DPF oops

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, June 13th, 2013 - 110 comments
Categories: blogs, dpf - Tags: , ,

Bad day for National’s favourite blogger yesterday:

dpf-idiot

So, Farrar condescends that – “It is well known you can not distribute pre-filled in or pretend ballot papers. We’ve had this law for decades.” – then promptly demonstrates his ignorance of that law by accusing Labour of breaking it when they aren’t. It only applies within 3 days of polling. Ooops. After being repeatedly called on it (I liked the take at Imperator Fish) he eventually added “NOT” to the title of the post. (He has subsequently also changed the text of “UPDATE2”.)

As one of the comments observes:

Clearly he’s too busy doing important stuff like, tweeting, to notice this.

Yup, sorry Kiwibloggers, it’s true, Farrar is busy playing with his cool new friends on Twitter instead of you. He shares jokes about you too behind your backs…

fisher-on-the-sewer

Serious point though – comment moderation at Kiwiblog is definitely needed.

110 comments on “DPF oops ”

  1. felix 1

    What a week. First Hooten talks bullshit and now Farrar writes it.

    Shock I am.

    • Anne 1.1

      Another cup of tea and a lie down felix? 😛

    • lprent 1.2

      I’m testing a new monitoring system this week. It just blecked at me (like a Weber treecat) because this post is being read by more people than the front page is right now and it thought it was suspicious.

      Just the sewer rats I’d guess. They’ll get over the shock of criticism shortly. They have no memory for facts – just myths.

      *shrugs && turns down the alarm sensitivity*

      • r0b 1.2.1

        Somebody promoted this to front page – wasn’t me!

        • lprent 1.2.1.1

          I did 😈

          I’m observing it on analytics in real time because we’ll get a high number of a readers on this in a relatively short time.

          Besides the top story was from yesterday and we haven’t turned over the sewer in a while.

      • Pasupial 1.2.2

        @1prent
        “Bleeked” surely? Though I can barely stand to read Weber nowadays; what with his diatribes against Haven’s “dolists”, and all the other right wing memes he embeds in his books (plus I find the treecats a bit twee). However, I do like the more recent Mesa/ genetic slavery stuff, especially the; Congo series with Eric Flint (same universe, different feel – though still a fair bit of tweeness).

        Walter Jon Williams’; Praxis series, is pretty kick-arse space opera though, and unlike his; Metropolitan series, he actually finished it! Also, now that Iain Banks is gone from us; I find myself longing to fill in the gaps in my reading of the Culture series. But who has time for fiction these days?

        • lprent 1.2.2.1

          Weber is like that. Sucks down a history like French politics and thinks about it shallowly – witness his obsession with aristocrats. He is better in something like thew safehold series.

          I just read fast otherwise I couldn’t monitor this site. But I usually read a fiction book a day. Reading in bed on the nexus 7 in the middle of the night when I wake up seems to be my forte at present. Annoys Lyn.

    • halfcrown 1.3

      “What a week. First Hooten talks bullshit and now Farrar writes it.

      Shock I am.”

      I’m not. It is par for the course for these right wing prats

    • David H 1.4

      And you are shocked ?? WHY??

      Hootens horseshit is my weekly comedic reading. And Kiwislop only when I need to feel dirty, without playing in the mud with my 2 year old. Whaleslime only by mistake do go there.

  2. BLiP 2

    Heh! Nice to catch Farrar out in so obvious a lie. Usually, his manipulations are a little more subtle in that he uses a subtext to promote a meme then amplified by his slavering pack of KiwiBog poodles.

    Serious point though – comment moderation at Kiwiblog is definitely needed.

    Oh, I dunno. Its kinda useful to have the thinking processes and internal dialogue that goes on amongst National Ltd™ voters out in the open.

  3. Gosman 3

    The filth on the comment section at Kiwiblog would compare favourably to some of the stuff posted here (although I do think the moderators do a decent job generally) and especially The Daily Blog. The Daily Blog has such a partisan moderating policy that posts accusing people of performing illegal behaviour with no evidence are allowed to stand so long as the person being attacked is seen as being an ‘enemy’ of the left (or at least the main moderator there).

