Kia ora Gaza

Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, June 30th, 2015 - 89 comments
Categories: aid, International, war - Tags: ,

Palestinian terrorists

Pro Palestinian terrorists intending to smuggle into Gaza weapons of mass destruction including solar panels and medical supplies.

Yesterday we had an early test for Murray McCully’s desire to solve the Middle East crisis.  Two Maori Television journalists, Native Affairs reporter Ruwani Perera and cameraman Jacob Bryant, have been detained by Israeli forces on their way to Gaza.  They were part of the Freedom Flotilla and were on a ship bound for Gaza with the terrorist idea that providing solar panels and medical supplies to Palestinians would somehow undermine Israel’s security.  Of course the reality is that the brutal unprincipled immoral way in which Israel treats Palestine is Israel’s greatest threat, not solar panels.

Those on board include Arab-Israeli lawmaker Basel Ghattas, Tunisia’s former president Moncef Marzouki and at least one European politician.  These people are brave, a similar flotilla five years ago was invaded by Israeli forces and nine people lost their lives.

Treatment of the flotilla is an affront to International Law and in a perfect world there would be a proper repercussion.  Al Jazeera is reporting that the flotilla was intercepted a hundred nautical miles from the Gaza shore in International waters.

There are past examples where such an interception has been justified on the basis that weapons of mass destruction were on board.  But on this particular flotilla the only things on board were emergency supplies intended to help Palestine repair its destroyed infrastructure and to treat its injured.

Those on board will be taken to an Israeli port and then banned from entering Israel for the next ten years.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has the Israeli spin worked out well.  From the Herald:

This flotilla is nothing but a demonstration of hypocrisy and lies that is only assisting the Hamas terrorist organisation and ignores all of the horrors in our region,” he said in a statement.

“Preventing entry by sea was done in accordance with international law and even received backing from a committee of the UN secretary general.

“Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said the flotilla “wasn’t humanitarian and didn’t seek to help anyone,” adding that “the participants were seeking to continue the campaign to delegitimise Israel.

“Israel imposed its blockade on Gaza in 2006 after Hamas captured an Israeli soldier, and tightened it a year later when the Islamist movement consolidated control of the territory.

Israel’s sense of proportionality is strange.  The capture of a single soldier, in its mind, justifies mass murder and destruction of Palestinian areas.

The treatment of Palestine is one of the grossest violations of human rights currently occurring on the planet.  If Murray McCully was being serious when he said that a priority would be to restore peace to the Middle East then the first thing that should be demanded of Israel is to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza so that the Palestinian People can start the rebuild of their area destroyed by the ferocity of continuous Israeli assaults.

89 comments on “Kia ora Gaza ”

  1. Tracey 1

    McCully willhave to get someone to have a quick chat tot he Israelis, explain that he needs to look tough on this, and, if they don’t mind, he is going to say publicly that Israel needs to release them asap, and he is in talks with them. mkaaay

  2. Roflcopter 2

    Treatment of the flotilla is an affront to International Law and in a perfect world there would be a proper repercussion.

    It’s a UN sanctioned blockade, are you saying the UN got it wrong?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1

      Which resolution was it?

      Next question: did you know you were telling lies? Or are you simply parroting lies you swallowed like a dupe?

    • Nope, you’ve got it wrong. It’s not UN sanctioned. The UN has investigated the blockade several times and has repeatedly said it was both unlawful and a form of collective punishment.

    • half crown 2.3

      “It’s a UN sanctioned blockade, are you saying the UN got it wrong?”

      You beat me to answer this OAB. However
      I will say what I was going to say.
      That is utter bullshit pal. Tell me was that the same sanction that let the Jews bomb civilians in that concentration camp called Gaza with outlawed White Phosphor Bombs., A war crime if ever there was one.

      http://www.globalresearch.ca/israel-drops-white-phosphorus-bombs-on-gazans/5393390

    • Colonial Rawshark 2.4

      Roflcopter – looks like your little remaining credibility on The Standard has just been shot to shreds.

    • mickysavage 2.5

      Are you referring to the Palmer Inquiry report?

      The summary said this:

      “The fundamental principle of the freedom of navigation on the high seas is subject to only certain limited exceptions under international law. Israel faces a real threat to its security from militant groups in Gaza. The naval blockade was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law.”

