Of course, it is serious and political. So, start a proper debate here that is non-polarising and non-divisive instead of regurgitating the same talking points day-in-day-out and in your idiosyncratic way (AKA baiting). The way things sound are not necessarily the way things are.
Take it away, James, OM is yours to start the discussion.
As much as I want to be wrong, I think NZ First may have complied with the letter of the law, if not the spirit.
Using multiple related entities to donate $14,995 each, to get past disclosure appears legal, but is clearly dodgy and done solely to get around the intention of the law.
New Zealand politics would be in a better place without Winston and Shane involved in so it is my hope that this sinks them forever.
A truly progressive government, without the handbrake of the inherently conservative, bigoted and nasty NZ First party involved is a realistic and likely post election scenario.
A Green Labour government is now within our reach.
Regardless of NZF & Nats competing to see who can do shady donations mishandling best, the most interesting aspect is why all those wealthy capitalists are giving big donations to NZF. I presume they've decided that National have lost the plot.
Now they have been doxed they've got no reason to restrict their support to maintain anonymity.
Could go two ways, either they'll get scared and abandon NZF or they'll be out for utu. I don't see Graeme Hart and the others as shrinking violets. Might get interesting
The battle for the extreme right is hotting up. You can assume immigrants from South Africa will know how it ought to be done, particularly if they have Boer in their name. Dieuwe de Boer knows what's right:
"When I first saw the New Conservative launch in 2018, I panned the idea. The "new conservatives are just as boring as the old" was my response. I didn't expect to hear much of them ever again, but then something unexpected happened. I got a message from deputy leader Elliot Ikilei, who told me that he had read my critically dismissive review, he thought I had some good points, and he wanted to meet up to talk about it. That one simple olive branch changed my life".
"He plays up his own Pacific heritage, throws in a few phrases of Samoan and Maori, and says that western culture is superior to all other cultures—it can be adopted by all ethnicities and transcends all cultures. That's a line you won't hear from any politician. "Our civilisation is the greatest ever built," he says with energy and passion. Those statements would likely have been front page news if they had been said anywhere outside of aNew Conservative meeting."
"Victoria O'Brien, firearms spokeswoman, gave her first speech at this meeting. She was able to demonstrate the importance of the freedom to access information from her own experience of authoritarianism in Singapore. She brings a lot of knowledge and credibility to the New Conservative firearms policy, having been an E-Endorsement holder at the time the recent amendments started to roll in. Like Leighton and Elliot, she expresses her reluctance for getting into politics, but all three are doing this because someone has too. They're worried about losing the country they love to the progressive darkness."
He's even got a sense of humour: "Between ACT and NC there is also a great chasm on a philosophical level with libertarian individualism pitted against the conservative focus on the family, morality, and nation. I'll tell you what National's philosophy is once I figure it out."
"New Conservative is building up a grassroots movement and much of their rhetoric is honed in on fighting the culture war. For me, that's key." Once that type of thinking dominated our country. In theory, they ought to be able to pull together the remnants of it. In reality, I suspect too many have died, and the rest have moved on.
But we ought to feel compassion for those unable to see the light, eh? Disabilities can be a debilitating affliction. A cadre of leftist virtue-signallers ought to be sent into the hinterland to enlighten the natives. The missionary spirit may not be totally dead. Evangelists may be able to help them see the light in that darkness, so they can wend their way towards it gradually thereafter.
No, I did not receive your e-mail about the name change; I don’t have access to the site’s e-mail account. To avoid confusion, I have changed your user handle back to the original.
Because the disease is contagious, you can't treat cases as independent events. If the disease broke out in a university campus in Guangdong and in a rest home in Honk Kong then that explains the difference in fatalities and spread without there being any other difference.
That might be true if it were only one Chinese province. Several minutes into the video a list of several areas (approx 2000 cases) with only a 2 or 3 deaths reported.
I'm done here. It is clear that on this site there is no willingness at all to see this for what it is – a serious pandemic which is already causing supply chain disruption.
Since I love y'all despite you seeing me as a loon, at least take some basic steps:
– instead of waiting to get sick before buying flu supplies buy them in advance including electrolytes or make them at home in advance
– buy or make elderberry syrup as this is scientifically proven to lessen symptoms and reduce duration of the illness (+better tasting than olive leaf extract). The major concern with this virus is the high complication rate that requires hospital admission
A, when the last potential pandemic scare happened, we had lots of conversations here with some people *insisting that within so many days/weeks there would massive deaths globally. Didn't happen obviously. The new coronavirus might become a pandemic, but it's not currently. I think we should be taking it seriously, and am glad NZ is now putting boundaries in at the border. I'm cautious about what the impact might be here, but I don't see the need to prepare for this as any more pressing than for a flood or quake.
mpledger's point about the stats is valid. I was going to say that you can't tell much from such small numbers. There are good reasons why we have public health experts in contagious disease, because they have the experience and knowledge in how to assess what is going on. Keep watching the videos, but I hope you're also following the relevant health authorities and science based commentary online.