    • TheContrarian 3.1

      The Daily Blog’s moderation is piss poor. I pointed out a glaring error which wasn’t approved (but the fawning was subsequently allow.)

      I find some of the comments at Kiwiblog disturbing though.

      • Sanctuary 3.1.1

        thedailyblog is a great idea which will be destroyed by Martyn Bradbury.

        • Jackal 3.1.1.1

          I very much doubt it… The Daily Blog’s moderation process puts the onus on the authors of the posts to moderate. This is obviously done to ensure that comments are approved or unapproved as expediently as possible.

          In this way, and considering that there’s around 43 contributors, The Daily Blog’s moderation process is probably one of the fastest of all major blogs in New Zealand, while ensuring that comments are lawful and retain integrity through proper moderation.

          You’re clearly talking out your ass Sanctuary.

          • Gosman 3.1.1.1.1

            I call BS on that. I have had posts sitting awaiting moderation for hours before they eventually appear. On top of that I have had numerous posts not appearing even though they are both on topic and not abusive. The moderation policy of the Daily blog will slowly, but surely, kill the blog off just as it did Tumeke.

    • r0b 3.2

      The filth on the comment section at Kiwiblog would compare favourably to some of the stuff posted here

      Be honest Gossman, although there can be occasional stupid comments on any blog (so yes I’m sure you can find a few here), the sheer volume of vile comments on Kiwiblog and Whaleoil is appalling.

      • Gosman 3.2.1

        Depends on your political viewpoint.

        I can understand why people on the left get upset with many comments on right leaning blogs bemoaning dole bludging layabouts or to poor people as somehow undeserving of sympathy. I too find these distasteful and frankly unhelpful when discussing possible solutions to political problems.

        However there are plenty of nasty and vile comments directed towards wealthy or right leaning people here and on say The Daily Blog. Even moderate commentators who dare to disagree with the general thrust of an argument are pounced upon as somehow indicative of their lack of intellectual nous.

        I can understand this is just part and parcel of the games people play on comments boards on political blog sites but it doesn’t meana siute like this is any less like a sewer than say Kiwiblog.

        • TheContrarian 3.2.1.1

          What I notice with Kiwiblog though is Farrar himself is fairly reasonable and moderate in tone.

          Some of his posters though…

          • fender 3.2.1.1.1

            Oh yeah, much like your courtesy with Felix yesterday.

          • Mcflock 3.2.1.1.2

            Indeed.
            So it’s never him being the rabid nutbar – he just provides a safe haven for them.

            • TheContrarian 3.2.1.1.2.1

              If I ran a blog (which I attempted but failed miserably at) I wouldn’t post half the shit some of those crazies post.
              I personally don’t engage in guilt by association when it comes to Farrar and his commentators, but I often wonder what more influential people think of the comments.
              Do they even read the comments section?

              • Mcflock

                It’s not “guilt by association”, it’s “guilt by publication”. He’s not the cousin or long-suffering spouse/schoolmate of these folk, he simply refuses to moderate comments his site publishes online.

                And he’s not leaving it there for the influential people, but the easily influenced. Folk who think that bigotry and stupidity is normal. He provides a safe haven for that community. I don’t care whether he does it intentionally or is under the impression that “freedom of speech” means “forced to publish other people’s drivel”. He provides a little corner of NZ to keep the bigots and bene-bashers safe. This keeps support for national, who are screwing over most of the country and (more importantly) chipping away at the thousand year old foundations of democracy and liberty.

                So the penguin can get fucked.

                • weka

                  +1000

                • Pasupial

                  @ McFlock

                  Actually, given his appearance and personality; I doubt that DPF can get fucked. That’s why he does what he does!

                  • McFlock

                    now, now, there’s someone for everyone.

                    Even if it is their sistercousinstepmum. (/satire – because Tories Need Tags)

              • @ Gosman,

                The filth on the comment section at Kiwiblog would compare favourably to some of the stuff posted here (although I do think the moderators do a decent job generally) and especially The Daily Blog.

