Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
It was 2 degrees in Auckland last night.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.
The mainstream media may think that Novak Djokovic being knocked out of Wimbledon is a news items, but is not.
The majority of the media are doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.
“Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”
This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.
So damn annoyed by how cruel life has become in New Zealand. We came across this man today at the back of an Inner City Hotel in Auckland. It was cold this morning, so cold. This guy who has obviously come across hard times is one of thousands in the new New Zealand under John Key’s dishonest, Corrupt, and Incompetent Government. I can’t take much more of those who still support this Crook, I really can’t! We watched as an obviously ‘high income’ ‘upper class’ Woman walked past him, rolled her eyes, and kept going, as if to say ‘What an inconvenience having to walk past peasants in the Street, oh Johnny dear, when you finish fondling that girls hair – get them removed!’ I could have slapped her!
Just two minutes later a young Maori guy walked up to him, bags of Mcdonalds in his hands – and placed it beside him. He didn’t appear to know who he was, he didn’t appear to have a lot of money himself from what he was wearing – but he cared enough to give a guy a break, giving him food. It nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Those with the least often seem to be the most caring and generous. Until recently in McDonalds in Kaikohe there was a framed certificate on the wall recording that in about 2010 over the whole nation the very poor town of Kaikohe made the second highest contribution to the Ronald McDonald House donations box. After Takanini I think. Kaikohe, one of the poorest towns in New Zealand.
DTB I have to tell you this……20 years ago went to a garage sale in Sarsfield Street, Herne Bay. Even then 3 mill’ weren’t unusual in that street.
Jeezuz……fucking jam jars without lids they wanted 90 cents for. The entitlement of them ?
Another world. Another fucking world !
But I suppose for them too……like when when my long time hoa wahine lustily burst out – ” Kia Ora Kia Ora Kia Ora !!! ” – OMG the startled faces……..hilarious ! Just wanted to get outa there after that and we took off, laughing our heads off. “Fucking jam jar ninety cents…… get orrrfff !”
Those with the least always give the most !
There will be a day of reckoning and a lot of questions and investigations launched and appearances in court once this country is liberated from the darkness i have no doubt.
Thanks again Paul (2). Your posts are much appreciated.
My staunch Socialist grandmother (often reviled for her political and social beliefs), used to take homeless people into her home (in the UK), give them a good meal to share with her and granddad, a hot bath and a warm comfy bed for the night. Before they left, she would in some instances take their ragged torn clothes and repair them to the best she possibly could. Apart from that she would volunteer to help out at shelters, soup kitchens and the like. When asked why she did this, she said because she “considered herself privileged for having shared some time with such good decent people.”
Through her, I learned the value of compassion, love, respect and treating society’s less fortunate as an equal. She always said to do so is a sign of strength of character, as well as generosity of spirit.
Obviously in NZ that charitable spirit still exists through the ordinary Kiwi, as you have indicated in your post. Apart from that, many similar instances being marae which have given shelter and fed NZ’s homeless families. A generosity of spirit which needs to grow more.
+100 mary_a…the values we are brought up with are pretty important…NZ has been corrupted by jonkey Nact….National voters should be ashamed of themselves
“”At some point, the governing elites of mature and globalised economies like ours will have to come up with a new deal to redistribute some of the bounties of globalisation.””
New Zealand – A Ticking Timebomb of Mass Social Unrest
As we drove home tonight, my Wife and I talked about how the New Zealand we live in today is one we honestly never thought we would see.
We have a Prime Minister who blatantly lies almost every single week about one thing or another. A Prime Minister who has been caught on camera many times, fondling or pulling the hair of little girls – a behaviour which would have seen others possibly jailed!
We have a Minister by the name of Paula Bennett, an ex-Beneficiary/Solo Mother who is hateful, nasty, uncaring, and judging by how she talks to the media and members of the Public – a Bully. (More about her later).
Then there is Nick Smith, a horrible little man with more skeletons in his closet than a Halloween Wholesaler, who, along with Key, continually states “There is no housing Crisis”, despite the statistics showing NZ now has thousands upon thousands of decent NZ citizens homeless, living in cars, garages, packed into houses with a dozen or even two dozen others, parents with newborn babies sleeping rough, and so on. What really gets me angry is seeing this pitiful man say this with a smirk on his face, just like his morbidly obese mate Paula Bennett.
The thing that gets me about Nick Smith is that he formed a relationship with a constituent, a woman he was helping in his role as an MP.An act that would have forced him from any other profession.Think Dr- Patient,Teacher-Student.A power in-balance.
Coming along next, watch the Oz Labor Party begin to head down the road of division, leadership challenge and implosion, y’know like NZ and UK have experienced.
Kiwiri
I think that Labor have already eaten their fill of that particular meal; after the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd sandwich they were forced to choke down. It seems unlikely I know, but perhaps even career politicians can learn something from experience?
Also CV – isn’t the Oz Senate proportional?
