Btw, are you FCV-free? (khaleesi/Calici)
Apologies @ Sanc. It’s just that I’ve had to witness (over the past 12 hours) the ‘yoof of today’ indulging in virtual foreplay via a couple of cell phones – culminating in what was apparently a transactional ‘bootie call’.
Geez, that Jemaine Clement’s looking a bit grey these days eh?
That Wellington Supernatural better be worth it eh?
RNZ’s taking a real gamble I rekon shuvving him up on their interweb site.
Never mind. Someone from The Spinoff will be along very soon to legitimise it all.
Unfortunately I listened in as well but my primary task was getting breakfast so the time wasn’t totally wasted.
Didn’t you just love the preconceived prompt to several interviewees like: “so you’re saying the foreign buyers legislation will have the opposite effect on providing affordable housing than is intended”.
Please, please say yes or my whole “story” will collapse. The term “chilling effect” was used several times.
I was struck by one guy (American I think) who sounded so concerned that the Bill was sending signals being picked up offshore that NZ didn’t want foreign investment and this was a BAD thing. Good I thought. Too damned right many of us don’t.
His horror was what decades of neoliberalism and centuries of capitalist pillaging and theft does to you I guess.
Agreed @ Grey Area.
Mee toooo, except I wasn’t so concerned with getting on with breakfast, I was more concerned with the apparent fob off from Sanctuary in my quest for a hookup, I went back to sleep.
And now, I’m listening to the sage Corin Dann on PLUS 1 and wondering whether it’d not be better to take another hour out of life in the name of sleep.
Decisons decisons!. Such a hard life!
OH CHRIST!!!! Now Wayne Mapp has just popped up as the gin-soaked sage.
I was horrified with Q+A today and exited that show for’ Discovery channel’ as I needed sanctuary for my mind to stay sane.
We need a new ‘Channel seven’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVNZ_7 now more than ever with real depth in investigative journalism not a horror show of empty ‘talking heads.’
I was struck by one guy (American I think) who sounded so concerned that the Bill was sending signals being picked up offshore that NZ didn’t want foreign investment and this was a BAD thing. Good I thought. Too damned right many of us don’t.
I’m pretty sure that the majority of us don’t want it and the only reason why we have it is because governments over the last decades have forced it upon us against our will.
Which means that we live in a dictatorship and not a democracy.
And then those parties go round doing things that we don’t want them to do. The whole neo-liberal implementation was against what the people wanted but no matter who we voted for we got the same shit. National did the TPPA which the majority didn’t want. Labour promised to change it or even to get rid of it if it didn’t meet their bottom lines. It didn’t meet those bottom lines and then they went and signed it anyway.
At what point were our wishes actually listened to?
The whole neo-liberal implementation was against what the people wanted but no matter who we voted for we got the same shit.
and then some of us campaigned and succeeded in changing the voting system but many people still continue to vote Labour regardless of the continual betrayals. We get the government that we collectively deserve.
‘we have elections every three years and a range of parties to vote for.’
Yes we do but we are constabtly brainwashed by the heavy use of right wing compliant broadcasting controlled by the right wing spin doctors and corportate involvement,.
So we are effectively controlled by the bussiness commutity and their interests and not ours.
This is not democracy – but is corpocracy, which is a recent term used to refer to an economic and political system controlled by corporations or corporate interests.
We have been indocrinated by this corpocracy medium in all our media here in NZ today.
<blockquote…but is corpocracy, which is a recent term used to refer to an economic and political system controlled by corporations or corporate interests.
If you’re going to quote Wikipedia then it would be good form to link to the article.
…is a recent term used to refer to an economic and political system controlled by corporations or corporate interests.
Queenstown should just scede from NZ and apply to become a SAR of China. I can just imagine them all waving little Chinese flags as the PLA marches up the main drag.