                Rubbish. You’re simply annoyed that your attempt to de-construct other people’s comments through inane, endless, rhetorical questions, fall flat because people no longer buy into your tactics.

                I also note your vulgar remarks about certain bloggers on rightwing blogsites that you haven’t the gumption to make here or on TDB.

                • Gosman

                  Frank, good of you to join us considering it was YOUR post that this comment appeared on. Perhaps you would care to explain why you felt it acceptable to allow someone to make unsubstantiated allegations about David Farrar and even to comment on them as if they were accepted as fact.

                  • .

                    Frank, good of you to join us considering it was YOUR post that this comment appeared on. Perhaps you would care to explain why you felt it acceptable to allow someone to make unsubstantiated allegations about David Farrar and even to comment on them as if they were accepted as fact

                    Considering I didn’t make the comment – no, I would not.

                    Best you address your question to the author of that comment.

                    And I didn’t “allow” any such comment. You seem to be labouring under a misconception.

                    Anyway, I thought you rightwingers supported the right of free speech? Are you now saying everyone’s comments should be vetted by some Authority for accuracy? How does that tie in with Nisbet’s racist cartoons? (Which you supported to be published.)

                    Did you ask Al Nisbet “why he felt it acceptable to allow someone to make unsubstantiated allegations about Pacifica people and even to comment on them as if they were accepted as fact”? Hmmm?

                    • Gosman

                      You are the moderator of your own posts are you not? That is what Jackal has implied on this thread.

              • I personally don’t engage in guilt by association when it comes to Farrar and his commentators, but I often wonder what more influential people think of the comments.
                Do they even read the comments section?

                I occassionally read Farrar’s posts – but not the comments that follow. In my opinion, the majority are written by poorly educated yokels who simply repeat bigotry ad nauseum.

                There’s only so much ill-informed prejudice one can read before coming to the conclusion that the human race is doomed, and thank god talking apes will one day rule the planet…

                • TheContrarian

                  I read Farrar’s post with the same frequency as I read posts here.
                  It isn’t intellectual to lock oneself in an ideological echo chamber but I only read and comment on particular threads.
                  As soon as I see Maori referred to as ‘stoneagers’ I know I have read too far…

            • Gosman 3.2.1.1.2.2

              Much like Selwyn Manning on The Daily Blog.

              I was going to state the same of Martyn Bradbury but realised it would be completely wrong given he is a rabid nutbar.

              • Mcflock

                lol

                Took a few moments to skim through posts on each site (fully cloistered and wearing surfing rubbers on KB). The comments of “Lucia Maria” and Redbaiter alone are without comparison on DB, as far as I have seen. Don’t really do DB (and the beer sucks, too :)).

                Got anything worse from Daily Blog than “You sound like a Muslim, blaming everything that is going wrong in New Zealand on women” (as LM said on KB)?

                gladly anticipating your reply 🙂

                • Gosman

                  I’ve already given you one example. There are also a bunch of commenters who express the view of sticking it to the rich and how evil they are.

                  • Mcflock

                    You think accusations of vandalism are worse than outright racism?

                    And the latter argument is only bad if the rich are not, in fact, evil (or at the very least shameless profiteers from the injustices caused by capitalism).

                    Fascinating glimpse into the priorities of your mind, though.

                  • @ Gosman,

                    There are also a bunch of commenters who express the view of sticking it to the rich and how evil they are.

                    Whoa there, sonny boy. Back up that goat you rode in on!

                    Al Nisbet recently posted a couple of rqacist cartoons and rightwingers like you were only too eager to jump up and down screaming “free speech! free speech!” Any criticism of his racist cartoons was labelled as an attack on “freedom of expreession” – without actually addressing the merits of the cartoons themselves.

                    In effect, resorting to the “free speech:” mantra is an attempt to nullify criticism and close down debate.

                    Now you’re bagging people who use free speech “who express the view of sticking it to the rich and how evil they are”?!