[edit] I see it is proportional, though not proportionately proportional to overall population, but by state; if that makes sense…
One of my relatives is a staffer and said that it is mega toxic within the senior ranks. It would not be surprising that Shorten will be challenged within seconds, once it is clear that Labor will not be in government. He will be fine if ALP squeeks through. Of course, those who are in the know will be aware that Shorten has been triple dealing over the years and played a Machiavellian role in the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd changeovers. No doubt, he has many daggers out for him.
Saw a headline about Caroline Aherne but the name didn’t ring a bell. Loved the Royales but especially the fast show.
To this day in our house we still use “El Skorchio!” to describe hot weather. Eg, this last stinking hot summer and weirdo warm autumn we’ve had was “El Skorchio”!
And one to the other during summer “What’s the weather forecast for tomorrow?” Reply “El skorchio!”.
Typical of men in high office, especially politics.
It is also said another man of that crowd should be pushing a pram of one of his former high ranking staffer’s who recently resigned. Quite the scandal of the slippery one, let us hope finally it brings his undoing!
You media shills in Wellington know it so let’s have it!
“You media shills in Wellington know it so let’s have it!” – but that’s the problem, those same ‘media shills’ are all in bed with them & eachother, take that as you will. & also, once the dirty stories start coming out, who will be left standing, the manager classes like the money & power but not the responsibility.
“House prices til now have been static for the last 8 years” Connor English.
Good interview with Key by Gower (!) & investigation on the Saudi sheep thing (HPA!). Hooton too, Boag was so unconvincing it was funny, she & McCully got scammed by a scammer it seems.
Williams & Johansson were warning about the consequences of elites not taking any responsibility (Brexit & Trump, working poor & generation rent getting restless) & Connor English told a nice fairy tale that if he got caught signing off on live sheep exports he would be out of business for the rest of his life. Pfft, as if.
…”Iceland remains one of the only nations to put their money where their mouth is and place the financial “fat cats” responsible for their country’s economic demise behind bars.
As in other countries, the Icelandic taxpayer has had to pay a high price for the failure of the banks. But where financial bosses got off with barely a slap on the wrist in some nations, Iceland set up a special investigative commission to probe crime within the banking sector…
‘Iceland’s jailed bankers ‘a model’ for dealing with ‘financial terrorists’ ‘
“By jailing four top officers of Iceland’s failed Kaupthing Bank, the country showed the world the right way to deal with the people largely responsible for the 2008 financial crisis, said Charlie McGrath, founder of news website, Wide Awake News.
The US and other nations must take it as a model for the next time the too-big- to-fail corporations screw things up and ask for a bailout with taxpayers’ money, he added…
‘Brexit: Iceland president says UK can join ‘triangle’ of non-EU countries’
For some obscure reason, despite what’s done to them, Kiwis just don’t have the self respect and challenging spirit as demonstrated by the Icelandic people. At present that is. But who knows. Once things begin to deteriorate more than they are doing now, we just might see more Kiwis than not stand up as a strong collective demanding …”ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, we are going to reclaim what’s been stolen from us.”
…i am waiting for youth to start organising politically …but thus far they are too much embroiled in their social media and tech gadgets…and living on debt ( student loans set a very bad precedent)
…also they blame the baby boomers without having any sophisticated sense of class warfare
…they don’t seem to realise yet that they are the underclass
a. they know they are fucked
b. they also know that what is given to them by their elders is not worth the paper its printed on.
c. they know they never will buy a house
d. they know that they will never have over job security
e. they know that the society of the 50 – 70 will never come back, most of their elders have either voted it away in the eighties and every time since then, and have sold it away, one acre a time to fund lifestyle and such
f. they all have a student loan, irrespective of wanting it or not, again it was their elders that voted away free studies and apprenticeship programmes via the various elections for various parties.
g. and yet they still try to learn a trade, pay of their loans, find a partner and marry, have children, find an affordable house, pay taxes so that society can function and the like.
I think that maybe the young ones simply don’t have any more appetite for revolution then their parents and grandparents.
I think that we – the elders effectively – should not blame the children of today for the short comings of our generations. The kids are alright, its just that we leave them nothing. And that, as sad as it is, is the truth, we leave them nothing but pollution, overfished seas, overgrazed plains, rivers/lakes that are on wadeable in full body armour, crap jobs with no future nor good pay, frankenstein food cause our pollution is everywhere and so on and so on.
We really should not blame the kids or for that matter anyone born 1980 and after. They are truly the screwed over generations.
Privacy.
Mate we had a bit of privacy an laws that made sense.
Today they have a fair chance of being charged with domestic terrorism or something like that, their life for ever fucked.
As i said above, the Young ones know that the 50 – 70 will never come back, neither the privilege that the people had at the time, the privilege to not be surveilled, the privilege to not have to take of their shoes and bras before boarding a plane etc etc.
And, please lets remember that there was terrorism during these times too, the first antifada comes to mind, Mogadishu etc etc etc.
And you still have the young ones going to demos and the likes. Have a good look at the pictures from NZ in regards to the TPPA demo’s, a lot of the people there are young.
Maybe us old ones need to take our blinkers of and see what is there and stop whinging and crying about the perceived shortcomings of a generation or two that really was screwed over and is given nothing bur scorched earth.
