Is Haron Monis a terrorist?

Written By: - Date published: 12:51 pm, December 16th, 2014 - 187 comments
Categories: International, john key - Tags: ,

Haron Monis was a dangerous criminal. If he was a white non-Muslim there’s no doubt that’s how he would be reported. But John Key is instead talking about this showing terrorism can happen here.

If we take it as that a lone gunman can kill innocent strangers – yes, Aramoana showed us that.  But those incidents aren’t normally called “terrorism”.

National are keen to justify their constant increases of the surveillance state – which doesn’t work against lone perpetrators.

It’s all somewhat reminiscent of John Key at the White House saying that Anders Breivik’s actions justified our presence in Afghanistan.  As Russel Norman tweeted at the time: “Key says we are in Afghanistan to fight Norwegian neo-nazis”

That was at the same tie as John Key was busy mishandling the Israeli spies in Christchurch – that international farce led to the amazing OIA of SIS documents to WhaleOil to undermine Phil Goff.  Can we expect something similar to hide Key’s embarrassment?

Key seems all too ready to jump in to “Islamic terrorism” mode.  I’m sure our Muslim community don’t appreciate it, and hopefully the public will start realising the leglessness of the hysteria which John Key hypes for more authoritarian laws.

187 comments on “Is Haron Monis a terrorist? ”

  1. Kevin 1

    Maybe Key is wearing his kippah headwear this week…

    I wonder if the Haron Monis had a plastic sword?

    • I spent a few years working in Israel and Palestine and got to know a wide variety of people over there.

      Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of Israeli citizens do not hate Muslims (though many are fearful of an inevitable reckoning), despite their government systematically oppressing the Palestinian people, violently as we see sometimes in the news, and the rest of the time relentless, systemic economic oppression which ensures the vast majority of the Palestinian population is kept in poverty.

      What I did find surprising was that the vast majority of Palestinians didn’t hate the Israeli people broadly (though mentioning some sections of Israeli society, such as The Jewish Home could provoke expressions of anger, frustration, and hate), while at the same time recognising that the the systemic oppression they suffered under was a result of Israel’s will as a nation.

      It’s the radicals at both populations who shout the loudest that get to frame the public discourse.
      And also, politics in Israel is very difficult if your party does not embrace Zionism, at least rhetorically anyway.
      Another feature of Israeli politics is that at various times it gets dominated by a siege mentality which politicians on the right stoke for all it’s worth – it’s effective, cause shit really does blow up some times over there.

      My point is, being Jewish doesn’t mean you automatically hate Muslims.

      edit: also, John Key seems pretty flexible when it comes to religion, he seems quite happy to be perceived as either Christian or Jewish.

      • Tracey 1.1.1

        …and the media drumming up the perception of hatred amongst all. I know people who lived and worked in Israel and were shocked at how friendly people were, both muslim and israeli, living side by side in many cases and finding both govts actions abhorrent. Strangely to many outside those countries, all they want is to live a peaceful live. BIZARRE!!!!

        99% of israelis and Palestines living happily together

        doesnt sell papers

    • Ian H 1.2

      “I wonder if the Haron Monis had a plastic sword?”

      He had a machete. It would have decapitated just as effectively.

      What is it with you people? He isn’t a terrorist because he didn’t have the right gear? The man did his best! His black flag resembled an IS flag closely enough to get the message across. And his machete was near enough to a sword that it would have made no difference to his victims. OK so his bomb was also fake. But as a threat it was credible enough. It is like you don’t think anyone can be a terrorist unless they can afford the proper equipment – the right banner, a real sword, and a real bomb.;

      • Tracey 1.2.1

        it also resembled the saudi flag and he called himself a sheik so by your logic he is an oil baron.

      • Tracey 1.2.2

        and a cause that resembles terrorism not self gratifying me_ism.

        why are you so desperate that he be a terrorist?

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.3

        Bedwetters like you might be terrified of all sorts of things. The rest of us may profit from studying the symptoms, and that’s the extent of your utility.

      • Ennui 1.2.4

        How the man was equipped is immaterial to the question of whether the man is a terrorist. His modus operandi was that of a terrorist, he claimed to be doing it for a political reason. If he grabbed me I would regard him as a terrorist regardless of any bona fides.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.4.1

          So, that justifies unwarranted surveillance of anyone who might grab you?

          • Ennui 1.2.4.1.1

            Certainly not: we cant trust the watchers, equally we cant trust those who they claim to watch over us for. We are collateral damage in their cross fire.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.4.1.1.1

              No. Collateral damage feeds their fear and hatred and strengthens their cause: our blood is necessary, for both “terrorists” and wingnuts.

              In time, I suspect the links between right wing brain syndrome and terrorist ethics may become more obvious. On the other hand, they’ve probably been obvious for 60,000 years, so I may just be a victim of unwarranted optimism,

              • Ennui

                Yes, our blood is necessary for both terrorists and wingnuts. There is a strong vein of terror from the state (left and right…Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler, Kissinger terrorists one and all). And they all butt up against their enemy “terrorists”. I have no optimism that this will ever change.

        • Tracey 1.2.4.2

          Can you point to his statement of intent with a link?

          • Ennui 1.2.4.2.1

            Dont be so naive Tracey, he forced people at gun point to hold up an Islamic flag. You and the rest of us saw it live on TV. I have no idea if he was “linked” to any organisation. Who knows and who cares. It was his sad excuse to kill. He committed an act of random terror.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.4.2.1.1

              Don’t be so naive. Are you oblivious to the political context of the “definition” (a movable feast if ever there was one) of ‘terrorism’?

            • Tracey 1.2.4.2.1.2

              I didnt see it live on tv, they were looping a lack of information so i just used occassional sydney newspaper updates..

              He committed an act of planned power and control and murdered two people and injured many others leaving some frightened people in his wake.

              See how it still works on the known facts without using the term terrorist or terror

            • Puddleglum 1.2.4.2.1.3

              He committed an act of random terror

              Every violent criminal can be said to do that. Are all such criminals therefore ‘terrorists’?

            • Sabine 1.2.4.2.1.4

              So the 12 year old that killed a Dairy owner in West Auckland is a terrorist by your definition.

  2. Bill 2

    John Key is only parroting what major news outlets are suggesting, are only suggesting what recognised authorities are claiming.

    The tsunami of shit stinks to high heaven.

  3. tinfoilhat 3

    Surely it depends how you define terrorism ?

