Will the admitted illegal actions of the GCSB lead to charges being laid?
Will NZ get a seat on the the Security Council?
Mission impossible?
Murray McCully is supposed to be in New York lobbying for New Zealand to be awarded one of the non-permanent seats on the Security Council.
But even before he got off the plane his mission had been sabotaged on the home front.
While he was in transit, in the operation to extradite Kim Dotcom to the U.S. headlines around the world were recounting revelations of NZ secret service malfeasance, as well as cover up and lying, at the highest levels of the NZ state
Unless something changes, McCully has no show of convincing the UN General Assembly of our independent bona fides.
I would have thought that illegal snooping on someone was a serious matter?
I would have thought perjury was a serious matter?
But not, it seems, if these illegal actions are done on behalf of the United States.
If we have no respect for our own national laws and norms on behalf of the American super power, how could we be trusted to respect international laws and norms if they were in conflict with US interests?
Has McCully given up on his Quixotic mission?
In his only opportunity to address the general assembly, instead of putting New Zealand’s case case for one of the non permanent seats on the Security Council, McCully spent most of his speech on Syria and criticising the Security Council’s veto power.
Way to go Murray!
Why was New Zealand’s mission to secure one of the non-permanent seats dropped off your agenda?
Mr McCully said later on Q+A today that he received some sporadic applause for his comments and sensed a real sense of frustration among the General Assembly.
.If New Zealand really wanted a seat on the Security Council we must announce to the world that our sovereignity is invioble, that Dotcom will get a fair hearing, that evidence of perjury in this matter will be investigated, that acts of illegality by secret agencies will be punished. That when it comes to justice the US will have to stand in the queue like everyone else.
Information held by the Herald shows Gen-I studied data showing the amount of time it took information on the internet connection to reach the Xbox server. It went from 30 milliseconds to 180 milliseconds – a huge increase for online gamers.
The reason for the extra time emerged in a deeper inquiry, which saw a “Trace Route” search which tracks internet signals from their origin to their destinations. When the results were compared it showed the internet signal was being diverted inside New Zealand.
The data showed the internet signal had previously taken two steps before going offshore – but was now taking five.
Any thoughts from the techie types out there as to whether there are any reasons this could happen other than the signal was being illegally diverted to monitor it?
And if the GCSB are telling the truth that the illegal surveillance of Dotcom didn’t start until 16 December 2011, then who else would have been doing it earlier? The NSA running an op in New Zealand? Now, that would be really interesting.
They should, yes. The IP addresses will have to be globally routable. The IP addresses may just point to the very edge of the ‘shell’ of the network, but it’s still showing you something, even if only a very little. Although the fact that there were 3 additional hops will also show you the intermediary providers they use to funnel the data their way.
You’d have to mirror outgoing and incoming connections. Not especially hard, but more effort than just diverting the stream entirely. It’s also much more obvious that surveillance is going on – the only reason traffic could be mirrored is for monitoring purposes. Traffic being routed inefficiently could be just that – a routing error.
I find it amusing that this investigation started because Kim Dotcom is such a nerd and a rich one. Any other average person wouldn’t have any clue this was happening (or the resources/clout to get an investigation done by Gen I).
I am far from an IT expert, but am informed by Anita from Kiwipolitico (who knows a lot more about this than me), on this occasion over at the Dim-Post, that re-routing is necessary if you want to decrypt encrypted messages.
Given that Kim Dotcom is very likely to have been encrypting much of his messaging, then diversion rather than mirroring may well have been the GCSB’s (or NSA’s) best method of obtaining the most useful intelligence.
Especially given that mirroring gives you all sorts of extraneous shit you are not really interested in.
There is more information at http://torrentfreak.com/kim-dotcoms-gaming-lag-hints-spying-121004/
including an interview with the big man himself.
Whatever the reason whether it be incompetence or a security agency diverting traffic so it can have a snoop the justification for a full inquiry just got bigger.
And I was surprised to hear how big the GCSB is. It apparently has over 300 employees.
Thanks for that link, ms. Really interesting read which has been updated in the last few hours. I followed an earlier link via KDC twitter and KDC’s comments were not reported then.
KDC is now saying the problems started in Oct, and Telecom was asked to check, but then went silent. He also says the GCSB had also installed four cameras on the property, and this will come out in Court. It all gets murkier and murkier.
