Christchurch East.  Poto has worked in the community sector for most of her professional life, including mental health, disability, community health and family violence. Understanding recovery models and the role that communities play in supporting and sustaining our people is an important aspect of her work experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019. Joining us now for an overview of the past week in politics and his thoughts on last night's party leader debate is AUT Journalism academic Richard Pamatatau.   A journalist for more than twenty years, including stints as Radio New Zealand’s Pacific Issues Correspondent, deputy editor to NZ Info Tech Weekly and a contributor to The New Zealand Herald. He is a contributor to the book Reimagining Journalism. His areas of expertise are broadcast journalism, news writing, social media, political and Pacific reporting, economics, finance and software and systems development. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019. Joining us now for an overview of the past week in politics and his thoughts on last night's party leader debate is AUT Journalism academic Richard Pamatatau.   A journalist for more than twenty years, including stints as Radio New Zealand’s Pacific Issues Correspondent, deputy editor to NZ Info Tech Weekly and a contributor to The New Zealand Herald. He is a contributor to the book Reimagining Journalism. His areas of expertise are broadcast journalism, news writing, social media, political and Pacific reporting, economics, finance and software and systems development. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act Party leader David Seymour says being Deputy Prime Minister isn't out of the question - but it's unlikely.During last night's second leaders' debate, National's Judith Collins said he'd be excellent in the role if her party won the election.Seymour says [told Kerre McIvor] it's not on his mind."Act has always been more focused on policies and what we can leave behind to make this a better place, than any particular job".He says John Key offered him the opportunity to be a minister in the past, which he turned down."I thought, look there's the limo, a pay rise, the title and everything else but at the end of the day, there are lots of people who've been ministers and they can't point to something they've done for New Zealand"."I'm really proud we got End of Life Choice across the line by me turning down being a minister and I'm pretty prepared to make that sort of decision again".Seymour's meteoric rise in the 1News/Colmar Brunton poll this week put Act up to 8 per cent, 1 per cent above the Greens. It means the party would secure 10 seats in Parliament.From a one-man band to potentially bringing nine other MPs back to Parliament with him, it could mean the biggest caucus for Act since 2002, when it had nine MPs under leader Richard Prebble.Seymour is live on NewstalkZB with Kerre McIvor for an hour from 10.07am.Seymour himself was at 2 per cent as preferred Prime Minister, ahead of Winston Peters' 2 per cent in the TVNZ poll.National leader Judith Collins said this morning she'd have no problem appointing Seymour as Deputy PM should a National-Act alliance hit the 51 per cent party-vote mark on election day.Collins told Mike Hosking this morning she thought Seymour would make an "excellent" Deputy Prime Minister in her government which was met with a "jeepers" from Jacinda Ardern during last night's MediaWorks leaders debate."David Seymour is a principled person in my experience and he and I have worked together before. I'd rather have him any day than what Miss Ardern has had," Collins said.Sunday's Newshub Reid Research poll put Act up three points to 6.3, which would give the party eight seats in Parliament.The stars have aligned for the party that's battled through successive leaders and scandals, to now be polling as the third-largest party behind National.In the past the focus on Act, come election time, has been whether or not it would get the nod from National in Epsom - the electorate seat that's been the party's lifeline for a number of election cycles.Seymour now mounts the argument he's able to secure that seat under his own steam.Not only that, but Act, as one of the smaller parties, has been polling over the 5 per cent threshold in recent months, meaning the Epsom seat is a "good to have" for Seymour, but not as crucial for the party's survival.The combination of Seymour's consistent and persistent campaign on the End of Life Choice Act, his sole opposition to the first tranche of firearms reforms and the woes of political ally National, mean Act is sitting pretty for the first time in two decades.- Additional reporting, Jo Moir RNZ

Cutting through the lies — former MP Maryan Street, a long-time campaigner for the right to die with dignity, talks with Mike Williams about the truth of the detail in the End of Life Choice Act and dispels the myths perpetrated by far-right Christian organisations.

Act Party leader David Seymour says being Deputy Prime Minister isn't out of the question - but it's unlikely.During last night's second leaders' debate, National's Judith Collins said he'd be excellent in the role if her party won the election.Seymour told Kerre McIvor it's not on his mind."Act has always been more focused on policies and what we can leave behind to make this a better place, than any particular job".He says John Key offered him the opportunity to be a minister in the past, which he turned down."I thought, look there's the limo, a pay rise, the title and everything else but at the end of the day, there are lots of people who've been ministers and they can't point to something they've done for New Zealand"."I'm really proud we got End of Life Choice across the line by me turning down being a minister and I'm pretty prepared to make that sort of decision again".Seymour's meteoric rise in the 1News/Colmar Brunton poll this week put Act up to 8 per cent, 1 per cent above the Greens. It means the party would secure 10 seats in Parliament.From a one-man band to potentially bringing nine other MPs back to Parliament with him, it could mean the biggest caucus for Act since 2002, when it had nine MPs under leader Richard Prebble.Seymour is live on NewstalkZB with Kerre McIvor for an hour from 10.07am.Seymour himself was at 2 per cent as preferred Prime Minister, ahead of Winston Peters' 2 per cent in the TVNZ poll.National leader Judith Collins said this morning she'd have no problem appointing Seymour as Deputy PM should a National-Act alliance hit the 51 per cent party-vote mark on election day.Collins told Mike Hosking this morning she thought Seymour would make an "excellent" Deputy Prime Minister in her government which was met with a "jeepers" from Jacinda Ardern during last night's MediaWorks leaders debate."David Seymour is a principled person in my experience and he and I have worked together before. I'd rather have him any day than what Miss Ardern has had," Collins said.Sunday's Newshub Reid Research poll put Act up three points to 6.3, which would give the party eight seats in Parliament.The stars have aligned for the party that's battled through successive leaders and scandals, to now be polling as the third-largest party behind National.In the past the focus on Act, come election time, has been whether or not it would get the nod from National in Epsom - the electorate seat that's been the party's lifeline for a number of election cycles.Seymour now mounts the argument he's able to secure that seat under his own steam.Not only that, but Act, as one of the smaller parties, has been polling over the 5 per cent threshold in recent months, meaning the Epsom seat is a "good to have" for Seymour, but not as crucial for the party's survival.The combination of Seymour's consistent and persistent campaign on the End of Life Choice Act, his sole opposition to the first tranche of firearms reforms and the woes of political ally National, mean Act is sitting pretty for the first time in two decades.- Additional reporting, Jo Moir RNZ