      As far as I am aware this is an advisory opinion only and has not been sanctioned by the UN. Besides see the bit about “legitimate security measure” means that a boat full of Parliamentarians with solar panels ought to be let through.

      • dukeofurl 2.5.1

        That seems to be Palmers position One memeber had a different opinion

        “On the legal aspect of the blockade, Turkey and Israel have submitted two opposing arguments.
        International legal authorities are divided on the matter since it is unprecedented, highly complex and the legal framework lacks codification. However, the Chairmanship and its report fully associated itself with Israel and categorically dismissed the views of the other, despite the fact that the legal arguments
        presented by Turkey have been supported by the vast majority of the international community. Common sense and conscience dictate that the blockade is unlawful.

        If you read other findings of fact, its hard to see how the ‘panel’ came to its majority finding of israel being in the clear.
        eg

        “Israel’s decision to board the vessels with such substantial force at a great
        distance from the blockade zone and with no final warning immediately prior
        to the boarding was excessive and unreasonable: ”

        “Nine passengers were killed and many others seriously wounded by Israeli forces.
        No satisfactory explanation has been provided to the Panel by Israel for any
        of the nine deaths. Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were
        shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range has not been
        adequately accounted for in the material presented by Israel.”

        There was significant mistreatment of passengers by Israeli authorities after
        the take-over of the vessels had been completed through until their
        deportation. This included physical mistreatment, harassment and
        intimidation, unjustified confiscation of belongings and the denial of timely
        consular assistance.

        Its clear that it facts were against Israel but the panel didnt want to upset them.
        Geoffrey Palmer to a T- rainbow warrior anyone.

    • “unsanctioned” != “UN sanctioned”

  3. Save NZ 3

    More propaganda from Granny Herald.

    Hope they go the way of TV3.

    McCully can’t even save a sheep or get the Navy to intercept fishing pirates in our waters, so I’m not sure if he is capable of any type of action to help Kiwis.

    Good on the brave people in the flotilla, they are true peace makers.

  4. Steve 4

    Regarding the discussion above as to legality, I note the September 2011 United Nations report prepared by former Labour Party Prime Minister and Attorney General of New Zealand Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer QC is the most authoritative, independent, and robust official report on the matter. In particular, the report noted that the UN investigative committee for the 2010 Flotilla to Gaza found that the Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza is legal under international law.

    In particular, the report states: “Israel faces a real threat to its security from militant groups in Gaza … The naval blockade was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law.”

    Please note that a blockade under international law encompasses all traffic across the blockade boarder. This means that the enforcing State has no obligation to discriminate between shipments of goods that pose a direct threat (i.e. bombs) and ships that do not pose a direct threat (i.e. solar panels). On this basis, the IDF’s actions in the present situation can be deemed legal under international law.

    I would also like to note that Israel assists with the transport of humanitarian supplies to Gaza every single day – 800 truckloads a day, more than 1.6 million tons of supplies this past year. The equivalent of 1 ton per resident of Gaza. Further, Israel extended an invitation to Kia Ora Gaza to transit the “aid supplies” to Gaza through the Israeli controlled boarder. This would have been a simpler and a more environmentally friendly option for Kia Ora Gaza, but obviously lacked the PR appeal the NGO was seeking.

    For clarity, I believe this was just a publicity stunt by activists aimed at provoking the IDF as much as possible. The result, a peaceful/ non-eventful boarding and detention of the vessel was inevitable.

    If anything, the activists will possibly be upset that the IDF didn’t use more force. Other than shared anti-Semitic values, many of these so called activists share only one other thing in common with the terrorist Government they support – they crave the Martyr’s stake.

    The Standard post here correctly (albeit sarcastically) notes that there are past examples of weapons being transited through the blockade and into Gaza. That is precisely why the blockade is in force.

    • Anne 4.1

      Israel extended an invitation to Kia Ora Gaza to transit the “aid supplies” to Gaza through the Israeli controlled boarder. This would have been a simpler and a more environmentally friendly option for Kia Ora Gaza, but obviously lacked the PR appeal the NGO was seeking.

      Can you supply evidence that these claims are accurate? Because my bullshit detector tells me Israel ‘is spinning like a top’ at worst, or ‘only telling half the story’ at best. You see my rationale is:

      had “Israel” merely boarded the ship… conducted a search which proved there were no WMDs on board (and given the passenger list there obviously isn’t) and then let them continue on their way… there would have been no publicity.