RNZ has gone deep into the south island I have noted, – and RNZ dont carry any ‘free half hour shows’ for our most isolated noth Island regions such as northland and Gisborne/HB east coast as they do in the south.
Perhaps that is because the HQ for RNZ has been centered in Dunedin for years.
Tim Brown is the RNZ regional reporter for Otago/Southland/Lakes.
I looked at his content, and it is the stereotypical regional reporter mix of human interest stories, crime, weather and good news propaganda for the local chamber of commerce/Federated Farmers. The guy is on a good wicket, he can file happy happy joy joy stories based on his chummy relationships with local business people and the rest of his content is derived from ringing up his mate at the cop shop, chatting to the mayor at events, and the weather. An easy life, with the advantage you get lots of nice invites and freebies.
This morning ridiculous piece highlights the danger of using a regional reporter to create an in depth critical investigation feature.
In this case, the local beat reporter is clearly the wrong person to do such a story, because he has clearly become far too chummy with the movers and shakers in town, which helps him get news and he (understandably) doesn’t want to shit in own nest.
The simple reality is if he had run a piece critical of of the despoiling of Queenstown by rampant speculation and unregulated development and supportive of the government position a whole lot of doors would slam shut on him. Why rock the boat?
As such, we should consider this mornings insight on RNZ mainly as an extended job application by Tim Brown for a role as PR flack for Queenstown Lake’s property developers association…
Good analysis. My half an ear told me he was out of his depth and/or doing a PR piece for foreign ownership and overseas financing of the “development” of Queenstown.
It saddens me that NZers are so venal and/or stupid that we allow a jewel like Queenstown to be so over-developed that we spoil the very character that drew people to it in the first place.
I last visited Queenstown six years ago and enjoyed a couple of days there but from what I’ve heard recently it’s over-full of tourists and traffic congestion. We’ll be visiting the South Island later this year but will be avoiding Queenstown.
It was one of the places we used to go to when I was a child (50s and 60s) but I haven’t been near it for a very long time – I think I would just burst into tears. My compensation for the ruination of Queenstown is that while the ghastlies who wrought all this damage are all corralled in Queenstown they aren’t wrecking the rest of NZ. Does Queenstown just need to take one for the team?
We are probably well into the autumn of this development cycle most of the fruit on the tree is getting pretty squishy, the rest that hasn’t ripened by now is unlikely to before winter sets in. And it’s looking like a very hard winter is going to sweep through our local economy, it’ll be tough for those that can’t afford to keep warm.
But hard winters kill off the bugs and weeds to allow the spring growth opportunities to flourish.
Interesting to look at the photo accompanying the RNZ piece of Shotover Country. Each of those houses would be a tradie with a million dollar mortgage, unfortunately they are unlikely to winter well.
The Queenstown council are bascially traitors who would gladly run a Vicy-style puppet regime for a foreign power. They need to be packed and more patriotic people put in their place.
I listened to the Insight report, and as a Queenstown resident for 35 years I thought it was quite balanced for an outside cub reporter. Tim Brown gave away his lack of local knowledge and experience in the fist few minutes when he described Queenstown as a winter, and now summer resort. Sorry Tim, our peak time is summer, and has always been, going back to 1860’s. The winter product is quite new, developed initally in the 50’s and greatly expanded in 80’s through to now.
The treatment of our housing problems, which are nothing new, it’s been a problem from the very start of European settlement in the early 1860’s and a constant issue for as long as I have been here was accurate.
The section on the American owners Glenorchy Camping Ground and Gibbston Valley Wines I found enlightening regarding their attitude to New Zealand residency. That both parties could easily gain residency, but choose not to, made me wonder about their commitment to New Zealand.
Our housing trust is doing some very good work in providing accomodation for workers, using a variety of models which are evolving with time. The proposed legislation is being tweaked to accomodate situations like the housing trust, hopefully it can be made to work well at this end.