Our euthanasia debate. ACT Party leader David Seymour defends the End of Life Choice Act and palliative care specialist Dr Sinead Donnelly warns us against it. Plus interviews with two people at the end of their lives: one will vote yes, one will vote no. On The Trail: reporter Conor Whitten gets exclusive behind the scenes access to National leader Judith Collins in her biggest week yet on the campaign. And we give Jami-Lee Ross a policy grilling, while he gives his pitch for a seat in Parliament. Plus, analysis from our panel: PR consultant Trish Sherson and Auckland Councillor Efeso Collins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the meaning of life? What gives our lives significance? Are we more than a collection of atoms, molecules and a sophisticated assembly of cells? In this message James looks at what the Bible teaches and how our value, dignity, significance and meaning comes from being imago Dei - made in the image of God. This has profound implications for human life and shaping our response to the upcoming national referendum on the End of Life Choice Act

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Dr Anae Neru Leavasa, who will be standing for the Labour Party, in the Takanini electorate. Dr Anae has lived in South Auckland for over 30 years. He is married and has a seven-year-old son. After surviving metastatic bone cancer, Neru graduated from the University of Auckland Medical School and is now a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. He is a keen humanitarian, having been posted on two assignments in the Pacific with both the Red Cross and a doctor’s worldwide volunteer organisation. He has also served in rural farming communities as a GP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Dr Anae Neru Leavasa, who will be standing for the Labour Party, in the Takanini electorate. Dr Anae has lived in South Auckland for over 30 years. He is married and has a seven-year-old son. After surviving metastatic bone cancer, Neru graduated from the University of Auckland Medical School and is now a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. He is a keen humanitarian, having been posted on two assignments in the Pacific with both the Red Cross and a doctor’s worldwide volunteer organisation. He has also served in rural farming communities as a GP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Luella Linaker (Linacre), who will be standing as an independent in Manurewa. She has previously worked as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Strategy and the Principal Advisor of Maori strategy at Auckland Council and as a Senior Policy Advisor with Auckland Regional Council.  Born & raised in Manurewa, Luella currently resides in Manurewa with her husband & 2 daughters. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

This is the first episode of a multi-part series tackling the End of Life Choice Act that will be voted on in October 2020. This week, we are joined by Caralise Trayes, author of The Final Choice: End of Life Suffering: Is Assisted Dying the Answer? and Erin O'Flaherty. This episode delves into the topics of physical pain, the doctor-patient relationship, the sanctity of life and palliative care in an attempt to explore the End of Life Choice Act in detail. Stay tuned for the next episode!You can find our more about Caralise's book at https://www.thefinalchoice.nz/Like and follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Confuddled/Twitter: @Confuddled_Pod Instagram: confuddled_podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXKCnESJerucIRWP6Ib6SgIntro/Outro: Music by Michaela Cornelius (https://soundcloud.com/mikatte). Voice by Erin O'Flaherty (https://erinoflaherty9.wixsite.com/performerwriter) 

As we continue our countdown to the upcoming General election on the 17th October, as well as 2 referendums - On the recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, we’re speaking with candidates from across the political spectrum, to help you, our 531pi community, make an informed decision come election day. We’re joined now by Luella Linaker (Linacre), who will be standing as an independent in Manurewa. She has previously worked as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Strategy and the Principal Advisor of Maori strategy at Auckland Council and as a Senior Policy Advisor with Auckland Regional Council.  Born & raised in Manurewa, Luella currently resides in Manurewa with her husband & 2 daughters. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The End of Life Choice Act will allow terminally ill patients to spend more time with their families, not less.Matt Vickers has advocated for euthanasia since his former wife Lecretia Seales died in 2015.After her brain cancer diagnosis, Seales battled the courts for the right to end her life.Vickers joined Kerre McIvor for an hour of talkback on the referendum, and says that many take their own lives prematurely out of fear of suffering.He says the act would remove that threat of suffering, allowing them to focus on quality of life and being with family."What this legislation does is it offers hope. It offers people a way to take back some control and have a choice, when all other choices have been taken away from them." Vickers says people are concerned the criteria would become too broad over time, but he says they are robust and strictly defined."This is probably one of the safest and most constrained in the world when you look at other versions of the legislation that are out there." LISTEN ABOVE

Warning: Story discusses suicide and euthanasia. A woman dying of cancer is urging New Zealanders to 'pull the plug' on the proposed euthanasia law, saying people could be coerced into an early death. The public will be asked to vote yes or no to the End of Life Choice Act, in a referendum on election day. The Act would allow terminally ill people who are given six months or less to live and who are experiencing unbearable suffering, the option of medically assisted dying. Eva Corlett spoke to Vicki Walsh.

A doctor advocating against the End of Life Choice Actl is concerned it doesn't let doctors have a say.Palliative care doctor and University of Otago clinical senior lecturer Amanda Landers says it feels like an incoming freight train.She joined Kerre McIvor for an hour of talk back on the referendum, and says the Bill should have more reference to the medics who it affects."A lack of safeguards, no real consultation with medicine, no real consultation with nurses or pharmacists who are also named in the act." Landers also thinks the bill would place an unfair burden on doctors. She says that doctors can refuse to administer the procedure, but they still have to link the patient up with someone who will."That's like leaving a loaded gun in the House. And after that point, there's nothing I can do. I can't say to the person, please give me a bit more time to make this better for you." LISTEN ABOVE

Warning: content may disturb some listeners. A woman whose terminally-ill husband chose suicide over a prolonged painful death is urging New Zealanders to allow people the option to die with dignity. The public will be asked to vote yes or no to the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force at this year's October 17 referendum. The Act will allow terminally ill people, given 6 months to live and experiencing unbearable suffering the option of medically assisted dying. Eva Corlett has this story.

