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The United States is fighting a proxy war in western Eurasia – Europe – and soon may be at war with China in the east. The prize is a continuation of American hegemony or its replacement by multipolarity. This talk examines Anglo-American thinking about Eurasia since Mackinder and how this illuminates the current situation. It will also discuss some questions this raises for New Zealand going forward. Some background for the talk including Mackinder's world island theory may be found in this article by Tim Beal published in John Menadue's Australian website 'Pearls and Irritations' https://johnmenadue.com/the- ukraine-war-lessons-for- australia-and-the-asia- pacific/, Dr Tim Beal: Author, Researcher, Educator, Asia specialist Tim Beal is a retired NZ academic who has written extensively on Asia, with a focus on Northeast Asia. He also has an interest in imperialism, again mainly in respect of Asia but recently, also inevitably encompassing Europe
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Rob Campbell is the former chair of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. His recent sacking has sharpened his commentary on the need for change. He speaks to us about progress in transforming what has been a fragmented system in order to “create a more equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred system that will improve the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders”. The new health system has been designed to enable a whole-of-country view to planning and delivering services, helping it to be efficient and consistent everywhere. A healthcare system that is nationally planned, regionally delivered and locally tailored and which will address things like surgical waiting lists. Check out their website for more information here. The government has set out six priorities for the new health system: · The health system will uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi · People and whānau will be supported to stay well and connected to their communities · High-quality specialist and emergency care will be equitable and accessible to all when it is needed · Digital services and technology will provide more care in people’s homes and communities · Our health workforce will be valued and well trained, ensuring we have enough skilled people to meet future needs Rob is a professional director with extensive union, public and private sector governance experience spanning over 40 years. He currently chairs Ara Ake Ltd, NZ Rural Land Company and he is Chancellor of AUT, and is the former chair of the Environmental Protection Authority. In 2017 he was awarded the NZ Shareholders Assoc Beacon Award and the Deloitte NZ Chair of the Year Award in 2017, and then in 2019, awarded the Companion of the NZ Order of Merit and made a Distinguished Alumni of VUW. The session was chaired by Professor Marie Bismark - medical practitioner, health lawyer, researcher and company director.
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The NZ Council of Trade Unions says the root cause of our inflation and cost of living challenge is the lack of a long-term economic plan. The issues New Zealand is facing could be addressed with an Inflation and Incomes Act. Inflation is viewed as a short-term crisis, when in reality, it's a long-term problem associated with New Zealand's present economic model. Economist Craig Renney (in person for this return visit) and policy analyst Diana Russell speak to their proposal on Tuesday 7 March – at 5.30pm at 2/57 Willis Street. Right now the main tool for controlling inflation is increasing the interest rate - that takes money out of working people's pockets disproportionately and increases unemployment - mostly for low income Kiwis. That makes New Zealand's already dire wealth gap worse, and hobbles our long-term economic growth. Every New Zealander is grappling with inflation and the cost of living. We need to be having a new conversation about how we address these issues not just now, but in the long run. We need a new approach that builds greater resilience to inflation and develops a more equitable economy in the process. An Inflation and Incomes Act would create a framework for how New Zealand manages its transition to a longer-term low-inflation environment. It would better marshal our economic development, infrastructure, and public service needs so that we can respond to inevitable economic change. The Act would pave the way for the kinds of investments that we need to tackle inflation in the long-run. Investments in home insulation, electrifying the vehicle fleet, and building the homes we need. Making sure that supply-chains are resilient, and that there is genuine competition in markets. And doing so in a way that manages the cost so that it is simply borne equitably by New Zealanders. Inflation is not a new problem for the poorest in New Zealand. It will continue to be an issue for all Kiwis unless we change how we approach it. We need to look towards alternative measures of curbing inflation that doesn't just call for higher unemployment. Craig Renney - NZCTU economist Diana Russell - NZCTU policy analyst
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Come and hear Gina Dao-McLay from Young Greens discuss with Josh Trlin of Young Labour how the two parties might collaborate. In Chile the progressive parties formed an electoral bloc to win more support. What does our electoral landscape look like? Dan Harward Jones - one of the founding members of Make it 16 - will chair.
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After decades of low inflation, prices are rising across the global economy, putting growing pressure on households. The Labour Government has responded in various ways – subsiding transport costs and tackling long-running market power issues in the supermarket and construction sectors. But a growing chorus of voices says the only way forward is for unemployment to rise, pushing the burden of the crisis onto workers. What really is driving this crisis? What should we do about it? And how does the government's response to date stack up? Join us to hear from Dr Geoff Bertram on these issues, with CTU economist Craig Renney responding. Dr Geoff Bertram is an economist from the Institute of Governance and Policy Studies at the Victoria University of Wellington, whose research has included investigations into excess profits and anti-competitive practices in New Zealand. Craig Renney is an economist and policy director with the Council of Trade Unions. The session will be chaired by journalist and barrister Ollie Neas.
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