Holy crap, 300, that is potentially a lot of leather arm chairs and snifters of single malt! Maybe two or three of ’em just monitor The Standard and other blogs sorting out who is who all day.
The speculation whether there were donations to National as well as ACT is most interesting.
The inspector general is obviously some kind of patsy retirement post given the meagre funds allocated to the ‘watchdog’ compared to overall GCSB funding.
The answers here could turn out to be political dynamite.
No wonder Dotcom keeps smiling.
He has the tech savvy to guess what happened, and confidence that the NZ legal system will eventually reveal the details. Let’s hope he’s right.
This could go right to the top- Key after all is in direct charge of the spy network. And (!) including maybe the current GG, who ran the GCSB for some months. Key has assumed he has had ‘plausible deniability’ all down the line. That is looking thin now, as the underlings start to talk.
And let’s hear it from the Minister of Police, the esteemed Ann Tolley, on the apparent perjury. Fresh from the high-heeled stomp on the boy racer’s wagon…
It could be a couple of reasons, what they really need to do is an internic/whois lookup on th IP numbers from that tracert.
Those routes and how they got there are very hard to track because of the 0.0.0.0 default gateway and device routed packets.
In the modern day the NZ internet uses what’s called numberless IP or port routing, those routes are managed using RIP or a similiar routing management protocol.
Once they know who “owned” those IP numbers they’ll have an idea of location. You would have to ask the Telco who owned it though, which means you’d be better to do it officialy, I’m sure they’d want to help, but policy may prevent them.
There is no reason on earth to route a packet to Wellington and back again.
I’d suspect packet snooping was the goal, and they must’ve broken into a Telco switch or have backbone RIP access to pull it off.
I don’t think the Americans’ would’ve helped them hack a NZ site without good reason, but if they said it was for Dotcom then maybe, which raises a whole raft of questions about protocol and checks and balances.
1. An overseas intelligence organisation has rerouted Dotcom’s feed so that it can be analysed. Not likely since the loop happened between Dotcom’s house and the Sky Tower.
2. A NZ intelligence organisation has rerouted Dotcom’s feed so that it can be analysed. Quite likely given the current performance of the various Government Departments. They seem to not understand that the law is something they should adhere to.
3. It is a monumental stuff up by Telecom and its technicians and Dotcom is elegantly playing us all like chumps. This cannot be ruled out given Telecom’s general performance and Dotcom’s uncanny ability to affect public discourse of the issue.
For a slightly more geeky pointy headed discussion of the issue try Dimpost’s blog at http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/a-question-for-the-level-3-boys/
Apologies for no embedded links. I am on holiday and on an Ipad …
Considering the GCSB is there too protect us from Cyber Terrorism, they are actually the people you people should be asking.
They are meant too be protecting us, not spying on us.
They sent a message to me and others on this board, the message was a scary one.
Nothing too do with them, someone else was trying out those stack smashers they left behind last night.
We have nothing too hide, so not a big deal, but why would he smash his own board?
…… Coz he’s a wannabe hacker.
Anonymous are a bunch of incompetents who never read a single line of kernel code it their lives, they steal the ability from people who have, and we hate them for it.
This one’s for Muzza and for David H. A few days ago we had a chat about the psychology of commenters on stuff.co.nz, comapring them to talkback callers. You made the point Muzza that these folks don’t necessarily represent the mindset of the rest of NZ but are influential in their own way.
After a bout of despair I vowed not to get involved in these discussions again but…….there is an article in yesterdays Dom Post by Vernon Small questioning whether voters are turning away from Key. Check out the feedback. It’s refreshing. Add your voice if you want, the discussion is continuing today. We keep looking to opposition politicans for leadership and hope but we can’t forget that WE as a population are the ones that should be driving democracy. (In a very general sense, and via action not just by posting comments on an msm news site lol)
I’ve seen a lot of very negative comments about Key and National leading up to the last election, too. I guess turnout was just depressed enough thanks to the MSM narrative of National having a home-run that we ended up with the result we did.
Thanks for that link Rosie. I understand the despair too … have felt it acutely since NACT got in and more so since their return but I have to believe good over comes bad, compassion and integrity wins over greed and self-interest. It is certainly unravelling before our very eyes and with such volume that even the least politically aware must be noticing. Rose tinted glasses perhaps but it helps keep me going!
I’ll check out the link later, thanks for posting..