…radicalism and demonstrations still seems to be alive and kicking in France ( where they have banned fracking) and are fighting for a good std of living
btw i am not old …and also I dont think it is helpful to blame the ‘oldies’…it is this sort of lack of political education and focus that creates confusion and lack of action, lack of voting and organisation among the young
…the problem is not the older generation, many of whom are struggling themselves and have never supported neoliberalism ( this is an argument that lets the right wing off the hook…they would be very pleased with the blame being placed on the older generation)
…the problem is actually right wing neoliberalism…the politics of the elite 10% who own 60% and who control the media and have a formidable PR machine…as well as their buying off ‘left wing’ politicians (in parties like Labour ) here and overseas,which are supposedly on the left and for the people , but actually support neoliberalism and are afraid to take real socialist action for change and equality of opportunity.
The corruption of the Left is what disillusions young people and stops them from voting and taking action…(btw I am not talking about violent action, I am talking about peaceful mass demonstrations, organisation and voting amongst the young to create a real lobby group for change)
…in other words the real problem is not older people… but the ruling elite of laissez faire capitalism, in its last days …eating up and privatising into their own pockets the assets of countries and hopes and dreams of ordinary people for a good standard of living in their own countries…theft by the few of the many
I hope it doesn’t happen in New Zealand. But growing economic inequality may lead it that way. Some sense of democratic renewal is needed to avoid alienation, there is a sickness in western democracies.
And that sickness is the rich as they buy up our politicians and plunder our wealth.
+100 DTB …violation of the social contract ( Thomas Hobbs) usually leads to social chaos and revolution…people will take so much inequality and impoverishment and then no more..it amazes me that the ruling classes never seem to learn this lesson from history..are they stupid or has their greed affected their reason?
… these also are interesting discussions on implications of Brexit ( better than most NZ media , especially nz tv ) :
National’s answer to people living in cars? Build more roads:
The councils currently eligible to access the fund for such things as water and roading development are Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Christchurch… The Government has not yet decided how the fund will be structured but it will require an extra $1 billion in borrowing., The fund will own or finance the infrastructure until the councils receive rates revenue from the new houses.
Mr Key made his announcement in a speech to the National Party conference in Christchurch…
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the $1 billion fund “won’t even remotely cope” with the houses needed for new immigrants, let alone the country’s natural population increase… “Here after, this government will seek to blame local government for the housing crisis on the pretence that they, and not central government, is responsible for the massive demand that now exists.”
Being an Audrey Young piece, I imagine this is a reprint from the NZH. It would be good if; Labour, and the GP, were to have some response to this, and not let Peters always be the most visible face of opposition to this scheming government. But then again, they may simply not have been asked by Young. Which would be poor journalism, though hardly surprising from the sister of a sitting National MP.
I’d suggest a joint op-ed from Little and Turei targeting the issues. About time there is a follow-up from the MOU that was announced about two calendar months ago to keep the momentum going.
It wont prevent more homeless men dying this cold winter.
Or ex prisoners being released into saturated accommodation markets.
Or any relief or a amnesty from policy that makes people homeless, like affordable rentals, amnesty from paying three weeks rent in advance and a weeks rent to rental company.
Employers have no reason to lift wages, even when on the back of higher productivity and profits. Working for Families is an employer benefit.
Changes to kiwisaver see workers get gypped on paying for their employer deductions which National then tax.
I have yet to see any evidence of primary producers increasing their employment costs on the back of higher export volumes. Trade now wont lift wages or raise our living standards. It certainly doesnt make our primary produce cheaper to buy.
The Reserve Bank increased interest rates every time Fonterra had a huge payout,
so how did that improve kiwi’s standard of living.
Tax cuts are meaningless, whats needed is some major reform of raising tax thresholds.
Remember when GST was promoted as something to reduce PAYE take?
Wouldn’t it be loverly if something like this was operating in NZ before the next election. Maybe it would slow down the Key Lie-machine or the propagation of dirty tricks for Paddy to churn out. “Social media verification tools are now being developed.
Insider: ‘Corbyn will not quit until Chilcot verdict so he can brand Blair war criminal’
JEREMY Corbyn may be clinging on to power because he wants to brand Tony Blair a “war criminal” after the release of the Chilcot Inquiry report next week, Labour insiders have claimed.
Just a month and a half ago, another Holocaust survivor died. Unlike Elie Wiesel, she did not consort with crooks and murderers and she had the courage to speak out against evil no matter who the perpetrators were….
[Corrected the spelling of concentration camp survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Weisel’s name. If I thought for a moment the misspelling was deliberate, you’d be gone for a long time, Moz. TRP]
Wiesel Name Meaning German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from German Wiesel ‘weasel’, Middle High German wisele. As a German name this is a nickname; as a Jewish name it is generally an ornamental name.German: from Middle High German wisel ‘leader’. JXE.
there is more to a name than many think.
Especially Jewish and Ashkenazic names have different meanings. And many of the names go back to Old German and are a thousand years old.
