I don’t understand why when we destroy something created by man we call it vandalism, but when we destroy something created by nature we call it progress.
There have been some excellent BBC series on telly lately documenting this ongoing destruction and the human causes of climate change. In Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer Simon Reeves travelled around meeting people from countries along those latitudes, discussing their political and social issues and their country’s interaction with nature and in what ways they exploit it.
I’ve heard that Paul and plan to watch it tonight, so will brace myself. I’ll have my “tv tissues” handy, which I have on standby for watching documentaries that feature humankind’s large scale destruction of our grand and majestic environment for our unnecessary short term gain.
Unnecessary because there are better ways of sustaining ourselves without destroying our environment.
If you enjoyed, were disturbed by, raged at and embraced Koyanniqatsi, here are the other two films by Godfrey Reggio & Phillip Glass which make up the Qatsi Trilogy:
Koyannisqatsi, Powaqqatsi & Naqoyqatsi http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/934-the-qatsi-trilogy
They have collaborated again, and teamed up with Steven Soderbergh for a new work called Visitors – http://visitorsfilm.com/ well worth a look 😉
Thanks for the links freedom. I would like to see the other two Qatsi films. I need to be in a centred space of mind to to take on films of that depth and magnitude.
This weekend, as well as Samsara, I’m viewing Citizenfour (produced by Steven Soderbergh)
As an aside I have been watching a trilogy starring BIll Nighy which started with Page 8, then turks and caicos and now the last one. Each time I see the PM in it making his decisions, benefitting financially, crossing his tie while issuing an edcts I am reminded that our PM seems to claim that he knows nothing and has power over nothing. The biggest lie of all.
I would add, overpopulation begins at home. How many people can each of our watershed’s support sustainably? We don’t even know. How many of the environments in those photos are degraded because we in NZ thought we needed something from those populations?
Agree weka. There is a whole online book that I didn’t link to because it may invite a kneejerk response to population growth, without addressing environmental degradation due to the need to sustain an economic model through population growth and increasing consumption. A model that NZ is very much depends on.
A raft of cultural, social and economic responses are necessary to address some complicated issues involved in enabling better, more sustainable living and the final pics in the book begin to address some of these (as does the text).
The crucial question is: How many people can the Earth sustain, at a reasonable standard of living, while leaving room for the diversity of life to flourish?
Holy shit, it’s a bold radical book. I’m trying to get my head around the idea that exponential population growth is relatively recent. Up until the industrial revolution population was either stable or increasing by fractions. If the big populations increases are happening in developping countries sine then, what is going on? Just got to the bit about how fossil fuels have enabled increases in aid and tech, and those keep population high 🙁
“Just got to the bit about how fossil fuels have enabled increases in aid and tech, and those keep population high”
Yeah – I do think aid and tech can be positives, it’s just the way that powerful people perceive how they should be used. In the wider context, the opposition of the Americans (improving under Obama?) and others to family planning initiatives, which have included abortion, that are run by the UN and others is almost criminal. It’s certainly a denial of human rights.
I thought the foreword by Musimbi Kanyori was a beautifully-written piece about too many babies, too many young girls forced to give birth, too little in the way of healthcare, and the desires of women to control fertility. Her words, to me, show the way forward in this regard.
A dude on some drug, I forget, once said that whilst on that drug, he saw the world for what it is. We are cancer on the surface of the earth. I couldn’t agree more. Sooner or later, earth will produce a cure.
On the heels of his previous video that explained the Queen had workers on zero hour contracts + expected them to perform certain tasks for free like showing paying visitors around (??!), here is Russell Brand on the Trews asking, “What’s better for you? Zero Hour Contracts, or Zero Royals?
Andrew Little expresses strong reservations whenever asked. Phil Goff leads the pro-TPPA faction but my guess is he’ll be leaving soon to pursue his mayoral ambitions. My feeling is that the anti TPPA MPs are in the ascendancy.
Following an email I sent to Cunliffe he passed it on to Goff (who signed off as spokesperson fro Defence) who replied as follows.
“Thank you for your email to Hon David Cunliffe concerning the Trans Pacific Partnership trade negotiations. Apologies for the delay in my reply.
There is genuine concern about what might be included in the final outcome of the negotiations, which the Government has not adequately addressed by making clear where it stands on important issues in the negotiation.
Labour demands more openness and transparency from the Government. As Minister of Trade negotiating the China and Asean Free Trade Agreements in 2008, I involved a cross-section of groups in the process including the Council of Trade Unions and Greenpeace as well as businesses and exporters. That helped ensure we got good input and it also won trust and confidence in what we were doing.
Those trade agreements hugely helped economic growth and jobs in New Zealand with New Zealand exports to China increasing from $2 billion to over $7 billion dollars in five years and closing the trade deficit with that country. It helped save us from suffering as badly as the US and Europe from the Global Financial Crisis.
Labour has also set bottom lines for support for a TPP agreement. It must result in a clear and significant net benefit to our country. It must be a high quality agreement allowing New Zealand to gain access for our major exports to countries like the US, Japan, Canada and Mexico, removing barriers like the current exorbitant tariff rates on dairy (200-300 per cent), tight quotas and behind the borders barriers. For our services and manufacturing industries we would also want access to government procurement contracts, a market in the US alone worth $334 billion from which we are currently excluded.
Labour recognises that the TPP is not just a trade agreement but deals with behind the borders issues and could impact on domestic policy settings. New Zealand must not sacrifice Pharmac or give up our sovereign right to regulate and legislate such areas as health, the environment and economic policy or in areas like gambling, tobacco and alcohol. The policy protections must be tight enough to prevent multinational companies from winning law suits against us when we regulate in these areas to their commercial disadvantage. We support intellectual property protection but not where it goes to extremes which would hinder innovation and create excess profits at the expense of the consumer. The Government needs to heed the concerns of smaller companies in New Zealand including those in the IT sector.
Labour supports trade deals which genuinely benefit our country. We need growth in exports so we can close the gap between the value of what we export and import. A trade deficit which has persisted over 40 years has meant New Zealand having to borrow to pay the difference. Growing debt has resulted in us increasingly losing ownership of our own country.
We need growth for jobs and higher incomes. We need growth to increase government revenue to pay for higher quality services in areas like health and education.
The Petri study from Brandeis University shows that a TPP would likely lead to export growth to New Zealand of over $5 billion a year. The Parliamentary Library, based on the Brandeis study, states that could lead to job growth of up to 22,000 jobs.
Half of our trade goes to the TPP countries. If we did not participate in a successful agreement our exporters would be disadvantaged by facing barriers in the key TPP markets that our competitors do not.
We continue to insist that the Government better inform parliament and civil society as to its negotiating objectives and its position on issues of concern. Only then can the public be involved in an informed and mature debate. Labour will support a deal only if it is genuinely in the interests of New Zealand.
My take is he started by making soothing comments about the dangers but half way through pinned support on a TPP leading to Growth in NZ and then the rest talked about how important growth is. I read him to be saying if TPP can be argued to create growth he and LP will support it.