The thing with the MSM is that they generally do not care who the government is, they simply make up the news, and drive the narrative which suits their corporate owners agenda.
News media generally meant to straddle the middle line, as they exist regardless of who is in government or who is in opposition, they get to “make the news”
So far as people joining online conversations and the like – My feelings are that online anything comes with the elevated risk of false economy, which is when people use online communities and believe they they are making a difference, or that its influential, this to me is false, because my feeling is that it is not!
Online, especially in the MSM is heavily controlled, monitored and moderated, and as such is is not hard to see where it can be used to take the energy away from people, by allowing them to feel a sense of emotion either positive or negative about , in this instance our political situation.
Only when people take to the streets, and become very enagaged in political process, not just voting, but demanding accountability through continued engagement, will NZ stand any chance of turning around the course we are on!
Hey Muzza. I fully agree with your thoughts on the msm, and am under no illusion of it’s agenda. Its’ content is often quite vapid and becoming more inane with an increasing focus on “entertainment” (mind numbing celebrity entertainment). In regard to the Vernon Small article, I was just very pleased to see some anti national/shonkey talk going on. And yes, these msm online comments sections are very moderated. Only about 50% or less of my posts ever make it to the page (on fairfax).
I also firmly believe in action but man, where is it? Yes, theres been some solid protest around asset sales, but over the last decade, and the last 4 years in particular, it feels like we have become the “OK” meme. Just accepting. http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvx6evUA2F1qf04yf.jpg
Maybe just too tired, too indifferent, too preoccupied and disillusioned? I was just a kid during the time of the Springboks tour and the Nuclear Free movement but later came to appreciate and admire the actions and efforts (sometimes at great personal risk) that went into promoting and standing up for social and environmental justice. I was inspired by these people and I guess that gave me the encouragment to ‘get involved’ in taking action alongside others as other issues arose. (So thank you to anyone here who was involved in those protests) Governments come and go and we are faced with evolving threats and issues regularly but it feels like we’ve lost our fire. And our unity.
we are faced with evolving threats and issues regularly but it feels like we’ve lost our fire. And our unity
Rosie, student loans have a big part to play, so does immigration/emmigration, into the mix.
I recall when I was growing up, that locally when there were protests, it was the students who seemed to be leading the charge so to speak, and taking stands against the issues of the time. so how to quell what was a large chunk of protestors? Get them under control via debt, its certainly worked well to crush what was left of the student protests for the past 10-15 years.
We see some coming about again of late, but nothing which is going to make change.
Immigration/emmigration is self explanatory IMO, and of course there are the pro’s and con’s on both sides. Needless to say that if you want to remove unity from any country, then just ensure that you keep the doors revolving as quickly as possible. That alongside keeping those who stay, at eachother using the worst kinds of race/class warfare you could find in the “developed” world!
You are right though, the fire has been extinguished, and people appear to me to be very “thick” these days, walking around like mindless zombies, talking about “stuff” which is simply that, just stuff. I look at the younger generations in my family, and realise that they do not even realise just how dumbed down life has made them, the digital kids are trapped.
If people want to argue the attack on peoples mind, they need look no further than the charter schools fiasco, as the lastest attack on furture generations of Kiwi young.
Its going to take something very big before that unity you refer might kick in again, but it will happen Rosie, the question for me is, will it be too late.
Points noted re student debt and revolving door population and its effect on our ‘voicelessness”.
“people appear to me to be very ‘thick’ these days”
Try living in the Ohariu electorate Muzza! I do understand what you say however. I also wonder how it is for young people who have been born in the time of neoliberalism (getting sick of that word). Very generally speaking they haven’t been raised in a way, or exposed to a system that honours collectivity, and the idea of collective effort equalling collective gain. Many in my generation (x) have abandoned that priciple too, and have rather selfish pursuits. They don’t realise that independence (in the form of creativity and self sufficience) and selflessness/ compassion can co exist. It’s all “MY independence or nothing” Maybe that lack of collective awareness prevents young people and gen y’ers in general from particpating in democracy, even our most basic democratic right – voting.
Dumbing down. Well, we’ve seen the effects of that on the American population in regard to their education system and your point about charter schools being introduced here is valid. As it is it does feel like we live in time devoid of critical thinking (or just thinking), questioning and engagement in meaningful discussion. It is just ‘stuff’ that seems to be the topic, as you say. Look at our free tv content. Unless it’s on Maori chanel (and they do have some great shows) you’ll have to get a dvd out or go online if you want to watch a documentary. A dumbed down nation is a submissive nation.