I don't think everyone here is dismissing your concerns. It's entirely natural that people will vary in their responses to this kind of threat, from the entirely nonchalant to the closed off and fearful … and every shade in between.
On the data we have so far I think this has the potential to become a major problem, but it's not likely to be a repeat of the 1918 Spanish Flu. Our tools for fighting this are so much more sophisticated now.
The big complicating factor for me is that I really don't trust any damn thing the CCP says. Hell they may be telling us the gospel truth on this one, but their track record is so bad how would we know?
"A serious misinfodemic is occurring – fake news, unsubstantiated rumours, and crazy talk are spreading way more than the coronavirus. This is concerning and the World Health Organisation have all hands to deck to try and counter the nonsense."
Controversial independent MP Jami-Lee Ross is again under investigation after misconduct allegations saw three of the four staff in his Botany office placed on special leave.
The latest complaints, understood to include bullying, are from the past year and relate to staff in the office he set up as an independent MP after his spectacular falling out with National.
Having been down that road (cost me my career and much more besides) I know how people love to believe a scandal and/or other serious misdemeanors. It is invariably the claimant who has all to hide.
Stop with the victim blaming. People have come forward and laid complaints that are being investigated- and you with zero knowledge say it sounds like a setup.
Should have known it would be you who came up with that line – a convenient misinterpretation.
I know more about what it is like to be a victim of crime and slander than you will ever know. There's a word for people like you you and it ain't nice.
If they are legitimate we'll know soon enough and that will be the end of the line for JLR.
You say you know what it’s like to be a victim of slander and what did you do in your first comment “sounds like a possible setup”. – slandering the Victims.
yeah – all those independent women are setting him up. And having to put up with people like you casting aspersions at them (while claiming how bad it was when people did it to you).
Dear God, you are a creep. You would fit nicely in the world of the chief of creeps, Donald Trump.
Who knows if there was a set up. Who knows who might have been behind it if there was one. Who knows whether the office staff were a part of the set up. You're just a with an inferiority complex who thinks bullying a woman online makes him a somebody.
Now off you go – your turn. I'm off to greener pastures.
James is very good at manipulating a target's comments so as to seemingly mean something else. He chooses his targets carefully and women seem to dominate in his selection.
So, why did you hone in on me. I was agreeing with ianmac who wondered if there was a bit of "revenge" in the mix. So, I call it a "possible set up". Same thing mate.
You chose me because its more satisfying to go after a woman – especially one who is not afraid to call you out for your misogyny and spite.
Seems like a stretch to believe 3 people would get them selves employed by jlr just so they could drag him down 8 months out from an election hes gonna lose anyway.
And people who go and knowingly work for known shit bags usually have an eye for the main chance and can be easily incentivised to be even bigger shit bags
Oil giant OMV has already had a serious accident off the coast of Southland and Otago, cutting through its own drill! Good grief! No oil spilled, but only because they haven't got to it yet!
"International oil giant OMV could be millions of dollars out of pocket after accidentally cutting its own drill pipe while operating off the Otago coast."
OMV Australasia senior vice-president Gabriel Selischi told the Otago Daily Times the preventer had been ‘‘unnecessarily engaged’’ during a test by crew on board the COSL Prospector drill ship.
Oh great, our ocean and coastline is in the hands of people who can't even bring themselves to use honest language about their mistakes.
No surprise. The chopped-off their own drill! Imagine the scene and the language! We should have confidence in these people, this process? Hell no. The accident will be buried in pabulum, unless members of the public cite it again and again. So much for their assurances of competence!
Soper on pork: "The National leader told the Māori crowd more than once the Government hasn't delivered and that as Prime Minister he'd have a four-lane highway built between Auckland and Whangarei. Even for Bridges that'd be a long way to roll a pork barrel. It'd be right up there with the 10 bridges he once promised as Transport Minister to rebuild in the Northland byelection that Peters won five years ago." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12306060
"Peters apparently wasn't planning to speak but was so incensed he got to his feet and told the crowd that Bridges' super highway would take 68 years to build and doubted whether the youthful Nat would be around to see completed. The old campaigner had a point but then lost it by quoting Elvis".
Soper reckons Bridges made a mistake: “It’s as though Bridges has rejected MMP, believing National will be first past the post with 51 percent of the vote at the coming election, something no party has achieved since the electoral system came into being in 1996.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12305909
That was my first impression too. FPP thinking, binary frame. Not just Simon, it would’ve been widely consulted upon. The giveaway is reference since to NZF as part of the troika, so they believe they can defeat Winston by removing his centrist leverage. Big gamble.
The only binary that matters to Simon is winning vs. losing (AKA all or nothing). If NZF drops below 5% and drops out of Parliament it effectively becomes an FPP election.