So while Wiesel means Weasel directly translated it has got nothing to do with the Last Name Wiesel.
Checking up a coupla things seems to me like Eli Weisel has a background that limits respect from me. Once again Morrissey gets the serious morality right !
[Ok, that’s clearly over the line and dullwitted to boot. Feel free to come back in August. Do some some study on the difference between anti-zionism and anti-semitism while you’re away so you don’t make the same mistake again. TRP]
Have been watching The Nation (taped) this evening and I was sickened by the state of the treatment of the sheep once they arrived in Saudi Arabia. This country should not be shipping livestock away for any reason, breeding or otherwise. No Trade Deal is worth the disgusting treatment of livestock. Do they think this country’s citizens are so gullible as to accept the the Government’s assurance that they do not ship any livestock for slaughter – what were the lambs from the pregnant ewes going to be used for, if not for disgusting slaughter for food. As it happened most of the lambs died of ill treatment. Apparently they ship livestock to China (but supposedly not for slaughter) – what happens to the stock that is bred from them once they are there. The entire affair is disgraceful.
We will sell our souls to the devil for the almighty dollar. Its bad enough with our own slaughter houses and the stress the stock goes through but at least they are stunned before being butchered, cool comfort but at least the animals are not in pain. The more I see of this disgraceful Government the less I want to be a New Zealander. The PM was a bumbling excuse for a PM and full of shit as usual, the sooner they make it compulsory for our citizens to vote the better, we may then be able to rid ourselves of this incompetent corrupt lot of troughers . Its got beyond anything that I can ever remember in my lifetime for evil, lying incompetent stewardship of this country, they are now as bad as the pig farmer back in the 80’s. We deserve much better than this. its shameful.
Thank you North, I admit I was pretty worked up with rage after I had watched it, I still am this morning Monday, have just watched the PM on Breakfast and had to turn the TV off. What is it about the man that is so dodgy and creepy? Its the dead eyes for me, does it every time.
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Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
The striking report goes far beyond the proposed repeal of the Oranga Tamariki Act’s Treaty of Waitangi provision, and its impact should be felt far beyond the unique circumstances of the claim it addresses. Earlier this week, the Waitangi Tribunal released an interim report on the government’s proposed repeal of ...
The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Monash University Ken stocker/Shutterstock In the wake of numerous killings of women allegedly by men’s violence in 2024, thousands of Australians have joined rallies across the country to demand action ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University Oleg Ivanov IL/Shutterstock Waiting times for public hospital elective surgery have been in the news ahead of this year’s federal budget. That’s the type of non-emergency surgery ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Amna Artist/Shutterstock One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney LanaElcova/Shutterstock Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes – but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan University There is widespread agreement Australia needs to do better when it comes to gender-based violence. Anger and frustration at the numbers of women being killed saw national rallies over the weekend and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Mark and Anna Photography/Shutterstock As home ownership moves further out of reach for many Australians, “rentvesting” is being touted as a lifesaver. Rentvesting is the practice of renting one property to live ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Netflix The new season of Heartbreak High is garnering mixed reviews. Critics are writing about the racy story lines, comparing it to other coming-of-age series about teenage relationships and ...
Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
In 1995, Sally Clark went out on her own in a bold and unorthodox attempt to join an illustrious group of equestrian riders conquering the world. In the days of glovebox road maps, brick cell phones, and the hit song How Bizarre, Clark refused to follow Sir Mark Todd, Blyth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Beaglehole, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago niphon/Getty Images The number of people accessing medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Aotearoa New Zealand increased significantly between 2006 and 2022. But the disorder is still under-diagnosed and ...
To celebrate the start of New Zealand music month, we look back at the best local tuneage that managed to weasel its way into Hollywood productions. There’s nothing quite like the thrilling zap of recognition when New Zealand weasels its way into a glamorous Hollywood production. Crack open a Tui ...
People trust other people more than institutions. So how can the media gain that trust through journalists without losing what’s important about the institution? Anna Rawhiti-Connell reflects on two years of curating the news for The Bulletin.Amonth ago, armed cops descended on my neighbourhood as calls to “lock your ...
Essay: If the Crown harms children, how do you hold it accountable? Analysis by Aaron Smale in light of the Waitangi Tribunal court decision. The post The Crown versus Māori Children appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a class of thousands of man-made chemicals used widely in everyday consumer items such as textiles, packaging, and cookware, popular for their water, grease and stain-repellent properties. However, the very properties that make PFAS so attractive to manufacturers are also what ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99)’ This is the hottest book in New Zealand, number one with a bullet in its first week, selling more than any overseas title, and demand is so huge that it’s already been reprinted. A ...
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A warning – suicide is discussed in this podcast New Zealand’s own long-running soap Shortland Street doesn’t hesitate to kill off its much-loved characters. But would TVNZ dare to kill off our favourite soap? That’s the fear as times get tough in television – even though it’s been pointed out ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A key part of the Albanese government’s political strategy is to fill the news cycle with its presence and messaging. Ministers are deployed to the maximum, even when they’ve little to say. This week ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priestley Habru, PhD candidate, public diplomacy, University of Adelaide Former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele has been elected the next prime minister of Solomon Islands, defeating the opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in a vote in parliament. The result is a mixed bag for ...