This September, New Zealand will vote to determine if the End of Life Choice Act will come into force, legislation that would create a new system of legal assisted dying for people who meet certain criteria. On this podcast we take a deep dive into the text of the End of Life Choice Act with Maxim Institute euthanasia researcher Danielle van Dalen, and Dr Stephen Child. Stephen is a medical specialist, trained in Canada and has worked in Auckland since 1994. He’s had an extensive career in clinical education and medical politics, serving as the Chair of the NZMA (2015-2017) and currently serving as an elected member of the New Zealand Medical Council. Danielle has been working on this topic since she started working at Maxim in 2016, doing international research, drafting submissions, and briefing MPs as the legislation progressed through Parliament. We sat down for a conversation about what the End of Life Choice Act entails, and what New Zealanders should know before they go to the polls. For more of our written resources, including answers to the 14 most frequently asked questions we get on euthanasia, head to our End of Life Choice Information page, www.maxim.org.nz/eolc. Authorised by J. Abernethy, 49 Cape Horn Road, Hillsborough, Auckland

With the referendum on the End of Life Choice Act approaching, Dr Sam Bloore looks at the three main arguments proposed in favour of euthanasia and offers faith reflections in response to each of them.

In six weeks, one of the most significant pieces of law in New Zealand history may be voted in - by you. The End of Life Choice Act 2019 will allow someone who is terminally ill and in unbearable pain with less than six months to live, to ask a medical professional for help to die. That's only if more than 50 percent of voters tick 'yes' in the referendum, which is held at the same time as the general election. RNZ reporter Eva Corlett took to the streets of Porirua, to see how people plan to vote.

Firearms specialist Nicole McKee has become an Act Party candidate and secured No 3 spot in the party list announced today by leader David Seymour.The party has a new deputy leader, Brooke Van Velden, who replaces Beth Houlbrooke, and will take the No 2 spot behind Seymour.McKee is a first-time candidate.Van Velden stood for Act in Auckland Central last election.Act's No 3 list candidate Nicole KcKee. Photo / SuppliedOn current polling, Seymour would be joined to two or three more Act MPs.Van Velden has been a parliamentary adviser to Seymour and helped to organise to the passage of the End of Life Choice Act, which will put to voters as a referendum at the September 19 election.Seymour said Brooke van Velden was qualified in international trade.Her private sector experience as a corporate affairs consultant and political experience at Parliament had given her a deep understanding of the economy and the effect big government policies and rushed laws have on businesses and individuals.Van Velden said she switched from being a Green Party voter to an Act supporter while studying economics and international trade at Auckland University."The ability for free markets to lift countries from hardship was a revelation for me."Nicole McKee was a small business owner having delivered firearms safety education in rural and isolated communities for New Zealand Police.She had a background in law, firearms component imports, was the coordinator of the nation's volunteer firearms safety instructors for the Mountain Safety Council as well as being the spokesperson for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners and its Fair and Reasonable Campaign.McKee said she would be campaigning to raise Act's Party vote in Rongotai."I do not believe that emotive and rushed legislation that adversely affects those it is intended to support is viable."Our laws should be rooted in policies that recognise our democratic rights to think, to speak and to behave in a legal and unobstructed way."Chris Baillie, a secondary teacher and former police officer, is at No 4. He also owns a bar in Nelson employing 30 people.Simon Court, an engineer, is ranked at No 5 and will stand in Te Atatu. He said his youngest son has Down Syndrome and he intended to take a disability perspective to Parliament.Act president Tim Jago said the calibre and experience of candidates would impress people from every persuasion."We have candidates from all walks of life - people who have built their homes, families and businesses and who want to protect and enhance our free society. Our candidates will bring a strong dose of common sense to Parliament," he said.Among the candidates were End of Life Choice advocates, a former police officer, two teachers, two lawyers, three farmers, four engineers, eleven business owners, and 13 licensed firearms owners.Act's new deputy leader Brooke van Velden. Photo / SuppliedThe full list, of which only 20 are ranked:1 - David Seymour2 - Brooke Van Velden3 - Nicole McKee4 - Chris Baillie5 - Simon Court6 - James McDowall7 - Karen Chhour8 - Mark Cameron9 - Stephen Berry10 - Toni Severin11 - Damien Smith12 - Miles McConway13 - Beth Houlbrooke14 - Carmel Claridge15 - Bruce Carley16 - Cameron Luxton17 - Grae O'Sullivan18 - Myah Deedman19 - David Seymour20 - David KingRichard EvansRobert AndrewsStu ArmstrongSean BeamishShawn BlanchfieldKartini ClarkeJan DaffernJames DaviesTommy FergussonSean FitzpatrickDavid FoxDavid FreemanPaul GilbertPaul GraceWayne GrattanRoger GreensladeAbby JohnsonChris JohnstonJudith KendallPete KirkwoodNiko KloetenTim KronfeldMike McCormickBrent MilesMichael NeesDavid OlsenGrae O'SullivanAndy ParkinsMatthew PercivalJack PhillipsCallum Steele-MacintoshBasil WalkerBlake WebbRoger WeldonBruce WhiteheadNeil WilsonAda Xiao 