Anyway, I am deteriorating into rant so will leave you in peace.
One time if you feel like answering I’d be interested to know your thoughts (if any) on the outcomes of the Occupation Movement, internationally and here.
Anyway, I am deteriorating into rant so will leave you in peace.
One time if you feel like answering I’d be interested to know your thoughts (if any) on the outcomes of the Occupation Movement, internationally and here.
The occupy movement, along with the “arab spring’, should be under the microscope for how to manufacture, hijack and destroy, hope, the same can be applied to Obama (remember is campaign slogans). Remember the Tea Party in the USA – How people brought into what was solid ideas, but yet the movement had been created entirely to steal the energy from the real grass roots movements. The key feature is to take over and re-direct what could be a threat to nullify it, or to turn it into something, that next time people will not be inclined to get involved with
Occupy internationally and locally lacked cohesive demands, and then got taken over in the USA by the likes of Michael Moore, David Graber, which means that the establishment had already taken the control of the messages. While the intentions of the occupy movement were most likely solid, they were well and truly schooled in how technology will be used, along with the intelligence community to divert the energy to where it wants it to be directed, to control the narrative, to kill something off.
NZ occupy, while not controlled to the same degree, was IMO still equally missing some basic tennants of what might have allowed them some degree of success. The active community from what I heve seen in AKL, is factuous, and full of people in it for their own gains, and the chance of a joined up approach is currently not likely. There are some really good people too, but until self importance is put aside, and they can find a “face” who can translate some very clear messages which ressonate with the “middle class”, its going to be hard to see it being a force for change!
For an examply of how to get some traction see Syriza in greece, they brought together a bunch of disparate factions cohesively, had clear concise ideas, which they portrayed coherently, they increased their vote from 4-27%, and were a wisker away from being part of the government. What that would have meant is debateable in reality, but the case study is how Syriza pulled itslf together, the clarity of the messages/policies, and what those message/policies were!
Could go all day on this, but thats about it for now…Take it easy Rosie
“Occupy internationally and locally lacked cohesive demands and got taken over…………”
Agreed. Thanks for taking ther the time to respond Muzza. Noted your points about the unity in the left wing factions in Greece, and their almost success in their elections. Also noted your point about there being good people in the movement in NZ, in Akld in your example but the movement was factious and folks driving their own agenda. Ditto here in Wgtn.
In the early days of the movement before it came here I spent everyday on the livestream talking with people involved. It was hugely exciting and there was a real sense of connection and hope. I was uplifted by the speeches from people like Naomi Klein (I attended one of her talks over a decade ago when I lived in AK and have always liked where she comes from) and other campaigners who I’d never heard of and from the people themselves. I was wondering how this movement would translate into our culture. Not so well, I think, in the end and despite the best intentions.
After attending the international day of solidarity in October last year I decided to stay on the periphery of the movement. I didn’t know how the movement could progress without a clear directive and demands, or leadership for that matter. I got that they wanted to diffuse a traditional power dynamic and they wanted to stay true to the model of the movement but just in my opinion there was no time for navel gazing. When I raised issues of our current political status I was told the movement was a post political movement. I was at odds with that statement. How could any movement that is essentially wanting a system change not be political? There was also the issue of the ego’s yet again and I felt a sense of the Wgtn chapter being exclusive and some how closed. There were some great people doing great work so I don’t mean to be disrespectful however I think we missed a good opportunity in NZ, especially as we were going into an election. I think there was more effect or should a say a different effect in both the US and the UK due to a different tact and a different political, economic and social situation compared to here, even though we have similarities. I could go on too.
Got to dash – I have ducklings and their parents that come into the garden looking for food and water!
Rosie, I appreciate your affirmation of the Springbok protest “activists”. I was one of them, and in the middle of the Hamilton ground which was terrifying. Now I am old and, regrettably, cannot get “out there” to demonstrate any more. (Nowadays, I am a “computer activist”!) But I have to say that I am dismayed at the amount of apathy in this country in connection with vitally important issues which are likely to adversely affect my grandchildren. Indifference is the killer! Oh, for some sign of “the old fire” (with the sole exception of the Queen Street protest against this government wrecking our beautiful environment in its insatiable greed to make money, especially for the already rich.