      So that drives a big hole through your theory that the voyage is just a publicity stunt.

      And for your elucidation: being against the current neo-fascist Israeli government is NOT being anti-Semitic. As someone who was one closely associated with Jewish people in England, I find that claim highly offensive!

      • Anne 4.1.1

        In the last sentence one is meant to be once.

        Is there a moderator’s category for banning someone who is inciting verbal violence on this blogsite? I say it only half jokingly. 😡

        • Bill 4.1.1.1

          I believe I’ve banned on that bullshit when it’s been specifically aimed at me. I agree that it’s deeply offensive.

        • greywarshark 4.1.1.2

          I’d say we would need a blockade against such comments. Each word of the comment would be referred to a specially written word analyser which would assess if there was aggressive or violent or threatening aspects to the word and which would then give it a reading from 1 to 10. And so on through the comment. There would be a pass rate for the comment if there was no individual reading more than 4 and the total acceptability reading would only be 2. That is to allow for ambiguous words.

          Now I think that would be very fair to such bigots and slanderers spraying loaded words like anti Semite with abandon.

          • Steve 4.1.1.2.1

            Yes, that does seem like a good way of stagnating all serious debate & excluding views that you personally disagree with. Simply amazing greywarshark!

            • Bill 4.1.1.2.1.1

              Nah Steve. Stupidly slandering everyone who criticises the Israeli government as an anti-Semite is what stagnates all serious debate. Funnily enough, in light of the condemnation implicit to your comment, it’s principally a ploy to shut down and exclude views not in tune with the lines of doggerel slime-arsing their way out of the Knesset.

              • Steve

                It’s useful in my view to maintain a healthy skepticism on all political issues & I frequently disagree with policies implemented by the Knesset as indeed with policies of all other Parliaments.

                Personally, I make a very strong distinction between the Hamas Government and the civilians of Gaza, & I am a passionate supporter of the dignity and rights of the civilians living in Gaza. Although, I have noticed that a strong number of “Gaza supporters” fail to hold the Hamas Government to the equivalent standard. I’ve never seen any sort of movement on this blog calling for Hamas to stop torturing its citizens or to stop detonating bombs over Israel.

                I am principally opposed to Hamas for a number of reasons; indiscriminate violence it directs at the citizens of Israel (as distinguished from the Government of Israel being only one objection I have). But equally importantly, the violence it routinely visits on ‘its’ own populations (apostrophes used because it is not elected & has no clear mandate to govern) – particularly on its religious minorities (now almost extinct), its women, its non-religious, its homosexuals, “traitors”, and young boys who refuse to fight in a terrorist army!

                Now, I’m not making excuses for the IDF’s overreaction to ‘incidents’, I am only pointing out that this is a multi-faceted debate.

                Regarding the antisemitism, I was highly disparaged by numerous hateful & anti-jewish sentiments that were outwardly exhibited at a Kia Ora Gaza march in Auckland last year. I witnessed them myself & have video and photographic evidence. Obviously not all of it, but certainly a strong element of it was total vitriol & was directed at jewish people (including jewish New Zealanders), as opposed to the State of Israel. And again for clarity, there is a significant distinction!

                • “I witnessed them myself & have video and photographic evidence.”

                  Ok, I’ll bite. Where can we see your evidence?

                • Bill

                  (apostrophes used because it [Hamas] is not elected & has no clear mandate to govern)

                  The last elections in Gaza were in 2006. Hamas won that election. (The prior election was in 1996) There is now a National Unity Government (Hamas and Fatah) in light of bollocks and bullshit stalling further elections.

                  Not a flash situation. But clearly, Hamas was elected by the citizens.

                  • Colonial Viper

                    Democracy doesn’t count if the US/Israeli preferred people don’t get elected into office.

                  • Instauration

                    “when the Islamist movement consolidated control of the territory”
                    Like – when they were victorious in the 2006 election.
                    People have been “pointing out that this is a multi-faceted debate” for over 50 years as a tactical attempt to equalise the facets that are screamingly not equal. Do the body count numbers gws !
                    How can Israel be trusted – remember GA181 and what it obliged Israel to deliver ?
                    We measure Israel by its failures.