    • Bob 3.1

      Exactly, according to Google, terrorism is “the unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims”.
      Due to one of the demands of Haron Monis being a call from a Politician (Tony Abbott), this could be classed as terrorism.
      The distinction that does need to be made however, is that this guy seemed to be working alone, so this doesn’t appear to be part of a terrorist group, so you could also state the Police just wiped out an entire Australian terrorist cell and there is no longer a threat from this cell, so nothing needs to change.

      Aramoana is a bad example as there were absolutely no political motivations, hence, by definition, not terrorism.

  4. Tom Gould 4

    Yes, he is a crazed terrorist. Just ask any of the hostages held in terror or the families of those slain in terror. Trying to spin some lefty liberal political advantage out of this abomination is itself an abomination. Shameful.

    • batweka 4.1

      So all situations where murder/aggravated violence happens but not instantly is terrorism? Or perhaps you would like to define terrorism for us succinctly so we all know what it is. thanks.

      • tinfoilhat 4.1.1

        One of the Guardian’s reporters has an interesting opinion..

        “There are multiple ways of defining terrorism, and all are subjective. Most define terrorism as “the use or threat of serious violence” to advance some kind of “cause”. Some state clearly the kinds of group (“sub-national”, “non-state”) or cause (political, ideological, religious) to which they refer. Others merely rely on the instinct of most people when confronted with innocent civilians being killed or maimed by men armed with explosives, firearms or other weapons. None is satisfactory, and grave problems with the use of the term persist. Terrorism is after all, a tactic. The term “war on terrorism” is thus effectively nonsensical. As there is no space here to explore this involved and difficult debate, my preference is, on the whole, for the less loaded term “Militancy”. This is not an attempt to condone such actions, merely to analyse them in a clearer way.”

      • gsays 4.1.2

        i am pretty sure it was michael franti who defined a terrorist as:
        someone with a bomb who doesn’t have an air force.

        hope this helps.

    • Bill 4.2

      I’m no ‘lefty liberal’ and am utterly sickened by what’s going on.

      Now, you wanna take that specious ‘lefty liberal’ slur and, insofar as I’m an intended target for it, stick it up your arse as far as your forearm will reach? Thankyou.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.2.1

        Bill, I’ll have you know I’m a Lefty Liberal and I condemn your anti-fister bigotry.

    • Tracey 4.3

      All we know for sure is he is

      1. a murderer of two people and injured many others;
      2. implicated in the setting alight and stabbing of his wife;
      3. charged with over 40 sexual offences.

      Those, Sir, are the only facts to date and you are spouting shrill emotion. Aren’t 1, 2 and 3 enough for you??

      • Sabine 4.3.1

        now now Tracey,

        1. terrorism
        2. is domestic violence which was probably the fault of his wife for not being enough of something or other
        3. sexual offences – are you sure the ladies did not ask for it? Or maybe they dd drink alcohol? Or wearing tight trousers or short skirts?

        sorry for being sarcastic. – but there is no way John Key and his minion would declare violence against women as terrorism. If they would they would have to change their attitude.

        as per his wikipedia

        Esmaeil Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Iran’s chief of police, told reporters that Monis had “a dark and long history of violent crime and fraud” in Iran and had run a travel agency in 1996, before fleeing to Malaysia and then Australia. “It lasted 4 years to collect evidence on Manteghi [Monis]’s identification documents and we reported this to the Australian police but since Australia has no extradition treaty with Iran, they didn’t extradite him to Iran”.[13] The London-based Persian TV channel Manoto 1 reported that Monis had been working as the managing director of a tourism agency in Iran, and had fled Iran after taking US$200,000 of his customers’ money. The same source reported that he was protected from extradition by his refugee status.[14]

        Iran’s official news agency, IRNA states that he was “under prosecution by the Interpol” and Iran provided information to the Australian government about his criminal record, mental and spiritual status. Despite this, he was granted asylum in Australia.[15] Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham, publicly questioned the Australian government’s having taken his criminal status “completely clear”, after several discussions.[15]

        • Tracey 4.3.1.1

          So, if correct, he is an historic conman, sexual predator, possible wife burner and murderer

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.4

      Yes, Tom, reasoned analysis is useless, just like terrorism. No, wait…

  5. shorts 5

    key is in sales mode (always), anything that helps him sell his wares will do (increased state powers)… bugger the consequences cause the only thing that matters at the end of the day is how this benefits key

  6. Ovid 6

    A terrorist act, for New Zealand purposes, is defined by section 5 of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002. So we have to ask the following questions:

    1. Was Monis’ act carried out to advance an ideological, political, or religious cause?
    On balance, I think it was. The fact he waved a Shahada flag and compelled his hostages to make videos asking for an IS flag certainly leads us to make a very strong inference that his motives were religious and ideological. The shotgun and the flag point to premeditation rather than Monis just snapping.

    AND

    2 (a). Was it carried out with the intention to induce terror in a civilian population
    He did claim there were four bombs dotted around Sydney. The Opera House was evacuated.

    OR

    2 (b). Was it carried out to unduly compel or to force a government or an international organisation to do or abstain from doing any act?
    The previously mentioned videos he made his hostages make were a series of demands. Not especially serious in themselves, but it’s not a giant leap that if he wanted to talk to Abbott (which was one of the demands uploaded to YouTube) he would be making further demands.

    AND

    3. Did Monis’ act result in the death of, or other serious bodily injury to, 1 or more persons (aside from Monis himself)
    Yes.

    At present, I think it is appropriate to call Monis a terrorist, at least in law. But whether we need laws articulating what terrorism is rather than the standard criminal definitions of murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault etc is another debate. I, for one, think we do when it comes to conspiracy, preparation and training with a terrorist goal in mind (for example, it should be perfectly legal to learn how to fly an aircraft, but illegal to learn how to fly one with the intention of hijacking).

    • Tracey 6.1

      I think you are wrong. It is appropriate to call him a murderer, an implicated murderer and accused of over 40 sexual offences.

      Each of your scenarios can be explained other ways.

      he was an attention seeker, reportedly writing heaps of letters, not just to families of dead military personnel, regular caller to radio stations…

      he decided to MAKE people listen to him.

      he may have had an over inflated idea of his own importance, and the exposure of his fakery and shame by the Courts may have determined him to go out in a blaze of glory. The flag which included a statement also carried on the Saudi Flag, did the trick but that doesn’t make him a terrorist.

      Graham Capill abused children sexually while holding the title of Reverend, that fits with an act designed to carry out a religious cause, to share the love of God?

