Dairy prices rise closer to all-time highs; warning on Omicron's impact on jobs; US factories slow; US retail holds but not so in Germany or Australia; UST 10yr 1.79%; oil stable but gold up; NZ$1 = 66.2 USc; TWI-5 = 70.9

chebbo.

Correct.....l think Jacinda & her team wont long Covid , instead of getting it all done before winter....it will be here all year....more people have & will Die from poor gov decisions than will Die with Omicron....cost/benefits anyone....all about votes now..

Bang on, we have 5.5 million spread over a fairly large geographic area, not 10 million in a tightly packed area. Also we over 90% vaccinated, yet have over the top lockout and lock-down rules. Does it really mater if 10-100 cases sneak in through the border (still have the testing and make sure Dble/Triple Vaxed) if we already have 100's of cases here, I doubt it. Anyway based on all the experts modelling we should have 240 plus cases today, 500 come Friday..

"Denmark has lifted all of its domestic Covid-19 restrictions, including the wearing of face masks, making it the first European Union country to do so.

Nightclubs have reopened, late-night alcohol sales have resumed, and the Danish coronavirus app is no longer needed to enter venues.

While cases are still relatively high, the authorities say the virus no longer qualifies as a "critical threat".

That is due to the country's high vaccination rate, experts say."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60215200

perfect read -- 190 people a week die of cancer - 180 a week from heart issues --   55 in two years from Covid --  maybe the 60billion we borrowed could have been spent in those areas -- MRI machines and specialists -- as far more of these deaths are preventable by early identification  -  Flu will kill 20 a week max -- and in other countries the average age of death is over 70+   ie its older people getting Covid and dying -- just the same as older people getting flu and dying --     Everyone who wants to be vacced is -- and we have a range of treatment options.  

As someone who runs high end residential health services -- i am petrified that some of my clients will die or be seriously harmed because i am down to delivering with 2 health care assistants instead of a nurse, occupational therapist and 4 or 5 health care assistants for long periods of time -- simply because staff are close contacts and have to stand down for 10-14 days --  its not the costs involved -- as we simply cant backfill as everyone and every where else will be short too!  

UK had a lot of prior infection. A British colleague is double vaxxed and has had Covid twice... All I have is my 2 vaccinations.

Well in that case they should be pleased  with themselves because Core Logic rates a 2.1 rise in value for January. But I am right with you here Tkk. This is the most mealy mouthed, inept,  incompetent lot that I have ever  seen in government going back to an early encounter as a youth with Sydney Holland. The only skill they have is being able to talk out of the side of their mouths, with a forked tongue.

Labour a bigger flop than National on housing. Didn’t think it could be possible, but it has been 🤔

The soundtrack is worth a listen. Hickey (and of course int.co) the lone voices in trying to call the govt out - msm absent of course, trying to distract us with some other meaningless issue. 

I really hate the way in which our leaders have developed the habit of gaslighting, and that the media don’t call them out on it.

John Key used:

“Look, I don’t believe New Zealanders care about x “

Jacinda Ardern uses:

“I reject that”

 

It feels like we have a political system where elected officials no longer feel like they need to listen or respond to the electorate.

Rain forecast this weekend , and more cyclones queing up behind it. Wether they hit NZ , or slide to the east is a lottery however.

Had a talk with the area manager yesterday, she rekons China won't take milk from farms where workers have covid, which is some pretty bad news because it looks to me like every farm is going to get covid at some point.  Not sure how this will play out, but maybe there is a bit of panic buying before the plague hits us, which could explain the strong prices so far.

Balance has put urea prices up to 1440, which is getting closer to the economic limits, 31c/kg/dm at 10:1  Ravensdown 1248 last I checked.

 VTHO- People will have a range of views. As a Landscaper/ Gardener  with a permanently damaged (unfixable) spine ,and creaking joints ,at 56,  it is a stretch of imagination to see myself still able to work ,at 65 years ,let alone 67. 

How does it work for racial groups that are more in manual labour, and have less life expectancy? They never get to collect on their taxed labour ,but work hard ,die younger and hardly benefit from their pension at all.

So , given that fact ,and well known situation, it's more complex than commonly considered.

Raise pension age to 67?  Daft.

I want to see politicians outline how they see old age income will be for 30 and 50 years out.  Not some kneejerk idea. 

The Nats just failed that future vision.  But no other political party has had such vision either. 

Go for it is what I say. It should have been done long ago. And it doesn't shoot up overnight as a lot of people seem to think. It goes up by, say, a month a year for 24 years until it hits 67 under National's old policy (IIRC) so if it was passed in 2024 it would only affect those born after 1980 (which includes me). 

The disability/sickness benefit would be set at a similar amount so those incapacitated by manual labour would not miss out on money if they couldn't work at 65

I'm personally against it. i turn 65 in August so will not be affected by any changes. I am also very fit and active for my age. I more relate to someone in their 40s. But I cannot afford to retire when I reach 65. I am not on a large income (<$100K), and most if not all I know in my age group are significantly less fit and healthy than I am and are looking forward to be able to retire. An aside, racial disparities (Maori die on average 7 years earlier than others) - health and fitness is largely a personal lifestyle choice, and these have consequences. Maori don't die younger if they look after themselves. Improve peoples education. 

While I am fit, I must say your body lets you know you are ageing in myriad ways. It is increasingly difficult to maintain my fitness, and has been noticeable since I turned 50. 

I personally believe most of the young, when they hit these ages will feel the same, so any extension of the retirement age will be a betrayal of them. I believe people should be allowed to retire at an age where they can still enjoy it. 

Economists talk about costs, but politicians fiddling with the pot is what is screwing us. It really annoys me big time when someone on a huge salary with a retirement package no other Kiwi could hope for, tells us that we need to work longer because the little we need is unaffordable.

Keep the pension at 65 for those who have spent their lives in manual labour jobs and raise it to 67 for those who worked behind a desk. 

 

More Scam Than Benefit

Is There More To It?