            • greywarshark 4.1.1.2.1.2

              Yes Steve I am amazing. I still think that some time the Israelis will be able to bring their fine minds that have brought so many wonderful ideas and thoughts to the world, can find a way to see past the past that has been traumatic.

              And work to gain a future of neighbourly acknowledgment, fair treatment and peace and forgiveness for the trangressions of the Palestinians and those of the Israelis, for their own often brutal and assymetric responses that ensure the continuance of grievance and complaint and uncivilised repetition of concentration camp life.

              Now that is serious. As for debate there have been numerous attempts to achieve some breakthrough with talks, but with no absolute commitment to goodwill and restraint on the Israeli side. The Israeli Army is in control and defence forces get training to fight and that is all they know.

            • North 4.1.1.2.1.3

              Bullshit accusation of anti-semitism is not serious debate. It is the spleening of those who want to turn a blind eye to the murder and apartheid synonymous with Zionist Israel. Be simply amazed if you want to be Steve. Doesn’t conceal the palpability of your taste for Zionist murder and apartheid. It is all about the diseased claim to Zionist ‘exceptionalism’. That’s it…….Zionist exceptionalism over and above the entire world. Hmmm…….a thousand years ?

              • Kevin

                Zionist is code for Jewish. Your whole post is anti-semitic.

                • Nope. Zionist is code for racist. Learn some history, troll.

                  • Kevin

                    Nope, it’s code for jewish.

                    ” It is all about the diseased claim to Zionist ‘exceptionalism’. That’s it…….Zionist exceptionalism over and above the entire world. Hmmm…….a thousand years ?”

                    Just replace Zionist with Jewish and it’s as clear as day.

                    • Nope, it’s code for being racist. However, being born Jewish does not make one a racist. Adopting racism as a world view is very much an adult decision.

      • dukeofurl 4.1.2

        Absolutely right Anne.

        Of course palestinians are semitic people too !. Arabic is a semitic language.

        Anti semitism is now normally considered to be hatred against jews.

      • Steve 4.1.3

        Evidence… Yes, refer to the Ministry of Interior’s guidance on the supply of aid to controlled territories – it’s online & easy to find if you’re willing to open your mind to more peaceful solutions.

        I would also note that Kia Ora Gaza has entered Gaza freely through the Israel controlled border on numerous occasions in compliance with Israeli laws and guidance – it’s just seldom reported because it lacks controversy & therefore PR appeal. Indeed, New Zealander Julie Webb-Pullman was present on at least one such mission.

        As for the voyage, it doesn’t seem logical to ship any goods into Gaza by sea given the legal international blockade. Indeed, Hamas itself usually prefers to smuggle weapons into Gaza through tunnels because it lacks any form of superiority at sea. Therefore, if someone asked me how I could get solar panels and medical supplies into Gaza & suggested entry on the coast, I would immediately say the effort would be futile. Indeed, I would advise the caring activists that the best course of action is to take the supplies through an Israeli (or formally through an Egyptian) controlled border entrance. I would also advise this as the much cheaper, safer and more environmentally friendly option.

        In summary, purchasing a small ship, filling it with some $50,000 of fuel, sailing it across the Mediterranean Sea & all to supply a meek quantity of aid to the civilians of Gaza is an inefficient exercise: 1) It’s easier and cheaper to get the supplies through the Israeli border; 2) there is almost no chance of success due to the legally enforced blockade; 3) the Mediterranean is a dangerous sea, especially for a boat not designed to make that passage; 4) attempting to breach the UN-sanctioned blockade is illegal and places people in danger; 5) it’s not a good idea to leave crappy old boats in countries where they are likely to end up being used by human traffickers.

        All in all however, the mission did not actually fail in its objective of seeking attention hence why you all feel compelled to defend it & moan about it.

        • mickysavage 4.1.3.1

          Your source is an Israeli Government ministry?

          And silly me. The Israeli Government is not engaged in genocide, it is more than happy to facilitate the delivery of aid to the Palestinians. Nor is it unilaterally grabbing Palestinian land. It only has the best of intentions for Palestine.

          And if things are as you say there is no need for the blockade.

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.3.2

          Evidence… Yes, refer to the Ministry of Interior’s guidance on the supply of aid to controlled territories

          “Controlled territories”? Pretty sure you mean future Israeli territories awaiting ethnic cleansing.