The choice, if you can call it that, between high end homes ($5 Million +) for the 1% and suburban sprawl for “kiwi workers” comes down to sustainability. The high end is a lot easier on the landscape and environment and provides ongoing, sustainable employment. Building houses to house people to build more houses to house more people to do I don’t know what isn’t going to make Queenstown a better place. The reality is that enjoyment of our environment is the only productive economic activity the place has been able to sustain. The challenge is to do this in a form that the environment, both physical and social, can sustain.
It’s my view that the high end has a lot to offer in this regard, and suburbia spreading across the landscape may not be the way to go.
I live in the queenstown lakes district and have to disagree. The high end $10-20 million houses tend to be located intrusively in the landscape where everyone is forced to look at them and their negative effects on landscape values. In this way one rich prick adversely affects many people visiting the District.These houses also negatively impact the local economy which relies on these landscapes.
Any house, of any value designed or sited inappropriately is a tragedy for the landscape. In my experience here, the “rich pricks” don’t have a monopoly on this behaviour.
There’s plenty of quite modest homes and subdivisions slapped in middle of bare paddocks around the district, and a lot of very well designed and sympathetically sited mansions around the place too. The “rich pricks” generally have the resources, and inclination to do something about mitigating the landscape effects of their presence, which is more than can be said for the mass of roofs that’s Shotover Country.
“We tested many possible alternatives and the most plausible one is that ’Oumuamua must be a comet, and that gasses emanating from its surface were causing the tiny variations in its trajectory.”
The other being that it’s actually a spaceship and it’s altering its trajectory for it’s next port of call.
Google throws up this https://youngnats.national.org.nz/contact
Postal Address. NZ Young Nats 41 Pipitea Street Thorndon, Wellington 6011 … The Best Party on Campus. Authorised by G Hamilton, 41 Pipitea St, Wellington.
The Am Show Good morning your in Queens Town that place won’t be so popular when man made Global warming melts the snow its a beautiful little Town .
Yes Duncan I found that out about the day light hours in Southland you won’t get light till about 9 am its Day light in the beautiful Rotorua at 730 am.
I think a $10 tax charge per bed in Queens town is a need to keep this Aotearoa Iconic little town functioning efficiently and in a environmentally friendly way.
Our waste recycling well we will have to charge the company’s who produce this waste and pass the money on to make recycling profitable make the policy so that manufactures will save money by using less packing they could even reuse some of this packing thats they way money people react to being hit in the hip pocket .
I say that money payed for plastic bags should passed on to the recycling industry so they can afford to by the plants to recycle this waste in Rotorua we have just got recycling bins for every house which is a good thing but its a shame if the recycling just ends up in warehouseing there is a good oppertunity for Rotorua being central to most of Aoteraroa city’s to create a recycling industry land is affordable here and we need more jobs for Our people . You know that the whole Papatuanuku heres about Queens town thats were all the VIP go .ka kite ano.
P.S Congratulations Samantha you deserved your win
Good evening Newshub at six some of these males who complained about the winner of Dancing With The Stars don’t realise that wahine can win to and there moans just show there core values are archaic Samantha deserved her win.
Yes many Tangata whenua fall victim to the loan predators I say that interest rates should be caped at 5x the Reserve Banks rate not100 % .
Car finance is a major player in this as one tangata has mentioned the thing is by the time the tangata has payed the car off its stuffed so they trade it in get nothing for the trade in and refinance thats a sham. Ingred its quite warm for Rotorua Ka kite ano
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
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Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
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The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
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Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
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New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
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Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
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Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
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Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Stokan, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County If you live in one of the most economically deprived neighborhoods in your city, you might think the government is directing a smaller share of public funds to your community. ...
Wansolwara The news media’s crucial role in climate change and environment journalism was the focus of The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna were the chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Adams, Professor of Corporate Law & Academic Director of UNE Sydney campus, University of New England Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a dark comedy: Bodkin (Netflix, May 9)An English podcaster, an Irish podcaster and American podcaster walk into a pub and…make a TV show? ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
White Rabbits!
