An analogy

Written By: - Date published: 10:29 am, April 11th, 2013 - 65 comments
Categories: accountability, crime, democracy under attack, john key, Spying - Tags:

Before the soft-headed repetition of the Nats’ line goes on too long, here’s an analogy.

The GCSB Act says “Neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau … may … intercept the communications of … a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident”. The Land Transport Act says “A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a road without an appropriate current driver licence”.

The GCSB’s justification for their illegal spying, that they knew they weren’t allowed to spy on New Zealanders but thought it was OK if they were acting on behalf of another agency that could, is like you not having a driver’s licence but saying it’s OK for you to drive if someone with a licence asks you to.

Try it next time you get pulled over. Tell the copper that John Key says its OK and he’s going to change the law to ‘clarify’ that.

Of course, it won’t work. In John Key’s New Zealand, it’s only the security agencies and ministers who are above the law.

65 comments on “An analogy ”

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  1. Matthew 1
    11 April 2013 at 10:58 am

    The best part is, next time my GF accuses me of lying to her, I can just say “No i dont believe I have” & It will all be ok. I wont have to explain why I think that or anything. As long as I keep repeating it verbatim, its all good. Even if I change my story on a daily or weekly basis.
    Life is good.

  2. aerobubble 2
    11 April 2013 at 11:08 am

    Before the GCSC legislation, argued a govt minister, they did whatever they liked. So I guess its okay to break any law before, because people did whatever they wanted before the law was introduced.

    Might I remind people, that if Adolf Hitler run for parliament and became PM, and selected Goebells as hie chief spy master, then turning an external agency around to look internally, would hand unfettered power to the PM. That’ Key ‘s govt is actively considering letting GCSC doing so should shake their party to its core. Not one mention of the historical dangers. Not one of 59 politicians have any problem with their leader.

    Bridges on TV suggests that its all okay, as opposition critics have found a pesky lawyer to give a contrary position. I like to known the lawyers who are advising the government so come the
    inevitable fully parliamentary inquiry we can laugh them out of their jobs and then start questioning the competence of the universities that produced them, for their advise to Bridges is abysmal – whatever that is, even if it is well thought out.

    • North 2.1
      11 April 2013 at 11:27 am

      Come on…….Wee Simon is nothing more that a snotty-nosed punk ex-Crown prosecutor.

      Up-Himself little fuck with whom the tutors at Crosby Textor must be very pleased.

      Would love to see him try that shit with any one of several judges who come to mind.

      “Into Chambers Mr Bridges……..NOW !”

      • Ennui 2.1.1
        11 April 2013 at 1:17 pm

        Simon sounds like he has a decided bias toward the prosecution which as we know is decidedly dangerous to justice in a judge or Minister of Justice.

        It is a bit of a worry every time something does not go a governments way it is used as an excuse to legislate. Precedent and history, and respect for hard earned “rights” get sacrificed very quickly to get a “result”.

  3. mickysavage 3
    11 April 2013 at 11:09 am

    This whole issue shows to what depths politics in NZ is sinking to. As Eddie notes section 14 is very clear. The GCSB is not allowed to intercept communications of a Kiwi or permanent resident.

    There are further requirements, unless the interception is otherwise authorised the GCSB has to obtain a warrant, and the Minister (ie the PM) has to authorise the issuing of a warrant.

    A purpose of the GCSB is to cooperate with other public entities in the pursuit of its objectives but the act is very clear and unambiguous.

    Any director would realise that if they stumbled onto communications of a Kiwi or permanent resident they have to desist and destroy any information that they have.

    Key’s response is appalling. It is clear he knew that GCSB was trespassing into an area that it should not, and he did nothing. And the attempted manufacture of an opinion to somehow justify the spying on Dotcom is bizarre.

    Sounds like there will be more information released by Dotcom next week. This steady drip, drip, drip of damaging information from his camp is wonderful to watch …

    • DH 3.1
      11 April 2013 at 12:14 pm

      The editorial in the Herald from their resident Nat apologist beggars belief.