Firearms specialist Nicole McKee has become an Act Party candidate and secured No 3 spot in the party list announced today by leader David Seymour.The party has a new deputy leader, Brooke Van Velden, who replaces Beth Houlbrooke, and will take the No 2 spot behind Seymour.McKee is a first-time candidate.Van Velden stood for Act in Auckland Central last election.Act's No 3 list candidate Nicole KcKee. Photo / SuppliedOn current polling, Seymour would be joined to two or three more Act MPs.Van Velden has been a parliamentary adviser to Seymour and helped to organise to the passage of the End of Life Choice Act, which will put to voters as a referendum at the September 19 election.Seymour said Brooke van Velden was qualified in international trade.Her private sector experience as a corporate affairs consultant and political experience at Parliament had given her a deep understanding of the economy and the effect big government policies and rushed laws have on businesses and individuals.Van Velden said she switched from being a Green Party voter to an Act supporter while studying economics and international trade at Auckland University."The ability for free markets to lift countries from hardship was a revelation for me."Nicole McKee was a small business owner having delivered firearms safety education in rural and isolated communities for New Zealand Police.She had a background in law, firearms component imports, was the coordinator of the nation's volunteer firearms safety instructors for the Mountain Safety Council as well as being the spokesperson for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners and its Fair and Reasonable Campaign.McKee said she would be campaigning to raise Act's Party vote in Rongotai."I do not believe that emotive and rushed legislation that adversely affects those it is intended to support is viable."Our laws should be rooted in policies that recognise our democratic rights to think, to speak and to behave in a legal and unobstructed way."Chris Baillie, a secondary teacher and former police officer, is at No 4. He also owns a bar in Nelson employing 30 people.Simon Court, an engineer, is ranked at No 5 and will stand in Te Atatu. He said his youngest son has Down Syndrome and he intended to take a disability perspective to Parliament.Act president Tim Jago said the calibre and experience of candidates would impress people from every persuasion."We have candidates from all walks of life - people who have built their homes, families and businesses and who want to protect and enhance our free society. Our candidates will bring a strong dose of common sense to Parliament," he said.Among the candidates were End of Life Choice advocates, a former police officer, two teachers, two lawyers, three farmers, four engineers, eleven business owners, and 13 licensed firearms owners.Act's new deputy leader Brooke van Velden. Photo / SuppliedThe full list, of which only 20 are ranked:1 - David Seymour2 - Brooke Van Velden3 - Nicole McKee4 - Chris Baillie5 - Simon Court6 - James McDowall7 - Karen Chhour8 - Mark Cameron9 - Stephen Berry10 - Toni Severin11 - Damien Smith12 - Miles McConway13 - Beth Houlbrooke14 - Carmel Claridge15 - Bruce Carley16 - Cameron Luxton17 - Grae O'Sullivan18 - Myah Deedman19 - David Seymour20 - David KingRichard EvansRobert AndrewsStu ArmstrongSean BeamishShawn BlanchfieldKartini ClarkeJan DaffernJames DaviesTommy FergussonSean FitzpatrickDavid FoxDavid FreemanPaul GilbertPaul GraceWayne GrattanRoger GreensladeAbby JohnsonChris JohnstonJudith KendallPete KirkwoodNiko KloetenTim KronfeldMike McCormickBrent MilesMichael NeesDavid OlsenGrae O'SullivanAndy ParkinsMatthew PercivalJack PhillipsCallum Steele-MacintoshBasil WalkerBlake WebbRoger WeldonBruce WhiteheadNeil WilsonAda Xiao 

Hospices will not be forced to help people to die if New Zealanders vote to legalise voluntary euthanasia at this year's general election. A High Court judge has said there is nothing in the End of Life Choice Act that would require hospices to provide assisted-dying services if they did not want to. Hospice New Zealand had asked the court to rule on several questions. Lawyer Holly Hedley works in the health law arena and speaks to Susie Ferguson.

The ACT Party has announced David Seymour as its Whangārei candidate in the 2020 election, but it's not the David Seymour you are thinking of. A Whangārei businessman, and namesake of the party's leader, has joined the campaign as an advocate for the End of Life Choice Act. The two Davids got together to tell Checkpoint they want to see more Seymours in Parliament.

This milestone event was given in honour of lawyer and law reform advocate Lecretia Seales and marks the fifth anniversary of both the decision on the case and Lecretia's death. In 2015, Lecretia Seales went to the High Court to seek a ruling that would allow a doctor to assist her to die with her consent. Her court case initiated a national debate and helped focus a parliamentary inquiry into assisted dying. On Thursday 4 June the Faculty of Law recorded a panel discussion on Seales v Attorney General and subsequent law reform. For the first time, Lecretia's counsel, the Crown's counsel, and the presiding judge came together publicly to discuss their perspectives on the historic court action. The panel members will give their perspectives on the original case and the End of Life Choice Act that has led to the upcoming referendum. Chair: Geoff McLay, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Panel: Matt Vickers Andrew Butler, Barrister Mike Heron QC Paul Rishworth QC Justice David Collins, Court of Appeal Chris Bishop, MP Greg O'Connor, MP Māmari Stephens, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Jessica Young, Executive Director of the 2020 End of Life Choice Act Referendum Society

With the General election taking place on the 19th September, along with two referendums on recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, over the next 4 months on Pacific Breakfast, we will speak with Leaders of our respective political parties, as well as pacific candidates, across all parties, to give you our listeners & viewers more insight, to make an informed decision come election day 2020. This morning, we’re joined by Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson.Marama is passionate about all areas of injustice, and is committed to using her voice wherever she can to elevate issues.  She is inspired by community leaders who do the hard work and stay connected to the issues and the people in their neighbourhoods.

With the General election taking place on the 19th September, along with two referendums on recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, over the next 4 months on Pacific Breakfast, we will speak with Leaders of our respective political parties, as well as pacific candidates, across all parties, to give you our listeners & viewers more insight, to make an informed decision come election day 2020. This morning, we’re joined by Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson.Marama is passionate about all areas of injustice, and is committed to using her voice wherever she can to elevate issues.  She is inspired by community leaders who do the hard work and stay connected to the issues and the people in their neighbourhoods.

