I was just disturbed by some of the comments at the on youtube about the new Ghost busters movie. You know one of those times when you read comments and just think – wow that was some really weird stuff. I was not alone.
The problem is the trailer really isn’t any good, the movie may be funny (Spy is one of my fav movies) but the trailer itself looks like shite
First off the caption 4 scientists at the start (it was three scientists and a blur collar worker) makes it sound as if its in the same universe but it supposedly isn’t
The ghosts look like they’re straight out of a video game, they then throw in a (what looks like) a whole original scene with original gag, which means theres less to look forward to in the movie, and the gag itself concludes with yet another scene of Melissa McCarthy getting smacked around
Considering the talents of the women involved the trailer just looks really bad
Of course that’s just my opinion and it may well be an excuse for some sexist a-holes to vent their spleens, personally I hope the movie is better then the trailer which it could be because I remember not thinking much about Spy with the trailer but the movie was really funny
AFAIK they’ve fucked up the new Ghost Busters movie.
They sold it as a sequel to the awesome original – (e.g. they could have brought Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver back in cameo roles helping the new team) but when you look at it hard, it is clearly a total reboot, forgetting that the entire original movie ever happened.
And I don’t think it will live up to the original.
Well as I say I didn’t give Spy much of a thought based on the trailer but, after watching the movie, its now one of my favourites and since its Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy teaming up again it may be all right
FYI I have until 4pm today to provide more information to OMSA (Online Media Standards) to back up my complaint against recent articles published by Cameron Slater on his WhaleOil blog regarding Watercare and my property.
Yesterday, at MY request, Watercare very promptly and efficiently replaced a faulty water meter.
I should know by next Monday whether or not this water meter was ‘tampered with’.
It seems that Cameron Slater has ‘sources’ who are, in my view, effectively stalking me, snooping around my property, taking photos and apparently then lying about what they are seeing.
Not only have I made a complaint to OMSA, I am considering making a formal complaint to Police regarding harassment.
She used the wrong tools. No need for an angle grinder. A pair of good bolt cutters should go through most pad locks. I also hope she is not doing this regularly as she is not using the correct PPE. You should always use gloves with an angle grinder and I couldn’t see if the safety guard was in place.
I normally skip Penny’s posts as they tend to ramble and what I have seen are normally self serving excuses for why she shouldn’t have to pay her rates or water bills like the rest of us. Not sure why people see her as being different to any tax dodger. Those who don’t pay result in the rest of us having to pay more to make up for the short fall. Just like tax. Maybe I should read a few of her posts to get an idea of what her excuses are.
@Crashcart. Do you mean Penny is like big corporations Google, Apple, etc that have reasons not to pay taxes, and leave it to the rest of us to make up the shortfall…. Those corporations have really good excuses…. Hmmm…. Loans to parent was one recent excuse…. All under the disguise of ‘legal’
So penny if you see a repulsive little cocksucker who smells of shit ……
– might want to quit with the homophobic slurs there buddy boy, its one thing to take the proverbial out of me (I’ve got broad shoulders so I can take it) but its not very nice to slur a decent sized percentage of the population
Penny – lay a police complaint. Slater is a known offender to police in numerous petty and bizarre from Hacking Labour’s computers to illegal name suppression releases and defamation cases. Apparently his own wife claims ” he has no thought of the consequences for himself or others or indeed his family”.
Which is a bit odd given that last week the Mediaworks Board endorsed him.
Never mind Mark. Your great mate Key will help you out – unless you taint his PMship in which case he will dump you hard.
I am wondering if Weldon was endorsed so that he could then resign citing personal reasons. This would supposedly save him the indignity of being SACKED!! Karma rules! And the likelihood of a mass walkout. Put JC
“Greenpeace have used six tonnes of dairy sewage to blockade ACC’s multi-storey building in the middle of Wellington.
Just after 6.45am, six thousand litres of cow urine and other dairy waste, sealed in eight heavy-duty tanks, were placed across the two main entrances into ACC’s offices on Molesworth Street in an escalating row over the government department’s link to the controversial Ruataniwha irrigation scheme in Hawke’s Bay.
These trucks should then be driven down to the Beehive and used together with a large fan to await the announcement of the select committee report on TPP submissions.
according to the latest radio news these muppets are protesting at the wrong building apparently the new ACC offices are somewhere else now and have been moved into recently, will be interesting and rather funny if this is the case
Great way to protest though somewhat amusing
….what has ACC funds to do with funding a controversial dam…that most in the community do not want… because it will destroy the rivers and water for everyone?
Perhaps it should be returned to sender.
Dump it on Russel Norman’s lawn perhaps.
After his years of throwing the stuff round during his Parliamentary years he should be able to handle it.
It is WTF. Morally questionable that a government department is playing Monopoly when it’s core function is to assist people recovering from injuries and promoting injury prevention. I guess this happens when you’ve “corporation” in your name?
Must have a lot of dosh floating around since 2008 when they forced patients to part pay for their physio treatments, (usually approximately $30 per session) via the removal of subsidies for physios. Would rather they spend any surplus (and a surplus was announced some time ago from memory) on ACC patients and return fully funded physio, as it always was prior to 2008.