And now Phil Goff Off adds LP Auckland Issues portfolio to his CV as he looks to sail off into the sunset and become the new Mayor of the City of Sails.
Bon voyage Phil happy sailing and please take the other failed leader David Shearer as your cabin boy. 🙂
I read him to be saying if TPP can be argued to create growth he and LP will support it.
Yep, I agree, he gets fudgy on “our sovereign right to regulate and legislate” and ” policy protections must be tight enough to prevent multinational companies from winning law suits against us when we regulate in these areas to their commercial disadvantage. We support intellectual property protection but not where it goes to extremes”.
Labour, NZF and The Greens need to be a united front on TPP – and yell it from the rooftops. Keep it simple, keep it clear. Rock solid.
The party members are much more staunch on the issue.
This is the official position from the party website:
“We are very concerned about the lack of transparency around the TPP.
Labour recognises that the TPP could impact on New Zealand’s freedom to determine our domestic policy settings, if it contains terms that are inappropriate.
It is impossible for us, or indeed anyone, to take a clear position on the agreement while there is so little transparency.
We will continue to push for a more open and transparent approach from the Government.
We will also back New Zealand First’s Members’ Bill that addresses investor-state dispute settlement to its first reading so that it can be considered and debated.
Labour is pro-trade and is proud of the FTA with China which has worked well for the benefit of New Zealanders.
Labour recognises that the TPP is not just a trade agreement and has investment provisions which could impact on New Zealand’s freedom to determine our domestic policy settings.
We will address the TPP on its merits or otherwise when we see the full text of the final agreement.
Labour is disappointed that our demands for more openness and transparency from the Government have not been heeded. The last Labour Government, when negotiating the China and Asean Free Trade Agreements in 2008, involved a cross-section of groups in the process including the Council of Trade Unions and Greenpeace as well as businesses and exporters. That helped ensure we received wise input and also won higher levels of trust and confidence, both in the negotiation process and in the eventual FTA with China.
In recent months, following a report by the European Union Ombudsman, the European Commission has promised more transparency in connection with the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP), the European equivalent to the TPP.
It is proper for concerned New Zealanders to seek information about the effect of the TPP on New Zealand’s freedom to change our domestic policy settings. This is especially so if the dispute resolution procedures under the TPP allow overseas corporations to sue the New Zealand government for alleged losses.
New Zealand must not sacrifice Pharmac nor give up our sovereign freedom to regulate and legislate in such areas as health, the environment and economic policy or on more specific topics like controls on gambling, tobacco and alcohol.
The New Zealand Labour Party supports appropriate protection of intellectual property but not where extremes hinder innovation or enable excessive monopoly profits at the expense of the consumer by extending the scope or term of patents and copyright. The National Government should heed the concerns of New Zealanders, including those in the IT sector.”
It retains word for word some stuff out of Goff’s reply to me . BUT it removes his stuff about growth. , while leaving other language and vagueries in, makes me worry. EG ” benefit of New Zealanders”
if Labour outlined what benefit to NZers looks like, we could judge, but I suspect they would need to reintroduce that word “growth”.
Thanks for that Mickey, I have no doubts that Labour will look after our best interests, however it is the Tories that are in power and I would not think Dunne or the little lap dog from Epsom will oppose their intention to put ink on the TPPA contract on our behalf.
Just wondering how the TPPA would effect Labours local procurement policy?
This is such a meaningless statement. You can’t sell what you don’t have (okay, there is an exception or two).
Labour has put down some significant bottom-lines in agreeing to any TPPA. But if the significant other countries say “nah, get stuffed” what then? Let loose Cameron Slater to beat them silly?
Or, pull the plug like an Italian in a boat-race?
And should we decide to set sail in a leaky boat, who really is going to notice – apart from a few seagulls aiming poop all over a cargo-less deck.
Luna Ross gets a “Oh no, please don’t go.” We get “…valet?”
Goff-Off needs to stop the games and publicly declare his hand, he told a friend of mine he is running, sure he wouldn’t be the only one, and let’s face it his political career should have ended when he lost his election bid against Key three cycles ago.
You can see what the Tories are up to, setting up to contest local body elections around the Country. In preparation for when their thrown out of Central Government office. The legislative changes they are pushing thru to give more power to councils, super city/council’s concept. The Left need to start planning to get the numbers in office in these positions
like Mayoral & councillor contests.
“The legislative changes they are pushing thru to give more power to councils”
Heck no. The LGA changes (in conjunction with the RMA ones) are designed to shift the balance of power from councils towards the private sector. That way, it doesn’t matter who wins local elections, their hands will be tied until a future government unties them. Property developers, CCOs and construction contractors shall have whatever they wish..
Yes technically correct, and the poal reclamation scrap kind of illustrates this, however I still prefer the left getting into council positions so they are guardians/gatekeeper to counter, monitor the wool being pulled. Labour & Greens & possibly NZF can right the wrongs next election.
Plus, of course, the fact that Trevor claims to be a proud scion of Wainuiomata. That is part of Lower Hutt, not part of Wellington.
On the other hand you started the second sentence so well and then went badly wrong.
You should have said “I would take the positive approach, another deadbeat gone,” and then continued “in the shape of Celia Wade-Brown”.
That woman and her coven will bankrupt us.
Why can’t we have Mrs Trevor as our mayor? Mayor Jane Clifton has a certain ring to it.
Yes was in two minds about that after thought, can’t stand Wade-Brown comes across as a toff. Didn’t want to upset our Green friends. Obviously you know far more about Wellington’s local politics.
Haha careful brother being pc it’s would be Mayoress Jane Clifton.
I make a point of addressing our local lady at the throne of power as her worship the Mayoress and don’t she love it 🙂
It seems needlessly confrontational to continue this comment-strike when it might be better to have a conversation about issues arising from it. However, I will maintain this vigil while they feel it necessary to continue their inaction.
I never counted myself one of the; Rawshark #. As my position was that it was better to stay and draw attention to the issue of the; author-moderator/ commenter-moderated, power imbalance:
I quickly realised that my intention of; continuing commenting generally while avoiding a single author’s posts, was just trying to have my cake and eat it too. So I’ve confined myself to merely holding my daily placard and addressing as many replies to this as I’ve been able.
CR once gave me his work number to contact him if need be when we the; Dunedin Standard discussion group was still going. So I’ll give him a call tomorrow if he hasn’t replied to this comment by then. It’s a statutary holiday today, so he is unlikely to be in. I imagine that I can get in touch with PU through his whoar site, but again I’ll leave that till tomorrow.
@ TRP
It did not seem to be this at all TRP: “misogynist bullying of a significant contributor to the Standard.”
That just sounds like another version of Israelis saying that all critics are anti-semitic. When you can’t criticise, talk to people about problems because they have special status it results in an undemocratic situation and there is no reason why if female authors do get criticised, that they cannot respond in an interested, co-operative, adult manner. Women are logical andintelligent and not fragile, emotional basket cases.