With the General election taking place on the 19th September, along with two referendums on recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, over the next 4 months on Pacific Breakfast, we will aim to speak with Leaders of our respective political parties, as well as all pacific candidates, across all parties, to give you our listeners & viewers more insight, to make an informed decision come election day 2020. This morning, we’re joined by Deputy PM, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Leader of NZ First Party Rt Hon Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters. 

With the General election taking place on the 19th September, along with two referendums on recreational use of cannabis and the End of Life Choice Act 2019, over the next 4 months on Pacific Breakfast, we will aim to speak with Leaders of our respective political parties, as well as all pacific candidates, across all parties, to give you our listeners & viewers more insight, to make an informed decision come election day 2020. This morning, we’re joined by Deputy PM, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Leader of NZ First Party Rt Hon Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters. 

IntroductionThank you Beth and thank you to our wonderful ACT Party volunteers and President. Did you know our online donations averaged a thousand dollars per day for the hundred days before the election was called? ACT has its best momentum and support in a decade.I want to thank Sang Cho and the team at Eden Bistro for opening up especially in Waitangi. Eden Bistro is a new business, and I think it’s going to be a big success. Here in the north of Mt Eden is one of the Epsom Electorate’s most exciting up-and-coming neighbourhoods.Many people here are from the Epsom Electorate. I’m proud to represent you as your local MP. This month marks six years since I started my campaign to represent Epsom in 2014. This year I will be campaigning anew for my neighbours to send me to Wellington for a third time.The state of Our Nation is strong. We are a democracy with a diversified free market economy. We have a rich civil society with voluntary organisations of every kind.We saw in the aftermath of our nation’s tragedy in Christchurch that we may be the warmest people on earth. We are lively, entrepreneurial people who moved further than anyone for a better tomorrow.We live on the greatest piece of physical real estate on earth.The State of our Nation is strong. Our strength has been built up by generations. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we adding to or subtracting from the legacy we inherited up until today?I want to talk about some issues we face as a country.Erosion of Rights and FreedomsFree SpeechThe number one political issue is the erosion of freedom under this Government. The foundational freedom of any free society if freedom of speech. It is a good place to start.The ACT Party says it’s a sacred right to think our thoughts and share our views. Freedom of speech allowed Galileo to say the Earth goes around the Sun. It allowed Kate Shephard to say Women have equal rights. Every chance of a better tomorrow depends on people thinking and speaking freely.The current Government thinks free speech is dangerous. It doesn’t want you involved in planning tomorrow. If you are allowed to just think whatever you want, you might think the wrong thing!That’s why they want so called hate speech laws. Someone, somewhere, will be employed by you to decide what you can say. If that sounds nuts, it is. But don’t blame me, I’m just describing their proposal honestly.Normally when the state comes after you, you’re allowed to defend yourself with facts. You can’t be convicted of theft if you didn’t actually take something. When charged with hate speech, no fact can come to your defence. The question is simply whether you said something unpopular, it is mob rule at its worst.It gets worse. Imagine a job that lets you punish the unpopular. Who would apply? Bad people, of course. The worst. We already have a guy called Paul Hunt in charge of the Human Rights Commission who thinks Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-Semitism is okay. That’s the sort of person we’re talking about giving the power to persecute.The ACT Party says hate speech laws are wrong. A government dependent on ACT will never pass laws that restrict your speech. We will expect National to join with us in repealing any hate speech laws introduced in the dying days of this Government.Firearm LawsFree speech allowed ACT to point out that the Government’s firearm laws wouldn’t work, couldn’t work, and haven’t worked. Make no mistake, we are now less safe from gun violence than we were on the 14 March. For three reasons.One. The buy-back failed. It didn’t just fail to get three quarters of the prohibited firearms; it got the least powerful firearms from the most honest people. Incidentally, they took the money and spent it on more firearms. Firearm retailers just had their best Christmas period since Jesus was a boy.Two. Good policing relies on trust. The police are the public and the public are the police. Trust in the law and Police is at an all-time low amongst licensed firearm owners because of the rushed legislation. Most people follow laws they disagree with because they trust the process. They believe in parliamentary democracy. It’s difficult to describe how much our Parliament’s rushed gun laws have damaged the dignity of our democracy.Three. They missed the real problem. How did an Australian weirdo on the wrong side of the Tasman get off a plane and buy an AR-15 with 3,000 rounds of ammo? A single male. Living alone. In another country. Who’d travelled to North Korea and Saudi Arabia. Where were the alarm bells going ding ding ding?Now you understand why the Government and National rushed through their crazy laws. They’d done nothing about the woeful state of New Zealand’s firearm laws for a generation. They knew the public would soon turn on them if they didn’t act immediately, so they practiced collective punishment for the worst crime in our nation’s history on a group of people who’d done nothing wrong.This election will decide whether we fix it, or things get worse. The Government can legislate a register before the election but they cannot implement one. ACT in Government would insist on reversing the second tranche of firearm laws, reintroducing the E-category, and getting the woeful Police out of firearm licensing and administration.That’s the only way to solve the real problems that the Royal Commission will unveil, after the Government’s legislation.The assault on firearm owners and free speech got attention because they made up the Government’s response to the Christchurch terror attacks.Zero Carbon ActThe Zero Carbon Bill give more power to Government Ministers than any legislation since Muldoon. What’s worse, it will do nothing about its stated goal of reducing climate emissions. The legislation is so filled with escape hatches that it will never actually reduce emissions. How do I know this? The British have had the same law for over a decade. Their emission reductions per dollar of GDP have been no better than ours.But it’s given a Minister the undemocratic ability to set plans for whole industries. A Government Minister setting carbon budgets will have the power to effectively decide whether steel, or aluminium is profitable or even if it survives.ACT put up amendments that would remove those Ministerial Powers, making them come to Parliament before setting any kind of industrial plan. We also put up amendments saying