    • mickysavage 4.2

      As to the legality see my comment above. As to the supply of aid do you have a citation?

      And do you think the last boarding when 9 civilians were killed and 50 injured was also a peaceful non eventful boarding?

      My reference to the previous blockade was to the US blockade of Cuba during the missile crisis. Even this was probably illegal but there is a world of difference between a solar panel and a nuclear weapon.

    • Colonial Rawshark 4.3

      I would also like to note that Israel assists with the transport of humanitarian supplies to Gaza every single day – 800 truckloads a day, more than 1.6 million tons of supplies this past year. The equivalent of 1 ton per resident of Gaza.

      So, why is it that Israel has to help ship humanitarian supplies into Gaza? Oh yes, that’s right, Israel maintains Gaza as an open air prison for Palestinians, and is determined to eventually strangle all economic and social life out of the area and take it for itself.

    • Colonial Rawshark 4.4

      If anything, the activists will possibly be upset that the IDF didn’t use more force (1). Other than shared anti-Semitic values (2), many of these so called activists share only one other thing in common with the terrorist Government (3) they support – they crave the Martyr’s stake (4).

      Given how densely packed and smooth your bullshit is I presume you are an Israeli “hasbara” (propaganda) operator.

      http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.659480

      • Steve 4.4.1

        Or maybe I’m just a considerate citizen with views that differ from yours somewhat. Good try though Clonial Rawshark. Give this one a go 🙂

        אני רק בשימוש באינטרנט לתרגם לגרום לך 🙂

        • dukeofurl 4.4.1.1

          Still stealing NZ passports ? Or have you switched to foreign backpackers now ?

        • Bill 4.4.1.2

          A considerate citizen wouldn’t label as anti-Semite, those who criticise a government and its actions.

      • Bill 4.4.2

        I do hope you’re not drawing any tentative conclusions from the fact that this ‘Steve’ has never commented on any other thread at ‘the standard’ – like, not ever.

        I also trust it’s not that you’re spotting tired old tropes in his replies?

        Wonder if he’ll be back for the next time Israel comes up in a post or whether it’s all pot luck on what thread within which website you get? Not that I’m jumping to any conclusions here, because that would be, like…. jumping to a conclusion. 😉

        • Colonial Viper 4.4.2.1

          Well, “Steve” did raise my eyebrows with his very smooth practised lines. I wonder if they teach kids in Israel about the Warsaw Ghetto.

          • Anne 4.4.2.1.1

            Well, “Steve” did raise my eyebrows with his very smooth practised lines.

            Maybe Mossad are into rote learning…

        • North 4.4.2.2

          Nah nah, Steve (aka Mark Regev) will be back on the occasion of the next biennial ‘shooting-fish-in-a-barrel’ adventure in Gaza. ‘Gaza Sports Tours Inc.’ Very moderate tariffs for the keen zionist sportsman – annually subsidised to the tune of $US3,000,000,000 military aid by successive US administrations.

          http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.611001#!

          What say you – glib, lying , zionist propagandist Steve ?

          • Kevin 4.4.2.2.1

            Why don’t you just say Jewish instead of Zionist and be done with it.

            • Bill 4.4.2.2.1.1

              just to jump in on something really fucking obvious.

              Jews are not necessarily Zionists and many Jews are critical of Zionism. That reason enough?

    • half crown 4.5

      Steve

      Have a look how Israel tries to be buddies with their neighbours, when they are not stealing their land that is.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJa9uPASgWE

    • So, these Israelis are anti-Semite’s?

      I think the logic part of your brain is broken.

      From the outside, most often it’s the Israeli govt position that gets reported.

      When I lived there at the turn of the century, many of the people I spoke to were deeply ashamed at Ariel Sharon’s actions which sparked the second intefada. And a significant number of those people also wanting him to be tried as a war criminal for his previous actions in Lebanon.

      Are they anti-Semites as well?

  5. Bill 5

    Is there a Godwin equivalent for this boring fucking nonsense that always seeks to sell anti-Israeli sentiment as somehow anti-Semitic?

    I mean, fuck, by the leaping logic routinely indulged in by Israeli apologists, criticising the NZ government becomes instantly anti-Royalist, anti-protestant and anti- Christian.