I was lazy and took a shortcut by lumping the Greens together with Labour. My bad. That said, under FPP, the party with the plurality vote is (usually) the winner, which, in this case could by National (again) or Labour.
The Fiordland-Southland floods are reminiscent of the ones that required the village of Kelso to be removed completely from near Riversdale. Early 1980s. Hasn't happened very often in our history.
They're extensive and severe. The Mataura River is a special concern. Everyone there has been wishing no foods at all would occur because of the aluminium dross stored beside the river – now there's a very serious flood happening.
Although in random events groups of high or low values do occur, their tendency to occur in natural events is greater. … There is no obvious periodicity, but there are long stretches when the floods are generally high, and others when they are generally low. These stretches occur without any regularity either in their time of occurrence or duration
By ‘Noah Effect’ we designate the observation that extreme precipitation can be very extreme indeed, and by ‘Joseph Effect’ the finding that a long period of unusual (high or low) precipitation can be extremely long. Current models of statistical hydrology cannot account for either effect and must be superseded. As a replacement, ‘self‐similar’ models appear very promising. They account particularly well for the remarkable empirical observations of Harold Edwin Hurst. The present paper introduces and summarizes a series of investigations on self‐similar operational hydrology.
The importance of long term memory is well established with Hurst ( in regard to the Nileometer (and the long scales implied)
Fires and floods abound, yet some still prefer to believe that there is no trend, no evidence of anything out of the ordinary. Try covering your eyes, ears and mouth while holding your nose… ain’t hands wonderful.
You should think again before accusing anyone of climate change denial.
Since you don't understand the Southland floods of the late 1970s and early 1980s that I mentioned, you need to exercise your little brain and research New Zealand with a bit more historical depth than Wikipedia.
Does make me wonder if Jamie would have committed these crimes given the previous accusations. Sounds convenient timing with wondering who to benefit from at least a smear? All three women staff members complaining? Coincidence?
Luckily we have James to set us straight on justice. (see James @ 6.1.1)
Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross says a new report of alleged misconduct and bullying levelled against him are part of a wider politically-motivated attack.
However, Ross is not clear as to who is behind these attacks, saying only they been orchestrated "by those who want see me out of a job".
A by-election in Botany within the next few months. Luxon wins Botany. National's poll results slide and Simon Bridges becomes even more unpopular. Luxon rolls Bridges and leads the National Party into this year's general election.
A win for the dark overlords who control the National Party.
Do Germans have a thing about 99? They gave us "99 Red Balloons", now some german loaded 99 phones into a kid's wagon and pulled them around city streets outside Google's office to make a phantom traffic jam on google maps.
Meanwhile, in UK: "The idea that anyone could be leftwing and remain, let alone hard left and hard remain, has been completely erased from the narrative of Brexit; despite the fact that this was pretty much the entire Labour party."
"This is the phase of the Labour leadership contest in which people try and guess at what the candidates believe via means other than what they say." Ah, would that be because people automatically disbelieve Labour MPs?
"Starmer currently enjoys a convincing lead among constituency Labour party nominations. The deadline isn’t until Valentine’s Day; so far 231 CLPs have nominated (233 have nominated for deputy), and Starmer has a clear lead, with 138 nominations, and that seems to be accelerating: three-quarters of the local parties that declared over the weekend chose him. Long-Bailey has 58, Nandy 26, Thornberry nine. Historical loyalty to Corbyn (if we can call the past five years a history) is no definite indicator of a nomination for Long-Bailey: North Norfolk and Brent Central nominated Corbyn in both 2015 and 2016, and went for Starmer, while North Devon and Elmet and Rothwell, with the same 2015-16 pattern, chose Long-Bailey."
"And there are known unknowns, principally which way the 100,000 new joiners will jump, since they weren’t allowed to vote on nominations, but will be allowed to vote on the leader. Internal polling and general hunches suggest that they will be voting against Long-Bailey, on the basis that if you wanted a Corbyn continuity candidate, you’d need a very good reason not to have already been a member." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/04/labour-leadership-battle-left-right-divide
Establishment dude. Solid enough to make Boris look flakey by comparison. Well, that wouldn't be hard, but likely to reassure punters dismayed by Jeremy. "Keir was named after the first Labour Party MP, Keir Hardie."
"Although he accepted the knighthood, he prefers not to be called Sir." Maybe not conservative then.