New Zealanders should be able to use foreign carbon credits if they’re cheaper.The Parliament, including National, voted against our proposed changes, so we didn’t support the bill.Oil and Gas ExplorationSpeech, firearms, and climate change are issues that get attention, but the erosion of freedom has happened in almost every policy area.New Zealand is already a hostile environment for energy and mineral investment. This is crazy. There are probably more New Zealanders working in Australian mines than New Zealand ones.The ban on oil and gas exploration is nuts. Announcing that the Government will allow no more exploration permits without Cabinet papers or consultation is a sure way to scare away the investment we need to raise worker productivity and wages.The Environmental Protection Agency was supposed to make scientifically robust decisions about who could mine. They’ve been disastrous, preventing environmentally sound projects that could bring investment jobs and growth.This is why we can’t have nice things.The next Government will have to start taking an objective approach to the benefits of the energy and mineral sectors.LandlordsSecond only to licenced firearm owners, landlords are the most persecuted group under this Government.The Government is so opposed to anyone who’s worked, saved and invested, that they have actually hurt tenants in their rush to attack landlords.Landlords perform an incredible service. If you don’t want to save, purchase, do maintenance, pay rates and insurance, and generally be responsible for a property, guess what? Landlords will do it for you. Often they charge rent that doesn’t even cover the mortgage interest rate on the property they’re renting out.You might think that landlords are the greatest benefactors in our society. As a renter myself I’m thrilled that someone is kind enough to do all the work and take all the risk for me. The weekly fee amounts to barely 2 per cent return on equity but hey, that’s their problem.Yet, somehow, landlords have become the whipping boys and girls of this Government. Letting fees are banned, tenants are given even more rights to occupy their property against their will, constant regulatory upgrades add to their cost.The result is predictable enough. If you make it harder to be a landlord, you get fewer landlords. If you raise their costs, they put up rents.Because the Government doesn’t understand the relationship between landlords and tenants, because they see the world through a hundred-year-old lens of class warfare, they’ve kneecapped the very people they’re trying to help.Employment LawEmployment is another relationship this Government fundamentally doesn’t understand. You can either take the risk of putting together capital, ideas, and customers for the privilege of giving other people jobs, or you can just work for someone else made enough to do it.Like landlords, this Government thinks employers are a cash cow, there to be milked for better pay and conditions. That’s why we see the highest minimum wage in the world going up a dollar at a time. That’s why we see the threat of national awards, where wages get negotiated for whole industries from Wellington.What this Government doesn’t understand is that people respond to incentives. If you make it less attractive to employ people, guess what? Less people get employed.We are starting to see the evidence. New Zealand’s terms of trade have never been better, and some industries are desperate for workers, but somehow welfare rolls continue to increase. Since this Government took office, the number of people on welfare has gone up by 25,000. There are over 300,000 working aged New Zealanders on a benefit.ACT stands for the simple idea that employers need workers as much as workers need employers, and bureaucracy is ultimately bad for both of them.The Rural SectorNot so long ago, the farmers were proud to be the backbone of the economy, today the whole of rural New Zealand is under constant assault by Government.Once again the problem is a misunderstanding of the people being governed. Just like firearm owners, landlords, and employers, rural folk are the Government’s ‘bad people.’Bad people, they think farmers are, who want to make money by damaging the environment. They don’t know how to think win-win. It doesn’t occur to them that people who make a living off the land might be the country’s most motivated environmentalists.So they pile on regulations that will drive up costs for little environmental benefit. The one-size-fits-all freshwater regulations will impose costs much larger than the environmental benefits. They will impose standards that urban councils do not meet, and you start to understand why rural New Zealand is angry with this Government.Every Party except ACT supported the Zero Carbon Bill. It may be unavoidable that one day there will be a charge for carbon produced by agriculture. But it remains debatable how a short-lived gas such as methane should be compared with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide. The problem is our Government isn’t debating it. At the very least, our Government should be making the case internationally that methane is not a permanent greenhouse gas and should not be compared with them.None of that is to mention the unending compliance burden placed on farmers, or the Government’s support of a Reserve Bank Governor who has just put up capital costs for no good reason whatsoever.So, the biggest political issue we face right now is a slow erosion of your basic rights and freedoms. We have shown that we are prepared to fight for them.Sleaze in WellingtonIt’s a point of pride that we are the least corrupt country in the world. It’s something we should jealously guard.We should be a country where the rules are the same no matter who you are, and the real process is the same as the advertised one. That’s a fundamental building block of a free and prosperous society.We need to take stock of the sleaze in Wellington. Right now:• Two political parties are under investigation for irregular donations• Two lobbyists have been employed as Ministerial staffers with full access to Cabinet papers while remaining directors of their lobbying firms• The Speaker is being sued over allegations he wrongly slandered a parliamentary staffer as being a criminal• The Deputy Prime Minister can’t competently fill out his Superannuation forms, and there’s the uncomfortable mystery of how this fact -as secret as your tax records- became public• The Provincial Growth Fund is practically an invitation to corruption. There is no real public purpose for taxing some businesses and giving money to others. Shane Jones openly says people must vote for him to get the money, and conveniently forgets he met close associates who applied for the money.In March last year, ACT broke the story about Shane Jones helping to get $4.6 million through the Provincial Growth Fund for an organisation he once chaired. Of course, Jacinda Ardern looked the other way. But what NZ First’s slush fund really means is that you don’t get rich by creating products people want to buy at prices they can afford. No. Instead, you either need connections in the Beehive, or they need to come to Wellington and beg for largesse. These are not the values of a free and prosperous society.This is not a picture of the world’s least corrupt country. The problems lie almost exclusively with the three Governing parties. One reason we need to change the Government is to restore the standards of the world’s least corrupt country in Wellington. And by the way, if it’s legal for two companies controlled by one person to