It is actually about YOU pasupial – you took all this upon yourself without even asking the others you involved – that shows a lack of respect which I’m afraid is reinforced by this continued posting on this site where you are a guest. You need to look at what your issue actually is and post on that not smokescreen by bringing others into YOUR issues.
As soon as I became aware that; you, and one other, did not wish to be included upon the roll of the Rawsharks, then I removed you as soon as I could. It was difficult to get permission from those who; by definition, were refraining from commenting on this site.
TRP
Bullying is certainly at the core of this issue, whether it is; misogynistic, misandronic, or simply misanthropic. But I do not feel it is the whole of the issue, nor should it be up to one person to define what the issues are. That only post writers are seen as true “authors”, with commenters as mere scribblers in the margins (or “guests” as MM would have it), is to me a large part of the present conflict.
Others may not agree with my position, which is fine. We can then discuss it and make our respective cases. Keeping silent about about a problem (of blogging generally, not just TS), and letting ill-will fester does not seem to be a productive course of action.
“Keeping silent about about a problem (of blogging generally, not just TS), and letting ill-will fester does not seem to be a productive course of action.”
So, write a guest post, submit ti to the Administrator. Make your solid suggesting for how a blog site could be run as some kind of cooperative when it comes to moderating. Nuts and Bolts ideas and systems/process to make it work.
Before I was asked to Author I submitted a few guest posts. The idea that there is this glass ceiling or hierarchical barrier to moving between commenting and posting is a nonsense.
If you want to write a post to have a thread led discussion, write it. If it isn’t purely abusive or against other rules I bet it gets published.
I have no stake in this fight, I’ve read the posts and can see both sides i think. My observation: there is a microscopically small number of people who communicate exactly what they think/feel in any online forum, with no room for misunderstanding. We forget that 60% of our understanding in real world communication is through body language.
Obviously there’s a lot of commenting history (that I’m not aware of ) that is colouring these exchanges. There’s no resolution at present and maybe there doesn’t need to be one – there is always another time, another way.
I had a similar thought on reading Pasupial’s comment.
Scintilla, personally I’m finding the conversation still useful. It’s helping me get clearer about my own thinking, and understanding what other people are doing.
“That only post writers are seen as true “authors”, with commenters as mere scribblers in the margins (or “guests” as MM would have it), is to me a large part of the present conflict.”
Pasupial, I think I understand the ideal you are exporing here. The problem is that blogging by its very nature is heirarchical. I can’t see any way around the logisitics of that using this kind of platform. I have been in long term online communities that use different platforms eg forums where non-admin people can start conversations/threads/posts of their own. But you still have to have moderation, and that moderation will always be heirarchical because you can’t have a whole community moderating each other, it just doesn’t work, not on this scale anyway. I’m open to being shown existing examples to prove me wrong.
I also think you probably still fail to understand truly how much work what you are suggesting would entail.
@ marty mars
Why can’t Pasupial have a point of view which is rationally expressed? He has the courage of his convictions and thinks things can be better on TS and that it is valuable and worth trying to assist improvement. You have withdrawn early and he has acknowledged that, but Pasupial wants to go further.
It is easy to be a conformist and never achieve change, but that is how we have all acted since 1984. More definite action is required to help us in NZ to turn around our downward path. People with ideas need to be listened to, if those involve some criticism of present methods, a hearing and thinking about them working on a gradual improvement approach would be beneficial.
I haven’t withdrawn early – I never agreed with what pasupial was doing – I was making a SILENT protest not a jump up and down and make a fuss one. Murray has stated he doesn’t want people to stop commenting so there is no point in continuing to have a silent protest therefore I have taken up posting again. That imo is actually respectful to pretty much all concerned. The bottom line is if I don’t feel comfortable with a author – I won’t read or comment on their post. If I don’t feel comfortable with a commenter I ignore them. I’ve been coming here for a few years now and that approach seems to work for me – The Standard team can and will make changes that best suit them and what they are trying to do – I support them and whatever they may or may not do.
“As soon as I became aware that; you, and one other, did not wish to be included upon the roll of the Rawsharks, then I removed you as soon as I could.”
So you worked on an ‘opt out’ basis? Without the commentors realising there was this protest action to opt into? I see this as a breach of an implied trust.
If, on the off-chance, we may marginally agree on a topic in the future, let me opt out now from any protest action you or anyone else may ever think of staging. I’ll explicitly opt-in if I want to sign up for it.
………………….It’s being played right now on Radio Active. They were one of the two radio stations in the country that were actually playing it when Darren Watson released it.
The breakfast DJ has just done a spiel about the anger they felt at being censored at the time and given they criticise the Key Regime on a daily basis on that show they felt doubly aggrieved.
The song has just finished and RedBird Jnr has committed to playing the song every day on his show until John Key goes.
I know I can search for it but, save me some lazy Good Friday morning time, and can someone post an email contact for RedBirdJr? And an email contact for the appropriate person at Radio Active?
Ok, I looked up with one search and found RedBirdJr to follow:
Here’s there website for those outside of Wellington who want to listen to the Thursday morning Scoop.co.nz report with Alastair Thompson, and the link for their facebook page if you want to comment there:
And because we are technically into Weekend Social time here’s another little ditty about John Key’s deflection over the Dirty Politics saga, when questioned by Guyon Espiner. A great tune from Bassnectar
There was a very good interview last night with the musician/songwriter on RNZ. Apparently he has put the song online free to download. He also said he won’t be taking any action for loss of income. Be interesting listening to a new song about to be released. Pretty relaxed sounding chap, good on him, wish him well after that nice little number.
Appreciate that, freedom. I looked and looked for it and could not find it. That was because RNZ’s Late Edition did not index or specifically refer to it and, until now, I was not aware what time the interview was on.
Good on Darren Warren and he won’t be getting any hate mail but a polite one from me!
Fantastic strike by 6,000 Dunnes Stores workers in south of Ireland against, among other things, low hours. Here we have zero-hour contracts; Dunnes at least guarantees 15 hours work and then screws workers over with the hours they need above that to make ends meet.
“The group of countries known as “P5+1” – the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – have been trying hammer out an accord with Iran to restrict the country’s nuclear program in return for a lifting the economic blockade imposed by the UN for nearly 18 months….
While Israel has never publicly admitted to having a nuclear arsenal, maintaining the policy of “nuclear ambiguity,” it is widely believed to be the only power possessing the atomic bomb in the Middle East.
International Law Professor at Georgetown University Daoud Khairallah believes that the deal engenders trust between Iran and the rest of the world and that it will help create an environment for rational peaceful problem solving in the Middle East.
Khairallah also criticized Israel for hypocrisy on the nuclear issue.
“They had made an environment of tension based on vilifying Iran and creating in Iran a scarecrow and a nuclear threat to the whole world. Whereas Israel sits on a huge pile of nuclear weapons.”
I’ve offered some interpretation of the mediocre coverage of the terrorist attack in Kenya today. It certainly says something about the erosion of the Fourth Estate into a corporate mouthpiece.
“For an attack on such a prominent institution of free speech, there seems to be deafening lack of it. There is, and never will be a “Mimi ni Garissa”.”