I am in no doubt that many people have missed out on treatment and are in pain because of this approach.
Acc are effectively and insurance company they need to invest thier premiums somewhere to pay future claims, in that regard they are no different form any insurance company trying to match thier assets to future liabilities
Not really. Insurance companies exist to make money. ACC was a government initiative to make sure people didn’t get left destitute after an accident and to curb the tendancy for NZ to become a litigious society. It’s social security. So completely different.
“Climate protection, jobs, food safety and online privacy rights will be whittled away under the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), an explosive tranche of leaked documents suggest.
The leaked texts, which shed light on secretive EU-US trade negotiations, indicate TTIP could tear asunder environmental and consumer protections many Europeans hold dear.
Greenpeace Netherlands published the documents on Tuesday to dismantle a veil of secrecy over the watershed deal and lay bare its implications for climate protection, human health, labour rights, internet privacy rights and the very social fabric of Europe itself…
China’s Foreign Ministry, Knocking Obama TPP Column, Faults U.S. For ‘Narrow Vision’
“It is China’s stance that world trade rules should be jointly written by all countries, instead of being dictated by any single country.”
Tue, 5:35 PM
Following Greenpeace Leak, France’s Hollande Says TTIP May Be Rejected
“Europe is offering a lot and we are getting very little in return. This is unacceptable,” said France’s minister of state for trade.
Tue, 5:04 PM
Helen Clark made an apology on behalf of New Zealand to Chinese residents for the way Chinese were treated in New Zealand a century ago.
I wonder when Little is going to have to do the same on behalf of his party for the way his miserable lot of MPs have been stirring up race hatred?
When is he going to slap Twyford down?
Or does Little have the same bigoted views as Phil? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11632998
He can’t because it’s exactly that, BS, to put up would simply be more bs, so don’t encourager him, just treat his mumblings as that of a slightly deranged and unhinged individual
Your linked article shows a New Zealander of Chinese descent who’s suffering the same disadvantage as other Aucklanders from the government’s refusal to address the problem of foreign purchasers driving up house prices. She also mentions that because the bulk of the foreign purchasers are Chinese, locals are looking with disfavour on anyone who looks Chinese and that’s upsetting for her. I’m sure it is, and it’s a further inevitable consequence of the government’s refusal to address the problem. Relevance of Labour MPs to the problem: 0.
“In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max and Stacy discuss the nine most terrifying words in the English language: “I’m from Goldman Sachs, and I’m here to help.” They explore why it is that Goldman Sachs Bank USA is so eager to attract small-time depositors.”
In the second half, Max continues his interview with Jim Rickards about his new book, The New Case for Gold. They look at the SDR (the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights) and why it is that China is accumulating them.”
With a proposed lifting capability of 66 tons and no need for a landing strip, these airships should be able to deliver just about anything just about anywhere in the world. Cargo can either be loaded into the Aeroscraft’s internal cargo bay or slung under the blimp using the company’s proprietary ceiling suspension cargo deployment (CSCD) system. which automatically balances the hanging load to prevent it from swinging around and crashing the dirigible.
Could be useful in developing stuff in out of the way places without damaging the environment too much. Be great, for example, in installing and maintaining wind turbines pretty much anywhere.
Do you have any idea of how it handles in the wind?
They describe “high speed” as being above 20 mph, which does tend to imply that in a typical Wellington breeze it would go backwards.
Quite something though, isn’t it. I imagine there will be a few UFO reports after it has been in an area.
I suspect that above 20mph they get into aerodynamic stabilisation rather than needing thrust vectoring, tethers, and gas shifting.
It has a hefty sail area, but they really seem to be concentrating on giving it more control than the old ones in the 1930s, especially at low speed/hover.
Thanks for the link.
The biggest one proposed, the ML86X sounds more like a couple of super tankers side by side than a plane.
920 ft long and 355 ft wide!
“After the leaks showing what it stands for, this could really be the end for TTIP
The documents show that US corporations will be granted unprecedented powers over any new public health or safety regulations to be introduced in future. If any European government does dare to bring in laws to raise social or environmental standards, TTIP will grant US investors the right to sue for loss of profits ”
This government isn’t incompetent as they’re achieving exactly what they set out to achieve – the sale of NZ and NZers to the worlds rich. We’re becoming serfs to the new aristocracy.
Yes you are totally correct in that assessment. What I should have said was “viewed from the standpoint of were they able to Govern this country for the benefit of its people and the environment, they are completely incompetent.”
So it seems that Winston Peters is perfectly happy to talk about potential coalition deals with National ahead of the election – even a full year ahead:
It could also mean the the Grey Fox is showing what teeth he still has, and how sharp, by dealing to the third most powerful man in the country. Going with National or with Labour/Greens, doesn’t matter at the moment for Winston in this situation.
It’s two fold. He has Got Carter in payback, and he has shown his teeth.
“it could mean a bidding war from Labour”. I don’t believe that the Peters/Carter stoush is in any way an indication of what Peters might want in terms of bids, apart from stating that the opening bids should start realistically.
As for bids, well, Winston never really has had much reserve……..