donate more than the declaration limit on the same day, then our electoral laws need to change.Spin Over SubstanceUnder Jacinda Ardern we live in the age of gesture politics. One well-meaning policy after another is marketed brilliantly, but does not work.You just have to ask how the Prime Minister got to be the Prime Minister. Marketing. She has a degree in marketing. She became Prime Minister by selling the same policies that David Shearer, David Cunliffe, and Andrew Little couldn’t sell.The lesson she took is that good marketing can cover off bad policy. Jacinda Ardern has invented the politics of gesture.Banning Plastic bags will not reduce the amount of plastic going into the ocean. Plastic bag litter from New Zealand is not the source of ocean plastic – but it is a fantastic gesture.Doing a market study into petrol companies will not reduce the price of petrol -the petrol companies’ slice is tiny compared with the price of oil and government taxes – but bashing big business is a great gesture.Having the Government build houses will not solve the shortage of housing -the real problem is a shortage of land to build houses on – but it is a great gesture.Buying the least powerful firearms off the most law abiding New Zealanders will not stop the next terrorist, but it is a great gesture.Reporting income statistics, as required by the Child Poverty Reduction Bill, will not reduce child poverty. The real problem is child neglect, but passing a Child Poverty Reduction Bill is a great gesture.I’m sure there’s a phrase used to describe people who are content with simply signalling their virtues.Taken together, the Prime Minister is tackling the housing crisis, saving the oceans from plastic waste, making petrol more affordable, protecting us from terrorism, and fighting child poverty. That’s why she has fans.The only problem is that every initiative is an empty gesture. None of it will actually make New Zealanders’ live better.But we shouldn’t place the blame entirely on the Prime Minister. We’re unable to have a serious discussion about policy in New Zealand. The standard of political debate is woeful. There is no substance. We are focussed on personalities rather than policies. At Waitangi, Winston Peters won’t stand next to Simon Bridges, so he got James Shaw to stand between them. Jacinda Ardern and Marama Davidson giggled during Simon Bridges speech. This is the level of debate. We could instead be talking about how Jacinda Ardern ended charter schools and sent Maori students back to the state school system that had failed them. But it is easier not to address the difficult issues. If we didn’t cheekily adopt Donald Trump’s slogan for today’s event, we wouldn’t have the company of our friends from the media!The other political parties prioritise spin over substance. We at ACT have a core set of beliefs and we’re prepared to put them into action. We are principled and we’re effective.This year the whole country will vote on the End of Life Choice Act. If a majority make it into a law, it will be a great triumph for human compassion and human freedom. It will mean that a person suffering at the end of their life need not suffer to fit in with someone else’s reality. It will be your life, your choice. That’s what a single ACT MP can achieve. That achievement is why we need more ACT MPs in Parliament.Confronting our Long Term ChallengesBeing unable to have serious discussions about which policies are best for New Zealand means we’re less able to solve our long-term challenges.ProductivityIt seems like nearly every week another group of patients and their families petition Parliament for new pharmaceuticals. Of course people are upset that their loved ones are dying, but what has made it a political issue? If I was dying Parliament’s the last place I’d spend my time, believe me.It’s a political issue for one very simple reason. The Australians get the good drugs. Maybe they pay higher taxes and give up other stuff to get the drugs? Nope, they pay lower taxes. They just have more money.This issue is one of productivity. So is keeping the next generation in New Zealand. So is inequality, because when people get left behind in a more and more competitive world we’re really saying they are suffering low productivity.Unfortunately we’re in the lower left corner of the productivity charts. Left because we started low. Lower because we’ve made little progress in productivity growth this century.Some countries started high and cruised along. Others started low and grew quickly. We have the worst of all worlds. Low productivity growth from a low starting point.When you look at the priorities of this Government, and the previous one, low productivity growth is no surprise because productivity growth has not been a priority.Successive governments have ignored policies that harm our productivity and favoured policies that do nothing for it.Having a wellbeing budget. Does nothing for productivity.Government building homes in competition with the private sector?Paying people more to stay home? Doesn’t help productivity.Being the highest taxed country in the Asia pacific region? Doesn’t make people want to work, save and invest.Having the fourth highest company tax rate in the developed world? Doesn’t help productivity.Cancelling basic infrastructure projects for two years then admitting they’re a good idea after all because there’s an election? Doesn’t help productivity.Building regulations where getting permission to build something often takes longer than actually building it? Does not help productivity.Cancelling charter schools that were working because other schools didn’t like losing their students? Doesn’t help productivity.Giving taxpayer money to kids from high decile schools wo were going to high school anyway? Doesn’t help productivity.Banning oil and gas exploration with no consultation or even a Cabinet paper? Scares the living daylights out of investors and doesn’t help productivity.This is insane. We have a Government that does everything but help raise productivity, and lots of things that will actively harm it.ACT in government will make productivity growth a priority. We need to stop taxing and regulating for the sake of it. We need to create the environment for investment, jobs and growth. If we fail, the consequences will be more and more serious over time.We will struggle to keep the promise of New Zealand Superannuation. Younger taxpayers will seek greener pastures. Those without skills will be left stranded, competing with those who lack skills in poor countries around the world. It is a recipe for division and conflict in our society.HousingNot far behind weak productivity is housing. Quite simply it is the biggest public policy failure of the last thirty years.I try not to fill my speeches with numbers but here are three. Since the early nineties, inflation has gone up 60 per cent. The cost of building per square metre has gone up 240 per cent. The price of the median Auckland section has gone up 900 per cent.Let me put that in context, that’s almost as much as shares in Apple. Apple in that time revolutionised the music industry, the personal computer, and the cell phone. Auckland sections were just made scarce by red tape and regulation.Anyone who doesn’t think there’s a problem needs to ponder those numbers. They need to ponder how a country that’s practically uninhabited can run out of sections because of bureaucracy.The consequences are many and dire. Overall home ownership rates are falling, but taking the overall rate masks the much greater declines that are occurring amongst younger, poorer, browner New Zealanders. If