Thanks Brendan. When I read the news online this morning my reaction was: bet this gets nothing like the ‘shock and horror’ type of coverage we have come to expect when a handful are killed in a European/Western country. And so it comes to pass.
To put it bluntly but correctly:
Its a poor black country so they don’t count for much.
Google search for Kenya, interesting difference in headlines.
Kenya attack: 147 dead in Garissa University assault
BBC News – 1 hour ago
A Kenyan soldier escorts a woman after she was rescued All students have been accounted …
147 dead, Islamist gunmen killed after attack at Kenya college
CNN – 10 hours ago
Somali Militants Kill 147 at Kenyan University
New York Times – 5 hours ago
@weka
Short, terse and clinical. Can you imagine the wall to wall emotive coverage if it had happened in say… Belgium or France or England or Germany. My God, we’d have heard about nothing else for days/weeks and the mass candle-lit marches (100,000 plus apiece) would have spread far and wide. Calls for blood to be shed in revenge – no analysis as to “why” it might have happened.
And I read the other day the 200 odd school girls abducted in Nigeria have still not been found and nobody really cares.
” As I look through my social media feeds on what is possibly the most fervent of Christian feast days I see next to nothing regarding a terrorist attack at a university in Garissa, Kenya that has at the time of writing this claimed 147 lives (including 4 assailants). There are a few token headlines at the usual corporate media institutions, but alas, there is very little semblance of condemnation, sympathy, solidarity, criticism, or even the typical anti-Muslim sentiment (The New Zealand Herald’s top story is a championing of some wealthy narcissist putting the neo-colonial boot into local Māori because her profit trumps the exploitation of their land, while the Kenyan story falls faster than an anchor in water)[1]. To Western media, and the hegemony of European political consciousness, this is just as usual for Africa as flatulence in the wind. For an attack on such a prominent institution of free speech, there seems to be deafening lack of it. There is, and never will be a “Mimi ni Garissa”[2] for the 143 pinko student nobodies in some far flung corner of that homogeneous continent called Africa”
TV1 news at 6pm did not even have this horrible news as their main feature. Instead, it was about a yacht pulling out of America’s cup.
A very sad state of affairs reflecting (1) our poor societal values (2) the poor quality of our media.
I just inflicted over 2 hours of UK election debate on myself…resisting the temptation to make any Easter references here…
Anyway. With 7 party leaders, the after debate polls were interesting. Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP had the highest average across 3 UK wide post debate polls. (ICM/Guardian, ComRes and YouGov)
Sturgeon 21.7 %, Cameron 21% and Miliband 20.3 %.
Given that voters in neither Wales, England nor Northern Ireland can vote for the SNP, you might think her rating among those voters would be a wake up call to Miliband and UK Labour’s constant nonsense attacks on the SNP, their policies and motivations…
Been mulling over one on the whole dynamic of the potential Scottish vote on Westminster. My main problem is that there is so much dumb shit flying from the Lib/Dems, Labour and Cons that is flat stick contradicted and seen through in comments below any article on it all. Anyway, I kind of have to spend any days I read such articles picking myself up off the floor and stitching up my split sides.
The interesting thing though is that even in the UK with FPTP which is practically designed to favour the two party system, politics everywhere is fracturing.
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Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
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:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
One of the strongest narratives about "our" spy agencies is that they are basically institutional traitors, working for foreign powers (or just themselves), without any control or oversight by the elected government. And today, we have yet another report from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security which explicitly confirms this. ...
“It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April to meet the Prime Minister’s ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track 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 publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
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 publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
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Watching as the US pushes for war
http://www.tfmetalsreport.com/podcast/6728/ukraine-update-batchelor-and-cohen
Ed Begley, Jr.
Over population, over consumption – in pictures
Those were very sobering images miravox. They reminded me of the movies Koyaanisqatsi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PirH8PADDgQ (trailer)
Baraka:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIxawleLISM (trailer)
There was also Samsara, following on the theme of the devastating human exploitation of our environment. Haven’t seen that one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9WUTSWarEE (trailer)
There have been some excellent BBC series on telly lately documenting this ongoing destruction and the human causes of climate change. In Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer Simon Reeves travelled around meeting people from countries along those latitudes, discussing their political and social issues and their country’s interaction with nature and in what ways they exploit it.
Fascinating and sad.
Samsara was amazing and downright depressing
I’ve heard that Paul and plan to watch it tonight, so will brace myself. I’ll have my “tv tissues” handy, which I have on standby for watching documentaries that feature humankind’s large scale destruction of our grand and majestic environment for our unnecessary short term gain.
Unnecessary because there are better ways of sustaining ourselves without destroying our environment.
If you enjoyed, were disturbed by, raged at and embraced Koyanniqatsi, here are the other two films by Godfrey Reggio & Phillip Glass which make up the Qatsi Trilogy:
Koyannisqatsi, Powaqqatsi & Naqoyqatsi
http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/934-the-qatsi-trilogy
They have collaborated again, and teamed up with Steven Soderbergh for a new work called Visitors – http://visitorsfilm.com/ well worth a look 😉
Here is a short bio and some quotes from Godfrey Reggio.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716585/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_qt_sm#quotes
Thanks for the links freedom. I would like to see the other two Qatsi films. I need to be in a centred space of mind to to take on films of that depth and magnitude.
This weekend, as well as Samsara, I’m viewing Citizenfour (produced by Steven Soderbergh)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ADUs8iN7NE
and Inequality for All (Robert Reich)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCbAyk8aRxI
Agree, the Vistors looks very interesting 🙂
As an aside I have been watching a trilogy starring BIll Nighy which started with Page 8, then turks and caicos and now the last one. Each time I see the PM in it making his decisions, benefitting financially, crossing his tie while issuing an edcts I am reminded that our PM seems to claim that he knows nothing and has power over nothing. The biggest lie of all.
Thanks for the links Rosie – I’ll put them on my must watch list.
Thanks miravox, that’s a challenging photo essay.
I would add, overpopulation begins at home. How many people can each of our watershed’s support sustainably? We don’t even know. How many of the environments in those photos are degraded because we in NZ thought we needed something from those populations?
Agree weka. There is a whole online book that I didn’t link to because it may invite a kneejerk response to population growth, without addressing environmental degradation due to the need to sustain an economic model through population growth and increasing consumption. A model that NZ is very much depends on.
A raft of cultural, social and economic responses are necessary to address some complicated issues involved in enabling better, more sustainable living and the final pics in the book begin to address some of these (as does the text).
Having a look at the book now.
The crucial question is: How many people can the Earth sustain, at a reasonable standard of living, while leaving room for the diversity of life to flourish?