                    What about free speech?

                    Or does that count only if one is a racist?

                    • Gosman

                      You really don’t get it do you Frank. Noone is calling for people’s rights to express their vulgar views to be supporessed. We are discussing whether particular blogs have a tendency to sewer discussions. Thge Daily Blog meets this criteria for the reasons I have given.

                  • You think accusations of vandalism are worse than outright racism?

                    +1

                    • Gosman

                      How come you never addressed any of my points I raised on that thread Frank? You replied to the person making the allegation though and even discussed the matter further.

                    • How come you never addressed any of my points I raised on that thread Frank?

                      Three possible reasons, Gos;

                      1. I didn’t see your “points”,

                      2. Your “points” were repetitive,

                      3. Your “points” were repetitive AND boring.

                      Hope that clarifies those issues that have occupied your daily thoughts since then…

                      Anyway. Time to get back to my own blogging. Feel free to drop by my blogsite and have a squizz… 😉

                    • Gosman

                      BS Frank.

                      I asked you why you allowed someone on a thread you started on The Daily Blog to make unsubstantiated allegations of illegal behaviour by someone else and why you even commented on them as if they were a fact.

                      These points are quite clear and are not boring. They might be repetitive but only because you fail to address them.

                      You are entitled to run away if you like.

                    • Rogue Trooper

                      I pop by from time to time Frank; headlines grab my attention. 😉

      • Gosman 3.2.2

        I’ll give you an example from the Daily Blog to illustrate this point R0b.

        I have already mentioned the basics of it. On one of the threads at the Daily Blog they were discussing David Farrar’s comments about Martyn Bradbury, (seemingly ignoring the numerous times Mr Bradbury has disparaged David Farrar), being a paid consultant of Mana.

        One of the comments on that thread stated that David Farrar and Cameron Slater went on a blogging tour together (Shock Horror!) during the 2008 election campaign. During this trip the commentator made the allegation that they deliberated damaged election signage of opposition parties and gleefully poster about it online.

        Now this accusation of deliberate vandalism made against someone was allowed to pass the moderation standards of The Daily Blog. In fact the writer of the thread in question even followed up on the point without even asking for evidence of where the poster got his information from. I on the other hand had a number of posts asking for actual evidence of this action denied.

        The question for you is which is the worse sewer?

        • Pascal's bookie 3.2.2.1

          erm, the one that’s quite regularly is filled with proto-fascist bile?

          What you’re talking about is bias, and sure, that sucks. But it’s not the same thing that people talk about WRT kiwiblog.

          • Gosman 3.2.2.1.1

            No I’m not. I discussing nasty, abusive, and basIcally defamatory views expressed by people in the comments section. I gave you an example of one such comment on The Daily blog. Care to explain why making allegations about people’s behaviour without evidence is not deserving of being classed as being in the gutter?

            • Pascal's bookie 3.2.2.1.1.1

              Gos, there are those sorts of comments on KB as well. Endlessly.

              But there are also long threads ernestly discussing what percentage of the population can be muslim before they start to take over, and they existential threat posed by the socialist leftists appeasers who reduse to accept that Muslims are all essentially in cahoots and planning to take ocer our precious freedoms.

              Or take this comment:

              http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/03/the_euro_problem.html#comment-1109909

              We’ll just throw in a bit of support for Breivik. What’s the response from Farrar or the comment community? Two ticks up. that’s it.

              And that’s not uncommon. There are numerous regular commenters who hang out there and spout this stuff.

              It’s not the same as what goes on here. What goes on here, goes on there as well, but there’s another level going on over there as well. And it’s tolerated.

              • Mcflock

                Oh my god. I have to correct you there, pb: the commenter did say that Breivik may not have acted on those concerns in the “best way” … fucksake.

                Well this little interlude has reminded me why I don’t go there, in addition to the lsa cookie thing.

                I need a shower.

              • weka

                “It’s not the same as what goes on here. What goes on here, goes on there as well, but there’s another level going on over there as well. And it’s tolerated.”