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Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
It was 2 degrees in Auckland last night.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.
The mainstream media may think that Novak Djokovic being knocked out of Wimbledon is a news items, but is not.
The majority of the media are doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.
“Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”
This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.
Read the whole article here.
http://www.averagekiwi.com/?p=112
Those with the least often seem to be the most caring and generous. Until recently in McDonalds in Kaikohe there was a framed certificate on the wall recording that in about 2010 over the whole nation the very poor town of Kaikohe made the second highest contribution to the Ronald McDonald House donations box. After Takanini I think. Kaikohe, one of the poorest towns in New Zealand.
Studies back that up.
And that is why we can’t rely upon charity to fix poverty. The rich never give enough and the poor, although willing, simply can’t.
DTB I have to tell you this……20 years ago went to a garage sale in Sarsfield Street, Herne Bay. Even then 3 mill’ weren’t unusual in that street.
Jeezuz……fucking jam jars without lids they wanted 90 cents for. The entitlement of them ?
Another world. Another fucking world !
But I suppose for them too……like when when my long time hoa wahine lustily burst out – ” Kia Ora Kia Ora Kia Ora !!! ” – OMG the startled faces……..hilarious ! Just wanted to get outa there after that and we took off, laughing our heads off. “Fucking jam jar ninety cents…… get orrrfff !”
Yeah…….the rich…….and the eye of a needle.
Those with the least always give the most !
There will be a day of reckoning and a lot of questions and investigations launched and appearances in court once this country is liberated from the darkness i have no doubt.
Thanks again Paul (2). Your posts are much appreciated.
My staunch Socialist grandmother (often reviled for her political and social beliefs), used to take homeless people into her home (in the UK), give them a good meal to share with her and granddad, a hot bath and a warm comfy bed for the night. Before they left, she would in some instances take their ragged torn clothes and repair them to the best she possibly could. Apart from that she would volunteer to help out at shelters, soup kitchens and the like. When asked why she did this, she said because she “considered herself privileged for having shared some time with such good decent people.”
Through her, I learned the value of compassion, love, respect and treating society’s less fortunate as an equal. She always said to do so is a sign of strength of character, as well as generosity of spirit.
Obviously in NZ that charitable spirit still exists through the ordinary Kiwi, as you have indicated in your post. Apart from that, many similar instances being marae which have given shelter and fed NZ’s homeless families. A generosity of spirit which needs to grow more.
+100 mary_a…the values we are brought up with are pretty important…NZ has been corrupted by jonkey Nact….National voters should be ashamed of themselves
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11667728
Mr Hickey at his best.
“”At some point, the governing elites of mature and globalised economies like ours will have to come up with a new deal to redistribute some of the bounties of globalisation.””
Sounds like a ubi is in his thinking.
Economics meets science. Guess who wins?
http://www.salon.com/2016/07/02/watch_bill_maher_rubs_californias_success_in_the_face_of_republicans/
Swallow your coffee and put the cup down before watching!
New Zealand – A Ticking Timebomb of Mass Social Unrest
Read the whole article here.
http://www.averagekiwi.com/?p=94
+100 Paul
Dr Nick Smith he knows everything about everything just like John Key is the master of business and moneymaking.
The thing that gets me about Nick Smith is that he formed a relationship with a constituent, a woman he was helping in his role as an MP.An act that would have forced him from any other profession.Think Dr- Patient,Teacher-Student.A power in-balance.
I hope someone is watching those Aussie ballot boxes – an interrupted count is one of the first signs of a stolen election.
It’s a cliffhanger!!
These are the 12 seats in doubt, with Lab 67 Coalition 66 Greens 1 (but polled very respectable 10%) and others 4. It’s 76 to rule.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/results/list/?selector=indoubt&sort=az
They desperately need proportional representation over there.
Coming along next, watch the Oz Labor Party begin to head down the road of division, leadership challenge and implosion, y’know like NZ and UK have experienced.
Kiwiri
I think that Labor have already eaten their fill of that particular meal; after the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd sandwich they were forced to choke down. It seems unlikely I know, but perhaps even career politicians can learn something from experience?
Also CV – isn’t the Oz Senate proportional?
[edit] I see it is proportional, though not proportionately proportional to overall population, but by state; if that makes sense…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Senate
One of my relatives is a staffer and said that it is mega toxic within the senior ranks. It would not be surprising that Shorten will be challenged within seconds, once it is clear that Labor will not be in government. He will be fine if ALP squeeks through. Of course, those who are in the know will be aware that Shorten has been triple dealing over the years and played a Machiavellian role in the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd changeovers. No doubt, he has many daggers out for him.
Bafta award-winning writer of The Royale Family (one of the greatest sitcoms of the last 30 years) and key member of The Fast Show cast, Caroline Aherne, dies.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/02/caroline-aherne-actor-comedian-dies-52-royle-family?CMP=share_btn_tw
Very Sad, an incredibly funny & talented woman, loved Royle Family.