Holy shit, it’s a bold radical book. I’m trying to get my head around the idea that exponential population growth is relatively recent. Up until the industrial revolution population was either stable or increasing by fractions. If the big populations increases are happening in developping countries sine then, what is going on? Just got to the bit about how fossil fuels have enabled increases in aid and tech, and those keep population high 🙁
“Just got to the bit about how fossil fuels have enabled increases in aid and tech, and those keep population high”
Yeah – I do think aid and tech can be positives, it’s just the way that powerful people perceive how they should be used. In the wider context, the opposition of the Americans (improving under Obama?) and others to family planning initiatives, which have included abortion, that are run by the UN and others is almost criminal. It’s certainly a denial of human rights.
I thought the foreword by Musimbi Kanyori was a beautifully-written piece about too many babies, too many young girls forced to give birth, too little in the way of healthcare, and the desires of women to control fertility. Her words, to me, show the way forward in this regard.
A dude on some drug, I forget, once said that whilst on that drug, he saw the world for what it is. We are cancer on the surface of the earth. I couldn’t agree more. Sooner or later, earth will produce a cure.
That was Agent Smith in the Matrix.
But no doubt it supports your right-wing, slash-n-burn, make-hay-while-the-sun-shines, nihilistic worldview.
lol
On the heels of his previous video that explained the Queen had workers on zero hour contracts + expected them to perform certain tasks for free like showing paying visitors around (??!), here is Russell Brand on the Trews asking, “What’s better for you? Zero Hour Contracts, or Zero Royals?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPkGrupSRDM
Got to admit. My daughter and I enjoy our morning coffees with a hit of Trews.
Does Labour have a definitive policy on the TPP?
This was their policy from the last election.
I haven’t seen any update to it as yet.
I guess broadly in favour with some reservations?
Andrew Little expresses strong reservations whenever asked. Phil Goff leads the pro-TPPA faction but my guess is he’ll be leaving soon to pursue his mayoral ambitions. My feeling is that the anti TPPA MPs are in the ascendancy.
17 December 2013
Following an email I sent to Cunliffe he passed it on to Goff (who signed off as spokesperson fro Defence) who replied as follows.
“Thank you for your email to Hon David Cunliffe concerning the Trans Pacific Partnership trade negotiations. Apologies for the delay in my reply.
There is genuine concern about what might be included in the final outcome of the negotiations, which the Government has not adequately addressed by making clear where it stands on important issues in the negotiation.
Labour demands more openness and transparency from the Government. As Minister of Trade negotiating the China and Asean Free Trade Agreements in 2008, I involved a cross-section of groups in the process including the Council of Trade Unions and Greenpeace as well as businesses and exporters. That helped ensure we got good input and it also won trust and confidence in what we were doing.
Those trade agreements hugely helped economic growth and jobs in New Zealand with New Zealand exports to China increasing from $2 billion to over $7 billion dollars in five years and closing the trade deficit with that country. It helped save us from suffering as badly as the US and Europe from the Global Financial Crisis.
Labour has also set bottom lines for support for a TPP agreement. It must result in a clear and significant net benefit to our country. It must be a high quality agreement allowing New Zealand to gain access for our major exports to countries like the US, Japan, Canada and Mexico, removing barriers like the current exorbitant tariff rates on dairy (200-300 per cent), tight quotas and behind the borders barriers. For our services and manufacturing industries we would also want access to government procurement contracts, a market in the US alone worth $334 billion from which we are currently excluded.
Labour recognises that the TPP is not just a trade agreement but deals with behind the borders issues and could impact on domestic policy settings. New Zealand must not sacrifice Pharmac or give up our sovereign right to regulate and legislate such areas as health, the environment and economic policy or in areas like gambling, tobacco and alcohol. The policy protections must be tight enough to prevent multinational companies from winning law suits against us when we regulate in these areas to their commercial disadvantage. We support intellectual property protection but not where it goes to extremes which would hinder innovation and create excess profits at the expense of the consumer. The Government needs to heed the concerns of smaller companies in New Zealand including those in the IT sector.
Labour supports trade deals which genuinely benefit our country. We need growth in exports so we can close the gap between the value of what we export and import. A trade deficit which has persisted over 40 years has meant New Zealand having to borrow to pay the difference. Growing debt has resulted in us increasingly losing ownership of our own country.
We need growth for jobs and higher incomes. We need growth to increase government revenue to pay for higher quality services in areas like health and education.
The Petri study from Brandeis University shows that a TPP would likely lead to export growth to New Zealand of over $5 billion a year. The Parliamentary Library, based on the Brandeis study, states that could lead to job growth of up to 22,000 jobs.
Half of our trade goes to the TPP countries. If we did not participate in a successful agreement our exporters would be disadvantaged by facing barriers in the key TPP markets that our competitors do not.
We continue to insist that the Government better inform parliament and civil society as to its negotiating objectives and its position on issues of concern. Only then can the public be involved in an informed and mature debate. Labour will support a deal only if it is genuinely in the interests of New Zealand.
Yours sincerely
Phil Goff
Hon Phil Goff
MP for Mt Roskill
Labour Spokesman on Defence
Trade, Ethnic Affairs, Veterans’ Affairs
Associate Foreign Affairs
Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160, New Zealand
T: + 64 4 817 6775 | F: + 64 4 817 6461”
My take is he started by making soothing comments about the dangers but half way through pinned support on a TPP leading to Growth in NZ and then the rest talked about how important growth is. I read him to be saying if TPP can be argued to create growth he and LP will support it.
And now Phil Goff Off adds LP Auckland Issues portfolio to his CV as he looks to sail off into the sunset and become the new Mayor of the City of Sails.
Bon voyage Phil happy sailing and please take the other failed leader David Shearer as your cabin boy. 🙂
Yup and denies it is part of his unannounced tilt at Mayoralty, when Adern and Twyford have done a great job of speaking to Auckland issues…
Collins v Goff for Auckland, and we all lose.
Yep, I agree, he gets fudgy on “our sovereign right to regulate and legislate” and ” policy protections must be tight enough to prevent multinational companies from winning law suits against us when we regulate in these areas to their commercial disadvantage. We support intellectual property protection but not where it goes to extremes”.
Labour, NZF and The Greens need to be a united front on TPP – and yell it from the rooftops. Keep it simple, keep it clear. Rock solid.
I think the Greens are VERY clear. They are agin it.
I note Goff offers no alternative scenario, as in what might we do if we don’t sign up. Seriously no-one else to trade with?? Doubt that, Phil.
Our sovereignty is not for sale.
The party members are much more staunch on the issue.
This is the official position from the party website:
“We are very concerned about the lack of transparency around the TPP.
Labour recognises that the TPP could impact on New Zealand’s freedom to determine our domestic policy settings, if it contains terms that are inappropriate.
It is impossible for us, or indeed anyone, to take a clear position on the agreement while there is so little transparency.
We will continue to push for a more open and transparent approach from the Government.
We will also back New Zealand First’s Members’ Bill that addresses investor-state dispute settlement to its first reading so that it can be considered and debated.
Labour is pro-trade and is proud of the FTA with China which has worked well for the benefit of New Zealanders.
Labour recognises that the TPP is not just a trade agreement and has investment provisions which could impact on New Zealand’s freedom to determine our domestic policy settings.
We will address the TPP on its merits or otherwise when we see the full text of the final agreement.
