Latest news with #Depression
Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Counting on the census
One of the great pillars on which modern New Zealand society is based has been scrapped by the government in a move which has shocked many. The five-yearly, or thereabouts, census has seemingly had its day, Statistics Minister Shane Reti reckons. He announced on Wednesday that New Zealanders had, for the last time, needed to scurry about looking for a pen to fill out the forms or pray that the more recently online documents would work as intended. Citing the need to save time and money, Dr Reti signalled the census will be replaced with "a smaller annual survey and targeted data collection". This will, according to the somewhat breathless Beehive media release, provide better quality economic data to underpin the government's "growth agenda". In line with this thinking, there will be no census in 2028, with the new approach starting in 2030. The new method of collecting nationwide statistics will sharpen the focus on delivering "more timely insights into New Zealand's population", the minister reckons. Good luck with that. While we should not automatically kibosh something before it has had a chance to prove its worth, it is difficult to see how what may effectively be a scattergun approach will be superior to the system which has developed over more than 170 years. The census has, of course, never been perfect. There were well-publicised issues with the 2018 and 2023 counts, and the five-yearly spacing has been interrupted several times, due to such events as the Depression, World War 2 and the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011. There were also concerns about the robustness of responses when the 2023 census was held the month after Cyclone Gabrielle. Dr Reti also has some justification for being concerned about the cost of the census, which has ballooned during the past decade. According to government figures, the 2013 census cost $104 million, but outlay for the 2023 one was $325m, and the now-ditched 2028 one was expected to cost around $400m. The huge leap in price is certainly concerning. Based on those government numbers, there can be no doubt running a census is a very expensive business. However, we need to remember, and perhaps remind the government, that the policies which are meant to benefit everyone across the country in healthcare, education, housing, transport and so on, actually cost many billions of dollars. The price-tag for a census which informs those policies is definitely not chicken feed, but money generally well-spent. Reaction to this week's announcement has largely been negative and expressing surprise at the move. There is particular concern about how cherry-picking data and using smaller sample sets will affect the rigour of information about Māori and Pasifika communities, and also people with disabilities, rainbow communities, and smaller ethnic groups. Dr Reti's promised land of a "sharpened focus on quality" when it comes to statistics will be extremely difficult to achieve. There are crucial questions to answer around how people's existing data within government agencies will be appropriately and sensitively used, who decides what to use and when, and who will oversee the process to make sure it is as comprehensive and fair as such a potentially fraught new system can be. We are uneasy that this move appears to be another example of this government not being especially interested in the science or data necessary for good decision-making and for making policy which is evidence-based, instead careening ever-more wildly across the political landscape in pursuit of zealotry-driven outcomes. We unapologetically support the census system we had, and believe in the provision of proper statistical data sets for modern-day needs and as a source of valuable information for the historians of the future Beware the old saying: "Garbage in, garbage out."