Dr Terry. That is great to hear of your participation in the Springboks protests. Yes, I can imagine how terrifying that must have felt. What courage it must have taken to stand your ground. (The picket line has been a scary enough place for me at times! I’d have been useless had I been in your position) One of my former colleagues was involved in the Mt Eden protest and it was her determination and conviction that I found so inspiring. She was also a feminist and I learnt what I could from her about feminism. Its your generation that cared and made changes, so don’t feel regret at not being ‘out there’ now. Doing what you do is necessary and relevent. I’m not surprised that you feel dismay at the current apathy and I feel uncomfortable that my generation is part of that apathy.
Hi Weka. They’ve changed their format. To read in chronological order you will need to scroll down till you get to click on “read more comments” And then scroll backwards to read in order of the thread.Currently there are 50 comments.
It started out positive yesterday and has deteriorated.
I’m kicking myself because I broke my ban on commenting on fairfax sites and now have a jerk called eziyo telling me I’m the reason he’s moving to Australia (yes, a complete stranger he has never met) plus other inanities directed at me. It was kind of my fault becuase I got personal and called him racist. My bad. Ignorant and prejudiced would have been the correct term. He’s also completely misunderstood what I’m talking about. Oh god, why do I even care…………..
Thank you Rosie for that .. Yay it finally looks as if the worm is turning. There was a couple of very good comments from a Kiwi who will never desert NZ ( I came here when I was 15 from England) I will never leave either. Coming from England via italy and round the cape on a liner, it was great I was 15 and the parents had owned a pub, so didn’t worry about the drinking, until the beer flavored sea sickness lol. BUT NZ was so clean after Southampton, Genoa, they were all dirty and grey. Capetown was very Dangerous Height of apartheid. Damn I’m getting old lol. It was amazing arriving at the Overseas Terminal at 10pm on a clear warm October night back in 1969. I’m getting stir crazy, been stuck in bed with this rotten flu all week. So don’t let the depressing views of the haters get to you, just hope that the Nacts implode before they can do too much damage. And Shearer stands aside in favour of Cunliffe it’s the only way to go. Thanks again it was great to see that there are not just haters out there. Keep up the good work.
One can live in hope! I guess its better late than never that folks are waking up to the reality of the monster govt they voted in. Now we just need some action. (And I agree, Cunliffe needs to be in that oppostion leadership position sooner rather than later)
Sorry to hear of your flu. I bet its a stunning day up the coast today so hopefully thats enough to signal to that virus that its time to go. All the best for a good recovery:)
Anyone else been getting redirect loop problems under chrome for “the standard”? I have tried clearing cookies several times etc, but the problem reappears almost immediately. “The Standard” is the only site I have encountered this problem with under chrome.
Yeah, I often get “redirect loop” problems at the standard – usually when I get into a conversation with tsmithfield, Gosman, kiwi_prometheus or BalancedView.
Public safety may be paramount, but the use of the armed forces for law enforcement purposes can only happen with the approval of the Prime Minister or next most senior Minister. it will be very interesting to see whether that approval has been granted in this case, or whether the police and army are once again relying on the Napier interpretation to bypass the law. If they are doing the latter, then I think its something Parliament needs to look at.
It seems that the police may be getting a little gung-ho in their use of the armed forces to assist with policing.
In the National Business Review dated Friday January 20 2012 (The same day as the Dotcom raids).
OFCANZ deputy director Detective Inspector Grant Wormald talks about working with the U.S. Authorities over recent months.
OFCANS work is prioritised and assigned by the Commissioner of police who seeks advice from the Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Co-ordination (ODESC)
Given that the GCSB is part of the OCDES that advises the Prime Minister and according to Wormald
“The FBI contacted New Zealand Police in early 2011 with a request to assist with their investigation into the Mega Conspiracy.” said Mr Wormald.
“We were happy to provide this assistance. Staff from OFCANZ and New Zealand Police have worked with the US authorities over recent months to effect today’s successful operation.
When the FBI first contacted the N.Z. Police to assist in their investigation how far up the chain of command did that request go? After all this was not a run of the mill Armed Offenders Squad call out. And it was way above the operational level that the Prime Minister doesn’t get involved in.
I know Wormald has a creditability problem with some people, but credible or not as deputy director of OFCANZ saying that N.Z. Police and OFCANZ had been working with the U.S. Authorities for months prior to the raid proves that Key knows more than he is telling, he must do surly.