Labour is disappointed that our demands for more openness and transparency from the Government have not been heeded. The last Labour Government, when negotiating the China and Asean Free Trade Agreements in 2008, involved a cross-section of groups in the process including the Council of Trade Unions and Greenpeace as well as businesses and exporters. That helped ensure we received wise input and also won higher levels of trust and confidence, both in the negotiation process and in the eventual FTA with China.
In recent months, following a report by the European Union Ombudsman, the European Commission has promised more transparency in connection with the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP), the European equivalent to the TPP.
It is proper for concerned New Zealanders to seek information about the effect of the TPP on New Zealand’s freedom to change our domestic policy settings. This is especially so if the dispute resolution procedures under the TPP allow overseas corporations to sue the New Zealand government for alleged losses.
New Zealand must not sacrifice Pharmac nor give up our sovereign freedom to regulate and legislate in such areas as health, the environment and economic policy or on more specific topics like controls on gambling, tobacco and alcohol.
The New Zealand Labour Party supports appropriate protection of intellectual property but not where extremes hinder innovation or enable excessive monopoly profits at the expense of the consumer by extending the scope or term of patents and copyright. The National Government should heed the concerns of New Zealanders, including those in the IT sector.”
http://campaign.labour.org.nz/our_position_on_the_tpp
Mickey
It retains word for word some stuff out of Goff’s reply to me . BUT it removes his stuff about growth. , while leaving other language and vagueries in, makes me worry. EG ” benefit of New Zealanders”
if Labour outlined what benefit to NZers looks like, we could judge, but I suspect they would need to reintroduce that word “growth”.
Thanks for that Mickey, I have no doubts that Labour will look after our best interests, however it is the Tories that are in power and I would not think Dunne or the little lap dog from Epsom will oppose their intention to put ink on the TPPA contract on our behalf.
Just wondering how the TPPA would effect Labours local procurement policy?
Kiaora Scintilla
“Our sovereignty is not for sale.”
This is such a meaningless statement. You can’t sell what you don’t have (okay, there is an exception or two).
Labour has put down some significant bottom-lines in agreeing to any TPPA. But if the significant other countries say “nah, get stuffed” what then? Let loose Cameron Slater to beat them silly?
Or, pull the plug like an Italian in a boat-race?
And should we decide to set sail in a leaky boat, who really is going to notice – apart from a few seagulls aiming poop all over a cargo-less deck.
Luna Ross gets a “Oh no, please don’t go.” We get “…valet?”
Goff-Off needs to stop the games and publicly declare his hand, he told a friend of mine he is running, sure he wouldn’t be the only one, and let’s face it his political career should have ended when he lost his election bid against Key three cycles ago.
You can see what the Tories are up to, setting up to contest local body elections around the Country. In preparation for when their thrown out of Central Government office. The legislative changes they are pushing thru to give more power to councils, super city/council’s concept. The Left need to start planning to get the numbers in office in these positions
like Mayoral & councillor contests.
“The legislative changes they are pushing thru to give more power to councils”
Heck no. The LGA changes (in conjunction with the RMA ones) are designed to shift the balance of power from councils towards the private sector. That way, it doesn’t matter who wins local elections, their hands will be tied until a future government unties them. Property developers, CCOs and construction contractors shall have whatever they wish..
Yes technically correct, and the poal reclamation scrap kind of illustrates this, however I still prefer the left getting into council positions so they are guardians/gatekeeper to counter, monitor the wool being pulled. Labour & Greens & possibly NZF can right the wrongs next election.
It slows the wrecking, for sure.
I’d indulge in some anti-jafa schadenfreude until thinking of the prospect of Mallard or Robertson as Wellington’s mayor (shudder). 🙂
His worship Mallard would suit him, of course nothing would get achieved at council meetings. Trevor being such a stickler for process and all.
I would take the positive approach, another deadbeat gone, besides no guarantee he would beat Wade-Brown 🙂
Plus, of course, the fact that Trevor claims to be a proud scion of Wainuiomata. That is part of Lower Hutt, not part of Wellington.
On the other hand you started the second sentence so well and then went badly wrong.
You should have said “I would take the positive approach, another deadbeat gone,” and then continued “in the shape of Celia Wade-Brown”.
That woman and her coven will bankrupt us.
Why can’t we have Mrs Trevor as our mayor? Mayor Jane Clifton has a certain ring to it.
Yes was in two minds about that after thought, can’t stand Wade-Brown comes across as a toff. Didn’t want to upset our Green friends. Obviously you know far more about Wellington’s local politics.
Haha careful brother being pc it’s would be Mayoress Jane Clifton.
I make a point of addressing our local lady at the throne of power as her worship the Mayoress and don’t she love it 🙂
9 days remaining until the scheduled return of the Rawshark 3:
phillip ure
Colonial Rawshark
Macro
However, they may wish to read this comment from Murray Rawshark [& lprent], before deciding on whether they wish to continue their voluntary absence:
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31032015/#comment-994013
Macro seems to be back commenting yesterday (as does greywarshark):
http://thestandard.org.nz/fast-followers-not/#comment-994638
(http://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review/#comment-995143)
It seems needlessly confrontational to continue this comment-strike when it might be better to have a conversation about issues arising from it. However, I will maintain this vigil while they feel it necessary to continue their inaction.
Meh. Down to two and pasupial crossing the line every day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r235gwc_dxk
TRP
I never counted myself one of the; Rawshark #. As my position was that it was better to stay and draw attention to the issue of the; author-moderator/ commenter-moderated, power imbalance:
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30032015/#comment-993741
I quickly realised that my intention of; continuing commenting generally while avoiding a single author’s posts, was just trying to have my cake and eat it too. So I’ve confined myself to merely holding my daily placard and addressing as many replies to this as I’ve been able.
CR once gave me his work number to contact him if need be when we the; Dunedin Standard discussion group was still going. So I’ll give him a call tomorrow if he hasn’t replied to this comment by then. It’s a statutary holiday today, so he is unlikely to be in. I imagine that I can get in touch with PU through his whoar site, but again I’ll leave that till tomorrow.
Would have been better if you’d concentrated on the real issue; misogynist bullying of a significant contributor to the Standard.
@ TRP
It did not seem to be this at all TRP: “misogynist bullying of a significant contributor to the Standard.”
That just sounds like another version of Israelis saying that all critics are anti-semitic. When you can’t criticise, talk to people about problems because they have special status it results in an undemocratic situation and there is no reason why if female authors do get criticised, that they cannot respond in an interested, co-operative, adult manner. Women are logical andintelligent and not fragile, emotional basket cases.
+100 greywarshark
It is actually about YOU pasupial – you took all this upon yourself without even asking the others you involved – that shows a lack of respect which I’m afraid is reinforced by this continued posting on this site where you are a guest. You need to look at what your issue actually is and post on that not smokescreen by bringing others into YOUR issues.
MM
As soon as I became aware that; you, and one other, did not wish to be included upon the roll of the Rawsharks, then I removed you as soon as I could. It was difficult to get permission from those who; by definition, were refraining from commenting on this site.