      Speculation in this case, imo, is very dangerous.

      I shudder that it is just not enough for some people at this stage to know he is a murderer, sexual predator and implicated in his wife’s murder. That certainly seems to be how the police were treating him yesterday.

      • Ennui 6.1.1

        Tracey,

        Just add terrorist to the criminal list….he seems ideally suited to be a terrorist. He has already displayed willingness to commit vile crimes. Now he has killed people in an act of random terror. He claimed a “reason”. I am sure those other bigots and psychopaths in Islamic terror organisations will be keen to claim him as a “martyr”. And you can be equally sure that those other bigots and psychos among-st the political class and security organisations in the “West” will condemn this individual as a terrorist as well.

        • Tracey 6.1.1.1

          You are speculating.

          Bigots and psychopaths exist in big numbers outside terrorist organisations as well. Some even get elected to parliament (which i think you are acknowledging)

          willingness to commit “vile” crimes is not a prerequisite for labelling an act terrorism.

          How long will it be before these organisations claim him as one of theirs?

          I am struggling to follow your reasoning on the known facts to date.

          He might have got his idea for the flag following the reporting of the shooting of the 18 year old in September.

          • Ennui 6.1.1.1.1

            I am absolutely certain that if you or I were in that room with that man we would have regarded him as a terrorist. I don’t think we would have given a rats arse for whom or why but we would have recognised his modus operandi as terrorism. Is that so difficult to get your head around. And yes, I suspect it helps to be a criminal nutter to be able to do these things.

            • Tracey 6.1.1.1.1.1

              Your reasoning is a little tortured…

              Flag = terrorist
              Frightened people think its a terrorist = must be a terrorist

              Like many today your conclusion he is a terrorist is entirely assumption.

              You may turn out to be right but not on the basis you just outlined.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                Terrorism requires terror, a goal it only ever achieves locally and temporarily on its own. It requires authoritarian assistance to enliven and extend its fear beyond local and temporal boundaries, assistance that wingnuts are only too happy to provide.

                • Tracey

                  My understanding is that an act of terror is implicitly designed to make a percentage of a population live in fear they will be next until the current political structure is dismantled and replaced by their particular ideology and through that fear understand the alleged oppression the perpetrators feel in which nation/s they align with… Other factors also help define the terrorist.

                  My inclination remains that this was all about this man, his sense of power and control not a greater cause per se.

                  I may be wrong, but that there is more than one possibile motivation is in most part cos there is a paucity of fact. Once the poor hostages start recalling and making statements more of the picture will unblur…

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    My understanding is that “terrorism” is a red herring, a false flag if you prefer. Not in Ev’s trite conspiracist terms: simply the wrong lens.

            • Sabine 6.1.1.1.1.2

              Will you also call robbers at a bank or dairy a terrorist?
              Will you also then call for terrorist laws to be strengthened and your civil rights to be taken away because some Methhead robbed a bank, or some twelve year old kills a Dairy Owner?

    • Personally, I think you are missing one key ingredient.

      – Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
      – Osama Bin Laden
      – Haron Monis
      – Rose Lynch

      One of these things is not like the others,
      One of these things just doesn’t belong,
      Can you tell which thing is not like the others

      Can you tell which one?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 6.3

      He falls at the first hurdle: it is far more likely that his cause was his own, avoiding prison, not the bandwagon he recently boarded.

  7. Ian H 7

    This man thought of himself as a terrorist and wanted to be thought of by the world as a terrorist. He would have draped himself in a terrorist flag if he’d been able to get hold of one. His Islamist threats and rantings were well known in Australia. But the media there consistently chose to downplay the threat he represented by portraying him as an eccentric crank and a bit of a joke. In retrospect that may have been a mistake.

    Why wouldn’t he be a terrorist. He named himself one. He committed a terrorist act. People like him certainly terrify me! I find it terrifying that people like him who are clearly unhinged and dangerous are allowed to walk around on bail while waiting to be tried for crimes like murder and rape.

    • Tracey 7.1

      Can you provide the link to where he named himself a terrorist? Please dont use the extract from the Koran which also appears on the Saudi flag as your proof unless you also want to call him an oil sheik.

      • Ian H 7.1.1

        He wanted an IS flag and seems to have chosen the black one he used because it closely resembled it. What do you think the banner was for? He wasn’t holding a prayer meeting in that cafe. The headband he wore was the kind of thing a suicide bomber wears in those awful videos they make before they go and blow themselves up.

        As to a quote self-identifying as terrorist – I admit I overstepped a bit there. Very few terrorists actually call themselves terrorists as in “I am a terrorist”. They call themselves martyrs or jihadis or freedom fighters or whatnot. I suspect we’ll find in his rantings to his terrified hostages plenty of evidence of him using that kind of language.

        Actually I am more interested in why you seem so invested in proclaiming that this man was NOT a terrorist.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.1.1

          A violent man facing prison, having exhausted his legal options, may adopt whatever clothing he feels most appropriate to his cause, and still be nothing more than a violent man facing prison.

          Personally, I think terrorists, and people who worry about terrorism, and people who use terrorism as an excuse to attack human rights, are a bunch of bedwetters who have far more in common with one another than they do with sane people.

          What’s more, they seem to find such opinions terrifying 😆

        • Tracey 7.1.1.2

          of course you are because you dont get the difference between jumping to a convenient conclusion and waiting for the facts.

          what difference does it make to you whether he was

          a murderer, sexual predator and wife killer or a terrorist?.

        • Tracey 7.1.1.3

          if he had wanted a helicopter would that make him a pilot?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.1.3.1

            I want a big pile of cash. I’m a billionaire! Wee!

            [lprent: Please wee somewhere else. May I suggest the sewer, it seems to be common there… 😈 ]

        • Colonial Rawshark 7.1.1.4

          Ian H – I find it odd that you are desperate to give extra credence to every unwell attention seeker out there.

          Of course this means that you are part of the problem, as you are all too eager to label everything terrorism.

          The Australian authorities (and you) should not have jumped on the bandwagon of Islamic Terrorism when this incident started. Reacting to it as an anti-terrorist operation was a disaster.

          You, and the authorities should have reacted to this as a typical armed hostage taking. Which is far far far more likely to be due to someone seeking attention, a domestic dispute, someone who is stressed out or mentally unwell.

          The label “terrorist” that you keep using is dumb.