                That was a useful analysis. I haven’t read enough at KB to really get my head around the differences, but often when people say here is as bad as there it’s been hard to combat that idea.

              • Gosman

                How is this sentiment any different to the person here who expressed a view that the Mad Butcher should basically hurry up and die due to him having the temerity of saying he thought John Key was a good bloke?

                • Pascal's bookie

                  Both are awful, but in different ways.

                  ‘Hurry up and die’ isn’t saying ‘Good on that person for killing a swag of young people’.

                  In the latter case, the the guy didn’t see any need at all to wait for them to die, so he went out and started with the pop pop pop.

                  • Gosman

                    I can’t believe you are even trying to defend the ‘Hurry up and die’ comment made here. The point you seem to be missing is that there are commentators both on left leaning blogs and right leaning ones that express incredibly distasteful and vulgar views. Trying to act like they are more prevalent on Kiwiblog flies in the face of what I see.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      “I can’t believe you are even trying to defend the ‘Hurry up and die’ comment made here.”

                      You don’t have to believe it, indeed please don’t, because I’m not.

                      I said:

                      “Both are awful, but in different ways”

                      I’ll be more explicit:

                      I codemn both these awful things, indeed I condemn all things that are awful, this is my position going forward, when I say something is awful, I thereby condemn it.

                      I condemn both the deliberate sale of rotten fruit and genocide, but I maintain that they are not the same.

                    • Gosman

                      A vulgar and distasteful comment is a vulgar and distasteful comment regardless of how vulgar or distasteful you think the topic it is related to is. That is my point. If I stated I hope your mother dies a horrible death that is just as out of order then if I said the same thing about your entire family or even your entire cultural group you belong to.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Are you saying there are bad things and good things, and that all bad things are equally bad?

                    • Gosman

                      No. I’m stating that vulgar and distasteful comments are pretty much the same. What they are about might vary in the degree of nastiness but that is not what we are discussing here. Calling you a douchebag is just as uncalled for than if I called you a Child molester. Trying to argue that it is somehow worse calling you a Child molester ignores the fact that it is gutter behaviour doing either.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      But saying Brievik had the right idea, isn’t ‘calling someone names’.

                      It’s a totally different thing.

                    • felix

                      “Calling you a douchebag is just as uncalled for than if I called you a Child molester. Trying to argue that it is somehow worse calling you a Child molester ignores the fact that it is gutter behaviour doing either.”

                      Noted for future reference, douchebag.

                    • Gosman

                      Good to see you confirm the opinion that leftist blog’s are just as capable of descending to comments better suited to the sewer Felix.

            • Pascal's bookie 3.2.2.1.1.2

              I won’t even look at this thread, just going from the number of comments and the topic.

              I wonder what it looks like? I wonder what the up and down votes look like?

              http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/05/the_london_attack.html

              Prepared to bet that Islam as a whole gets blamed a lot, and that it gets discussed in terms of an existential threat, and that liberal politics is what is to blame,and that ‘inevitably’ things are going to get worse as ‘patriots’ will be ‘forced’ to ‘sort it out’.

          • Gosman 3.2.2.1.2

            Btw would you expect any replies you made to someone spouting proto-fascist bile on Kiwiblog to be blocked? I would appreciate an honest answer to that question.

            • Pascal's bookie 3.2.2.1.2.1

              No, because Farrar doesn’t moderate unless someone on twitter points crap out to him. But like I said, so what? that’s about bias, which is not what we are talking about.

        • Paul 3.2.2.2

          You’re arguing for the sake of it and in spite of evidence.
          Not the cleverest debating strategy.

          • Pasupial 3.2.2.2.1

            @ Paul

            What do you expect; Gosman’s hardly the cleverest debater! His strategy seems to rely on his; refusal to shut up, until everyone who dares disagree loses the will to live. I find now my eyes just glaze over whenever I see his key-name, and then I skip to the next comment.