      Editorial: GCSB law demands clarification

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10876717

      They quote the relevant law and there’s clearly no room to manouvre on it, you can’t interpret it any other way than what it specifically says. Where is there the slightest hint that working for other agencies might exempt them from that piece of law? What’s there to clarify?

      • Pascal's bookie 3.1.1
        11 April 2013 at 12:18 pm

        The contrast between that and Armstrong’s piece today is severe. Armstrong has the advantage of doing some basic background work on the question, so it could be argued that it’s an unfair comparison. But only if you think that practicing beforehand is cheating at sport.

        • DH 3.1.1.1
          11 April 2013 at 12:39 pm

          It is severe, hadn’t read Armstrong’s article. He’s displaying a better grasp of right & wrong than his bosses, the editorial is the ‘Herald’ view. He’s an odd one, sometimes his articles on the Govt seem so fawning & obsequious you’d think he was up someone’s bum but other times he rips into ’em.

  4. North 4
    11 April 2013 at 11:10 am

    Great simile there Zet. Seems it’s only John Key and his ministers and the security agencies who struggle with Plain English in this country.

    We wouldn’t let kids in primary school get away with this bullshit. It’d be a report home to the parents – “Johnny must learn to tell the truth”.

  5. BM 5
    11 April 2013 at 11:23 am

    So if the government needs to spy on any New Zealander it’s ok if it’s the SIS but bad if it’s the GCSB?

    I don’t get it.

    • fender 5.1
      11 April 2013 at 11:32 am

      Having wasted time reading your comments over time, it’s obvious there’s much you don’t get.

    • Clockie 5.2
      11 April 2013 at 11:35 am

      Who says it’s OK if the SIS spy on NZ citizens? They’re another bunch of fuck-knuckles, lacking a moral compass, with a long history of overstepping their remit and embarrassing cock-ups.

    • North 5.3
      11 April 2013 at 11:40 am

      It’s manifest that you don’t “get” much BM.

      A government security agency breaks the law. Variously, its self-contradicting minister obfuscates, apologises, and calls for greater powers.

      What I “get” from your contributions BM is that you do not value democracy or the retention of a functioning civil society.

    • vto 5.4
      11 April 2013 at 11:42 am

      Yes you don’t get it.

      The issue is the government breaking the law, not that what you waffle about there.

      think man think

    • Colonial Weka 5.5
      11 April 2013 at 12:18 pm

      “So if the government needs to spy on any New Zealander it’s ok if it’s the SIS but bad if it’s the GCSB?

      I don’t get it.”

      Actually, it’s a valid question, and I’d guess most NZers don’t know the answer. Leaving aside the issue of the GCSB having acted illegally against its own legislation, why is the SIS allowed to spy on NZers but the GCSB isn’t? If Key is to be stopped from changing GCSB legislation, then this needs to be well understood by the public and MSM.

      I’m guessing (but don’t really know and hope someone can clarify) that there are at least two reasons:

      1. it’s best for democracy to keep international spying separate from investigation of one’s own citizens.

      2. the SIS has different levels of oversight, legislation and process, making it more accountable to the special need of protecting NZ citizens. I don’t know what that oversight is though.

  6. BM 6
    11 April 2013 at 11:47 am

    But isn’t this what this bollocks is all about.
    The police thought the fat German was a foreign citizen so the GCSB had to be involved, if they knew he was a NZ citizen then they would have done it themselves and there would have been no issue.

    It’s all very pedantic and there’s a serious whiff of emperors new clothes to the whole affair.

    • Macro 6.1
      11 April 2013 at 12:05 pm

      and the 88 others – also nz citizens?
      You are so blindfolded BM – you are unbelievable!!

      • BM 6.1.1
        11 April 2013 at 12:13 pm

        Might need to ask Grant Robinson about the other 87.
        He was working with the previous PM when all this shifty stuff was going on.

        • Pascal's bookie 6.1.1.1
          11 April 2013 at 12:16 pm

          You should probably just ignore whale to be honest BM. There’s no shame in reading him of course, but repeating his logic outside his walls is pretty embarrassing.