Maybe, but there’s nothing in that article to suggest talks are happening other than the usual beltway journo with an inside source implication. Not that I would be surprised if they were. I’d hope Peters would be talking to Labour too.
I think that just indicates that that would be one of the “bottom lines” for NZF in any post election discussions. I consider it highly commendable that such persons who have been given golden handshakes to get them out of Parliament should be removed from such positions. I would think that Labour and The Greens would also concur with the sentiments Peters raises here.
It also gives the snub to that disaster of a “Speaker” – Carter. To reward him with the High Commissioner in London would be a disgrace.
What is so hard about restricting the purchase of property to Permanent Residents and Citizens only?
It’s “apparently” against ‘free’ trade. The .1% need to be able to buy and control EVERYTHING.
But also with the highest level of experimental immigration for years in NZ and 67,000 new arrivals last year alone, many trying to gain citizenship and residency here, (including laughably ability to buy investment property as a way to gain citizenship) as well as rumours of bonded labour ands shady immigration practises, the problem is not going to go away but at least a ban would be a start.
Immigration would be great… if we had the jobs, if we had the houses, if we had the transport… if we had a real skills shortage not just lazy immigration…if the government had put more money into schools, police, hospitals and social security to fund the increase in population….. if transnational profits were not one of our biggest exports….etc
Go Natz – going for the record in budget deficits and government borrowing…. sarc
The Standard seems to have once more been hit with an unexpected outage. Perhaps it’s time to move the site to a proper hosting company that knows what it’s doing?
Lynn just brought some new hardware, so I’m sure a donation will be handy. I assume the outage today was part of the same issue the other and hence the upgrade he is currently doing.
John Gascoigne: Immigration – what worked for US will fail in NZ
extract…
“Accordingly, the absurdity of invoking the American experience in support of our present immigration policies must be self-evident. New Zealand is not America, or Argentina for that matter. However, there are disconcerting parallels between New Zealand and the Argentine experience. For example, the infrastructural costs of an additional million people crowding into Auckland would be astronomical. Those costs will be met by the resident population. The hugely detrimental environmental effects, let alone the impacts on housing and social cohesion, must also be considered.
America has always beckoned as the land of unlimited opportunity. By contrast, in an increasingly uncertain world, New Zealand beckons as the perfect bolthole. A sunny place for shady foreigners. And a back door entry to Australia, if required.
The highly adverse effects from our present immigration policies are now glaringly apparent. Our resources, unlike America’s, are finite. Accordingly, the argument that more of the same will eventually lead to diametrically opposite and hugely beneficial outcomes all round is, quite simply, totally implausible.”
Yep, real economics gets in the way of the dreams of avarice that NZ politicians routinely engage in.
We have enough resources to keep a reasonable population at reasonable living standard indefinitely. Going above that reasonable population level must result in the decrease of that reasonable living standard. IMO, that ‘reasonable population’ for NZ is about 4 million people. It may stretch to 6 million but beyond that is likely to be unsustainable.
Keys “ethical” “lawyer” criticised by judge for a “far from satisfactory” explanation regarding why he “witnessed” a signature made in Las Vegas while he was in New Zealand, as well as evidence with inconsistencies.
Feel sorry for John he seems to attract some really bad people in his life, from lawyers, waitresses, gossip journos to hate bloggers. It has to be just bad luck..
the article is full of head shakingly disturbing stuff but really is a lawyer witnessing a signature signed in Las Vegas while he was sitting in Auckland a hanging offence?
give Whitney a break–drumroll–oh thats right this is real life not “Better call Saul”
This was always the tact that Labour should have taken in attacking Key: what is the PM doing mixed up with a firm and with a lawyer who specialises in tax avoidance schemes.
Not – his lawyer’s not really a lawyer any more, not since February! Horrors!
Tiger Mountain – a hanging offence to do the witnessing 7000 miles away from the signing ? If it’s not here’s the hanging offence – being on oath in front of a High Court judge and telling him/her that “in the presence of” can mean 7,000 miles away if you think you know the signature.
This from a lawyer of round about 40 years experience ? That’s so pathetic it might have been conceived by the loathsome Fake Man himself.
Following this through when I got a bit more time and it’s getting even smellier.
The guy the Whitney was telling porkies (witness in absentia) for was Rob Nielsen, who has serious form around Queenstown for “failed” property developments in the 00’s. There’s a lot of people here who would like to have a talk to him…
So Whitney got himself in a difficult position in the High Court in late August 2014, and resigns from the bar in Feb 2016. The time frame would be about right for things working through the Law Society, hopefully someone wiht the resources will have a dig here.
But there’s also the ethical issue of assisting an undischarged bankrupt, and known commercial hazard, to engage in business and effectively circumvent the OA.
“Conclusion
[129] Looking at all of these various indicia in the round, in my judgment, the Rosebud Trust was a sham trust from the outset. It was never intended to effect the rights and obligations of the parties in the way that a valid trust would. The intention from the outset was to mislead, to conceal Mr Nielsen’s identity and to enable him to carry on business in this country, notwithstanding his bankruptcy. It follows that the trust was void ab initio.”