          In your heart of course, you know that if western countries continue to supply death and destruction into villages, towns and cities in the middle east it will eventually come back to us. Seems to me like your conscience is simply waiting for that to happen.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2

      I find it terrifying that people like him who are clearly unhinged and dangerous are allowed to walk around on bail while waiting to be tried for crimes like murder and rape.

      And in NZ The Slater legally owns a gun.

      • Ian H 7.2.1

        I was unaware that Slater was on bail awaiting trial for murder and rape. Why isn’t this more widely known?

        • Tracey 7.2.1.1

          you know he demanded to speak to the PM and one poster here says that puts you half way to being a terrorist?

        • Draco T Bastard 7.2.1.2

          He’s not but that, of course, is typical RWNJ everything must be exactly the same for the analogy to work. The fact of the matter is that Slater’s writing show him as being unstable and he owns guns and has broken the law.

          • Tracey 7.2.1.2.1

            and demanded the PMs phone number

          • TheContrarian 7.2.1.2.2

            To be fair though (though I’m not defending Slater), breaching name suppression orders isn’t really the sort of crime that should require someone to be banned from owning a gun.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 7.2.1.2.2.1

              How about advocating harm to political opponents and celebrating accidental death?

              • Tracey

                and supplying an address to someone who wanted to harm the resident…

                it isnt about slater tho its about idiotic dot joining.

              • TheContrarian

                Until Slater actually talks about using his guns to cause harm to others then there is no reason to ban him from having a firearms license. Being convicted of a non-violence offence is no reason to ban someones license.

                • anker

                  But mental health issues are a reason to ban someone’s gun license.

                  • Dex

                    If you took the license from everyone suffering depression, pretty soon all farmers and gun owners would be hiding it with more catastrophic consequences. The fact that this loon was only able to source a shotgun minimizing any potential deaths is probably a fortunate consequence of Australia’s gun laws.

    • Ennui 7.3

      I am in agreement with you Ian, I cant quite understand why people don’t understand that this was an act of terror. If you look at the historic record there are lot of acts of terror perpetrated by and carried out by people not directly associated with a cause. This guy associated himself with a cause, and expressed this association by capturing hostages and killing two people. Nutter or not he took it into his hands to perpetrate an act of terror and associate with a cause.

      What concerns me the most is how we respond. Our governments have not and will not serve us (the citizenry) well. They will use this as an excuse to inflict more terror on us (by way of legislation denying our freedoms) and by force against “our enemies” aka ISIS, Al Quaeda, Putin, the IRA, Vietcong, etc etc etc

      Ultimately two people will not go home to their loved ones because one person decided to act homicidally to make a dubious point for an equally dubious cause. It could have been you and me. Can we trust Key, Abbott or Obama to “protect” us. I think not.

      • Tracey 7.3.1

        Because all the facts are not yet known.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 7.3.2

        Again, you’re missing the obvious. Was the goal of this hostage taker political, or personal? Violent men who lose in court are Titfords, not terrorists.

        • Ennui 7.3.2.1

          I have missed no point: you are in denial that this was an act of terror. If you or I decided to go down to our local coffee bar with a gun, hold people hostage, hold up the flag of the Peoples Republic of the Aro Valley, then shoot a couple of people would that not be an act of terror?

          • Tracey 7.3.2.1.1

            No. The flag doesnt make it terror anymore than it makes him saudi arabian because it carried the same reference, or an oil sheik.

            Some of us are open to him being a terrorist, but equally open to him not and being a murderer, sexual predator and alleged wife murderer, and needing more facts before joining the PMs, your and others hysteria drive.

            • Ennui 7.3.2.1.1.1

              Tracey, go look in the mirror: you are displaying hysterical denial. Just because you object to how the PM portrays the event is no reason to brand others who see this man as a terrorist as being on the PMs side. As for facts there are more than enough.

              • Colonial Rawshark

                Sorry mate but terror is an emotion. People are terrified of lots of different things. Lots of different kinds of criminal activities cause terror. From serial murderers and rapists through to white collar crims who strip away the savings and homes of retirees leaving them destitute.

                Did this man generate terror? Yes he did. Of course he did. He was a guy with a shotgun pointing it at random people, depriving them of their freedom and eventually of their life. Plenty of terror to go around there.

                But once you label this incident “an act of terror” you are placing it squarely in the context of the west’s self proclaimed (and bullshit) “global war on terrorism.” You are also placing this incident squarely in the context of the power elite’s creation of a security and surveillance state to bind all of us within.

                Is this what you really want to do? Do you really believe that the west’s “global war on terrorism” is the way that this incident could have been stopped? Well I think that different social, health and criminal justice interventions earlier on could have stopped this guy. But not predator drones and warrantless surveillance.

                Maybe someone should also ask – how come Australia’s new intrusive and civil liberties destroying security state legislation, passed in Sept, didn’t spot what this known criminal was planning to do?

      • anker 7.3.3

        Ennui @ 7.3 100+

    • Murray Rawshark 7.4

      He did not think of himself as a terrorist. He thought of himself as something like a prophet, a holy man working for peace. He did not call himself a terrorist. Why are you making stuff up?

      • Colonial Rawshark 7.4.1

        Smart lefties and intellectuals are too often amongst the first to get drawn into the drumbeat of war and the security/surveillance state.

        • Murray Rawshark 7.4.1.1

          I immodestly think of myself as both a smart lefty and an intellectual. I’m immune to most drumbeats apart from the Cook Island drums at Warriors’ home games.

  8. Skinny 8

    Posing as an outspoken cleric/religious leader gives me the impression this individual was a ticking time-bomb, more of a delusional wannabe cleric than a terrorist. I’d classify him in a Jim Jones or Brian Tamati mould. At 50 years of age a bit old to be starting out as a terrorist, well not your run of the mill one, who are usually way younger. However to Abbott, Cameron, Obama and our very own John Key, he will be framed nicely as a ISIS extremist/terrorist of the worst kind. Anyone remotely connected ( happen to be captured by cctv footage walking the same street as him) will suffer dawn raids and detention.

    Key has already starting spinning crap that this sorry saga had nothing to do with Australian troops on the ground in the Middle East and more to do with the long evil tentacles of terrorist cells Down Under. Really… but hang on what’s all this tv footage of Monis and his outspoken rants opposing Ozzie troops in the ME?

  9. Mike 9

    His demands included:

    1. ISIL flag
    2. To speak to the Prime Minister.

    I think the terrorist label is appropriate in this case.

    • Tracey 9.1

      Slater has done half of those things. May have an ISIS flag too for all I know.