        • framu 6.1.1.2
          11 April 2013 at 12:23 pm

          so your saying the gcsb went rouge under helen clark, then stopped for several years, then got going again with dotcom?

          you also seem to be saying that govt agencies such as the police, sis and gcsb dont have the ability to contact immigration NZ and enquire about someones status. Which isnt true, they do it on a daily basis

    • felix 6.2
      11 April 2013 at 12:05 pm

      Lolz. So you reckon the GCSB knew all along that it was illegal to spy on residents?

      • Pascal's bookie 6.2.1
        11 April 2013 at 12:13 pm

        The diff between DotCom and the other 88 has yet to be explained really. We’ve been told it’s different, but not how.

        They thought they could spy on DC, the story goes, because they didn’t think he was a resident, (in spite of the SIS clearing him for residency and the big fireworks display and and all that they can’t be expected to remember evrything, jeez).

        But the 88, they are claiming they think they are ok because they were covereed by SIS or police warrants.

        Why they don’t think that latter excuse covers them for DotCom is a mystery.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 6.2.1.1
          11 April 2013 at 4:16 pm

          Yeah, surely the extradition request requires an arrest warrant, in which case they could follow the normal (illegal) procedure and just go ahead and spy on him because OFCANZ asked nicely.

          (Incidentally, if there’s a technical function that only GCSB staff can perform why don’t they second a staff member to the SIS or police when there’s a warrant for the work? Make it “legal” without bringing in outsiders.)

          And why is Key telling so many fibs about it? Why didn’t he just front foot it from the start and look big and statesmanly? Shoddy.

          • Pascal's bookie 6.2.1.1.1
            11 April 2013 at 6:05 pm

            Ok, I think I’ve got it now.

            The difference is that in the DotCom case the police didn’t have a warrant, and that’s why they asked for assistance, as a run-around the courts. The police didn’t want to ask for a warrant, and GCSB thought they could spy on him because he was a foreigner.

            In the other cases they are saying that the police/SIS warrants were all they needed.

    • Pascal's bookie 6.3
      11 April 2013 at 12:09 pm

      hahahahahhahahahahahhahha no.

      Firstly, DotCom is a foreign citizen. There is no argument about that. He is also a NZ resident, which means, (read the act) the GCSB can’t spy on him Everyone has admitted this. All the elements of a crime under the crimes act have been admitted by the GCSB with regard to their unlawful spying on DotCom.

      Secondly, the police have jurisdiction to work in NZ. They are not limited to targeting NZ citizens you nonce. How would that work? Think about it for just a moment or two.

    • freedom 6.4
      11 April 2013 at 3:35 pm

      dear BM, GCSB had already been spying, most likely at the behest of their masters, the (insert name of any number of foreign corporative slave governments) then came the call to arms from the FBI which required Police involvement (let us just overlook for now the true Public Inquiry that little action should have). The Police involvement is how the intial law breaking came to light, even though it had been previously placed on a shelf in a cupboard under the stairs in the flooded basement of a locked building with a due for demolition sign on the door. You really are a fake 3w bulb sometimes it is so boring.

      and PS as we are discovering there is no reality in any of this, especially when the Ketteridge report was not tasked with investigating issues relating to the DotCom affair in the first place.

      P.P.S. Bill English is an embarrassment beyond belief if he thinks his answers in the House today were worthy and convincing

  7. Penny Bright 7
    11 April 2013 at 12:02 pm

    ‘Open Letter’ / Privacy Act Request to the Director of the GCSB, Ian Fletcher
    11 April 2013 (NOW SENT TO THE CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS!)

    “It appears that I was given an incorrect email address for the GCSB by the Prime Minister’s Office – info@gcsb.govt.nz – when the correct address is Information@gcsb.govt.nz

    Following is my ‘Open Letter’ PRIVACY ACT (NOT Official Information Act) request, for which I would appreciate a prompt acknowledgment of receipt thereof.

    Thanks.
    …………………
    ________________________________________________________

    10 April 2013

    ‘Open Letter’ / Privacy Act Request to the Director of the GCSB, Ian Fletcher from Auckland Mayoral Candidate, Penny Bright.