How the hell does this square with Key’s statement that Whitney was “highly ethical” and that was why he chose him as his lawyer
Key and McClay cannot get their ducks in a line over the newly revealed
“trusted-ethical-personal–lawyer-of-many-years” shyster Whitney, and who said what at where and when and how it was said.
Perhaps it might be helpful to know how Whitney of the “sham trusts” knew of an IRD investigation/review of the International trust business in the first place? Surely he didn’t learn about the review over a little coffee chat with his confidant, PM John Key.
No. His “Australia” failed a year or more ago. That’s why he’s back here. Mind you all sins forgiven when he ferals the Fake Man. Which he will do , for brilliant, brilliant ‘fun’. Having silently, cunningly, assessed the tide.
Please Paul @ 23 – “………Wonder how Paul Henry is feeling?”
– even the question is dangerous to my health. Potential die laughing !
Reckon he’s feeling like a bit of a miffed chipmunk at the moment actually, head nervously swivelling, sniffing the air, tail fanning, reaching for (celebrity) nuts to nibble on.
I’ll tell you though……..when Henry starts getting bitchily feral at Key (and it will happen – Henry though weirdly an ‘unkind fun’ practitioner is not without a gram of moral, philosophical stripe)…….that’s when we’ll know the Fake Man is the Fukd Man.
Hilarious times ahead. As someone said the other day…….” the rats are all eating themselves. ” Brilliant mind’s eye !
Oh Muttonbird I was in a dairy SH 1 Ohaeawai today and a guy whom I know came in for a “mockingbird” but of course it was a muttonbird he was after so we all had a bloody good old laugh and it was great. My recall came from seeing the name “Muttonbird” above the magnificent brevity “Fat.” Crack up ! Seems like John’s letting everyone who loved him slip down the sludge hole. Punks got scammed. Good Job !
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Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
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 Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
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 ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. 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 ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
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 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
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Seen this?
A poll on who people want to be Mayor of Auckland:
http://www.poll-maker.com/results675069x66314137-28#tab-2
Kind regards
Penny Bright
(Her Warship 😉
Don’t you have issues with your water supply to be dealing with?
We all know Penny isnt going to answer that.
You posted the results page and NOT the vote page.
You can vote Here.
Ha ha …WONDERFUL Penny!…I would vote for you too!
John Key learned from Helen Clark and now Andrew Little looks to be learning from John Key:
http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/refugee-tweet-not-met-with-littles-kindness-2016050317#ixzz47a1K5V4S
🙂
I was just disturbed by some of the comments at the on youtube about the new Ghost busters movie. You know one of those times when you read comments and just think – wow that was some really weird stuff. I was not alone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfHh0UndUOU
The problem is the trailer really isn’t any good, the movie may be funny (Spy is one of my fav movies) but the trailer itself looks like shite
First off the caption 4 scientists at the start (it was three scientists and a blur collar worker) makes it sound as if its in the same universe but it supposedly isn’t
The ghosts look like they’re straight out of a video game, they then throw in a (what looks like) a whole original scene with original gag, which means theres less to look forward to in the movie, and the gag itself concludes with yet another scene of Melissa McCarthy getting smacked around
Considering the talents of the women involved the trailer just looks really bad
Of course that’s just my opinion and it may well be an excuse for some sexist a-holes to vent their spleens, personally I hope the movie is better then the trailer which it could be because I remember not thinking much about Spy with the trailer but the movie was really funny
AFAIK they’ve fucked up the new Ghost Busters movie.
They sold it as a sequel to the awesome original – (e.g. they could have brought Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver back in cameo roles helping the new team) but when you look at it hard, it is clearly a total reboot, forgetting that the entire original movie ever happened.
And I don’t think it will live up to the original.
Useless.
Apparently they all have cameos but that makes it even more confusing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters_(2016_film)
Some movies are better off *not* being made.
Well as I say I didn’t give Spy much of a thought based on the trailer but, after watching the movie, its now one of my favourites and since its Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy teaming up again it may be all right
But the trailer really does suck
VERY ‘dirty politics’…..
FYI I have until 4pm today to provide more information to OMSA (Online Media Standards) to back up my complaint against recent articles published by Cameron Slater on his WhaleOil blog regarding Watercare and my property.
Yesterday, at MY request, Watercare very promptly and efficiently replaced a faulty water meter.
I should know by next Monday whether or not this water meter was ‘tampered with’.
It seems that Cameron Slater has ‘sources’ who are, in my view, effectively stalking me, snooping around my property, taking photos and apparently then lying about what they are seeing.
Not only have I made a complaint to OMSA, I am considering making a formal complaint to Police regarding harassment.
This is NOT acceptable.
How would YOU like it?
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Its not like there isn’t justifiable concern here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzccHIB3paQ
Puckish Rouge, now justifying stalking.
New low, even for you scared one.
adam, now justifying illegal behaviour.
.
She used the wrong tools. No need for an angle grinder. A pair of good bolt cutters should go through most pad locks. I also hope she is not doing this regularly as she is not using the correct PPE. You should always use gloves with an angle grinder and I couldn’t see if the safety guard was in place.
