Posts by Hilary Stace
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,
Not enough people in these industries already. Very stretched and low paid sector. Wonder what the conditions will be? Hate to think.
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So simple, effective and has been our de facto flag for a couple of decades.
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Up Front: Stand for... Something, in reply to Russell Brown,
That bit about no theory is not quite right. Those old lefties (men and women) who formed the basis of the Labour Party in government had been talking and arguing about a better way for years. There was the Clarion movement out of Scotland that many immigrants brought with them and then the Red Feds, and those anti-conscription activists imprisoned in WW1 probably had a lot of time to talk, and even the WEA discussion groups from the 1920s were a ferment of self-education and ideas. So when they finally got into power it sort of fell into place.
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Up Front: Stand for... Something, in reply to Emma Hart,
That was Merv Wellington who was a really bizarre Minister of Education in Muldoon's last government. It was really the only thing he seemed to care about - that every school had a flagpole and put the flag up each morning. There might have been something about saluting it but I can't remember.
Incidentally I have a flagpole in the front yard. I fly a variety of flags to mark special occasions and when it is not too windy. I have the United Tribes flag for Waitangi Day, the Australian Aboriginal flag for Australia Day and the Hundertwasser koru for most other times as it is my favourite of all the potential and actual designs. I refuse to fly, and don't actually own, the regular NZ flag and I'm sure that is because I am still rebelling against Merv Wellington.
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Up Front: Stand for... Something, in reply to Isabel Hitchings,
Similarly our politicians have usually been very accessible. Any community group with a gripe used to be able make an appointment with the local MP and often the relevant cabinet minister had an open door. Politicians readily went on radio or TV and they would be 'minister' for the interview but known by their first name behind the scene. No so much now. There are more gate-keepers between the people and the politicians and PR people advise what interviews to do and with whom, and who to let through the door. So Campbell Live or National Radio rarely gets a minister to front (although jokey John will readily do the soft stuff). This accessibility is part of our national identity, and I fear it is under threat.
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Blog post by Te Papa curator Kirstie Ross also has links to several of the photos
http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2015/05/16/end-of-the-road/#comment-136536 -
I have been heartened by the public response to the proposed axing of Campbell Live. Thousands of people, for many and varied reasons, have rallied. But probably united in some vague idea that the programme has stood up for ordinary people. This could be our version of patriotism.
I heard a rumour that its axing is to be announced this week. If so I don't think we will let it go quietly.
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Just been re-reading the excellent post by Andrew Geddis about the recent Spencer court case and win
So, for the National Government, caring for a disabled family member is a duty that ought to be undertaken because that's what families are all about. It's work that is done out of love and the human bonds of commitment. The State may help families out to some extent when they undertake such care (provide respite carers so you can have a time out, or the like), but it's only where there is no family around (or willing) to look after a disabled individual that the obligation then falls on the State to pay someone to do so.
However, the courts have looked at this issue and said (in essence), "hang on - if the State has recognised it has a general background obligation to pay for carers for disabled individuals then the State can't rely on the bonds of love and human commitment simply to reduce the overall cost to the public purse. Not paying family members, just because they are family members, is unjustified discrimination, and the law says that the State can't act in such a way."
http://pundit.co.nz/content/theres-none-so-deaf-as-they-that-will-not-hear
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Meanwhile Simon Bridges is in Australia encouraging oil and petroleum companies to come to NZ to explore as much as they want
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Back in the days of the Social Services select committee on disability support (2006-8) there were numerous submissions on what did and didn't work. There were some good recommendations from that report, which have largely been overlooked, such as the need for a Ministry of Disability to get away from all the organisational barriers we have.
CCSDisability Action brought the Local Area Coordinator expert Eddie Bartnik over from Western Australia. This was a system whereby there were geographical boundaries each with a LAC. Anyone could come to the LAC and ask for help (no gatekeeping system). That LAC organiser became an expert on all the services available in the area and developed long term relationships with the local disabled people and families.
Significantly the LACs liked their work and staff turn over was low. People and services were carefully matched and people didn't take more than they needed. So it actually saved money. But the savings came from developing good relationships and institutional knowledge. Neither of these are aspects of the new ideas we are seeing here.
There was an attempt to impose a LAC system (not the Western Australia model) in the Western Bay of Plenty as part of the New Model of Disability Support. But it was on top of the other gatekeeping systems such as NASCs so eligibility for it is very limited.