    Dear Director,

    I am concerned that I may be one of the 88 New Zealanders who has been unlawfully spied upon by the GCSB.

    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbpol/897270024-gcsb-could-be-in-real-trouble

    This morning I contacted the Prime Minister’s Department, to find out the proper process to follow, in order to find out if I was/am one of the 88 New Zealanders who has been unlawfully spied upon by the GCSB.

    I was advised to make a Privacy Act Request directly to the GCSB, to the following email address: info@gcsb.govt.nz

    Under the Privacy Act, I hereby request copies of all information held by the GCSB about myself – Penelope Mary Bright (aka Penny Bright).

    I look forward to your prompt response.

    Yours sincerely,

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-privatisation and anti-corruption campaigner’

    2013 Auckland Mayoral Candidate

    Occupy Auckland Appellant (in my own name)
    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz “

  8. Poission 8
    11 April 2013 at 12:16 pm

    the legislation precludes the gathering of information by the GSCB on new zealanders and permanent residents.As they are precluded to gather information a priory, they cannot gather or impart information to a third party even if requested end of story.

  9. Pascal's bookie 9
    11 April 2013 at 12:41 pm

    LOL Q3 GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Did the acting Prime Minister inform him that he had signed a Ministerial certificate suppressing details of the involvement of the GCSB in Operation Debut when he returned from his overseas trip in August 2012; if not, why not?

    Brilliant.

    ACTING PRIME MINISTER BILL ENGLISH, Speaking on behalf of the PRIME MINISTER: “Erm no the Acting PM did not inform him about that because he’s a fucking idiot or some shit I don’t know”

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      11 April 2013 at 1:09 pm

      That was funny.

      • freedom 9.1.1
        11 April 2013 at 3:51 pm

        What I don’t get is the mindset that makes supposedly talented professionals expose their true spineless identities. Where do these people get so brainwashed they believe it is acceptable that in order to defend the lies of others, they belittle their own abilities and thus insult the integrity and expectations of the office they hold?

        Of course in Blinglish’s case we have the exception to whatever rule might cover that scenario

        reminds me of a comment made on Tuesday night by a guest here at the studio.
        “Parliament should be professionals working with professionals in a professional manner”

        Watching House activities of late I don’t see it happening. The Opposition (and i specifically call out Labour who by far are creators of most of the noise) need to pull their head in a bit and be a lot more constructive. Strategy in QT seems a shadow of what it once was and I often feel I am watching auditions for guest spots on Seven Days. It is Parliament, and sure a bit of steam needs to be released now and again. the problem is the consistency of the boorishness. With growing regularity people are stating simply that they would appreciate our elected representatives grow up and do the job they are handsomely paid for. Then perhaps the ineffective Speaker would have less reason to be pissing all over them during QT.

        • ghostrider888 9.1.1.1
          11 April 2013 at 3:57 pm

          read today a suggestion that they could improve Seven Days by letting go at least two of the presenters.

          • freedom 9.1.1.1.1
            11 April 2013 at 4:03 pm

            -have only ever watched a couple of shows, so perhaps i am being harsh but thought it was just a half hour of predictable dumbing down of serious stuff to entertain and distract, if i want that i watch Parliament TV

  10. ianmac 10
    11 April 2013 at 1:42 pm

    The SIS requires a warrant to spy.
    The GCSB apparently can spy without a warrant.

    • Clockie 10.1
      11 April 2013 at 2:36 pm

      Did they require a warrant to spy on Keith Locke? Sutch? numerous unionists, political activists and members of Socialist Action etc? If so, on what possible grounds might those warrants have been issued? Does their right to spy under warrant include breaking and entering? Just wondered…

      Sorry. Just remembered, ellipses is frowned on by some… Obviously can’t be fans of e.e.cummings…

      • ghostrider888 10.1.1
        11 April 2013 at 2:48 pm

        e-llipses preferable to e-lisps, Morrissey and Capote excepted; interestingly, MacGowan and Strummer were also rhotacists (like many Asian folk) go figure, a man ya don’t meet every day, sadly, due to an unfortunate boating accident. sigh.