Concern over ouvea premix With peak water flows yet to arrive at Mataura, there is concern about the ouvea premix stored at the Mataura paper mill. Emergency services and others have carried out further flood protection works by sandbagging around the building. However, with 2,660 cumecs of water expected at Mataura at 11.50am it is uncertain what impact this will have on the paper mill. Emergency Management Southland and other agencies have yet to determine what the environmental impact may be. Emergency Management Southland is coordinating with other relevant agencies, including iwi. Ouvea premix can produce ammonia when wet. The risks associated with the premix have been considered when setting the evacuation zones around the paper mill. DO NOT BE COMPLACENT Residents of Wyndham and surrounding low-lying areas should evacuate immediately. The Mataura River is expected to peak with 2,740 cumecs at Wyndham at 3.20pm today. Residents of the township and surrounding low-lying areas should gather key personal belongings and proceed to the Mokoreta Hall or the Mimihau Hall as soon as possible to await further information. Take a grab bag with you containing medication, clothing and personal items including documents. If you are evacuating with pets, ensure they are contained on a leash or in a cage and that you have food for them. The Mataura River was expected to peak at 2,450 cumecs at Gore at 9.20am, and at Mataura with 2,660 cumecs at 11.50am. People in affected areas are warned not to be complacent because the sun is shining and there is no wind. EMS reiterates that the peak flows have yet to arrive. A map outlining the evacuation areas of Gore and Mataura is available on http://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland<https://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland> and http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz<http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz/>
With 62% of precincts reporting in Iowa, there's some interesting patterns emerging.
Sanders mostly won where there's cities. Rural areas split between Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Even though Warren was third overall, ahead of Biden and Klobuchar, she didn't win a single county.
Kinda goes against the idea that Sanders is the candidate most likely to win back those disaffected flyover state voters that turned to the dark side with Darth Drumpf.
It was a good day all around Aotearoa celebrating Waitangi day.
Condolences to Kirk Douglas whanau.
Yes we need to recycle more but the best option is to stop using plastic all together. The elephant in the room is the huge plastic manufacturing company's have to much influence on other companies that use their rubbish.
It was great to see A Wahine speaking at the Marae at Waitangi.
Good to see Wahine paddlers on Waka to.
Ka pai to the Australian indigenous people for going for a treaty settlement of their own for losses to the Australian government.
Its awesome to see Tangata whenua getting the respect we deserve I have seen the attitude other cultures had towards Maori a couple of years ago in Tamiki Makaru.
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
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 ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
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. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
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 ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
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Believe you are donating to NZ First – then find out your money has been taken by another “foundation”. Sounds like fraud – https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/408843/nz-first-foundation-donor-thought-they-were-giving-to-party
This is going to be interesting
And four 'Natz' are in court on the 25 feb.
No they are not.
a) we don’t know who it is and
b) it’s not national
sad try.
https://www.sfo.govt.nz/sfo-files-charges-in-national-party-donations-case
Maybe stop baiting here, yes?
Yes – and that has been discussed a lot on here.
however this is a different issue – is potentially very serious and is political.
when you believe you are donating to a political party and a seperate entity “takes” the funds without you knowing – it sounds very much like fraud.
why not discuss it in open mike ?
Of course, it is serious and political. So, start a proper debate here that is non-polarising and non-divisive instead of regurgitating the same talking points day-in-day-out and in your idiosyncratic way (AKA baiting). The way things sound are not necessarily the way things are.
Take it away, James, OM is yours to start the discussion.
As much as I want to be wrong, I think NZ First may have complied with the letter of the law, if not the spirit.
Using multiple related entities to donate $14,995 each, to get past disclosure appears legal, but is clearly dodgy and done solely to get around the intention of the law.
New Zealand politics would be in a better place without Winston and Shane involved in so it is my hope that this sinks them forever.
A truly progressive government, without the handbrake of the inherently conservative, bigoted and nasty NZ First party involved is a realistic and likely post election scenario.
A Green Labour government is now within our reach.
Organised crooks always use minions on the outside to do their dirty work.
Not as interesting as watching that Bridge collapse.
While NZ First and National sling mud at each other, Labour is the real winner.
I disagree NZFirst and labour are joined at the hip. It reflects bad on this government.
Regardless of NZF & Nats competing to see who can do shady donations mishandling best, the most interesting aspect is why all those wealthy capitalists are giving big donations to NZF. I presume they've decided that National have lost the plot.
Now they have been doxed they've got no reason to restrict their support to maintain anonymity.
Could go two ways, either they'll get scared and abandon NZF or they'll be out for utu. I don't see Graeme Hart and the others as shrinking violets. Might get interesting
The battle for the extreme right is hotting up. You can assume immigrants from South Africa will know how it ought to be done, particularly if they have Boer in their name. Dieuwe de Boer knows what's right:
"When I first saw the New Conservative launch in 2018, I panned the idea. The "new conservatives are just as boring as the old" was my response. I didn't expect to hear much of them ever again, but then something unexpected happened. I got a message from deputy leader Elliot Ikilei, who told me that he had read my critically dismissive review, he thought I had some good points, and he wanted to meet up to talk about it. That one simple olive branch changed my life".
"He plays up his own Pacific heritage, throws in a few phrases of Samoan and Maori, and says that western culture is superior to all other cultures—it can be adopted by all ethnicities and transcends all cultures. That's a line you won't hear from any politician. "Our civilisation is the greatest ever built," he says with energy and passion. Those statements would likely have been front page news if they had been said anywhere outside of aNew Conservative meeting."