Ribbit ribbit. My……. you’re up early big boy.
Btw, are you FCV-free? (khaleesi/Calici)
Apologies @ Sanc. It’s just that I’ve had to witness (over the past 12 hours) the ‘yoof of today’ indulging in virtual foreplay via a couple of cell phones – culminating in what was apparently a transactional ‘bootie call’.
So um, can we? CAN WE!!!!?
Geez, that Jemaine Clement’s looking a bit grey these days eh?
That Wellington Supernatural better be worth it eh?
RNZ’s taking a real gamble I rekon shuvving him up on their interweb site.
Never mind. Someone from The Spinoff will be along very soon to legitimise it all.
Thanks. I’ll go have a listen.
Hmmm, sounds like the Queenstown Property Speculators are getting a free half hour show courtesy of some moron reporter on RNZ just now.
#switchedoff
Unfortunately I listened in as well but my primary task was getting breakfast so the time wasn’t totally wasted.
Didn’t you just love the preconceived prompt to several interviewees like: “so you’re saying the foreign buyers legislation will have the opposite effect on providing affordable housing than is intended”.
Please, please say yes or my whole “story” will collapse. The term “chilling effect” was used several times.
I was struck by one guy (American I think) who sounded so concerned that the Bill was sending signals being picked up offshore that NZ didn’t want foreign investment and this was a BAD thing. Good I thought. Too damned right many of us don’t.
His horror was what decades of neoliberalism and centuries of capitalist pillaging and theft does to you I guess.
Agreed @ Grey Area.
Mee toooo, except I wasn’t so concerned with getting on with breakfast, I was more concerned with the apparent fob off from Sanctuary in my quest for a hookup, I went back to sleep.
And now, I’m listening to the sage Corin Dann on PLUS 1 and wondering whether it’d not be better to take another hour out of life in the name of sleep.
Decisons decisons!. Such a hard life!
OH CHRIST!!!! Now Wayne Mapp has just popped up as the gin-soaked sage.
Easy.
Snore!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed OnceWasTim,
I was horrified with Q+A today and exited that show for’ Discovery channel’ as I needed sanctuary for my mind to stay sane.
We need a new ‘Channel seven’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVNZ_7 now more than ever with real depth in investigative journalism not a horror show of empty ‘talking heads.’
I’m pretty sure that the majority of us don’t want it and the only reason why we have it is because governments over the last decades have forced it upon us against our will.
Which means that we live in a dictatorship and not a democracy.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10678798
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11986751
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/poll-voters-love-labours-foreign-buyer-ban-ck-176137
Yes that’s right, its not like we have elections every three years and a range of parties to vote for.
We do that – yes.
And then those parties go round doing things that we don’t want them to do. The whole neo-liberal implementation was against what the people wanted but no matter who we voted for we got the same shit. National did the TPPA which the majority didn’t want. Labour promised to change it or even to get rid of it if it didn’t meet their bottom lines. It didn’t meet those bottom lines and then they went and signed it anyway.
At what point were our wishes actually listened to?
The whole neo-liberal implementation was against what the people wanted but no matter who we voted for we got the same shit.
and then some of us campaigned and succeeded in changing the voting system but many people still continue to vote Labour regardless of the continual betrayals. We get the government that we collectively deserve.
Well, there’s that too.
But even that just means that we need a better democratic system. One that doesn’t leave policy decisions solely to the MPs.
NZF is the only logical alternative ?
Yeh, right, because Winston has never gone back on a bottom line.
He’s so honest that he took his website down after the election.
solka;
‘we have elections every three years and a range of parties to vote for.’
Yes we do but we are constabtly brainwashed by the heavy use of right wing compliant broadcasting controlled by the right wing spin doctors and corportate involvement,.
So we are effectively controlled by the bussiness commutity and their interests and not ours.