TRP
Bullying is certainly at the core of this issue, whether it is; misogynistic, misandronic, or simply misanthropic. But I do not feel it is the whole of the issue, nor should it be up to one person to define what the issues are. That only post writers are seen as true “authors”, with commenters as mere scribblers in the margins (or “guests” as MM would have it), is to me a large part of the present conflict.
Others may not agree with my position, which is fine. We can then discuss it and make our respective cases. Keeping silent about about a problem (of blogging generally, not just TS), and letting ill-will fester does not seem to be a productive course of action.
“Keeping silent about about a problem (of blogging generally, not just TS), and letting ill-will fester does not seem to be a productive course of action.”
Irony alert!
So, write a guest post, submit ti to the Administrator. Make your solid suggesting for how a blog site could be run as some kind of cooperative when it comes to moderating. Nuts and Bolts ideas and systems/process to make it work.
Before I was asked to Author I submitted a few guest posts. The idea that there is this glass ceiling or hierarchical barrier to moving between commenting and posting is a nonsense.
If you want to write a post to have a thread led discussion, write it. If it isn’t purely abusive or against other rules I bet it gets published.
I have no stake in this fight, I’ve read the posts and can see both sides i think. My observation: there is a microscopically small number of people who communicate exactly what they think/feel in any online forum, with no room for misunderstanding. We forget that 60% of our understanding in real world communication is through body language.
Obviously there’s a lot of commenting history (that I’m not aware of ) that is colouring these exchanges. There’s no resolution at present and maybe there doesn’t need to be one – there is always another time, another way.
It’s Easter. Let’s have a truce.
My suggestion was intended to be a movement toward such a truce by pointing out to Pasupial that we have a Guest Post feature at TS.
I had a similar thought on reading Pasupial’s comment.
Scintilla, personally I’m finding the conversation still useful. It’s helping me get clearer about my own thinking, and understanding what other people are doing.
“That only post writers are seen as true “authors”, with commenters as mere scribblers in the margins (or “guests” as MM would have it), is to me a large part of the present conflict.”
Pasupial, I think I understand the ideal you are exporing here. The problem is that blogging by its very nature is heirarchical. I can’t see any way around the logisitics of that using this kind of platform. I have been in long term online communities that use different platforms eg forums where non-admin people can start conversations/threads/posts of their own. But you still have to have moderation, and that moderation will always be heirarchical because you can’t have a whole community moderating each other, it just doesn’t work, not on this scale anyway. I’m open to being shown existing examples to prove me wrong.
I also think you probably still fail to understand truly how much work what you are suggesting would entail.
@ marty mars
Why can’t Pasupial have a point of view which is rationally expressed? He has the courage of his convictions and thinks things can be better on TS and that it is valuable and worth trying to assist improvement. You have withdrawn early and he has acknowledged that, but Pasupial wants to go further.
It is easy to be a conformist and never achieve change, but that is how we have all acted since 1984. More definite action is required to help us in NZ to turn around our downward path. People with ideas need to be listened to, if those involve some criticism of present methods, a hearing and thinking about them working on a gradual improvement approach would be beneficial.
sure – I look forward to his guestpost.
I haven’t withdrawn early – I never agreed with what pasupial was doing – I was making a SILENT protest not a jump up and down and make a fuss one. Murray has stated he doesn’t want people to stop commenting so there is no point in continuing to have a silent protest therefore I have taken up posting again. That imo is actually respectful to pretty much all concerned. The bottom line is if I don’t feel comfortable with a author – I won’t read or comment on their post. If I don’t feel comfortable with a commenter I ignore them. I’ve been coming here for a few years now and that approach seems to work for me – The Standard team can and will make changes that best suit them and what they are trying to do – I support them and whatever they may or may not do.
+100 Parsupial…you make a lot of sense…i myself would support another Left blog site should one eventuate
“As soon as I became aware that; you, and one other, did not wish to be included upon the roll of the Rawsharks, then I removed you as soon as I could.”
So you worked on an ‘opt out’ basis? Without the commentors realising there was this protest action to opt into? I see this as a breach of an implied trust.
If, on the off-chance, we may marginally agree on a topic in the future, let me opt out now from any protest action you or anyone else may ever think of staging. I’ll explicitly opt-in if I want to sign up for it.
Or will I need a disclaimer on each comment?
Find me on FB if you like.
+100 Parsupial…am with you whatever you decide….think it has been valuable for a while
Most ineffective protest evah.
I’m quite looking forward to the day it ends, simply because it deserves to be put out of its misery.
Copied from the Planet Key post:
………………….It’s being played right now on Radio Active. They were one of the two radio stations in the country that were actually playing it when Darren Watson released it.
The breakfast DJ has just done a spiel about the anger they felt at being censored at the time and given they criticise the Key Regime on a daily basis on that show they felt doubly aggrieved.
The song has just finished and RedBird Jnr has committed to playing the song every day on his show until John Key goes.
Fantastic!!!
I know I can search for it but, save me some lazy Good Friday morning time, and can someone post an email contact for RedBirdJr? And an email contact for the appropriate person at Radio Active?
Ok, I looked up with one search and found RedBirdJr to follow:
https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-redbird-jnr-shelley/
I’d use that address Kiwiri.
If you want to make a general comment, the studio address is:
studiolive@radioactive.fm
Here’s there website for those outside of Wellington who want to listen to the Thursday morning Scoop.co.nz report with Alastair Thompson, and the link for their facebook page if you want to comment there:
http://www.radioactive.co.nz/
And because we are technically into Weekend Social time here’s another little ditty about John Key’s deflection over the Dirty Politics saga, when questioned by Guyon Espiner. A great tune from Bassnectar
https://soundcloud.com/dj-pups/at-the-end-of-the-day-bassnectar-version
Nice track. Love this one too:
http://tourettesone.bandcamp.com/album/spoken-word
“…a backwater twilight zone where Nikki Kaye’s a feminist, Cameron Slater’s a journalist, and John Key’s son’s a DJ…”
GREAT stuff
Yes, I know that one and a mighty fine one it is too 🙂 Long, lyrical and insightful.
That one gets a lot of air play on Active too.
There was a very good interview last night with the musician/songwriter on RNZ. Apparently he has put the song online free to download. He also said he won’t be taking any action for loss of income. Be interesting listening to a new song about to be released. Pretty relaxed sounding chap, good on him, wish him well after that nice little number.
Cheers.
I’ve just found the page for the free download he has offered if you are ok with providing your email address:
http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/newsitem/pi_newsitemid/6196
Looks like there is the option of putting ‘0’ for free, or to make a donation there.
Will look for the interview.
Anyone found the interview?
Skinny, what time did you hear it?
Between 10pm & 10.45pm I never caught the start however what I heard was very good.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20173531
the Darren Watson interview is first up
and here is a link to the judgement
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1699927/watson-and-jones-vs-electoral-commission.pdf
First five minutes of the RNZ clip.