"Victoria O'Brien, firearms spokeswoman, gave her first speech at this meeting. She was able to demonstrate the importance of the freedom to access information from her own experience of authoritarianism in Singapore. She brings a lot of knowledge and credibility to the New Conservative firearms policy, having been an E-Endorsement holder at the time the recent amendments started to roll in. Like Leighton and Elliot, she expresses her reluctance for getting into politics, but all three are doing this because someone has too. They're worried about losing the country they love to the progressive darkness."
Only a whiff of Trumpism, but you can see an attempt emerging to ride that wave. So there's now this website for those with the right minds: https://www.rightminds.nz/articles/2020-new-conservative-year
He's even got a sense of humour: "Between ACT and NC there is also a great chasm on a philosophical level with libertarian individualism pitted against the conservative focus on the family, morality, and nation. I'll tell you what National's philosophy is once I figure it out."
"New Conservative is building up a grassroots movement and much of their rhetoric is honed in on fighting the culture war. For me, that's key." Once that type of thinking dominated our country. In theory, they ought to be able to pull together the remnants of it. In reality, I suspect too many have died, and the rest have moved on.
"Progressive Darkness", heh.
But we ought to feel compassion for those unable to see the light, eh? Disabilities can be a debilitating affliction. A cadre of leftist virtue-signallers ought to be sent into the hinterland to enlighten the natives. The missionary spirit may not be totally dead. Evangelists may be able to help them see the light in that darkness, so they can wend their way towards it gradually thereafter.
Lovely oxymoron!
To : Cognito
May I ask you to confirm that I have served my 6 month ban. Also, did you receive my email requesting "Simplicity" as a new name.
many thanks
Yes, your ban finished on 28 Jan.
No, I did not receive your e-mail about the name change; I don’t have access to the site’s e-mail account. To avoid confusion, I have changed your user handle back to the original.
I've just finished my six month ban too!
It’s like a reunion
Interesting stat.
Hong Kong, 15 infections, 1 death
Guangdong, 797 infections, no deaths
Because the disease is contagious, you can't treat cases as independent events. If the disease broke out in a university campus in Guangdong and in a rest home in Honk Kong then that explains the difference in fatalities and spread without there being any other difference.
That might be true if it were only one Chinese province. Several minutes into the video a list of several areas (approx 2000 cases) with only a 2 or 3 deaths reported.
I'm done here. It is clear that on this site there is no willingness at all to see this for what it is – a serious pandemic which is already causing supply chain disruption.
Since I love y'all despite you seeing me as a loon, at least take some basic steps:
– instead of waiting to get sick before buying flu supplies buy them in advance including electrolytes or make them at home in advance
– buy or make elderberry syrup as this is scientifically proven to lessen symptoms and reduce duration of the illness (+better tasting than olive leaf extract). The major concern with this virus is the high complication rate that requires hospital admission
Take care x
A, when the last potential pandemic scare happened, we had lots of conversations here with some people *insisting that within so many days/weeks there would massive deaths globally. Didn't happen obviously. The new coronavirus might become a pandemic, but it's not currently. I think we should be taking it seriously, and am glad NZ is now putting boundaries in at the border. I'm cautious about what the impact might be here, but I don't see the need to prepare for this as any more pressing than for a flood or quake.
mpledger's point about the stats is valid. I was going to say that you can't tell much from such small numbers. There are good reasons why we have public health experts in contagious disease, because they have the experience and knowledge in how to assess what is going on. Keep watching the videos, but I hope you're also following the relevant health authorities and science based commentary online.
I don't think everyone here is dismissing your concerns. It's entirely natural that people will vary in their responses to this kind of threat, from the entirely nonchalant to the closed off and fearful … and every shade in between.
On the data we have so far I think this has the potential to become a major problem, but it's not likely to be a repeat of the 1918 Spanish Flu. Our tools for fighting this are so much more sophisticated now.
The big complicating factor for me is that I really don't trust any damn thing the CCP says. Hell they may be telling us the gospel truth on this one, but their track record is so bad how would we know?
"A serious misinfodemic is occurring – fake news, unsubstantiated rumours, and crazy talk are spreading way more than the coronavirus. This is concerning and the World Health Organisation have all hands to deck to try and counter the nonsense."
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/05/1018647/coronavirus-a-global-misinfodemic
Is this for real? Could it be revenge?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/05/1019443/new-allegations-surround-mp-jami-lee-ross
Sounds like a possible set-up to me.
Having been down that road (cost me my career and much more besides) I know how people love to believe a scandal and/or other serious misdemeanors. It is invariably the claimant who has all to hide.
Time will reveal the truth, it always does.
Stop with the victim blaming. People have come forward and laid complaints that are being investigated- and you with zero knowledge say it sounds like a setup.