Haha, was just going to post that! Looking back theres not a lot of politically correct Fast Show material either.
Saw a headline about Caroline Aherne but the name didn’t ring a bell. Loved the Royales but especially the fast show.
To this day in our house we still use “El Skorchio!” to describe hot weather. Eg, this last stinking hot summer and weirdo warm autumn we’ve had was “El Skorchio”!
And one to the other during summer “What’s the weather forecast for tomorrow?” Reply “El skorchio!”.
And so it goes.
RIP Caroline lol lady. You were grand.
Typical of men in high office, especially politics.
It is also said another man of that crowd should be pushing a pram of one of his former high ranking staffer’s who recently resigned. Quite the scandal of the slippery one, let us hope finally it brings his undoing!
You media shills in Wellington know it so let’s have it!
“You media shills in Wellington know it so let’s have it!” – but that’s the problem, those same ‘media shills’ are all in bed with them & eachother, take that as you will. & also, once the dirty stories start coming out, who will be left standing, the manager classes like the money & power but not the responsibility.
The Nation.
“House prices til now have been static for the last 8 years” Connor English.
Good interview with Key by Gower (!) & investigation on the Saudi sheep thing (HPA!). Hooton too, Boag was so unconvincing it was funny, she & McCully got scammed by a scammer it seems.
Williams & Johansson were warning about the consequences of elites not taking any responsibility (Brexit & Trump, working poor & generation rent getting restless) & Connor English told a nice fairy tale that if he got caught signing off on live sheep exports he would be out of business for the rest of his life. Pfft, as if.
MORON WATCH No. 1:
Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal)
Believe it or not, there ARE some thoughtful and intelligent pop stars.
But there are also a lot of pop morons, like Ted Nugent, and this fool….
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/16/eagles-of-death-metal-frontman
The Yes Men have a idea for Jesse:
Lets follow Iceland’s model…yus
‘Jailed bankers, gender equality & majestic fjords: Reasons to love Iceland’
https://www.rt.com/viral/349321-iceland-love-landscape-music/
…”Iceland remains one of the only nations to put their money where their mouth is and place the financial “fat cats” responsible for their country’s economic demise behind bars.
As in other countries, the Icelandic taxpayer has had to pay a high price for the failure of the banks. But where financial bosses got off with barely a slap on the wrist in some nations, Iceland set up a special investigative commission to probe crime within the banking sector…
‘Iceland’s jailed bankers ‘a model’ for dealing with ‘financial terrorists’ ‘
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/iceland-bank-sentence-model-246/
“By jailing four top officers of Iceland’s failed Kaupthing Bank, the country showed the world the right way to deal with the people largely responsible for the 2008 financial crisis, said Charlie McGrath, founder of news website, Wide Awake News.
The US and other nations must take it as a model for the next time the too-big- to-fail corporations screw things up and ask for a bailout with taxpayers’ money, he added…
‘Brexit: Iceland president says UK can join ‘triangle’ of non-EU countries’
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-uk-eu-referendum-latest-iceland-norway-greenland-faroe-islands-a7105641.html
Agree with everything in your post Chooky (13).
For some obscure reason, despite what’s done to them, Kiwis just don’t have the self respect and challenging spirit as demonstrated by the Icelandic people. At present that is. But who knows. Once things begin to deteriorate more than they are doing now, we just might see more Kiwis than not stand up as a strong collective demanding …”ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, we are going to reclaim what’s been stolen from us.”
Bring on that day. Can’t come soon enough for me.
+100 mary_a
…i am waiting for youth to start organising politically …but thus far they are too much embroiled in their social media and tech gadgets…and living on debt ( student loans set a very bad precedent)
…also they blame the baby boomers without having any sophisticated sense of class warfare
…they don’t seem to realise yet that they are the underclass
i work with a few young people
a. they know they are fucked
b. they also know that what is given to them by their elders is not worth the paper its printed on.
c. they know they never will buy a house
d. they know that they will never have over job security
e. they know that the society of the 50 – 70 will never come back, most of their elders have either voted it away in the eighties and every time since then, and have sold it away, one acre a time to fund lifestyle and such
f. they all have a student loan, irrespective of wanting it or not, again it was their elders that voted away free studies and apprenticeship programmes via the various elections for various parties.
g. and yet they still try to learn a trade, pay of their loans, find a partner and marry, have children, find an affordable house, pay taxes so that society can function and the like.
I think that maybe the young ones simply don’t have any more appetite for revolution then their parents and grandparents.
I think that we – the elders effectively – should not blame the children of today for the short comings of our generations. The kids are alright, its just that we leave them nothing. And that, as sad as it is, is the truth, we leave them nothing but pollution, overfished seas, overgrazed plains, rivers/lakes that are on wadeable in full body armour, crap jobs with no future nor good pay, frankenstein food cause our pollution is everywhere and so on and so on.
We really should not blame the kids or for that matter anyone born 1980 and after. They are truly the screwed over generations.
yes agree…but whatever happened to youth radicalism, socialism, marxism?…maybe it is yet to come?