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘Outrageous' proves the travails of the Mitford family are as timely as ever
And what lives they are. Nancy is a novelist, unusual enough in the era, and especially close to her sister Diana (Joanna Vanderham), who's married, boredly, to a kind and wealthy heir to the Guinness beer fortune. Diana has done what all six daughters of the Mitford family are meant to do, and married well. Widely praised as a beauty, she and Nancy are popular socialites, despite their baron father's shrinking fortune. Diana startles everyone by falling deeply in love with Oswald Mosley (Joshua Sasse), the head of the British Union of Fascists. What's more, she divorces her husband to be with him, then courts scandal for years while Mosley, a cad, delays their marriage (in part because he's having an affair with his dead wife's sister. He's a pretty wretched person all around). But her connection to Mosley leads their younger sister Unity (Shannon Watson) to develop a deep and horrifying affinity for fascism, and in particular for Adolf Hitler, who she manages to meet socially while at finishing school in Munich. Advertisement So that's three sisters down. We've also got Jessica (Zoe Brough), who sees starving people protesting a ball she's attending with her family during the Depression and promptly grows a political and moral conscience, developing a fascination with communism and a concurrent interest in a similarly rebellious and coincidentally quite handsome cousin. You can also think of her as This Woman Is Absolutely Right and Why Isn't Anyone Listening to Her. Second eldest Pamela (Isobel Jesper-Jones), sole brother Tom (Toby Regbo), and youngest sister Why did the family split like this? As their father (James Purefoy) bemoans to their mother (Anna Chancellor), he's normal and she's normal, but 'each one of these girls is more perverse than the other.' He's not wrong. The series has a light tone that contrasts sharply with its bleak subject matter (expect a jazzy soundtrack to intrude on scene changes), but that's also how the family experienced what happened. They were all living what they thought were parallel lives, until it became painfully clear that they weren't. At a time when many people's family members are supporting causes they find morally repugnant, the Mitford family, for all their wealth and distance from the present day, may bear more familiarity than we'd like. Advertisement Lisa Weidenfeld can be reached at
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
JPatterson Realty Marks Five Years of Luxury Real Estate Excellence and Impact
06/16/2025, Chapel Hill, North Carolina // PRODIGY: Feature Story // JPatterson Realty (JPR), the boutique real estate firm founded and led by Jennifer Patterson, is proudly celebrating its five-year anniversary. A Keller Williams Luxury partner and RealTrends-verified team, JPR has built its reputation on a distinctive concierge-style approach, a client-first mindset, and a growing commitment to community impact. What sets JPR apart is not just its elite client base or track record of success in the high-net-worth segment of North Carolina's Western Triangle region, it's the heart behind the business. Patterson, a former CPA with nearly 20 years of experience in real estate, launched JPR as a reflection of her professional awareness and personal calling. 'This five-year milestone is both a celebration and a commitment,' Patterson said. 'It's a recognition of the relationships we have built with clients and communities, and a recommitment to lead with purpose, not just profits.' Headquartered in the dynamic and highly educated Chapel Hill–Durham corridor, JPR serves a niche clientele. The average client, Patterson explains, typically holds a net worth of $4–5 million. 'These are not celebrities or billionaires,' she says. 'They are people who have worked hard, saved well, and want a partner they can trust when buying or selling their home. We offer more than transactions, we offer clarity, discretion, and guidance.' JPR's small but dedicated team hopes to expand its presence across the full Triangle region, seeking new team members who share their high-touch approach and community-driven ethos. But as Patterson looks forward, real estate is just one piece of her evolving vision. 'The next chapter for me involves deepening my work through the Della Lee Difference,' she explains, referring to her philanthropic initiative named after her grandmother, Della Lee, a pioneering educator during the Depression era. The Della Lee Difference operates on three pillars: Della Lee Homes, Della Lee Schools, and Della Lee Communities. Through Della Lee Homes, JPR donates a portion of its commissions to build homes in underserved regions around the world. 'It's not just about giving,' Patterson said. 'It's about inviting others to be part of something meaningful. We want our clients to see the good they have helped create. To date, through Della Lee Homes, we have already helped build at least 30 houses across the Caribbean and Central America.' Under Della Lee Schools, JPR supports a work-study program for students from low-income backgrounds with a local school. The final pillar, Della Lee Communities, includes local engagement with food banks and other nonprofits in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. When asked why she integrates giving so deeply into her business, Patterson is clear: 'It's who I am. I truly believe we are called to help each other, and that our success is meant to be shared.' With a strong legacy, a trusted brand, and a purpose-driven roadmap ahead, JPR's future looks bright. 'This anniversary is not just about what we have done,' Patterson reflected. 'It's about what we are ready to do next.' Media Contact Name: Jennifer Patterson Email: [email protected] Source published by Submit Press Release >> JPatterson Realty Marks Five Years of Luxury Real Estate Excellence and Impact