They could be very legitimate victims in this.
Stop with the victim blaming.
Should have known it would be you who came up with that line – a convenient misinterpretation.
I know more about what it is like to be a victim of crime and slander than you will ever know. There's a word for people like you you and it ain't nice.
If they are legitimate we'll know soon enough and that will be the end of the line for JLR.
You say you know what it’s like to be a victim of slander and what did you do in your first comment “sounds like a possible setup”. – slandering the Victims.
yeah – all those independent women are setting him up. And having to put up with people like you casting aspersions at them (while claiming how bad it was when people did it to you).
" – slandering the victims." No.
– possibly slandering the victims, thankyou. Anne only said a 'possible' setup.
If you are going to pose as morally meticulous, please be equally meticulous in your reasoning, and don't exaggerate when it suits you.
Dear God, you are a creep. You would fit nicely in the world of the chief of creeps, Donald Trump.
Who knows if there was a set up. Who knows who might have been behind it if there was one. Who knows whether the office staff were a part of the set up. You're just a with an inferiority complex who thinks bullying a woman online makes him a somebody.
Now off you go – your turn. I'm off to greener pastures.
James loves to stand up for victims. Unless they are the victims of the alleged Parliamentary 'rapist'.
It's all in their head, apparently.
I’ll stand up for the victims of rape.
but you know there was no victim of rape and he didn’t rape anyone.
so he’s exactly as guilt of being a rapist as you are.
would you be happy being called a rapist ?
Your criteria for who you will and will not stand up for is curious. How do you work it out?
James is very good at manipulating a target's comments so as to seemingly mean something else. He chooses his targets carefully and women seem to dominate in his selection.
So sad.
🙂
Your the one who said it sounds like a possible setup – now you say “who knows if there was a setup”. Well the answer to that is not you obviously.
but you are happy to suggest or infer it – making it sound like its possibly the women.
Two women and one man.
But it probably sounds worse if he's only accused of bullying women, so good job to you.
So, why did you hone in on me. I was agreeing with ianmac who wondered if there was a bit of "revenge" in the mix. So, I call it a "possible set up". Same thing mate.
You chose me because its more satisfying to go after a woman – especially one who is not afraid to call you out for your misogyny and spite.
James:
Not 'infer'. The word you are struggling for is 'imply'. Look them up.
Seems like a stretch to believe 3 people would get them selves employed by jlr just so they could drag him down 8 months out from an election hes gonna lose anyway.
Add to that he has form for being a shit bag .
Looks like there might be another side to this story. We will have to wait and see.
I was only agreeing with ianmac @ 6. Don't know why I'm being targeted.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119294814/jamilee-ross-alleges-politicallymotivated-trial-by-media-following-report
And people who go and knowingly work for known shit bags usually have an eye for the main chance and can be easily incentivised to be even bigger shit bags
Oil giant OMV has already had a serious accident off the coast of Southland and Otago, cutting through its own drill! Good grief! No oil spilled, but only because they haven't got to it yet!
"International oil giant OMV could be millions of dollars out of pocket after accidentally cutting its own drill pipe while operating off the Otago coast."
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/omv-cut-through-drill-shaft-accident
Oh great, our ocean and coastline is in the hands of people who can't even bring themselves to use honest language about their mistakes.
No surprise. The chopped-off their own drill! Imagine the scene and the language! We should have confidence in these people, this process? Hell no. The accident will be buried in pabulum, unless members of the public cite it again and again. So much for their assurances of competence!
If you find any more online about it, let me know and I'll put up a post. I checked Greenpeace NZ's twitter and they haven't said anything yet.
At least the front didn't fall off.
They can just tow it outside the environment.
It worked.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowout_preventer#Deepwater_Horizon_blowout
Soper on pork: "The National leader told the Māori crowd more than once the Government hasn't delivered and that as Prime Minister he'd have a four-lane highway built between Auckland and Whangarei. Even for Bridges that'd be a long way to roll a pork barrel. It'd be right up there with the 10 bridges he once promised as Transport Minister to rebuild in the Northland byelection that Peters won five years ago." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12306060
"Peters apparently wasn't planning to speak but was so incensed he got to his feet and told the crowd that Bridges' super highway would take 68 years to build and doubted whether the youthful Nat would be around to see completed. The old campaigner had a point but then lost it by quoting Elvis".
Soper reckons Bridges made a mistake: “It’s as though Bridges has rejected MMP, believing National will be first past the post with 51 percent of the vote at the coming election, something no party has achieved since the electoral system came into being in 1996.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12305909
That was my first impression too. FPP thinking, binary frame. Not just Simon, it would’ve been widely consulted upon. The giveaway is reference since to NZF as part of the troika, so they believe they can defeat Winston by removing his centrist leverage. Big gamble.