….maybe many are still being cushioned by their baby boomer parents?
…maybe they know the global warming end is nigh and they just want to enjoy life as much as possible
…maybe the alternate reality of cyberspace has taken over?
Privacy.
Mate we had a bit of privacy an laws that made sense.
Today they have a fair chance of being charged with domestic terrorism or something like that, their life for ever fucked.
As i said above, the Young ones know that the 50 – 70 will never come back, neither the privilege that the people had at the time, the privilege to not be surveilled, the privilege to not have to take of their shoes and bras before boarding a plane etc etc.
And, please lets remember that there was terrorism during these times too, the first antifada comes to mind, Mogadishu etc etc etc.
And you still have the young ones going to demos and the likes. Have a good look at the pictures from NZ in regards to the TPPA demo’s, a lot of the people there are young.
Maybe us old ones need to take our blinkers of and see what is there and stop whinging and crying about the perceived shortcomings of a generation or two that really was screwed over and is given nothing bur scorched earth.
…radicalism and demonstrations still seems to be alive and kicking in France ( where they have banned fracking) and are fighting for a good std of living
btw i am not old …and also I dont think it is helpful to blame the ‘oldies’…it is this sort of lack of political education and focus that creates confusion and lack of action, lack of voting and organisation among the young
…the problem is not the older generation, many of whom are struggling themselves and have never supported neoliberalism ( this is an argument that lets the right wing off the hook…they would be very pleased with the blame being placed on the older generation)
…the problem is actually right wing neoliberalism…the politics of the elite 10% who own 60% and who control the media and have a formidable PR machine…as well as their buying off ‘left wing’ politicians (in parties like Labour ) here and overseas,which are supposedly on the left and for the people , but actually support neoliberalism and are afraid to take real socialist action for change and equality of opportunity.
The corruption of the Left is what disillusions young people and stops them from voting and taking action…(btw I am not talking about violent action, I am talking about peaceful mass demonstrations, organisation and voting amongst the young to create a real lobby group for change)
…in other words the real problem is not older people… but the ruling elite of laissez faire capitalism, in its last days …eating up and privatising into their own pockets the assets of countries and hopes and dreams of ordinary people for a good standard of living in their own countries…theft by the few of the many
The political elites foisted a new system on ordinary Brits. Little wonder they’re grabbing it back
By Geoffrey Palmer
No, it wasn’t a new system – it was the same old one that failed in the 19th century and brought WWI.
And that sickness is the rich as they buy up our politicians and plunder our wealth.
+100 DTB …violation of the social contract ( Thomas Hobbs) usually leads to social chaos and revolution…people will take so much inequality and impoverishment and then no more..it amazes me that the ruling classes never seem to learn this lesson from history..are they stupid or has their greed affected their reason?
… these also are interesting discussions on implications of Brexit ( better than most NZ media , especially nz tv ) :
‘Russia’s Brexit’
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/349095-russia-brexit-democracy-security/
‘EU implosion?’
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/348831-eu-reform-democracy-brexit/
‘Brexit: Goal!’
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/348295-brexit-goal-uk-eu/
National’s answer to people living in cars? Build more roads:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/389037/1b-fund-address-housing-crisis
Being an Audrey Young piece, I imagine this is a reprint from the NZH. It would be good if; Labour, and the GP, were to have some response to this, and not let Peters always be the most visible face of opposition to this scheming government. But then again, they may simply not have been asked by Young. Which would be poor journalism, though hardly surprising from the sister of a sitting National MP.
I’d suggest a joint op-ed from Little and Turei targeting the issues. About time there is a follow-up from the MOU that was announced about two calendar months ago to keep the momentum going.
It wont prevent more homeless men dying this cold winter.
Or ex prisoners being released into saturated accommodation markets.
Or any relief or a amnesty from policy that makes people homeless, like affordable rentals, amnesty from paying three weeks rent in advance and a weeks rent to rental company.
Employers have no reason to lift wages, even when on the back of higher productivity and profits. Working for Families is an employer benefit.
Changes to kiwisaver see workers get gypped on paying for their employer deductions which National then tax.
I have yet to see any evidence of primary producers increasing their employment costs on the back of higher export volumes. Trade now wont lift wages or raise our living standards. It certainly doesnt make our primary produce cheaper to buy.
The Reserve Bank increased interest rates every time Fonterra had a huge payout,
so how did that improve kiwi’s standard of living.
Tax cuts are meaningless, whats needed is some major reform of raising tax thresholds.
Remember when GST was promoted as something to reduce PAYE take?
At the time of posting this, I see The Daily Blog has gone down again! What’s going on?
waghorns out there scenario on the brexit.
The new Tory leader will call a snap election while labour is in turmoil, and the torys will run on a stay in the EU if they win ticket, .
Here’s the plan.
http://thebrexitplan.com/
he he that’s what you get when you didn’t expect to lose.
The best laugh of the day. 😀
Wouldn’t it be loverly if something like this was operating in NZ before the next election. Maybe it would slow down the Key Lie-machine or the propagation of dirty tricks for Paddy to churn out.
