Eamon Sloan

  Covid Comments Updated – Again Out of Australia yesterday (15 th October 2021) we read that New South Wales was planning to open its international borders to fully vaccinated travellers and to do away with quarantine. Aust PM Scott Morrison has over ruled the NSW state pointing out that the Federal Govt alone holds authority over international borders. Possibly NSW was wanting to follow the North American example and the NSW premier being new to the job was hoping to make an immediate mark for himself. The actual reopening date and conditions at the moment seem to be a moving target. If it all happens how far behind will NZ be in re-opening? Interestingly the new NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, used the term “hermit kingdom” in reference to his state’s lockdown. Who else recently applied that descriptive, using it as if it was his own original material? Our very own and hugely admired (?) ex-Prime Minister John Key. The term had actually popped up in the media a few months...

  Covid Comments Updated I fail to see what value there is in New Zealand retaining regional lockdowns once a high number of people have been fully vaccinated. The experts tell us there is a risk of the fully vaccinated, after vaccination, unknowingly becoming infected with the virus and then transmitting it. High risk or minimal risk – we don’t seem to know. A natural question is, how many proven cases of this type of infection transmission have been found? The reason for this question is that the USA, Canada and Mexico are next month opening borders for all travel for those who have been fully vaccinated (See CNN and New York Times reports). In other words, no full vaccination equals no travel. If it is good enough for North America then why not New Zealand? We could have our borders reopened fully much sooner and do away with managed isolation systems. The USA will require those entering via air travel to have a Covid test in addition to full vaccination.   If a suffi...

  Language Debate Resumed In this post I shall try to cast some light on aspects of the Maori language debate. I want to highlight areas where Maori language is being weaponised against the English language and against the wider culture. Further on in this post you will find some criticisms where I might be classified as a separatist. I would wear that label only at the point where I would support a separation of the languages. I do not have any issues with Maori language advocates wanting to revitalise the Maori language. My problem is with the revitalisation methods being used such as a wholesale intrusion into the English language. There are dangers of eventually reducing the New Zealand style of English language to the level of an inferior hybrid. The point might be reached where the New Zealand style English language itself would require revitalisation to be rid of Maori influences.     A recent Stuff article (19 th Sept Stuff Link ) detailed the Maori ...

  Of Judges and Kingmakers Of Judges and Kingmakers. My comment on Karl du Fresne’s blog was that Judge Callinicos might soon find himself working elsewhere in the judicial system. The reason for my suggestion was that I was reminded of a tag line used by an old friend of years ago. We were discussing the fate of a well-known business leader of the time who did not make it through to any of the lucrative director’s positions. My friend’s information was that prior to retirement the business leader had “annoyed the kingmakers”. Could the same be said of Judge Callinicos? The next question is of course who are the kingmakers hiding behind the curtains in the Callinicos affair? His judicial superiors maybe? The Maori tribal establishment – which probably has tentacles into Oranga Tamariki? Sir Wira Gardiner was acting CEO of Oranga Tamariki at the time the “Moana” case commenced, and up to the time the Callinicos judgement was completed (dated 9 th Sept 2021). Wira Gardiner has...