  6. Skeptic Sally 6

    The only person making any logical arguments in this thread, backed up by actual hard facts and evidence, is Steve. The rest of you just sound desperate and irrational. This is the kind of bullshit that makes me embarrassed to be a left-winger.

    Personally I thought this little PR stunt was idiotic, attention-seeking posturing designed to try and provoke a reaction and then moan about it afterwards.

    Why would I trust so-called “journalists” who neglect their professional duty to remain balanced and report on both sides of the world’s most complex, long-running land dispute?

    You all seem determined to see it as a black-and-white issue. Israel = baddies, Palestinians = goodies. Get real. Life is more complicated than that.

    • Anne 6.1

      Back-up’s arrived.

    • Colonial Rawshark 6.2

      Please, what is your “complicated” “not black and white” take on the two IDF guided missiles used to kill the four children playing on Gaza beach, a hundred metres or so from a hotel where journalists were staying, in July 2014?

      I understand that the digitally enhanced optics and surveillance systems used by Israeli naval vessels in the area would have left no doubt on a clear sunny day what exactly they were targetting. Palestinian children, playing on the beach.

      • Sylvia 6.2.1

        No one can say Israel is right and Palestine is wrong or vice versa, though Israel has more money! Tit-for-tat fights, big walls, for fucks sake…………….adult kindergarten anyone? It is a good thing human beings are assigned to earth (phew), they have to grow up first, before they get into the big wide world!

        If God exists He/She would look at earth and be truly impressed!

        • Colonial Rawshark 6.2.1.1

          No one can say Israel is right and Palestine is wrong or vice versa, though Israel has more money! Tit-for-tat fights, big walls, for fucks sake…………….adult kindergarten anyone?

          Please explain how deliberately killing children with guided missiles is like “adult kindergarten.” Also please explain whether you think that it is “right or wrong.”

      • Kevin 6.2.2

        What’s yours on the fact that Palestinians use children as propaganda tools and send them out strapped with bombs? Or that Hamas uses hospitals and schools as cover?

        As for the journalists it’s a shame they didn’t get shot by the IDF. Would have made a good entry in the next Darwin Awards. Perhaps as the Israeli PM said they got lost on their way to Syria.

        • mickysavage 6.2.2.1

          Citation please.

          As for your comment about the journalists it makes your world view utterly clear.

          In fact your whole comment is so irrational and inhumane I do not know where to start …

          • Kevin 6.2.2.1.1

            There you go:

            http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2753176/Hamas-DID-use-schools-hospitals-Gaza-Strip-human-shields-launch-rocket-attacks-Israel-admits-says-mistake.html

            Of course Hamas is saying it was mistake (like they didn’t know they were firing missiles from a hospital!)

            • te reo putake 6.2.2.1.1.1

              You probably should have read the article, not just the headline, Kevin. It doesn’t support your claim that Hamas used hospitals and schools as cover. Pretty much the opposite, actually.

              • Kevin

                So the headline “Hamas admits it DID use schools and hospitals in Gaza Strip as ‘human shields’ to launch rocket attacks on Israel – but claims it was ‘mistake'” doesn’t support my claim that Hamas used hospitals and schools as cover???

                Or do you actually believe Hamas when they say it was mistake despite evidence that it wasn’t? Or is that all Israeli propaganda? God damn dirty jews.

                • That’s the words of the Daily Mail journalist writing the article, not Hamas. The article then goes on to show that they did not use schools and hospitals as cover. As I said, you need to actually read the article, Kevin.

                  • Kevin

                    The article is heavily-slanted and an apologist piece for Hamas which is why I picked it – anything else and you would be crying Israeli propaganda. And you’re basically saying Hamas is lying when they say they used schools and hospitals in Gaza Strip as ‘human shields’ to launch rocket attacks on Israel.

                    When you’re in a hole it’s best to stop digging.

                    • Hamas didn’t say that, Kevin. That’s the words of the journalist in the intro paragraph. (Didn’t I already point that out?) And it’s the Daily Mail FFS! The most right wing newspaper in Britain, by a considerable distance. I bet that’s the first time they’ve ever been called Hamas apologists!

                    • mickysavage

                      How about this Kevin. Where this situation turned from a war to a massacre is in the last few years when the total number of Palestinians killed far exceeded the total number of Israelis killed. Here are the figures from July to August last year:

                      Israelis killed (including soldiers): 73
                      Palestinians killed: 2,100 plus

                      http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28439404

    • Instauration 6.3

      Oh Sally
      Is this dispute really “the world’s most complex, long-running land dispute” – Really ?
      Tell me more – and back it by actual hard facts and evidence.