I normally skip Penny’s posts as they tend to ramble and what I have seen are normally self serving excuses for why she shouldn’t have to pay her rates or water bills like the rest of us. Not sure why people see her as being different to any tax dodger. Those who don’t pay result in the rest of us having to pay more to make up for the short fall. Just like tax. Maybe I should read a few of her posts to get an idea of what her excuses are.
@Crashcart. Do you mean Penny is like big corporations Google, Apple, etc that have reasons not to pay taxes, and leave it to the rest of us to make up the shortfall…. Those corporations have really good excuses…. Hmmm…. Loans to parent was one recent excuse…. All under the disguise of ‘legal’
If puckish is stalking penny we should give her some tips on what this little creep looks like …….
[r0b: deleted – completely over the top]
🙂
Ok ok heres a pic of me:
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/1100293184479097935/EC40E8C3D3E1F84A20695B93C177D97366A1AECE/?interpolation=lanczos-none&output-format=jpeg&output-quality=95&fit=inside%7C1024:575&composite-to=*,*%7C1024:575&background-color=black
That looks nothing like you …………… golem x clown is you
So penny if you see a repulsive little cocksucker who smells of shit ……
– might want to quit with the homophobic slurs there buddy boy, its one thing to take the proverbial out of me (I’ve got broad shoulders so I can take it) but its not very nice to slur a decent sized percentage of the population
Penny – lay a police complaint. Slater is a known offender to police in numerous petty and bizarre from Hacking Labour’s computers to illegal name suppression releases and defamation cases. Apparently his own wife claims ” he has no thought of the consequences for himself or others or indeed his family”.
Breaking news:
“MediaWorks chief executive Mark Weldon has resigned.”
Which is a bit odd given that last week the Mediaworks Board endorsed him.
Never mind Mark. Your great mate Key will help you out – unless you taint his PMship in which case he will dump you hard.
Does seem odd
Not if you look at their ratings, especially around the ‘news’ which ad buyers use as a measure of how valuable the outlet is seen by viewers
I am wondering if Weldon was endorsed so that he could then resign citing personal reasons. This would supposedly save him the indignity of being SACKED!! Karma rules! And the likelihood of a mass walkout. Put JC
ACC blockaded by Greenpeace this am.
– See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/05/04/six-tonnes-of-dairy-sewage-used-to-blockade-capital-city-acc-office-greenpeace/#sthash.eVxaJGhS.dpuf
These trucks should then be driven down to the Beehive and used together with a large fan to await the announcement of the select committee report on TPP submissions.
here,
have a glass of cow shit.
🙂
It’s OK if it’s wadeable.
according to the latest radio news these muppets are protesting at the wrong building apparently the new ACC offices are somewhere else now and have been moved into recently, will be interesting and rather funny if this is the case
Great way to protest though somewhat amusing
…more corruption from jonkey nactional
….what has ACC funds to do with funding a controversial dam…that most in the community do not want… because it will destroy the rivers and water for everyone?
Perhaps it should be returned to sender.
Dump it on Russel Norman’s lawn perhaps.
After his years of throwing the stuff round during his Parliamentary years he should be able to handle it.
Ruataniwha…
The dam will run dry
The streams running into the dam will run dry.
The ground will suffer collapse.
This is the history around the globe.
…… shame that colonial thinking still holds sway in these islands …….
ACC? What?
Greenpeace claims that ACC are investing in the Ruataniwha dam project:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/303003/litres-of-urine-dumped-in-central-wgtn
thanks. And wtf? Maybe I’m getting old, but isn’t it really weird to see a government department acting like a big business?
It is WTF. Morally questionable that a government department is playing Monopoly when it’s core function is to assist people recovering from injuries and promoting injury prevention. I guess this happens when you’ve “corporation” in your name?
Must have a lot of dosh floating around since 2008 when they forced patients to part pay for their physio treatments, (usually approximately $30 per session) via the removal of subsidies for physios. Would rather they spend any surplus (and a surplus was announced some time ago from memory) on ACC patients and return fully funded physio, as it always was prior to 2008.
I am in no doubt that many people have missed out on treatment and are in pain because of this approach.
From Commission to Corporation, says a lot.
Acc are effectively and insurance company they need to invest thier premiums somewhere to pay future claims, in that regard they are no different form any insurance company trying to match thier assets to future liabilities
Not really. Insurance companies exist to make money. ACC was a government initiative to make sure people didn’t get left destitute after an accident and to curb the tendancy for NZ to become a litigious society. It’s social security. So completely different.
The funding mechanism makes them likely to act very, very similarly.
‘LEAKED: Explosive TTIP documents expose plans for corporate takeover, dismantled climate protection’
https://www.rt.com/uk/341690-ttip-leak-documents-greenpeace/
“Climate protection, jobs, food safety and online privacy rights will be whittled away under the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), an explosive tranche of leaked documents suggest.
The leaked texts, which shed light on secretive EU-US trade negotiations, indicate TTIP could tear asunder environmental and consumer protections many Europeans hold dear.