Appreciate that, freedom. I looked and looked for it and could not find it. That was because RNZ’s Late Edition did not index or specifically refer to it and, until now, I was not aware what time the interview was on.
Good on Darren Warren and he won’t be getting any hate mail but a polite one from me!
Fantastic strike by 6,000 Dunnes Stores workers in south of Ireland against, among other things, low hours. Here we have zero-hour contracts; Dunnes at least guarantees 15 hours work and then screws workers over with the hours they need above that to make ends meet.
full at: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/6000-dunnes-stores-workers-strike-in-south-of-ireland/
Please feel free to circulate the url and/or advertise the story.
In solidarity,
Philip
Another inspiring strike – fruitpickers in Mexico are taking on some of the world’s largest and richest companies:
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/mexican-farm-workers-strike/
And an inspiring little victory at Cotton On:
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/workers-at-cotton-on-win-pay-and-teabreak-victory/
We have their leader…
A great step forwards towards Middle East peace ?
‘Tehran and world powers reach solutions on Iran nuclear program’
http://rt.com/news/246297-iran-nuclear-talks-lausanne/
“The group of countries known as “P5+1” – the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – have been trying hammer out an accord with Iran to restrict the country’s nuclear program in return for a lifting the economic blockade imposed by the UN for nearly 18 months….
While Israel has never publicly admitted to having a nuclear arsenal, maintaining the policy of “nuclear ambiguity,” it is widely believed to be the only power possessing the atomic bomb in the Middle East.
International Law Professor at Georgetown University Daoud Khairallah believes that the deal engenders trust between Iran and the rest of the world and that it will help create an environment for rational peaceful problem solving in the Middle East.
Khairallah also criticized Israel for hypocrisy on the nuclear issue.
“They had made an environment of tension based on vilifying Iran and creating in Iran a scarecrow and a nuclear threat to the whole world. Whereas Israel sits on a huge pile of nuclear weapons.”
John Kerry gives peace a chance
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBnMOwPUgAAailR.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkZC7sqImaM
No daily review tonight. Will be back next Tuesday unless something unusual happens …
Isn’t the resurrection of Christ happening over the weekend? Not to mention the arrival of the Easter Bunny!
I’ve offered some interpretation of the mediocre coverage of the terrorist attack in Kenya today. It certainly says something about the erosion of the Fourth Estate into a corporate mouthpiece.
“For an attack on such a prominent institution of free speech, there seems to be deafening lack of it. There is, and never will be a “Mimi ni Garissa”.”
http://potentialhumanist.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/terrorism-free-speech-and-hypocrisy-of.html
Thanks Brendan. When I read the news online this morning my reaction was: bet this gets nothing like the ‘shock and horror’ type of coverage we have come to expect when a handful are killed in a European/Western country. And so it comes to pass.
To put it bluntly but correctly:
Its a poor black country so they don’t count for much.
Google search for Kenya, interesting difference in headlines.
Kenya attack: 147 dead in Garissa University assault
BBC News – 1 hour ago
A Kenyan soldier escorts a woman after she was rescued All students have been accounted …
147 dead, Islamist gunmen killed after attack at Kenya college
CNN – 10 hours ago
Somali Militants Kill 147 at Kenyan University
New York Times – 5 hours ago
@weka
Short, terse and clinical. Can you imagine the wall to wall emotive coverage if it had happened in say… Belgium or France or England or Germany. My God, we’d have heard about nothing else for days/weeks and the mass candle-lit marches (100,000 plus apiece) would have spread far and wide. Calls for blood to be shed in revenge – no analysis as to “why” it might have happened.
And I read the other day the 200 odd school girls abducted in Nigeria have still not been found and nobody really cares.
A thought provoking great article :
” As I look through my social media feeds on what is possibly the most fervent of Christian feast days I see next to nothing regarding a terrorist attack at a university in Garissa, Kenya that has at the time of writing this claimed 147 lives (including 4 assailants). There are a few token headlines at the usual corporate media institutions, but alas, there is very little semblance of condemnation, sympathy, solidarity, criticism, or even the typical anti-Muslim sentiment (The New Zealand Herald’s top story is a championing of some wealthy narcissist putting the neo-colonial boot into local Māori because her profit trumps the exploitation of their land, while the Kenyan story falls faster than an anchor in water)[1]. To Western media, and the hegemony of European political consciousness, this is just as usual for Africa as flatulence in the wind. For an attack on such a prominent institution of free speech, there seems to be deafening lack of it. There is, and never will be a “Mimi ni Garissa”[2] for the 143 pinko student nobodies in some far flung corner of that homogeneous continent called Africa”
TV1 news at 6pm did not even have this horrible news as their main feature. Instead, it was about a yacht pulling out of America’s cup.
A very sad state of affairs reflecting (1) our poor societal values (2) the poor quality of our media.
http://potentialhumanist.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/terrorism-free-speech-and-hypocrisy-of.html
I just inflicted over 2 hours of UK election debate on myself…resisting the temptation to make any Easter references here…
Anyway. With 7 party leaders, the after debate polls were interesting. Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP had the highest average across 3 UK wide post debate polls. (ICM/Guardian, ComRes and YouGov)
Sturgeon 21.7 %, Cameron 21% and Miliband 20.3 %.
Given that voters in neither Wales, England nor Northern Ireland can vote for the SNP, you might think her rating among those voters would be a wake up call to Miliband and UK Labour’s constant nonsense attacks on the SNP, their policies and motivations…
I’m writing a post on it and I agree Sturgeon was really impressive.
Been mulling over one on the whole dynamic of the potential Scottish vote on Westminster. My main problem is that there is so much dumb shit flying from the Lib/Dems, Labour and Cons that is flat stick contradicted and seen through in comments below any article on it all. Anyway, I kind of have to spend any days I read such articles picking myself up off the floor and stitching up my split sides.
I’ll get around to a post on it some time.
Yep the SNP, Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru could hold the balance of power. Imagine that …
I think Sinn Fein currently and historically boycotts Westminster. But if the Greens pick up a seat or two….
Yep Sinn Fein do although it may be time to rethink that. The Guardian thinks the greens will win only one seat which would be an injustice.
I agree Sturgeon was really impressive.
Can you point out a link or more to a video clip online where you watched an impressive speech, etc of Sturgeon please?
(I know I can google for that but would prefer seeing what you have seen.)
You really expect British media to shed Sturgeon in a favourable light?!
Here’s the entire debate (it begins about 12 min in)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc6YH4-IHME
Easy enough to scroll through to her contributions….
Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood are outstanding as I am quickly zipping through the video.
Some good coverage on the Beeb, including this short video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32172929
I watched the second hour. Miliband came over Ok, Cameron looked underdone. Sturgeon was pretty impressive.
Thanks, Bill and TRP.
Am starting to view them.
Appreciate these … on Good Friday evening!
addendum: ok, I clicked on the 2-min stuff and I think my blood pressure shot up. let’s do the dishes first …
The interesting thing though is that even in the UK with FPTP which is practically designed to favour the two party system, politics everywhere is fracturing.