      • Mike 9.1.1

        Haha, well I’m sure if he bails people up with a shot gun in a cafe and gets them to hold up copies of Dirty Politics, there won’t be many arguing here he’s not a terrorist 🙂

        • felix 9.1.1.1

          Well he does have guns.

          And he does direct violent language toward his political opponents, vowing to destroy his enemies etc.

          And he does claim that there is a conspiracy of people planning to kill him, and that he knows who they are.

          And he does claim to live by a mantra of “giving back double”.

          So yeah, I’m not convinced it’s a laughing matter, Mike.

          • Colonial Rawshark 9.1.1.1.1

            Slater isn’t considered a terrorist because he’s “our kind of guy.”

            Just like the US allied operatives and contractors who kidnapped Muslim civilians in the dead of night and then held and tortured them for years without charge, aren’t terrorists. Because they too are “our kind of guys.”

            But if you’re not our kind of torturer and kidnapper of civilians, then of course you are a terrorist.

  10. Draco T Bastard 10

    But John Key is instead talking about this showing terrorism can happen here.

    Yep and even some in the MSM are calling it what it is: Political opportunism

    • Mike 10.1

      @ Draco,

      I can understand people wanting to down play this down and divorce it from any broader context. But be reasonable, this kind of thing freaks people out. Do you really expect politicians to not discuss in the context of terrorism?

      • Skinny 10.1.1

        No we expect our Prime Minister not to try more crap on us by an attempt to leverage political gain out of a sorry situation.

        • Ian H 10.1.1.1

          The public may not have much patience with attempts to play left wing semantic games of “lets redefine the word” in an attempt to avoid calling this terrorism. Are you really sure this is the road you want to go down?

          • Tracey 10.1.1.1.1

            are we being reported to the public?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1.1.2

            Fuck off, fearmonger.

          • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1.3

            The definition of terrorism has been changing quite a bit recently. It used to be that the US government and, IMO, our present government would easily have fit under the old definition.

            http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/h/hoffman-terrorism.html

            • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1.1.3.1

              Spanner, meet works 😀

            • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1.1.3.2

              From Hoffman’s conclusion:

              All terrorist acts involve violence or the threat of violence. Terrorism is specifically designed to have far-reaching psychological effects beyond the immediate victim(s) or object of the terrorist attack. It is meant to instill fear within, and thereby intimidate, a wider `target audience’ that might include a rival ethnic or religious group, an entire country, a national government or political party, or public opinion in general. Terrorism is designed to create power where there is none or to consolidate power where there is very little.

              My bold.

              So, not so different from foreign policy as practiced by certain quintocular allies who shall remain nameless then.

              Belated warning: this comment may contain “subversive” opinions, exposure to which can affect ones credit rating 😈

              • Tracey

                so some media yesterday qualify…

                “… It is meant to instill fear within, and thereby intimidate, a wider `target audience …”

          • framu 10.1.1.1.4

            why are you and the pm so keen to give this man the label you claim he sought?

            If he is a terrorist, hes a spectacularly bad one as he wasnt operating in secret, was acting out in plain sight and was acting alone – ie; thats a dumb way to do a large group of hostages over a long time frame.

            Yet terrorists seek goals dont they – the main one is instilling fear – which you, the PM and every single other person who is so keen to ramp it up as much as possible, is helping him do.

            your making him MORE successful – even when hes dead

      • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.2

        😆

        I expect my politicians to reject the entire notion of terrorism, and give no ground whatsoever to fearmongers under any circumstances.

      • Tracey 10.1.3

        yes, if they are rational and able to think for themselves and wait out the hysterics for the facts

      • framu 10.1.4

        ” But be reasonable, this kind of thing freaks people out.”

        yeah thats the point mike – it freaks people out, so shouldnt our leaders be exercising some restraint instead of leaping from the blocks in order to instill more fear?

  11. Ad 11

    Far too early to make pronouncements like this Bunji.

    In the subsequent investigations they will be going through his emails, cellphone calls, personal contacts, texts, persons he associated with and their SIS profiles, etc etc.
    Who knows what evidence they will find of terrorist association. Or not.

    This case isn’t like you could just color him black and call it another Ferguson.

    I agree with you Key is using it – hell in his position I probably would too. But it’s pretty dark. Any human being here with relatives there would be entitled to feel a chill of anxiety.

    But hold back on the defense a little until more facts are in.

    • Molly 11.1

      Already feeling a “chill of anxiety” because of the increasing collusion with US military. I have friends in the NZ Army, and have kept up to date with the atrocities that the US has been committing in the Middle East.

      “I agree with you Key is using it – hell in his position I probably would too.”
      John Key is in the position of head statesman of NZ. He doesn’t have to give in to immediate emotional reactions. (Not that I think he did, I think his response is pure politics).

    • anker 11.2

      Ad @ 11 100+

    • Colonial Rawshark 11.3

      The failure is in social services, health services and the criminal justice system ad. They can try and link him up to whatever terrorist activity (they are very good at doing that, even planting and fabricating evidence online and digital evidence) but the actual things which would have prevented this incident are the very things that are being pushed aside in the “war on terror” drum beat.

  12. Penny Bright 13

    Seems a LOT of Muslims HAVE ‘spoken out’ against ISIS / ISIL?

    This may be useful to combat some of the ‘spin’ out there ….
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    Global Condemnations of ISIS/ISIL

    A common criticism of Muslims globally is that they remain silent, and therefore are essentially complicit, in the face of violence, extremism, and terrorism in the name of Islam. But this is not the case at all. Often the loudest critics of extremism are the co-religionists themselves, not content to let the voices of hate dominate the discourse.

    Although large news networks seldom carry these Muslim voices of peace, a simple search will turn up all manner of condemnations of those whose actions tarnish the image and teachings of Islam. Below, we offer only the tip of the iceberg of Muslims worldwide speaking out against violence and extremism. We also share the reflections of Christians who refuse to allow the religion of Islam be conflated with terrorists who proclaim the faith.

    When you find news items of courageous voices leading the charge to oppose extremist ideologies, please share them with us at mail@ing.org.