Greenpeace Netherlands published the documents on Tuesday to dismantle a veil of secrecy over the watershed deal and lay bare its implications for climate protection, human health, labour rights, internet privacy rights and the very social fabric of Europe itself…
Also heartening are these on World Trade Online.
http://insidetrade.com/
Helen Clark made an apology on behalf of New Zealand to Chinese residents for the way Chinese were treated in New Zealand a century ago.
I wonder when Little is going to have to do the same on behalf of his party for the way his miserable lot of MPs have been stirring up race hatred?
When is he going to slap Twyford down?
Or does Little have the same bigoted views as Phil?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11632998
You give more of a fuck about protecting the Fake Man than you do about racism or this young woman. Because you’re a Key-Troll out of Con Troll.
Usual lies from the idiot North.
When are you going to put up about the B**S you spout?
He can’t because it’s exactly that, BS, to put up would simply be more bs, so don’t encourager him, just treat his mumblings as that of a slightly deranged and unhinged individual
Your linked article shows a New Zealander of Chinese descent who’s suffering the same disadvantage as other Aucklanders from the government’s refusal to address the problem of foreign purchasers driving up house prices. She also mentions that because the bulk of the foreign purchasers are Chinese, locals are looking with disfavour on anyone who looks Chinese and that’s upsetting for her. I’m sure it is, and it’s a further inevitable consequence of the government’s refusal to address the problem. Relevance of Labour MPs to the problem: 0.
Right after Key apologises for the Jihadi Brides bullshit maybe? Or are muslims fair game in good ol’ NZ. (Not in my name!)
Hello I’m from Goldman Sachs and I am here to help you:
https://www.rt.com/shows/keiser-report/341658-episode-max-keiser-909/
“In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max and Stacy discuss the nine most terrifying words in the English language: “I’m from Goldman Sachs, and I’m here to help.” They explore why it is that Goldman Sachs Bank USA is so eager to attract small-time depositors.”
In the second half, Max continues his interview with Jim Rickards about his new book, The New Case for Gold. They look at the SDR (the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights) and why it is that China is accumulating them.”
The Aluminum Airship of the Future Has Finally Flown
Could be useful in developing stuff in out of the way places without damaging the environment too much. Be great, for example, in installing and maintaining wind turbines pretty much anywhere.
Do you have any idea of how it handles in the wind?
They describe “high speed” as being above 20 mph, which does tend to imply that in a typical Wellington breeze it would go backwards.
Quite something though, isn’t it. I imagine there will be a few UFO reports after it has been in an area.
Designed max speed of the prototype is 120kph.
I suspect that above 20mph they get into aerodynamic stabilisation rather than needing thrust vectoring, tethers, and gas shifting.
It has a hefty sail area, but they really seem to be concentrating on giving it more control than the old ones in the 1930s, especially at low speed/hover.
Thanks for the link.
The biggest one proposed, the ML86X sounds more like a couple of super tankers side by side than a plane.
920 ft long and 355 ft wide!
yeah. Thing about airships, like sea ships, is that they actually become more efficient the bigger they get.
As a comparison, the Hindenberg was 800ftx135ft and had a nominal gross mass of 215tons, rather than the ML86X 500tons.
A soon as I saw the green version further in the article, all I could think of was Thunderbird 2
“After the leaks showing what it stands for, this could really be the end for TTIP
The documents show that US corporations will be granted unprecedented powers over any new public health or safety regulations to be introduced in future. If any European government does dare to bring in laws to raise social or environmental standards, TTIP will grant US investors the right to sue for loss of profits ”
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ttip-leaks-shocking-what-are-they-eu-us-deal-a7010121.html
Six Tonnes of Dairy Sewage Used to Blockade Capital City ACC Office – Greenpeace
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/05/04/six-tonnes-of-dairy-sewage-used-to-blockade-capital-city-acc-office-greenpeace/#sthash.dk6TmEkC.dpuf
P.s Russel should organise a delivery for parliament
why ACC?
Why NZ’s GHG Emissions is never going to reduce under this incompetent and corrupt excuse of a “government”.
This government isn’t incompetent as they’re achieving exactly what they set out to achieve – the sale of NZ and NZers to the worlds rich. We’re becoming serfs to the new aristocracy.
Yes you are totally correct in that assessment. What I should have said was “viewed from the standpoint of were they able to Govern this country for the benefit of its people and the environment, they are completely incompetent.”
So it seems that Winston Peters is perfectly happy to talk about potential coalition deals with National ahead of the election – even a full year ahead:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/79349660/has-winston-peters-scuppered-david-carters-chances-of-london-high-commissioner-post
I’m surprised Winstons showing his cards this early…still it could mean a bidding war from Labour
It could also mean the the Grey Fox is showing what teeth he still has, and how sharp, by dealing to the third most powerful man in the country. Going with National or with Labour/Greens, doesn’t matter at the moment for Winston in this situation.
It’s two fold. He has Got Carter in payback, and he has shown his teeth.
“it could mean a bidding war from Labour”. I don’t believe that the Peters/Carter stoush is in any way an indication of what Peters might want in terms of bids, apart from stating that the opening bids should start realistically.
As for bids, well, Winston never really has had much reserve……..