            My guess is that he’s on auto-block on The Daily Blog, which is why he’s so pissed, and spewing his bile here. I’ve never had any problems making comments over there; though I do tend to rely on reasoned argument, and facts (plus the occasional bit of bitchiness). The quality of the posts can admittedly be a bit patchy at times; but it’s a site that presents views from many different authors and sources – if one isn’t to your taste, there’s always another.

          • Gosman 3.2.2.2.2

            Care to expand on that and explain what argument I am making without evidence?

            • Pasupial 3.2.2.2.2.1

              @ Gosman

              Too bored to.

            • McFlock 3.2.2.2.2.2

              Care to expand on that and explain what argument I am making without evidence

              Gosman,

              As far as I can tell, you have provided absolutely no evidence in this thread. None. You’ve made plenty of assertions about what folk have said on other threads or on other sites, and some people have apparently agreed that something along those lines was said. You might even have made a coherent argument as a consequence of all those assertions.

              But where is a link, reference or citation so people can check the debates themselves? Others have linked to objectionable comments on, e.g., kiwiblog. But where is the evidence you have provided?

              As far as I can tell (and please link to the comment that proves me wrong), if you have made a coherent argument here, you have had no evidence to back it up.

        • Frank Macskasy 3.2.2.3

          How do you know the accusations were unwarranted Gosman? Can you prove it?

          • Gosman 3.2.2.3.1

            What absolute BS Frank.

            Can you imagine if I accused you of being a kiddy fiddler and then used that same argument – “How do you know the accusation is unwarranted? Can you prove it?”

        • handle 3.2.2.4

          Farrar blogged about defacing signs himself at the time. Self-defamation perhaps.

          • Gosman 3.2.2.4.1

            This is the allegation that was made and it is with out a basis in reality as far as I can tell. Unless you care to provide that evidence or are you simply going to repeat it here until you think people will accept it as fact.

            • handle 3.2.2.4.1.1

              I read the admission myself at the time and have no reason to make that up. Unless Farrar has deleted it, do some searching. You are the one who seems to be obsessed about it, after all.

              • Gosman

                I call BS on that. You have plenty of reason to make up the allegation (i.e. you don’t particularly like DPF’s politics) or you plainly are wrong about what you think you read. Nothing on the internet is truly deleted. If you can’t be arsed looking for the link don’t spread the disinformation then.

                • handle

                  We do not all suffer lack of integrity and nor are you the arbiter of truth. You want to allege something me and at least someone else by the sounds of it have said is not true, go prove it.

                  • Gosman

                    You don’t seem to understand the burden of proof.

                    For your information I have already asked David Farrar about this and he denies it. I also went through the blog posts on both Whale oil and Kiwiblog related to the blogging tour in 2008 and there was no mention of either of them engaging in this sort of behaviour. The evidence (or lack there of) therefore points to this being made up.

    • tracey 3.3

      i disagree. Kiwiblog comments are often vile and downright offensive. The language that is used ill behoves some of those who comment there.

  4. Rogue Trooper 4

    it can be observed that days go by on The Standard at times without the need for moderator input.

    • lprent 4.1

      …that days go by on The Standard at times without the need for moderator input.

      Yeah. There are days when I have little time (like the last few days).

      On those days I still usually manage to scan the comments (bloody pages upon pages of 50 comments) and only stop on a few egregious comments. The day that I scanned almost 25 pages of them after I’d worked really really hard on code most of the day remains burned in my memory as a fried neuron trauma day – it was only 8 hours worth!. I tend to hand out bans like confetti if I have to stop to deal with something.

      I suspect that the other moderators notice when I’m not reading much because the spam queue mounts up towards 50 comments. I notice they start stepping in. I always know when it is time to make more time – Irish starts to moderate *evil grin*

      And then there are other more balmy days when I nitpick, do lots of warnings and just simple harassment of near-newbies who catch my eye as requiring education in net dynamics.

      No-one is ever too sure when the phases are going to flip (not even myself)… So people tend to stay well within the bounds.

      The site tends to run itself a lot of the time provided the ISP doesn’t screw up..