The only binary that matters to Simon is winning vs. losing (AKA all or nothing). If NZF drops below 5% and drops out of Parliament it effectively becomes an FPP election.
Um, Greens.
I was lazy and took a shortcut by lumping the Greens together with Labour. My bad. That said, under FPP, the party with the plurality vote is (usually) the winner, which, in this case could by National (again) or Labour.
The Fiordland-Southland floods are reminiscent of the ones that required the village of Kelso to be removed completely from near Riversdale. Early 1980s. Hasn't happened very often in our history.
They're extensive and severe. The Mataura River is a special concern. Everyone there has been wishing no foods at all would occur because of the aluminium dross stored beside the river – now there's a very serious flood happening.
Looks like it's being taken very seriously, people dragged off in handcuffs..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/119290751/man-handcuffed-after-refusing-to-leave-animals-during-matarau-evacuation
Hasn't happened very often in our history.
Hydrology has long term memory ( persistence over long scales) the problem with Noah effects are well documented.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/WR004i005p00909
As Hurst wrote.
Although in random events groups of high or low values do occur, their tendency to occur in natural events is greater. … There is no obvious periodicity, but there are long stretches when the floods are generally high, and others when they are generally low. These stretches occur without any regularity either in their time of occurrence or duration
That link didn't work for me.
What was the point you were making for this flood area?
The abstract reads as such.
By ‘Noah Effect’ we designate the observation that extreme precipitation can be very extreme indeed, and by ‘Joseph Effect’ the finding that a long period of unusual (high or low) precipitation can be extremely long. Current models of statistical hydrology cannot account for either effect and must be superseded. As a replacement, ‘self‐similar’ models appear very promising. They account particularly well for the remarkable empirical observations of Harold Edwin Hurst. The present paper introduces and summarizes a series of investigations on self‐similar operational hydrology.
The importance of long term memory is well established with Hurst ( in regard to the Nileometer (and the long scales implied)
Review article here.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.6018
Fires and floods abound, yet some still prefer to believe that there is no trend, no evidence of anything out of the ordinary. Try covering your eyes, ears and mouth while holding your nose… ain’t hands wonderful.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperatures_Rising
You should think again before accusing anyone of climate change denial.
Since you don't understand the Southland floods of the late 1970s and early 1980s that I mentioned, you need to exercise your little brain and research New Zealand with a bit more historical depth than Wikipedia.
Ad, sorry that you interpreted my comment as an accusation directed at you – was not my intent.
What https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119287951/new-allegations-surround-mp-jamilee-ross? Are National worried about Botany and using the usual suspects to muddy the JLR waters?
Does make me wonder if Jamie would have committed these crimes given the previous accusations. Sounds convenient timing with wondering who to benefit from at least a smear? All three women staff members complaining? Coincidence?
Luckily we have James to set us straight on justice. (see James @ 6.1.1)
Two women, one man, says Newsroom: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/05/1019443/new-allegations-surround-mp-jami-lee-ross
But what does Paula Bennett say? She’s the go-to girl for these things.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12306302
Here's a cunning plan:
A by-election in Botany within the next few months. Luxon wins Botany. National's poll results slide and Simon Bridges becomes even more unpopular. Luxon rolls Bridges and leads the National Party into this year's general election.
A win for the dark overlords who control the National Party.
Do Germans have a thing about 99? They gave us "99 Red Balloons", now some german loaded 99 phones into a kid's wagon and pulled them around city streets outside Google's office to make a phantom traffic jam on google maps.
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/artist-google-traffic-jam-alert-trick-scli-intl/index.html
Meanwhile, in UK: "The idea that anyone could be leftwing and remain, let alone hard left and hard remain, has been completely erased from the narrative of Brexit; despite the fact that this was pretty much the entire Labour party."
"This is the phase of the Labour leadership contest in which people try and guess at what the candidates believe via means other than what they say." Ah, would that be because people automatically disbelieve Labour MPs?
"Starmer currently enjoys a convincing lead among constituency Labour party nominations. The deadline isn’t until Valentine’s Day; so far 231 CLPs have nominated (233 have nominated for deputy), and Starmer has a clear lead, with 138 nominations, and that seems to be accelerating: three-quarters of the local parties that declared over the weekend chose him. Long-Bailey has 58, Nandy 26, Thornberry nine. Historical loyalty to Corbyn (if we can call the past five years a history) is no definite indicator of a nomination for Long-Bailey: North Norfolk and Brent Central nominated Corbyn in both 2015 and 2016, and went for Starmer, while North Devon and Elmet and Rothwell, with the same 2015-16 pattern, chose Long-Bailey."
"And there are known unknowns, principally which way the 100,000 new joiners will jump, since they weren’t allowed to vote on nominations, but will be allowed to vote on the leader. Internal polling and general hunches suggest that they will be voting against Long-Bailey, on the basis that if you wanted a Corbyn continuity candidate, you’d need a very good reason not to have already been a member." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/04/labour-leadership-battle-left-right-divide
What is Mr Starmer like?