The reserve isn’t much but theres always high interest from motivated buyers
The moral of that story is : lefties, do not trust Winston !
That someone still has to issue that warning (for the left or right) is a worry
two morals: don’t assume his support, and Carter might want to be a little less biased if he wants a cushy sinecure after his tenure.
Maybe, but there’s nothing in that article to suggest talks are happening other than the usual beltway journo with an inside source implication. Not that I would be surprised if they were. I’d hope Peters would be talking to Labour too.
I think that just indicates that that would be one of the “bottom lines” for NZF in any post election discussions. I consider it highly commendable that such persons who have been given golden handshakes to get them out of Parliament should be removed from such positions. I would think that Labour and The Greens would also concur with the sentiments Peters raises here.
It also gives the snub to that disaster of a “Speaker” – Carter. To reward him with the High Commissioner in London would be a disgrace.
National fiddles and New Zealand housing is suffering for their fiddling.
https://willnewzealandberight.com/2016/05/04/government-fiddles-whilst-new-zealand-housing-burns/
What is so hard about restricting the purchase of property to Permanent Residents and Citizens only?
@Robert
What is so hard about restricting the purchase of property to Permanent Residents and Citizens only?
It’s “apparently” against ‘free’ trade. The .1% need to be able to buy and control EVERYTHING.
But also with the highest level of experimental immigration for years in NZ and 67,000 new arrivals last year alone, many trying to gain citizenship and residency here, (including laughably ability to buy investment property as a way to gain citizenship) as well as rumours of bonded labour ands shady immigration practises, the problem is not going to go away but at least a ban would be a start.
Immigration would be great… if we had the jobs, if we had the houses, if we had the transport… if we had a real skills shortage not just lazy immigration…if the government had put more money into schools, police, hospitals and social security to fund the increase in population….. if transnational profits were not one of our biggest exports….etc
Go Natz – going for the record in budget deficits and government borrowing…. sarc
There new slogan should be
Working to put NZ families out on the street!
+1
“What is so hard about restricting the purchase of property to Permanent Residents and Citizens only?”
The PM of NZ owns property offshore. He’s hardly likely to be philosophically aligned with banning foreign ownership.
What would happen to all those holiday homes in NZ owned by people from elsewhere? 😉
The Standard seems to have once more been hit with an unexpected outage. Perhaps it’s time to move the site to a proper hosting company that knows what it’s doing?
I read that as “an unexpected outrage”
“Perhaps it’s time to move the site to a proper hosting company that knows what it’s doing?”
Was that an intentional dig at Lynn?
Yes it was.
You have to admit though, this site’s uptime is shocking. It feels like a site being served off an old PC in someone’s bedroom.
May be you could help with a donation.
Not sure he’ll be around long enough…
Here you go, http://thestandard.org.nz/contact-us/donate/
Lynn just brought some new hardware, so I’m sure a donation will be handy. I assume the outage today was part of the same issue the other and hence the upgrade he is currently doing.
lol at servers that have outages for “hardware upgrades”, what is this – the twentieth century? VMs, baby.
What an increadible dick head you are.
Mag – So how much have you donated to help out.
May be you should do a guest post about how you run a blog site.
People pay me money for my advice on how to run websites, I don’t give it away for free 🙂
I hope your advice is not as rude as you appear here.
lol at servers that have outages for “hardware upgrades”, what is this – the twentieth century? VM
I hope your advice is not as rude as you appear here.
Magisterium I know it’s nigh impossible not to be fabulously magisterial but fuck your meekish superior shit.
Probably the huge amount of traffic on the site as people abandon MSM.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/79349660/has-winston-peters-scuppered-david-carters-chances-of-london-high-commissioner-post
Winston Peters says he’ll block David Carter’s appointment to diplomatic roles as “undeserved golden handshake”
Absolutely!
John Gascoigne: Immigration – what worked for US will fail in NZ
extract…
“Accordingly, the absurdity of invoking the American experience in support of our present immigration policies must be self-evident. New Zealand is not America, or Argentina for that matter. However, there are disconcerting parallels between New Zealand and the Argentine experience. For example, the infrastructural costs of an additional million people crowding into Auckland would be astronomical. Those costs will be met by the resident population. The hugely detrimental environmental effects, let alone the impacts on housing and social cohesion, must also be considered.
America has always beckoned as the land of unlimited opportunity. By contrast, in an increasingly uncertain world, New Zealand beckons as the perfect bolthole. A sunny place for shady foreigners. And a back door entry to Australia, if required.
The highly adverse effects from our present immigration policies are now glaringly apparent. Our resources, unlike America’s, are finite. Accordingly, the argument that more of the same will eventually lead to diametrically opposite and hugely beneficial outcomes all round is, quite simply, totally implausible.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11632895
Yep, real economics gets in the way of the dreams of avarice that NZ politicians routinely engage in.
We have enough resources to keep a reasonable population at reasonable living standard indefinitely. Going above that reasonable population level must result in the decrease of that reasonable living standard. IMO, that ‘reasonable population’ for NZ is about 4 million people. It may stretch to 6 million but beyond that is likely to be unsustainable.