we wanted to set up a divided society of haves and have nots, our RMA, Local Government Act, and Building Act are the right way to go about it.It’s also a problem for productivity. It’s hard to attract global talent to your firm if they can’t afford to live here. Every New Zealand firm is paying a hidden tax. That’s the extra wage bill going to its employees’ mortgages.Unless we change our land use planning, our infrastructure funding, and our building consents, we will become a poorer and more divided society.ACT has the answers. People in the building industry quietly tell me they’re the only answers that will get more houses built.First we need to replace the Resource Management Act in urban areas. The Productivity Commission has already produced an excellent report ‘Better Urban Planning’ that lays out how planning could be done in urban areas if we wanted to actually build homes.Second we need to give councils a cut of the central Government’s taxes on new builds. If councils have to give consent and build the infrastructure for new developments, then they need money and they need incentives. ACT’s policy of giving the consenting council half the GST on new builds in their territory would not only give them money, it would dramatically change their incentives.Third, we need to get councils out of the building consent business. They should have been sacked from this role after leaky buildings. Instead, ACT would implement a regime of mandatory private sector insurance on new builds.Our goal should be that anyone who does the right things, works hard and saves their money, can own their own stake in New Zealand. It’s in all our interests to live in such a country.EducationThe final big issue facing this country is education.We spend $15 billion dollars on education, and we have some of the best schools in the world. But overall our education outcomes are highly unequal and slowly declining.The PISA study, which compares the reading, maths and science abilities of 15-year-olds across the world, shows our test scores are falling. A 2014 government report found 40 per cent of Year 12 students failed to meet literacy and numeracy standards even though they had NCEA Level 2.Large numbers of our children are leaving school unprepared for work and life. This is a disaster for our society and our economy. When it comes to the students who leave school without basic skills, our education system is – to borrow a phrase – a moral and fiscal failure.ACT wants to break up the government’s monopoly on education by giving educators freedom, and by giving parents choice.A one-size-fits-all education system doesn’t work and cannot work. The needs of students are diverse and our schools must also be diverse. All children - not just the well-off - should have a choice in education.Partnership Schools were an example of this philosophy in action. Schools had the freedom to innovate and families could vote with their feet by taking their children to a school that better met their needs.Any future government that ACT is part of will bring back Partnership Schools in even greater numbers.But freedom in the classroom is just the start. We also need to put power in the hands of parents.The issue of who should control education funding comes down to this: Do we trust the bureaucrats or the parents?Taxpayers will spend $250,000 on education over the life of every baby born this year, but parents have little control over how it is spent. We could get much better value for that money for all children - but especially disadvantaged children - if it was used to empower families to choose their school, public or private.ACT says that taxpayer education funding should be placed into student education accounts to be controlled by parents. Those who want to continue at their current school will be able to do so, however those who don't will have greater choice.ACTThe good news is ACT is in place to push back the incursions on our freedoms, push out the sleaze, and replace the politics of gesture with the politics of real policy that actually solves real problems.Every poll in the last three months has shown that, if an election were held tomorrow, Beth would be an MP. She’d make a great MP. She is an award-winning businesswoman. A former sheep and beef farmer. A mother of two. A three times elected member of the Rodney Local Board and elected Chair of that Board. Beth would be a better MP than 90 per cent of them on her first day.But there are other polls that haven’t been widely reported. When I tell you what they say you’ll understand why. Multiple sources have told me that Labour’s poll at the end of last year, Labour’s poll had ACT on 3.5 per cent. That’s five ACT MPs.Why is this happening? Because ACT is the only party working hard for a better New Zealand. If that sounds simple, it is.ACT is constructive. We worked with every party to pass the End of Life Choice Act.ACT is also principled. When it matters, we stand alone against every other party.The common theme is that ACT alone works issue by issue for a better New Zealand. Every other party is operating on the politics of gesture.The ACT Party stands to hold the balance of power after this election. How would we use that position?Again, very simple. We stand for people who want to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of those they care about. We stand against politicians with grand Government schemes to buy us a better tomorrow, with our own money.Let me put it his way. The ACT Party stands for those who do. We believe that the world is made a better place by human action. We oppose the marketing led gesture politics that makes us feel good but leaves us all the poorer.We are campaigning to roll back government incursions on our freedom and deliver practical policies that solve real long-term problems with productivity growth, homebuilding, and educational inequality.I hope you will join us in this fight for a Free New Zealand.Free SpeechACT New ZealandPolitics in Full Sentences - Podcasts NZSchool of Practical Politics

Afternoons host Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford have taken opposing sides in the legalisation of cannabis. The Government yesterday released the draft cannabis law ahead of next year's referendum. A ban on all advertising of cannabis products, no online sales - and a minimum purchase age of 20.It comes alongside a new Government website with public information on the draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill - and the End of Life Choice Act.While Phil says he does not like the idea of stores selling cannabis, he does not mind people growing it in their own backyard. He says that if you work "gangbusters" with teenagers, you can control the message and limit the spread the way it has with smoking."It's worked with tobacco, why wouldn't it work with cannabis? Tobacco is just as addictive as cannabis." When Simon said that smoking is still rampant around Maori and Pasifika communities, Phil hit back, saying it's not as high as it was.When Simon pointed out it is a drug, Phil hit back by pointing out so is tobacco. "Would you prefer a 18-year-old smoking a cigarette and jumping in the car, or smoking a joint and jumping in the car?" Simon asked. "Smoking might kill you but it'll take 20 years, you might take three people out by drug driving." Simon said that it is putting a huge problem on society by legalising it. "Well what if you gave up on tobacco? If you took that attitude to tobacco, you would never have had campaigns against tobacco," Phil said. The two hosts both agreed that it should not be put to a referendum.