  5. Rich 5

    Just put this little line in your /etc/hosts (or c:windowssystem32driversetchosts or summat for Windows users):

    127.0.0.1 http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz

    Edit: inadvertently linked to him. Fixed
    I’ve had this for a year or more, haven’t been tempted to remove it.

  6. scotty 6

    Has Farrar got a hot phone to Jim Moira, or does Moira invite him?
    His appearance on the panel seems acutely timed ,to deal to negative coverage by the MSM of Nationals fuckups .

    • tc 6.1

      RNZ is effectively NACT Radio nowadays……Ryan’s a front for whatever her producers dish up, Mora’s show is braindead at best he just fills in between whoever is peddling whatever and the content quality overall has fallen badly. Morning report is toothless.

      Take today, on Ryan’s show a TV reviewer was doing what Mora’s TV reviewer had done previously, same show with similar comments ‘reimagining’ etc etc… it’s another aussie tv show FFS.

      Appears no overall production management just fill the air and keep Griffin happy (the nat installed chairman). If our f’n internet was better value I’d stream a decent service….datacaps’s a bitch and RNZ is freeviewed in……funny that as I can’t get CTV anymore !

      • Rodel 6.1.1

        I dunno. I quite enjoy Ryan and Mora but don’t like the way Hooting and the Torytubby are used so often and allowed to make unchallenged generalisations.

  7. tracey 7

    It’s amazing how someone can so quickly be accepted as an expert. Mind you I see it each day in my work, people who used to be plumbers becoming experts on weathertightness of buildings. With nary a single certificate behind them, they open a flash office, charge over $220 an hour and the courts seem to lap it up.

  8. Tigger 8

    Imp Fish and David F’s side jokes are funnier than anything Fatwa has ever written.

    Edit: realised Fatwa could be misconstrued. Not a jab at weight, but a play on the Islamic (righteously bs) pronouncement.

    • Rogue Trooper 8.1

      despite the commentors ‘Fatwa’ attracts, he is clever and influential.

  9. Daveski 9

    Rather than continue to mount personality attacks on DPF and others, how about trying to address the issues that he has raised. The hypocrisy or stupidity (take your pick) surrounding the positions on Dunne and Sky City are breathtaking which I suppose is acknowledged by the silence here. I have no mistaken view that National are anything near the perfect party or govt. Labour’s opposition continues to flatter the Govt.

    • weka 9.1

      The rest of ts is filled with posts and comments addressing issues that DPF also raises. And this post isn’t a personality attack. It’s criticising something he did.

    • the pigman 9.2

      “personality attacks”?

      Criticism of how he completely shot from the hip on his attack on Labour (I like his UPDATE ONE, especially well-researched) and his blog attracts completely unfettered, uncensored, abusive commenters (one “redbaiter” was mentioned earlier) are “personality attacks” on DPF.

      Really?

    • Nordy 9.3

      You are confusing criticism and debate with personal attack – a speciality of NACT.

      No hypocracy or stupidity on either, just doing their job, both as the largest party in the opposition and in standing up for principle and basic common sense.

      For the Dunne saga and the NACT Sky City debacle, the stench of cronyism and corruption is overpowering – whether it is self-serving ambition or conflict of interest at the highest level – all with taxpayers money.

      The only thing that is breathtaking is your continued support and cheerleading for its continuation.

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  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    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 hour 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
    2 hours 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
    2 hours 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 ...
    3 hours 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
    5 hours 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
    6 hours ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep 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 thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats 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. Heres 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. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen 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 ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    8 hours 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 ...
    15 hours 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 ...
    15 hours 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 ...
    16 hours 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 ...
    16 hours 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 ...
    16 hours 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 ...
    16 hours 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 ...
    16 hours 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 ...
    16 hours 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
    17 hours 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 ...
    18 hours 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 ...
    18 hours 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, ...
    19 hours 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, ...
    19 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    20 hours 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
    22 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    24 hours 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 ...
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    3 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    6 days ago
  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days 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 hour 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
    13 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
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