Feminine mystery, restrained by logic
Becomes mostly masculine, except in one obvious way.
One should not expect a man to be unable to see the beauty – is that the request?
The danger, I’m told, is to weave your webs in the morning.
Having met the danger, it is bewildering.
There will be no loss of life or limb;
No piercings or tattoos, but you’ll excuse me if I shave.
The varmints path, while rough,
is still too indulgent.
Isn’t it just that the four seasons have forgotten their name?
Nothing that is forgotten disappears.
Nothing that is given up is rejected.
The Way that can be told of is not an Unvarying Way:
The names that can be named are not unvarying names.
It was from the Nameless that Heaven and Earth sprang;
The named is but the mother that rears the ten thousand creatures, each after its kind.
Truly, ‘Only he that rids himself forever of desire can see the Secret Essences’;
He that has never rid himself of desire can see only the Outcomes.
These two things issued from the same mould, but nevertheless are different in name.
This ‘same mould’ we can but call the Mystery,
Or rather the ‘Darker than any Mystery’,
The Doorway whence issued all Secret Essences.
–
Friend, hope for the Guest while you are alive.
Jump into the experience while you are alive!
Think…and think…while you are alive.
What you call “salvation” belongs to the time
before death.
If you don’t break your ropes while you’re alive,
do you think
ghosts will do it after?
The idea that the soul will rejoin with the ecstatic
just because the body is rotten-
that is all fantasy.
What is found now is found then.
If you find nothing now,
you will simply end up with an apartment in the
City of Death.
If you make love with divine now, in the next
life you will have the face of satisfied desire.
So plunge into the truth, find out who the Teacher is,
Believe in the Great Sound!
Kabir says this: When the Guest is being searched for,
it is the intensity of the longing for the Guest that
does all the work.
Look at me, and you will see a slave of that intensity.
by Kabir
–
Love After Love- Derek Walcott
The time will come
When, with elation,
You will greet yourself arriving
At your own door, in your own mirror,
And each will smile at the other’s welcome,
And say, sit here, Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give Wine. Give Bread. Give back your heart
To itself, to the stranger who has loved you
All your life, whom you ignored
For another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
The photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
“…..proves that Key knows more than he is telling, he must do surly.” Yep. Surly describes him well. 🙂 Back at Katy @7
Katy. That is a useful piece of research. It does suggest that a proper inquiry is needed – desperately!
I suppose if a group is not visible, and is unlikely to have light shone on them, and if the representative of the people whose job it is to oversee is asleep, then it would be human nature to bend/break the rules. Integrity would become flexible?
Todays daily rag:
“MR KEY GOES TO HOLLYWOOD”
A STRANGE TERRIBLE AND TRAGIC TALE OF THE RUBE WHO GETS ROBBED OF ALL HIS BREAD IN TINSEL TOWN.
and it wan’t even his own money!!!
an aside,
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day. 2 Peter 3: 8
handy to remember when too focused, the |Devil| is in the detail
“All this Time the Guard was looking at her through a telescope,
then through a microscope and then through an opera glass
At last he said,
You’re going the wrong way and shut up the window and went away.”
(As it is written: “See I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” )-To the Romans 9:33
I love that playing WoW is a character defect in republican eyes, but wearing a tri-corner hat and demanding to see birth certs in real life is simply “heartland america”.
The Rotary Club of Remuera has pulled the pin on John Ansell’s “Colourblind” campaign launch and cancelled its meeting in Auckland on Monday, October 8.
In a statement, club president John Burrowes says Rotary is a non-political organisation and following what he termed “media hype” it became obvious the club had been “ambushed” into providing a platform for a political ad campaign launch.
Mr Ansell, due to fly up from Wellington on Saturday, told NBR ONLINE Rotary had “misrepresented me terribly.”
He says he was invited to talk some weeks ago by a Rotary club member and told he could invite “whoever I like.”
On that basis he invited other people and the media.
So what now? If companies have to pay for background checks, depending on the cost then how many are doing to say bugger it? and it’s even worse if the schools are cash strapped.
if the govt keeps cutting funding to the police and others eventually there will be anarchy
Just released that meridian has walked away from the talks with the smelter at bluff.
A source also said that meridian had plans with the electricity that the smelter would
have used.
Sorry cant link, but it is on the stuff site.