Well, glancing at his photo here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer, I thought he looked like Rudolf Hess. He was " a defence lawyer specialising in human rights issues. In 2008, he was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), holding the role until 2013. He was appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in 2002 and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours. He was sworn in as a Privy Councillor in 2017."
Establishment dude. Solid enough to make Boris look flakey by comparison. Well, that wouldn't be hard, but likely to reassure punters dismayed by Jeremy. "Keir was named after the first Labour Party MP, Keir Hardie."
"Although he accepted the knighthood, he prefers not to be called Sir." Maybe not conservative then.
Concern over ouvea premix With peak water flows yet to arrive at Mataura, there is concern about the ouvea premix stored at the Mataura paper mill. Emergency services and others have carried out further flood protection works by sandbagging around the building. However, with 2,660 cumecs of water expected at Mataura at 11.50am it is uncertain what impact this will have on the paper mill. Emergency Management Southland and other agencies have yet to determine what the environmental impact may be. Emergency Management Southland is coordinating with other relevant agencies, including iwi. Ouvea premix can produce ammonia when wet. The risks associated with the premix have been considered when setting the evacuation zones around the paper mill. DO NOT BE COMPLACENT Residents of Wyndham and surrounding low-lying areas should evacuate immediately. The Mataura River is expected to peak with 2,740 cumecs at Wyndham at 3.20pm today. Residents of the township and surrounding low-lying areas should gather key personal belongings and proceed to the Mokoreta Hall or the Mimihau Hall as soon as possible to await further information. Take a grab bag with you containing medication, clothing and personal items including documents. If you are evacuating with pets, ensure they are contained on a leash or in a cage and that you have food for them. The Mataura River was expected to peak at 2,450 cumecs at Gore at 9.20am, and at Mataura with 2,660 cumecs at 11.50am. People in affected areas are warned not to be complacent because the sun is shining and there is no wind. EMS reiterates that the peak flows have yet to arrive. A map outlining the evacuation areas of Gore and Mataura is available on http://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland<https://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland> and http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz<http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz/>
RNZ radio NZ has a live update on the situation. Otherwise, check out the civil defence links that Robert suggests.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/408884/southland-flooding-live-updates
With 62% of precincts reporting in Iowa, there's some interesting patterns emerging.
Sanders mostly won where there's cities. Rural areas split between Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Even though Warren was third overall, ahead of Biden and Klobuchar, she didn't win a single county.
Kinda goes against the idea that Sanders is the candidate most likely to win back those disaffected flyover state voters that turned to the dark side with Darth Drumpf.
https://edition.cnn.com/election/2020/state/iowa
edit: heh, Warren got close to her worst result in Pocahontas County with 4.7%
Kia Ora Newshub.
It was a good day all around Aotearoa celebrating Waitangi day.
Condolences to Kirk Douglas whanau.
Yes we need to recycle more but the best option is to stop using plastic all together. The elephant in the room is the huge plastic manufacturing company's have to much influence on other companies that use their rubbish.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
It was great to see A Wahine speaking at the Marae at Waitangi.
Good to see Wahine paddlers on Waka to.
Ka pai to the Australian indigenous people for going for a treaty settlement of their own for losses to the Australian government.
Its awesome to see Tangata whenua getting the respect we deserve I have seen the attitude other cultures had towards Maori a couple of years ago in Tamiki Makaru.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Of course our migrants and their cultures should be treated respectfully.
We do need more Maori in Media and broadcasting telling good stories about Maori not just the negative stuff.
Its shows someone has no morels.
A new dawn for race relations is great for Aotearoa.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
Its good to see Maori tau toko Maori.
There you go a big company trying to take advantage of people CPB.
Glacier are vanishing before our eyes in Antarctica. The positive news in now most people know the cause is human caused climate change.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Good to see all the Ropu in the Kapa Haka in Opotiki.
Its awesome to see Counties Manakau changing their system to deliver a better health service to Maori and Pacific tangata.
Ka pai to the indigenous culture gathering in Hawaii to show the Papatuanuku Our Great Cultures and teach the tamariki how great their cultures are.
I think that the changes to RadioNZ and TVNZ is good if you don't adapt you no what happens.
Ka kite Ano
Donna was helping her tangata not herself it shows with all the tau toko she has kia kaha.
Kia Ora Newshub.
Climate change is the cause of Antarctica warning temperature Ka pai.
The farmarmy is doing great mahi it looks like the grass is still ok.
The Gay Pride Parade looks like a good day kia kaha.
Alcohol causes heaps of harm to our society I think those bars should be treated like all other bars.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
That's awesome that Rangitane has had their Pukaha reserve returned as part of their Treaty Settlement.
Good that interest in Te reo Māori is starting to grow fast.
Te Ka pa Haka was great in Opotiki today.
Ka kite Ano