    Islam’s theology of life is stronger than ISIS’ cult of death

    Don’t blame religion for rise of ISIS

    Rebranding the ‘Islamic State’

    ISIS Is Not Just Un-Islamic, It Is Anti-Islamic

    Saudi Arabia’s top clerics speak out against Islamist militancy

    German Muslims invite all faiths to day of prayer against Islamic State

    Cambridge mosque calls ISIS barbaric, uncivilized

    Imams call for National Day of Prayer in memory of murdered aid workers

    San Francisco Interfaith Council and Religious Leaders Speak Out Against ISIS Religious Persecution

    Local Muslims Organize Interfaith Discussion on ISIS, Islam

    Interfaith speakers stress tolerance, decry Islamic State violence

    Fethullah Gülen condemns ISIL atrocities in ads in leading newspapers

    Faithline Protestants Reframing Our View of Religious Terrorism

    #NotInMyName: Young British Muslims stand up to ISIS online

    Australian Grand Mufti tells young Muslims to avoid ‘Sheik YouTube’

    US Muslim leaders denounce ISIS, pledge to dissuade youth from joining

    The Key to Defeating ISIS Is Islam

    Open letter to IS leader al-Baghdadi from 100+ global Muslim scholars

    German Muslims Turn Out In Force For Nationwide Protest Against Islamic State

    #MakingAStand: British Muslim women launch anti-ISIS culture drive

    Is ISIS Islamic? Is it a state?

    Prominent Muslim Sheik Issues Fatwa Against ISIS Violence

    Muslims Around The World Rally Against Extremist Antics Of Islamic State

    Why the Islamic State Is Not Really Islamic

    This Cleric Thinks ISIS Can Be Defeated With More Religion

    ISIS is the antithesis of Hajj, the holy pilgrimage

    #MuslimApologies Highlights The Absurdity Of Blaming An Entire Religion For Actions Of Few

    Milwaukee’s Muslim Community Trying to Combat ISIS Influence

    Is All Morality Gone? Condeming ISIS and Beyond, In A World of Suffering

    U.S. Trying to Counter ISIS Efforts to Lure Alienated Young Muslims

    Somali American fights militant Islamist recruiters in U.S. heartland

    Kosovo is fully behind American’s fight against ISIS

    British Muslims vent anger at death of aid worker

    Local Muslims condemn terrorist acts

    Islamic State ignores Prophet’s example

    Islamic scholar says ISIS perverts Islam

    https://www.ing.org/community-statements/1336-global-condemnations-isis-isil

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    Kind regards

    Penny Bright

    • Chooky 13.1

      +100 thanks Penny

    • Murray Rawshark 13.2

      By way of contrast, how many Christian leaders were harassed into apologising for Anders Breivik and swearing that not all Christians are like him? Key would have expected some Imam or other to get on their knees and beg forgiveness for what Breivik did.

  13. Rawsharkosaurus 14

    He’s a murdering scumbag who got his kicks from sending sick messages to the families of dead soldiers. If that makes him a terrorist, then that also makes terrorists of Darren Wilson and Shirley Phelps-Roper.

    No great loss if it does.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1

      There is great loss associated with ascribing purpose to the actions of violent criminals.

      Not least of these losses is the ammunition they (you?) provide to authoritarians. The insane conjunction of incoherent rage and right wing brain syndrome.

      • Rawsharkosaurus 14.1.1

        I’ll save my sympathy for the families of the girls murdered by Haron Monis, the family of the boy murdered by Darren Wilson, the families harassed by Haron Monis and the families harassed by Shirley Phelps-Roper. If that makes me an authoritarian, then I’m sure I’ll at least be in good company.

        (and possibly once you find out who Darren Wilson is you might see the point I’m trying to make. Hint: not the same person as the similarly named musician)

        • McFlock 14.1.1.1

          I love it when people play hard-to-get with the points they try to make. /sarc

          It’s almost as if they confuse obscurity with profundity.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1.1.2

          Empty words. Tumbleweed. Vacuity. Say something, bloodsack.

  14. Paul 15

    Interesting article in the Guardian.

    ‘By acknowledging Monis as a terrorist and as an actor for Isis, we give him exactly what he wanted: recognition, renown and the attention of the world media. We also feed into any possible claims by Isis that this attack is a demonstration of their ability to cause terror in Australia.’

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/16/sydney-siege-dont-call-man-haron-monis-a-terrorist-it-only-helps-isis

    • miravox 15.1

      Even Tony Abbot has toned down calling him a terrorist, acknowledging criminal and mental health issues were in play.

      Yes, I found that an interesting piece and I agree that Haron Monis was a criminal, attention-seeker, probably deranged.

      So what differentiates a terrorist actor from a madman with a gun? Terrorism, by definition, is violence carried out for a cause in order to create fear and terror – and coerce governments into meeting demands. The motivations for a terrorist act are attached to an ideological, political or social cause. Terrorist actors believe the violence they perpetrate is furthering that cause. Monis’s case is different.

      While it may appear that he was acting on behalf of the global jihadi movement, his prior actions and his history tell us otherwise. This was a man who was desperate for attention. His motives were egotistical. He was a self-proclaimed cleric, though he had no formal qualifications or any evidence to support his claims. On his website, sheikhharon.com, since been taken down, he posted letters to the prime minister as well as political opinions. Rather than being a follower, this is evidence that he was a wannabe leader driven by a desire for notoriety.

      Sadly we have an immediate example of what terrorists really are, for those who are struggling with the distinction

      http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/16/taliban-attack-army-public-school-pakistan-peshawar

      Up to 84 children have been killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, the regional chief minister has said.

      The attack – claimed by the Pakistani Taliban – was led by militants wearing army uniform on the school, which teaches the children of military personnel and civilians. Hundreds of children were thought to be in the school when the attack began….

      The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

      It comes as the Pakistani military wages a major offensive against Taliban and other militants in the tribal area of North Waziristan. The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting to topple the government and set up a strict Islamic state, have vowed to step up attacks against Pakistani targets in response.

  15. One Anonymous Bloke 16

    One of these watchlists is not like the other one.

    Or, alternatively, the Right Honourable John Key, Prime Minister, is lying, again, as though he’s a mendacious wretch or something.

  16. Matthew Hooton 17

    I think he was a terrorist but not A Terrorist, if you know what I mean. He certainly terrorised people for a few hours throughout Sydney but he has no ability to do so from beyond the grave. Mohamed Ata was the real evil deal: he created terror that distorted the foreign policy of major powers for years after his death. Which means, I guess, that whether someone is a terrorist rather than A Terrorist is less about them than about how people choose to respond to them. The Australians are sensible to treat him as the former rather than the latter: don’t let it change you. It’s only when you change that a terrorist becomes A Terrorist.

    • Paul 17.1

      Matthew this is what a real political analyst with some expertise thinks…
      As opposed to your pr spinning.