What next for the economy, the ‘great decimation of our economy’ continues by the
‘keystoners’
-Civil Defence-dysfunctional
-divided
Duplication of Control (Kaos) Too many chiefs(over-managed like the rest of NZ)
another freakin disaster?
-Willis Street Pedestrian Barriers; Killing Business? Just Kill More Pedestrians.
(kill kill kill kill kill the poor: Glad I’m not a Kennedy, imagine being a Kennedy)
-over the Ring-Wraiths
-NZTA; New Zealand Termination Agency (knackered PR)
Brit Comedy Friday on ONE: laugh your way to the chamber.
(Yes Minister)
Parkinsons Dis-ease-Now Pigs On The Wing: nothing like a little xenotransplantation to get ya movin.
Oh this is not good. This is not good at all. Negotiations break down between Rio Tinto and Meridian. Closure of Tiwai Point would devastate the lower South Island. The small silver lining is that it would make power companies a less attractive investment for asset sales with a flood of electricity onto the market, but this would harm a lot of workers and their families.
Mitt Romney’s ‘victory’ in the first presidential debate is disturbing.
The guy is probably the most right wing Republican presidential candidate ever, and his running mate is even more right wing then he is (Im waiting for some war vet to ‘nut out’ and shoot Romney, so Paul Ryan can slide into the Oval Office – a la Manchurian Candidate).
If Romney gets in, those in the USA who aren’t rich are pretty much fucked.
‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveReporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
Peter Dunne writes – I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos Chris Trotter writes – TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction? Gary Judd writes – Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
Open access notablesA Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future:Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
Alwyn Poole writes – After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
Eric Crampton writes – A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
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 ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
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 ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
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. ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
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Will Dotcom get a fair hearing?
Will evidence of police perjury be investigated?
Will the admitted illegal actions of the GCSB lead to charges being laid?
Will NZ get a seat on the the Security Council?
Mission impossible?
Murray McCully is supposed to be in New York lobbying for New Zealand to be awarded one of the non-permanent seats on the Security Council.
But even before he got off the plane his mission had been sabotaged on the home front.
While he was in transit, in the operation to extradite Kim Dotcom to the U.S. headlines around the world were recounting revelations of NZ secret service malfeasance, as well as cover up and lying, at the highest levels of the NZ state
Unless something changes, McCully has no show of convincing the UN General Assembly of our independent bona fides.
I would have thought that illegal snooping on someone was a serious matter?
I would have thought perjury was a serious matter?
But not, it seems, if these illegal actions are done on behalf of the United States.
If we have no respect for our own national laws and norms on behalf of the American super power, how could we be trusted to respect international laws and norms if they were in conflict with US interests?
Has McCully given up on his Quixotic mission?
In his only opportunity to address the general assembly, instead of putting New Zealand’s case case for one of the non permanent seats on the Security Council, McCully spent most of his speech on Syria and criticising the Security Council’s veto power.
Way to go Murray!
Why was New Zealand’s mission to secure one of the non-permanent seats dropped off your agenda?
http://www.3news.co.nz/Murray-McCully-criticises-Security-Council-at-United-Nations/tabid/1607/articleID/270987/Default.aspx
.If New Zealand really wanted a seat on the Security Council we must announce to the world that our sovereignity is invioble, that Dotcom will get a fair hearing, that evidence of perjury in this matter will be investigated, that acts of illegality by secret agencies will be punished. That when it comes to justice the US will have to stand in the queue like everyone else.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10838484
Any thoughts from the techie types out there as to whether there are any reasons this could happen other than the signal was being illegally diverted to monitor it?
And if the GCSB are telling the truth that the illegal surveillance of Dotcom didn’t start until 16 December 2011, then who else would have been doing it earlier? The NSA running an op in New Zealand? Now, that would be really interesting.
I’m not a techie but it looks significant and it looks like an intelligence gathering organisation jumped the gun.
And you have to admire Dotcom’s media savvy.
He has obviously had this information for nearly a year but chose now, when it will do most damage, to release it.
Stand by for a couple of blockbusters, a dinner with Key and a large donation to the National Party …
Another question for techie types: would Gen-I know the IP addresses of the extra three “steps”?
They should, yes. The IP addresses will have to be globally routable. The IP addresses may just point to the very edge of the ‘shell’ of the network, but it’s still showing you something, even if only a very little. Although the fact that there were 3 additional hops will also show you the intermediary providers they use to funnel the data their way.
Crikey Toad. That could be very big!