    • Kevin 6.4

      The Left tends to side with what it perceives as the “underdog”. Back in history Israel was supported by the Left when it was the underdog but when they became no longer the underdog the Left switched sides. Also the fact the Israel took the capitalist/democratic route didn’t help much either.

      In other words if Israel was socialist/communist and was barely hanging on (i.e. was the underdog) it would have the support of the Left.

      The problem with this is sometimes the so-called underdog is wrong, especially when the underdog happens to be a terrorist death cult.

  7. Sylvia 7

    “Please explain how deliberately killing children with guided missiles is like “adult kindergarten.””

    Do ‘mature’ minded people act like this? No they don’t!

    “Also please explain whether you think that it is “right or wrong.””

    I am saying NO ONE can say that one side is right and the other side is wrong, because both sides are obviously “wrong”. But it doesn’t help that Israel has more money, and more ‘power’ on the world stage!

    • Colonial Rawshark 7.1

      Israel is dead wrong and they should have learnt by now that the Warsaw Ghetto was not an example to be followed.

      Do ‘mature’ minded people act like this? No they don’t!

      It’s got nothing to do with maturity and everything to do with cruelty and inhumanity.

      • Sylvia 7.1.1

        ‘Mature’ people are balanced in-the-mind, when you are balanced in-the-mind you are therefore healthy, and healthy minded people are not cruel or inhumane!

        Healthy people do not run around like retarded animals!

    • Kevin 7.2

      Israel has been wrong in that they’ve believed that the Palestinians have wanted peace – real peace that is. Israel should extend it’s borders as far as they will go and drive the Palestinians out of the so-called occupied territories and let places like Jordan and Lebanon deal with them. I’m sure those countries will welcome them with open arms.

  8. Instauration 8

    Oh Sally
    Stuart Murray Wilson = baddies.
    Those who suffered Stuart Murray Wilson = goodies.
    The relativity of the evil to consequence polarises.
    Life is that simple.

    • Molly 8.1

      Aleksandr says it so much better than I ever could:

      If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?

  9. Kevin 9

    Here is the letter from the Israeli prime minister to the “journalists”:

    “Welcome to Israel!

    It seems you got lost. Perhaps you meant to sail to a place not far from here – Syria. There the Assad regime slaughters his people every day with the support of the murderous Iranian regime.

    Despite that, here in Israel we are dealing with a situation where terror organizations, such as Hamas, are attempting to harm innocent civilians. Against attempts like these we are defending the citizens of Israel in accordance with international law.

    Despite that, Israel assists with the transport of humanitarian supplies to Gaza – 800 truckloads a day, more than 1.6 million tons of supplies this past year. The equivalent of 1 ton per resident of Gaza.

    By the way, the volume of equipment that has been sent from Israel to Gaza is more than 500,000 times larger than the your boats that you are arriving on.

    Israel assists in hundreds of humanitarian projects via international organization including the establishment of medical clinics and hospitals.

    But we are not willing to allow in weapons to the terrorist organizations in Gaza, as they have tried to do in the past, by sea.

    Just a year ago, we stopped an attempt to bring in hundreds of weapons by sea, that were meant to harm innocent civilians.

    There’s no closure on Gaza, and you are welcome to to transport, via Israel, any humanitarian supplies.

    The sea blockade is in accordance with international law, and has received backing from the UN Secretary General.

    If human rights were truly important to you, you wouldn’t be sailing in solidarity with a terror regime that executes, without trial, residents of Gaza, and uses the children of Gaza as human shields.

    If you were to come to Israel you would be able to be impressed by the only democracy in the Middle East that is concerned with equality for all its citizens, and freedom of religion for all faiths. A state that operates in accordance with international law in order to provide its residents a secure life and its children to grow up in peace and serenity.”

    I think the journalists should have just gone by foot instead!

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 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 ...
    38 mins 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
    1 hour 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
    2 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
    5 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
    6 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
    7 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
    8 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
    10 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
    22 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
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    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
    4 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
    6 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
    6 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
    20 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
    24 hours 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 2024-03-19T03:01:07+00:00