The Age
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Harry Connick Jnr: ‘I saw a billboard of a Victoria's Secret model and I married her'
This story is part of the June 15 edition of Sunday Life. See all 15 stories. Harry Connick Jr is a musician best known for winning multiple Grammy Awards. Here, the 57-year-old talks about losing his mother at a young age, how he first noticed his future wife, and working with some 'amazing' women. I lost my mother, Anita Livingston, to ovarian cancer when I was 13. Mom was a bright, 'woody' woman – she didn't really follow the norm. She was sensitive and communicative. When I was five, I wanted to run away from home. Rather than convince me to stay or tell me I was being silly, Mom said, 'Sorry to hear that.' As I went out the front door, she was right behind me with her suitcase. She said, 'You're right. I don't like it here either. Let's go.' I started crying and told her I didn't want to run away. When it was time to lay down the law, Mom did, but she always made sure we had the power to make our own decisions. My memory of her is frozen in time. She'll always be young to me. Mom became a lawyer in the mid-1950s. She ran for the position of Louisiana Supreme Court justice when she was diagnosed with cancer, against seven men. Because she was a public figure, they found out she had cancer and used that against her. She was emotionally strong, and I am proud of her ability to win that election. My paternal grandmother, Jessie Connick, died in 1985, several years after my mom. She was a great cook and had eight kids during the Depression. She was quiet, but maintained a deep Catholic faith. My sister, Suzanna, is three-and-a-half years older than me. I was a pain in the rear-end growing up. She was studious and I was an attention-seeker. We are incredibly close now. She spent 38 years in the military. She's a hero and I look up to her. I would notice girls at school, but they didn't notice me. I had a crush on a girl in the sixth grade; she was sweet and smart. I couldn't work up the courage to tell her. I saw her in New Orleans 20 years ago; I recognised her face, and got the courage to tell her I had the biggest crush on her as a child. She replied, 'I had the biggest crush on you, too.' My mother was aware I loved music from the age of three. I played the piano for the first time when my dad, Harry, was running for political office. He opened his campaign quarters and Mom got a piano in there for me to play.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Harry Connick Jnr: ‘I saw a billboard of a Victoria's Secret model and I married her'
This story is part of the June 15 edition of Sunday Life. See all 15 stories. Harry Connick Jr is a musician best known for winning multiple Grammy Awards. Here, the 57-year-old talks about losing his mother at a young age, how he first noticed his future wife, and working with some 'amazing' women. I lost my mother, Anita Livingston, to ovarian cancer when I was 13. Mom was a bright, 'woody' woman – she didn't really follow the norm. She was sensitive and communicative. When I was five, I wanted to run away from home. Rather than convince me to stay or tell me I was being silly, Mom said, 'Sorry to hear that.' As I went out the front door, she was right behind me with her suitcase. She said, 'You're right. I don't like it here either. Let's go.' I started crying and told her I didn't want to run away. When it was time to lay down the law, Mom did, but she always made sure we had the power to make our own decisions. My memory of her is frozen in time. She'll always be young to me. Mom became a lawyer in the mid-1950s. She ran for the position of Louisiana Supreme Court justice when she was diagnosed with cancer, against seven men. Because she was a public figure, they found out she had cancer and used that against her. She was emotionally strong, and I am proud of her ability to win that election. My paternal grandmother, Jessie Connick, died in 1985, several years after my mom. She was a great cook and had eight kids during the Depression. She was quiet, but maintained a deep Catholic faith. My sister, Suzanna, is three-and-a-half years older than me. I was a pain in the rear-end growing up. She was studious and I was an attention-seeker. We are incredibly close now. She spent 38 years in the military. She's a hero and I look up to her. I would notice girls at school, but they didn't notice me. I had a crush on a girl in the sixth grade; she was sweet and smart. I couldn't work up the courage to tell her. I saw her in New Orleans 20 years ago; I recognised her face, and got the courage to tell her I had the biggest crush on her as a child. She replied, 'I had the biggest crush on you, too.' My mother was aware I loved music from the age of three. I played the piano for the first time when my dad, Harry, was running for political office. He opened his campaign quarters and Mom got a piano in there for me to play.