      Paul Buchanan – Sydney Siege 16th December 2014 on ZB.

      http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings/audio/paul-buchanan-sydney-siege-16th-december-2014/

    • felix 17.2

      Matthew just redefined “a terrorist” to mean “a violent criminal”.

      So now our jails are full of terrorists. Shouldn’t we be torturing them?

      • Paul 17.2.1

        He talks utter drivel.
        Much more interesting to listen to Paul Buchanan.
        Far more educational than listening to Hooton who knows very little about the subject.

        • felix 17.2.1.1

          Surely all that matters is the perception that Matthew knows about the subject.

          After all, he’s on tv all the time talking about all sorts of things he knows nothing about.

          Isn’t that just as good as actual information?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2.1.1.1

            Um, that’s not quite it, though, Felix.

            It isn’t so much the ignorance as the crafted-for-profit mendacity. If he were simply a purveyor of meaningless gobshite he’d be relatively benign.

      • Matthew Hooton 17.2.2

        Well that’s right. David Gray certainly terrorised the people of Aramoana. I don’t think the term should be limited to people with political or religious motives. That lets Gray and Monis off the hook in a sense. And also gives Ata and his mates a special status they craved. Anyway, in a sense its word play. As someone in Aiatralia said to me on Twitter, what’s wrong with “fuckwit” to describe him? (Although that doesn’t seem strong enough to me. I use it too liberally.)

        • One Anonymous Bloke 17.2.2.1

          First expand the powers, then expand the definition of behaviour to which those powers apply.

      • batweka 17.2.3

        “Matthew just redefined “a terrorist” to mean “a violent criminal”.

        So now our jails are full of terrorists. Shouldn’t we be torturing them?”

        Just to put that in perspective, this is the man that recently called Giovanni Tiso and others fascist because they criticised the SST for giving Collins a weekly column. Where people called the SST decision completely unethical, Hooton called the critics ‘vicious’.

        Tiso has a post on it (worth reading even just for the proof that Hooton is a pathetic fool).

        http://bat-bean-beam.blogspot.co.nz/2014/12/tending-fascist.html

        I’m not sure who exactly actually takes Hooton’s words seriously, but it strikes me he is a fully fledged part of the crew that is taking the piss and running with more and more outrageous and ridiculous lines (cue Key from earlier today), simply because they can get away from it. Big kudos to the likes of Vance, de Boni etc for attempting to counter that and for working in a profession that is largely a fucking disgrace.

      • Matthew Hooton 17.2.4

        Thinking about it a bit more, I don’t think any violent criminal is a terrorist. If someone kills someone in a rage or even targets people specifically for pre-meditated violence they may not be terrorists in the sense of trying to terrorise third parties. That’s what makes terrorism distinct and so awful – you are killing or threatening these people, and treating them as mere means, in order to terrorist there other people. I don’t know if that is what Monis was trying to do. Could be he was just sick and evil rather than being concious of using the people inside the cafe to terrorise all the people in the CDB. Although reports he claimed there were bombs elsewhere in the city suggests his interests extended beyond his immediate surroundings. Anyway, an interesting question posed by Bunji that got me thinking.

        • felix 17.2.4.1

          I don’t see any evidence that it got you thinking.

          • Matthew Hooton 17.2.4.1.1

            Do you think he’s a terrorist? How would you define a terrorist?

            • McFlock 17.2.4.1.1.1

              have you considered buying a dictionary, or would it get in the way of your word-twisting?

              • Matthew Hooton

                He meets some of the dictionary definitions of terrorist – although not usually the first one given.

                • McFlock

                  such as?

                  • Matthew Hooton

                    Like you say, look up the dictionary yourself

                    • felix

                      Not really a conversation then.

                    • Ad

                      To me the test of distinction between domestic “nut job” and ‘A Terrorist” is in motive: are they seeking to overthrow the state, or not.

                      So I would class the Sydney guy as “nut job”.

                      I would hope that the NSW Police Prosecutor sees it the same way.

                      Mind you if they really want throw away the key, the Australian courts could always class him as “refugee”, and he would be truly fucked.

                    • batweka

                      “Not really a conversation then.”

                      Spookily, he was starting to sound like Pete George.

                    • McFlock

                      googling “meaning of ‘terrorist'” gives a whole bunch of different definitions, pretty much all of them involving the use of terror for political objectives.
                      I doubt very much that HM had any coherent political objectives.
                      His lack of contacts means that he was not being used by anyone else to fulfil their political objectives.

                      Yes, it would be a reasonable assumption that everybody in the cafe felt terror. But that’s just like saying that a physics phd is a “doctor”. Very true, but if someone in a theatre urgently asks if there is a doctor in the house, being able to design a tokamak reactor is probably not in the desired skillset. As a squirrely wordsmith, you’d know that context is king when it comes to which definition of a word is being used.

            • les 17.2.4.1.1.2

              a terrorist is anyone the U.S or their sycophants say is a terrorist.

        • emergency mike 17.2.4.2

          Thanks for the ‘gee I dont really know what a terrorist is now that I think about it’ gems Matthew. I hope you had a good time on da TV.

      • Tracey 17.2.5

        Hooton frightens me. So I am going to call him A Frightener from now on.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 17.3

      On Earth, “terrorist” groups are identified by the UN, in a very political process.

      Hooton’s semantics may be interesting as debating points: they’re irrelevant to the law. I think he’s terrified by the prospect of not being able to afford alcohol.

      • Matthew Hooton 17.3.1

        The UN defines who terrorists are? I don’t think so. And not for me anyway. Also, that would imply there were no terrorists before 1945.

        • batweka 17.3.1.1

          Yes, why take an internationally developed understanding of what terrorism is, when you can just make up your own definition.

          “Also, that would imply there were no terrorists before 1945.”

          Ok, even you are not that stupid, so do us a favour and at least try and come across as genuine.

          • felix 17.3.1.1.1

            The parliament defines who murderers are? I don’t think so. And not for me anyway. Also, that would imply there were no murderers before 1852.

            • Matthew Hooton 17.3.1.1.1.1

              But parliament does define who murderers are. And before that the British parliament. The UN does not define who terrorists are.

              • Paul

                This is not an area you claim to be an expert on.
                Maybe a touch of modesty?

                • Matthew Hooton

                  I didn’t release you had to be an expert to comment on a blog! This is a conversation while I wait for an 11pm tv thing

              • Skinny

                By the UN not sanctioning the American & allies intervention in the Syrian conflict says alot, similar to takes one too know one.