    • ghostrider888 10.2
      11 April 2013 at 2:38 pm

      you might be surprised how much time (and “hard-earned taxpayers money” spooks and stalkers appear to be able to waste on their fetishes; the colors pink and red get them going every morning).

      • Clockie 10.2.1
        11 April 2013 at 2:46 pm

        Hence the meat pie and a penthouse in the briefcase. Class of ’81..

        • ghostrider888 10.2.1.1
          11 April 2013 at 2:52 pm

          “Class of 1984” before American History X (I remember the briefcase, the face is coming 🙂 )

          • Clockie 10.2.1.1.1
            11 April 2013 at 3:38 pm

            I wonder how many people remember that the 10 yr old boy who found the briefcase handed it to his mother, one Fran O’Sullivan…

            http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/intelligence-services/page-2

            • ghostrider888 10.2.1.1.1.1
              11 April 2013 at 3:47 pm

              a further musing; still spying on “pro-Chinese” groups are they? guess they were not provided with suitable background reading material. We Watch on with interest more diligently than they do it seems. 🙂

            • freedom 10.2.1.1.1.2
              11 April 2013 at 3:57 pm

              Clockie, as a personal friend of said child i urge you to refrain from further trying to identify him as it has absolutely nothing to do with him and should not be brought to affect his life as an adult

              • freedom …
                11 April 2013 at 4:00 pm

                Lprent:
                there was still ample time on the clock, why am I denied permission to edit my own post ?

                i can edit this one but not the one above?

              • Clockie …
                11 April 2013 at 4:18 pm

                freedom. I was not “trying to identify” anyone. The information I referenced is freely and publicly available online at the link I cited. It is part of the encyclopaedia of NZ. I think it’s too late to put that particular genie back in the bottle. I also think The “child” in question should be able to cope with this very minor infringement on his privacy at this stage of his life don’t you?

                • freedom …
                  11 April 2013 at 4:46 pm

                  Yes he is more than capable of dealing with it, but that is what friends do right, look out for each other.

                  let’s just say I like to err on the side of caution on that particular story and although the breadcrumbs are there to collect, best they are covered by the falling leaves

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.3
      11 April 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Is that what the SIS & police have been using them for? Situations where they can’t get a warrant?

      Or is there a technical function only the GCSB can perform?

      And why has the Prime Minister been telling lies about it?

      • framu 10.3.1
        11 April 2013 at 4:16 pm

        “Is that what the SIS & police have been using them for? Situations where they can’t get a warrant?”

        going by NRT, thats exactly what theyve been doing

  11. ghostrider888 11
    11 April 2013 at 4:09 pm

    as an aside from the clock-tower, a 16-year-old crop circle Pt.7 : LOudon and Unclear
    http://www.trevorloudon.com/2007/08/how-socialist-extremists-took-over-the-new-zealand-labour-party-part-7/

  12. Penny Bright 12
    11 April 2013 at 9:31 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8538432/Ask-for-your-GCSB-file-Shroff

    FURTHER INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED – IN ORDER TO REQUEST YOUR FILES FROM THE GCSB UNDER THE PRIVACY ACT:

    If you think YOU may have been one of the 88 New Zealanders upon whom the GCSB has unlawfully spied – here’s how you contact them:

    Email: Information@gcsb.govt.nz

    Phone : (04) 472 6881

    (These GCSB contact details are correct – I know because I’ve used them.
    I have had a formal acknowledgment from the GCSB that they’ve received my Privacy Act request, and I will hear from them in ‘due course’).

    Cheers!

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    • Jackal 12.1
      11 April 2013 at 10:32 pm

      I’m not sure that advocating for people to contact the GCSB to see if they have been illegally spied on is a very good thing… It might be OK for activists who are already publicly known, but for activists who have reason to believe the GCSB might want to spy on them, alerting the GCSB to that fact isn’t very advantageous, especially if they aren’t one of the 88.

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    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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