This is not democracy – but is corpocracy, which is a recent term used to refer to an economic and political system controlled by corporations or corporate interests.
We have been indocrinated by this corpocracy medium in all our media here in NZ today.
<blockquote…but is corpocracy, which is a recent term used to refer to an economic and political system controlled by corporations or corporate interests.
If you’re going to quote Wikipedia then it would be good form to link to the article.
Queenstown should just scede from NZ and apply to become a SAR of China. I can just imagine them all waving little Chinese flags as the PLA marches up the main drag.
Falun Gong is not big in Q-Town.
And it’s illegal in China.
Yep, Sanctuary
RNZ has gone deep into the south island I have noted, – and RNZ dont carry any ‘free half hour shows’ for our most isolated noth Island regions such as northland and Gisborne/HB east coast as they do in the south.
Perhaps that is because the HQ for RNZ has been centered in Dunedin for years.
RNZ is headquartered in Auckland and the Dunedin studios were shuttered years ago, and sold to the University of Otago in 2010.
+ 1
Jeepers how can anyone believe anything anyone says.
It pays not to, with certain people anyway. Check this one out …
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/05/10/dr-liz-gordon-fixing-work-and-income/#comment-425956
Let us hope IRD and the PSA and WINZ get the increases correct this set of changes.
Hopefully a small glimmer of hope for many.
Tim Brown is the RNZ regional reporter for Otago/Southland/Lakes.
I looked at his content, and it is the stereotypical regional reporter mix of human interest stories, crime, weather and good news propaganda for the local chamber of commerce/Federated Farmers. The guy is on a good wicket, he can file happy happy joy joy stories based on his chummy relationships with local business people and the rest of his content is derived from ringing up his mate at the cop shop, chatting to the mayor at events, and the weather. An easy life, with the advantage you get lots of nice invites and freebies.
This morning ridiculous piece highlights the danger of using a regional reporter to create an in depth critical investigation feature.
In this case, the local beat reporter is clearly the wrong person to do such a story, because he has clearly become far too chummy with the movers and shakers in town, which helps him get news and he (understandably) doesn’t want to shit in own nest.
The simple reality is if he had run a piece critical of of the despoiling of Queenstown by rampant speculation and unregulated development and supportive of the government position a whole lot of doors would slam shut on him. Why rock the boat?
As such, we should consider this mornings insight on RNZ mainly as an extended job application by Tim Brown for a role as PR flack for Queenstown Lake’s property developers association…
Good analysis. My half an ear told me he was out of his depth and/or doing a PR piece for foreign ownership and overseas financing of the “development” of Queenstown.
It saddens me that NZers are so venal and/or stupid that we allow a jewel like Queenstown to be so over-developed that we spoil the very character that drew people to it in the first place.
I last visited Queenstown six years ago and enjoyed a couple of days there but from what I’ve heard recently it’s over-full of tourists and traffic congestion. We’ll be visiting the South Island later this year but will be avoiding Queenstown.
It was one of the places we used to go to when I was a child (50s and 60s) but I haven’t been near it for a very long time – I think I would just burst into tears. My compensation for the ruination of Queenstown is that while the ghastlies who wrought all this damage are all corralled in Queenstown they aren’t wrecking the rest of NZ. Does Queenstown just need to take one for the team?
Queenstown is…over-ripe.
Your analogy is pretty much spot on Robert.
We are probably well into the autumn of this development cycle most of the fruit on the tree is getting pretty squishy, the rest that hasn’t ripened by now is unlikely to before winter sets in. And it’s looking like a very hard winter is going to sweep through our local economy, it’ll be tough for those that can’t afford to keep warm.
But hard winters kill off the bugs and weeds to allow the spring growth opportunities to flourish.
Interesting to look at the photo accompanying the RNZ piece of Shotover Country. Each of those houses would be a tradie with a million dollar mortgage, unfortunately they are unlikely to winter well.