“Social media verification tools are now being developed.
Pheme, named after the greek goddess of fame and renown, is an open-source online tool to help newsrooms detect, track and verify facts and claims the moment they start spreading on Twitter….”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/201806336/brexit-media-from-a-to-zz-top
Bernard Hickey – “Mr Key……..the people are revolting.”
Mr Key – “I know they are…….I’ve felt that way since I was 12”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11667728
Seen this?
Joined a few dots for me regarding the apparent Blairite campaign to remove Jeremy Corbett …..
http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/685663/Jeremy-Corbyn-Tony-Blair-war-criminal-Chilcot-Inquiry-verdict-quit-Labour-leader
Insider: ‘Corbyn will not quit until Chilcot verdict so he can brand Blair war criminal’
JEREMY Corbyn may be clinging on to power because he wants to brand Tony Blair a “war criminal” after the release of the Chilcot Inquiry report next week, Labour insiders have claimed.
_________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
pfft. Was saying that last Wednesday 😉
(sorry, shameless self promotion)
http://thestandard.org.nz/chilcot-corbyn-and-the-uk-labour-party-caucus/
That old fraud Elie Wiesel is eulogized, but Hedy Epstein is largely ignored
Elie Wiesel, who has died aged 87, was neither brave nor moral….
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-05072015/#comment-1038877
Just a month and a half ago, another Holocaust survivor died. Unlike Elie Wiesel, she did not consort with crooks and murderers and she had the courage to speak out against evil no matter who the perpetrators were….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedy_Epstein
[Corrected the spelling of concentration camp survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Weisel’s name. If I thought for a moment the misspelling was deliberate, you’d be gone for a long time, Moz. TRP]
Good judgement TRP
Just saw that Al Jazeera is broadcasting the name as Wiesel. (Subtitles across bottom of screen.)
Hmm Seems an unlikely German name, but if it is right, we owe Morrisey an apology.
Or Al Jazeera need a rev-up?
Errare humanum est
Yep – Google confirms that we owe Morrisey an apology – the guy’s surname really was German for ‘weasel’.
Great surname is all I can now say.
[The man was not German and his surname does not mean what you think it does. Don’t go down this track. TRP]
Wiesel Name Meaning German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from German Wiesel ‘weasel’, Middle High German wisele. As a German name this is a nickname; as a Jewish name it is generally an ornamental name.German: from Middle High German wisel ‘leader’. JXE.
there is more to a name than many think.
Especially Jewish and Ashkenazic names have different meanings. And many of the names go back to Old German and are a thousand years old.
So while Wiesel means Weasel directly translated it has got nothing to do with the Last Name Wiesel.
http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=wiesel&geo_a=r&geo_s=us&geo_t=us&geo_v=2.0.0&o_xid=62916&o_lid=62916&o_sch=Partners
and even if it did, I doubt Morrissey would have the brains to know it.
Romanian.
Checking up a coupla things seems to me like Eli Weisel has a background that limits respect from me. Once again Morrissey gets the serious morality right !
Elie Wiesel.
A life well lived, fully lived.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elie_Wiesel
Rest in Well Deserved Peace.
[Deleted].
[Ok, that’s clearly over the line and dullwitted to boot. Feel free to come back in August. Do some some study on the difference between anti-zionism and anti-semitism while you’re away so you don’t make the same mistake again. TRP]
Have been watching The Nation (taped) this evening and I was sickened by the state of the treatment of the sheep once they arrived in Saudi Arabia. This country should not be shipping livestock away for any reason, breeding or otherwise. No Trade Deal is worth the disgusting treatment of livestock. Do they think this country’s citizens are so gullible as to accept the the Government’s assurance that they do not ship any livestock for slaughter – what were the lambs from the pregnant ewes going to be used for, if not for disgusting slaughter for food. As it happened most of the lambs died of ill treatment. Apparently they ship livestock to China (but supposedly not for slaughter) – what happens to the stock that is bred from them once they are there. The entire affair is disgraceful.
We will sell our souls to the devil for the almighty dollar. Its bad enough with our own slaughter houses and the stress the stock goes through but at least they are stunned before being butchered, cool comfort but at least the animals are not in pain. The more I see of this disgraceful Government the less I want to be a New Zealander. The PM was a bumbling excuse for a PM and full of shit as usual, the sooner they make it compulsory for our citizens to vote the better, we may then be able to rid ourselves of this incompetent corrupt lot of troughers . Its got beyond anything that I can ever remember in my lifetime for evil, lying incompetent stewardship of this country, they are now as bad as the pig farmer back in the 80’s. We deserve much better than this. its shameful.
Whispering Kate……that was not a whisper…….it was an impassioned and magnificent cry. It will be answered. The moneylenders will be cast out……..!
Thank you North, I admit I was pretty worked up with rage after I had watched it, I still am this morning Monday, have just watched the PM on Breakfast and had to turn the TV off. What is it about the man that is so dodgy and creepy? Its the dead eyes for me, does it every time.