                You never mentioned the disappointment of the year, ACT barely registering in the party vote stakes. Very annoyed with that boy racer Act mp who killed my sisters cat speeding down her road. My stays will not be the same I loved that greedy fat cat, wait till I catch up with him.

          • Matthew Hooton 17.3.1.1.2

            But there isn’t an internationally developed understanding of what terrorism is. That’s just the point. Certainly the UN doesn’t have one as far as I know.

            • Ad 17.3.1.1.2.1

              Terrorists use people as instruments against the state.
              To me that is the measure.
              What do you think.

            • Tracey 17.3.1.1.2.2

              and so people, espesh govts and their mouthpieces can make it whatever they need it to be for their game playing purposes.

        • felix 17.3.1.2

          But Matthew, you just defined “terrorist” as “any violent criminal”.

          So I don’t think it matters a blind fuck what you think about the definition.

        • RedLogix 17.3.1.3

          Or maybe the term ‘terrorist’ (big or little T) was just a piece of mendacious bullshit in the first place?

          Would go a long way towards explaining why no-one here seems to agree on what it means.

        • Paul 17.3.1.4

          Have you listened to Paul Buchanan yet?

        • framu 17.3.1.5

          thats like saying gravity didnt exist untill someone figured out why things fall to the ground

          • vto 17.3.1.5.1

            Most every definition of “terrorist” picks up the actions of the US government especially their drones.

            Evil.

            Not to mention their torture crimes against humanity.

    • McFlock 17.4

      so if someone is worried about their biopsy results, does that make their doctor a “terrorist”? 🙄

      • felix 17.4.1

        Ooh I hope so. Then we can spy on doctors, and maybe even torture them.

        Joking of course. NZ personnel don’t engage in torture.

        Unless they’re directed to by U.S. personnel, of course.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 17.5

      I like your take on things MH.

    • les 17.6

      lucky Mohammed Attas passport was found intact in the rubble of the twin towers…a stroke of luck that quickly allowed investigators to identify the culprits.

  17. The Murphey 18

    Q. How many Haron Monis does it take to control a group of hostages?

    • Matthew Hooton 18.1

      At least two

      • The Murphey 18.1.1

        Q. Why is it not being spoken about?

        • McFlock 18.1.1.1

          Q. What are you talking about?

          • The Murphey 18.1.1.1.1

            Ratios

            • McFlock 18.1.1.1.1.1

              Ratios? Like the number of comments you’ll make versus the number of comments where you actually make a point?

              • The Murphey

                Q. Was Mathew Hooton offering an opinion a guess or a piece of information in response to the question?

                • McFlock

                  I doubt even he knows.

                  Allow me to speculate as to what your original point might have been, given that you refuse to spell it out:
                  Are you suggesting that one person with a firearm is not really in a position to control dozens of unarmed people without, e.g., a few people managing to take an opportunity to escape?

                  Reports suggest you might be correct. Good for you.

                  • Matthew Hooton

                    Yes, I thought it was a joke in the genre “how many lawyers does it take to change a lightbulb?” etc.
                    The answer has to be “at least two” because Monis’ hostages kept escaping.
                    That is all.
                    But is there already a “he didn’t act alone” conspiracy theory? If not, it won’t be long.

                    • Colonial Rawshark

                      A joke? How appropriately humorous and droll, given the circumstances.

                    • The Murphey

                      The questions which are not being asked are the questions which most need asking.

                      This is no joke.

                    • tricledrown

                      MH.HM
                      Claims nutjob hostage taker was a narcissistic always wanting to be in the limelight always wanting to be on television sounds like John Key.

                    • McFlock

                      jhc on a rollercoaster, murphey, make a fucking point.

                      Matthew – yeah I didn’t know which way TM was going with that, either.

  18. Sydney siege, the day after:
    http://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/the-sydney-siege-the-day-after/

    A thoughtful piece from Jeff Sparrow, editor of the Australian literary journal Overland.

    Phil

  19. mac1 21

    It is the propaganda machine at work. Vilify your enemies, dehumanise them so that we can hate them and go to war with them, and kill them. Both sides.

    A speech from a NZ play “King and Country” setting WW1.

    “Mother and I take the tram to Brooklyn and buy lemonade from some school girls. All proceeds to those poor Belgian children who have been driven from their homes by a cruel enemy, boiled down, and turned into soap.”

    Do we not learn from our history?

  20. Sabine 22

    so many frightened little people calling for big daddy to save them from the terrorists.

    We have had so many dairies robbed at knife/gun point. No one called for big daddy then. We have had banks robbed, and women raped in the streets. Nothing.

    But some lone nutter, with a history of criminal activity (that should clearly have been in prison for the murder of his wife, and well maybe see his wikipedia…should have been extradited to Iran – they wanted him aswell) and all the grown man are in hysterics and want big John Dear Leader to go take away their civil rights in the name of safety.
    Next they wanna go all nekkid to the airport before boarding a plane lest someone comes with a bomb…oh, sorry, maybe some rectal feeding first to make sure nothing is in there?

    If people want to give up rights and freedoms in the name of safety they deserve neither.

    Who would have thought that NZ is full of cowards.

    • Murray Rawshark 22.1

      As a whole, we’re only cowards in very specific circumstances, such as those drummed up by governing regimes (both of them), squirrel organisations, and the media to incite an overwhelming fear of the unknown amongst us. Most of us can be very brave against things we know about, even in a hopeless situation like trying to tackle Manu Vatuvei. But throw in the dreaded unknown and our knees start shaking.

      Key and his handlers know this, which is why they use the feared unknown to enhance their iron grip on society. Rapes and dairy robberies just wouldn’t work because they’re the sort of things we think of as happening to other people, probably women and Indians. The bastards know how to get us shitting ourselves. They play us very well.

      • Sabine 22.1.1

        not shitting myself. I have a shop and i expect to get robbed, just like the dairy lady next to me expect to get shot.

        no it is the fear of the bogey man, and a lot of racism that the the PM is selling. The worst terrorist in NZ that we have seen lately came in the guise of a banker wearing an expensive suit.

        Oh but that terrorist looks like all those little middle managers in this country…so he must be a good sort.

        • Murray Rawshark 22.1.1.1

          In your case, dairy robbery was a bad example, but we’re saying the same thing.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    41 mins ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    46 mins ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    1 hour ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    9 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T03:48:22+00:00