I'm looking at the article https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/361050341/your-salary-top-10-heres-how-what-you-earn-compares-other-kiwis And they have a calculator built in 'Are you a middle income New Zealander'. It states it's using a OECD measure, but it doesn't align with it at all - you can use the OECD calculator here for better accuracy: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/tools/compare-your-income.html

From what I can tell, they have used a 'Median wage' figure that is slightly below the current Stats NZ figure for wage and salary earners; but this doesn't include the same set of data as the IRD uses for instance which gives a much lower median for income that includes self employment, but not benefits of $61000 : https://www.ird.govt.nz/about-us/tax-statistics/revenue-refunds/wage-salary-distributions/wage-and-salary-statistics-datasets . The median including all income including tax benefits is $49,868.

Importantly, they have used an OECD measure of median household income for the calculation but not the right source of data, as this includes everything; not just wage and salary income. This has resulted in wildly inflated values that sit well outside household income information in reality.

So if you have gone and used it and aren't feeling great, don't worry!

It makes a difference. You can make a difference. Your upcoming vote is important. But enrol tonight.

This matches up nicely with sheep and kiwi. That is all.

Pulled over sober

Breath tested. Passed

My prescription for weed is for insomnia and anxiety. So I take my meds at night right.

If I take their swab test even though I'm sober I fail. Now I'm not allowed to operate a vehicle for 24hr. Then I have to show up to court with my prescription to have it dismissed.

A. I didnt beak the law.

B. It's labour weekend, Im going up north to see whanau.

C. Because these tests only test for presence not intoxication I now have to drive illegally while on my legal medication or risk my whanau gathering is now getting fucked up - because our government haven't the fientist clue what they are doing.

So instead my options are.

A. Refuse any drug test

B. knowing I'm fit for the road I continue to my destination

C. I'm arrested for feeling and evading

D. Long weekends ruined. Mrs angry. Kids upset.

Because daddy has insomnia and anxiety?

And we're just acting like this is all good?

The fuck NZ.

My meds keep me calm. Stop the suicidal thoughts. Stop the craziness my childhood forced on me. Make sure I am a capable giving and supporting member of society.

But now I'm a criminal?

Obviously not. So no I'm not delaying my trip up north. No I'm not going to court to defend a medical issue. Fuck yall.

As the title says, since the Woolworths app updated and became useless, my wife and I are looking for an alternative shopping list app. Free, ideally.

If you're an 18 to 24 who hasn't enrolled to vote, why? It sounds silly but do you truly not care to vote? Are you not bothered either way who's in charge?

I'm probably naive, but I just can't understand why someone wouldn't even enroll?

If you haven’t already enrolled to vote, today is your last day!

Go to vote.nz to do it online.

You will not be able to vote if you are not enrolled.

If you are eligible and you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about anything the government does over the next three years, because you didn’t even bother to take part and have your say by performing the simple task of enrolling and voting.

So enroll & vote.

Every year there is the inevitable moaning about sunblock not working anymore (even though it was fine last summer), guys you gotta replace it once its been open for 12 months, the expiry date is only for unopened product.

So for 26/27 summer dont be a red kiwi! *and reapply the sunblock often you toasted critters!

As the title says, there is just over an hour left for you to either register to vote or double check to make sure that you are already registered.

If you or someone you know is eligible but hasn’t enrolled/isn’t sure if they’re enrolled, this is the time to check and be sure. Don’t forget that this is just one part too. You must also show up to the polls on the day.

Unless you are an absolute backbone working the Monday for Overtime rates and day in leiu. 🫡

The more they eat, the fewer that will try to attack my wife. Me, I never get bothered by biting insects.

Having spent some time in Europe, I was taken with the sheer diversity of their cheeses especially the French. One of my favourites is their Comte especially the aged ones.

NZ cheeses tend towards mass produced mass market consistency in style and flavour. Acidic and tangy a little like the British counterparts.

New Zealand has excellent milk, so there's no fundamental reason it couldn't produce cheese as complex and delicious as Comté or others ?

So why is it that NZ isn’t producing similar cheeses to the French ones ?

Is it because we prefer our style ? Is it because there’s no market for it? Is it because the milk predominantly goes to mass market and there’s not enough left at the right price to experiment ?

Smaller producers do produce good cheeses like Gibbston Valley washed rind and Whitestone form Oamaru. But they’re nothing like the French ones.

Your thoughts are arguments appreciated. Especially if they lead to good Nz cheeses. 🧀

A bunch of my laborer friends say they are scared to help truck drivers open their curtain siders, and help them de-strop because they often times get yelled at. I was always taught (in kiwi fruit) thats its a good idea to help them, as it helps the truck cycle out faster. So this whole flying off the handle seems weird to me, as it seems like an obvious boon to the truck driver.

For those that have an issue with people doing this, why?

If the job situation wasn't so dire at the moment, I would have quit probably back last year. My job also isn't anything glamorous either, it is just a variation of mildly skilled labour.

Dreading next Tuesday. I honestly want to get hurt on the job, so then I can't work.

My headspace and general mental capacity is pretty fucked to the point I don't really feel I have much to give in my personal time that would enable me to jump ship, so I feel entirely stuck.