The Queenstown council are bascially traitors who would gladly run a Vicy-style puppet regime for a foreign power. They need to be packed and more patriotic people put in their place.
Sanctuary….Exactly my thoughts when listening to that Tim Brown piece this morning.
I listened to the Insight report, and as a Queenstown resident for 35 years I thought it was quite balanced for an outside cub reporter. Tim Brown gave away his lack of local knowledge and experience in the fist few minutes when he described Queenstown as a winter, and now summer resort. Sorry Tim, our peak time is summer, and has always been, going back to 1860’s. The winter product is quite new, developed initally in the 50’s and greatly expanded in 80’s through to now.
The treatment of our housing problems, which are nothing new, it’s been a problem from the very start of European settlement in the early 1860’s and a constant issue for as long as I have been here was accurate.
The section on the American owners Glenorchy Camping Ground and Gibbston Valley Wines I found enlightening regarding their attitude to New Zealand residency. That both parties could easily gain residency, but choose not to, made me wonder about their commitment to New Zealand.
Our housing trust is doing some very good work in providing accomodation for workers, using a variety of models which are evolving with time. The proposed legislation is being tweaked to accomodate situations like the housing trust, hopefully it can be made to work well at this end.
The choice, if you can call it that, between high end homes ($5 Million +) for the 1% and suburban sprawl for “kiwi workers” comes down to sustainability. The high end is a lot easier on the landscape and environment and provides ongoing, sustainable employment. Building houses to house people to build more houses to house more people to do I don’t know what isn’t going to make Queenstown a better place. The reality is that enjoyment of our environment is the only productive economic activity the place has been able to sustain. The challenge is to do this in a form that the environment, both physical and social, can sustain.
It’s my view that the high end has a lot to offer in this regard, and suburbia spreading across the landscape may not be the way to go.
I live in the queenstown lakes district and have to disagree. The high end $10-20 million houses tend to be located intrusively in the landscape where everyone is forced to look at them and their negative effects on landscape values. In this way one rich prick adversely affects many people visiting the District.These houses also negatively impact the local economy which relies on these landscapes.
Any house, of any value designed or sited inappropriately is a tragedy for the landscape. In my experience here, the “rich pricks” don’t have a monopoly on this behaviour.
There’s plenty of quite modest homes and subdivisions slapped in middle of bare paddocks around the district, and a lot of very well designed and sympathetically sited mansions around the place too. The “rich pricks” generally have the resources, and inclination to do something about mitigating the landscape effects of their presence, which is more than can be said for the mass of roofs that’s Shotover Country.
If the wunnerful foreign investors had been flat tack erecting cheap houses for workers they might have a bit of a point.
How the darkened side of America thinks. Although to be fair one of them sounds like he’s on the brink of crossing over to the enlightened side:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-44649459/trump-supporters-on-family-separations-and-border-security
I will say no more…
When people wonder if Trump can be re-elected look no further than than those folk. We are all a bit “loyal” to our chosen heroes but…
To stay with the theme of the power of music and performing together: https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/opinion/105118732/music-has-the-ability-to-reach-into-my-soul
It would be great if e-tangata could be supported. Kia ora.
https://e-tangata.co.nz/media/we-need-your-help/
I see Winston is getting Nigel Farage’s endorsement because he is so much like Trump.
Kind of humorous
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2018/06/winston-peters-nz-s-own-version-of-trump-nigel-farage.html
Dunkin’ doesn’t like being kept waiting chrissy.
Knda funny
Little fat maori boy throwing his toys out of the cot ?
In response to the Capital Gazette shooting; here’s a great piece by Laurie Penny on Misogyny and Massacres.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/29/mass-shootings-white-male-fragility-capital-gazette-maryland-misogyny
Surprise.
http://www.wehuntedthemammoth.com/2018/06/30/incels-embrace-capital-gazette-shooter-but-only-after-they-learn-he-harassed-a-woman/
btw, the collective noun for MRA’s? A failure.