Keys “ethical” “lawyer” criticised by judge for a “far from satisfactory” explanation regarding why he “witnessed” a signature made in Las Vegas while he was in New Zealand, as well as evidence with inconsistencies.
– from http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/79453991/John-Keys-lawyer-linked-to-sham-trust-involved-in-failed-Auckland-property-development
Feel sorry for John he seems to attract some really bad people in his life, from lawyers, waitresses, gossip journos to hate bloggers. It has to be just bad luck..
the article is full of head shakingly disturbing stuff but really is a lawyer witnessing a signature signed in Las Vegas while he was sitting in Auckland a hanging offence?
give Whitney a break–drumroll–oh thats right this is real life not “Better call Saul”
I wonder if Whitney designed Keys “Blind Trust” too.
Good question, and one I hope Nippert and Fisher keep asking on our behalf.
This was always the tact that Labour should have taken in attacking Key: what is the PM doing mixed up with a firm and with a lawyer who specialises in tax avoidance schemes.
Not – his lawyer’s not really a lawyer any more, not since February! Horrors!
Geeezus utterly hopeless and braindead
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/79453991/John-Keys-lawyer-linked-to-sham-trust-involved-in-failed-Auckland-property-development
Tiger Mountain – a hanging offence to do the witnessing 7000 miles away from the signing ? If it’s not here’s the hanging offence – being on oath in front of a High Court judge and telling him/her that “in the presence of” can mean 7,000 miles away if you think you know the signature.
This from a lawyer of round about 40 years experience ? That’s so pathetic it might have been conceived by the loathsome Fake Man himself.
No wonder he resigned from the Bar. Got in first?
that thought crossed my mind…..and I note he is still referred to as JKs lawyer by all and sundry.
Following this through when I got a bit more time and it’s getting even smellier.
The guy the Whitney was telling porkies (witness in absentia) for was Rob Nielsen, who has serious form around Queenstown for “failed” property developments in the 00’s. There’s a lot of people here who would like to have a talk to him…
So Whitney got himself in a difficult position in the High Court in late August 2014, and resigns from the bar in Feb 2016. The time frame would be about right for things working through the Law Society, hopefully someone wiht the resources will have a dig here.
But there’s also the ethical issue of assisting an undischarged bankrupt, and known commercial hazard, to engage in business and effectively circumvent the OA.
From Wylie J judgment https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/pdf/jdo/b4/alfresco/service/api/node/content/workspace/SpacesStore/87c59959-7ff4-48be-9731-653c4f3537e3/87c59959-7ff4-48be-9731-653c4f3537e3.pdf
“Conclusion
[129] Looking at all of these various indicia in the round, in my judgment, the Rosebud Trust was a sham trust from the outset. It was never intended to effect the rights and obligations of the parties in the way that a valid trust would. The intention from the outset was to mislead, to conceal Mr Nielsen’s identity and to enable him to carry on business in this country, notwithstanding his bankruptcy. It follows that the trust was void ab initio.”
How the hell does this square with Key’s statement that Whitney was “highly ethical” and that was why he chose him as his lawyer
Key and McClay cannot get their ducks in a line over the newly revealed
“trusted-ethical-personal–lawyer-of-many-years” shyster Whitney, and who said what at where and when and how it was said.
Perhaps it might be helpful to know how Whitney of the “sham trusts” knew of an IRD investigation/review of the International trust business in the first place? Surely he didn’t learn about the review over a little coffee chat with his confidant, PM John Key.
Wonder how Paul Henry is feeling?
Perhaps looking to a future in Australia ?
Paul Henry would be a good fit in Australia. He makes Peter Dutton look like Mother Teresa.
No. His “Australia” failed a year or more ago. That’s why he’s back here. Mind you all sins forgiven when he ferals the Fake Man. Which he will do , for brilliant, brilliant ‘fun’. Having silently, cunningly, assessed the tide.
Please Paul @ 23 – “………Wonder how Paul Henry is feeling?”
– even the question is dangerous to my health. Potential die laughing !
Reckon he’s feeling like a bit of a miffed chipmunk at the moment actually, head nervously swivelling, sniffing the air, tail fanning, reaching for (celebrity) nuts to nibble on.
I’ll tell you though……..when Henry starts getting bitchily feral at Key (and it will happen – Henry though weirdly an ‘unkind fun’ practitioner is not without a gram of moral, philosophical stripe)…….that’s when we’ll know the Fake Man is the Fukd Man.
Hilarious times ahead. As someone said the other day…….” the rats are all eating themselves. ” Brilliant mind’s eye !
Wonder how Rachel Glucina is feeling?
Fat.
Delusional, by the looks
https://twitter.com/RachelGlucinaNZ/status/727607447540535296
Oh Muttonbird I was in a dairy SH 1 Ohaeawai today and a guy whom I know came in for a “mockingbird” but of course it was a muttonbird he was after so we all had a bloody good old laugh and it was great. My recall came from seeing the name “Muttonbird” above the magnificent brevity “Fat.” Crack up ! Seems like John’s letting everyone who loved him slip down the sludge hole. Punks got scammed. Good Job !