Incels…yeah, nah..
Make believe…yeah, yeah!
Truth is stranger than fiction – accelerating away – think about it…
https://www.universetoday.com/139545/oumuamua-accelerated-out-of-the-solar-system-like-a-comet/
The other being that it’s actually a spaceship and it’s altering its trajectory for it’s next port of call.
I’m not sure Occam’s razor is of much help here …
anybody here know who G Hamilton of 41 Pipitea St. Wgton is?
he is running scabby anti government threads on Facebook which are just out and out lies.
Google throws up this
https://youngnats.national.org.nz/contact
Postal Address. NZ Young Nats 41 Pipitea Street Thorndon, Wellington 6011 … The Best Party on Campus. Authorised by G Hamilton, 41 Pipitea St, Wellington.
Ah, so typical National Party lies.
It seems that they train them young.
National party GM.
https://nz.linkedin.com/in/greg-hamilton-596b4926
https://www.nbr.co.nz/tags/greg-hamilton
Have you seen the new Jonathan Pie clip?
He gets fair up the soap-boxers. I think his message is ‘Don’t waste time with shit that doesn’t matter.’
*Fruity language
The Am Show Good morning your in Queens Town that place won’t be so popular when man made Global warming melts the snow its a beautiful little Town .
Yes Duncan I found that out about the day light hours in Southland you won’t get light till about 9 am its Day light in the beautiful Rotorua at 730 am.
I think a $10 tax charge per bed in Queens town is a need to keep this Aotearoa Iconic little town functioning efficiently and in a environmentally friendly way.
Our waste recycling well we will have to charge the company’s who produce this waste and pass the money on to make recycling profitable make the policy so that manufactures will save money by using less packing they could even reuse some of this packing thats they way money people react to being hit in the hip pocket .
I say that money payed for plastic bags should passed on to the recycling industry so they can afford to by the plants to recycle this waste in Rotorua we have just got recycling bins for every house which is a good thing but its a shame if the recycling just ends up in warehouseing there is a good oppertunity for Rotorua being central to most of Aoteraroa city’s to create a recycling industry land is affordable here and we need more jobs for Our people . You know that the whole Papatuanuku heres about Queens town thats were all the VIP go .ka kite ano.
P.S Congratulations Samantha you deserved your win
Here is what Norway is doing to solve its plastic waste Eco Maori thinks this is the solution to OUR plastic waste problems link below .
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjS1uOUg__bAhVWQd4KHT9oDwYQFggvMAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.plasgranltd.co.uk%2Fnorwegian-approach-bottle-recycling-revolutionise-british-approach%2F&usg=AOvVaw005IRQ5Z0QXnbGyvkpel8S
Ka kite ano
Here we go someone who can see that the common people the poor pay more tax than a lot of wealthy people the link is below.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12081815
Ka kite ano
Ka pai Mexicans for voteing a left Tangata President all the best for your mokopunas future and yours link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/02/mexico-election-leftist-amlo-set-for-historic-landslide-victory Ka kite ano
Good evening Newshub at six some of these males who complained about the winner of Dancing With The Stars don’t realise that wahine can win to and there moans just show there core values are archaic Samantha deserved her win.
Yes many Tangata whenua fall victim to the loan predators I say that interest rates should be caped at 5x the Reserve Banks rate not100 % .
Car finance is a major player in this as one tangata has mentioned the thing is by the time the tangata has payed the car off its stuffed so they trade it in get nothing for the trade in and refinance thats a sham. Ingred its quite warm for Rotorua Ka kite ano
Here is another reason why we should put a price on plastic waste at the start to reduce waste and protect our seabirds and wild life link below .
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/02/new-zealand-the-most-perilous-place-for-seabirds-due-to-plastic-pollution Ka kite ano