Yep the ping rate would have driven Dotcom spare at the time. It is one of the most important aspects for online gaming.
You don’t divert an IP stream to monitor it, you make a copy and monitor that.
You’d have to mirror outgoing and incoming connections. Not especially hard, but more effort than just diverting the stream entirely. It’s also much more obvious that surveillance is going on – the only reason traffic could be mirrored is for monitoring purposes. Traffic being routed inefficiently could be just that – a routing error.
I find it amusing that this investigation started because Kim Dotcom is such a nerd and a rich one. Any other average person wouldn’t have any clue this was happening (or the resources/clout to get an investigation done by Gen I).
No, port mirroring is the way it’s done.
So then you’d be getting all sorts of other traffic as well.
I am far from an IT expert, but am informed by Anita from Kiwipolitico (who knows a lot more about this than me), on this occasion over at the Dim-Post, that re-routing is necessary if you want to decrypt encrypted messages.
Given that Kim Dotcom is very likely to have been encrypting much of his messaging, then diversion rather than mirroring may well have been the GCSB’s (or NSA’s) best method of obtaining the most useful intelligence.
Especially given that mirroring gives you all sorts of extraneous shit you are not really interested in.
There is more information at http://torrentfreak.com/kim-dotcoms-gaming-lag-hints-spying-121004/
including an interview with the big man himself.
Whatever the reason whether it be incompetence or a security agency diverting traffic so it can have a snoop the justification for a full inquiry just got bigger.
And I was surprised to hear how big the GCSB is. It apparently has over 300 employees.
Thanks for that link, ms. Really interesting read which has been updated in the last few hours. I followed an earlier link via KDC twitter and KDC’s comments were not reported then.
KDC is now saying the problems started in Oct, and Telecom was asked to check, but then went silent. He also says the GCSB had also installed four cameras on the property, and this will come out in Court. It all gets murkier and murkier.
Holy crap, 300, that is potentially a lot of leather arm chairs and snifters of single malt! Maybe two or three of ’em just monitor The Standard and other blogs sorting out who is who all day.
The speculation whether there were donations to National as well as ACT is most interesting.
The inspector general is obviously some kind of patsy retirement post given the meagre funds allocated to the ‘watchdog’ compared to overall GCSB funding.
“Maybe two or three of ’em just monitor The Standard and other blogs sorting out who is who all day.”
Of course, The Standard is very important.
and yet you’ve returned…
Indeed, if The Standard weren’t important I wouldn’t be here…an important person like myself can’t waste his time on The Standard.
contrari-wise
The answers here could turn out to be political dynamite.
No wonder Dotcom keeps smiling.
He has the tech savvy to guess what happened, and confidence that the NZ legal system will eventually reveal the details. Let’s hope he’s right.
This could go right to the top- Key after all is in direct charge of the spy network. And (!) including maybe the current GG, who ran the GCSB for some months. Key has assumed he has had ‘plausible deniability’ all down the line. That is looking thin now, as the underlings start to talk.
And let’s hear it from the Minister of Police, the esteemed Ann Tolley, on the apparent perjury. Fresh from the high-heeled stomp on the boy racer’s wagon…
Tolley won’t involve herself – on the basis that perjury by senior Police officers is an “operational matter”.
It could be a couple of reasons, what they really need to do is an internic/whois lookup on th IP numbers from that tracert.
Those routes and how they got there are very hard to track because of the 0.0.0.0 default gateway and device routed packets.
In the modern day the NZ internet uses what’s called numberless IP or port routing, those routes are managed using RIP or a similiar routing management protocol.
Once they know who “owned” those IP numbers they’ll have an idea of location. You would have to ask the Telco who owned it though, which means you’d be better to do it officialy, I’m sure they’d want to help, but policy may prevent them.
There is no reason on earth to route a packet to Wellington and back again.
I’d suspect packet snooping was the goal, and they must’ve broken into a Telco switch or have backbone RIP access to pull it off.
I don’t think the Americans’ would’ve helped them hack a NZ site without good reason, but if they said it was for Dotcom then maybe, which raises a whole raft of questions about protocol and checks and balances.
Key has issued a blanket denial.
There appear to be three possibilities:
1. An overseas intelligence organisation has rerouted Dotcom’s feed so that it can be analysed. Not likely since the loop happened between Dotcom’s house and the Sky Tower.
2. A NZ intelligence organisation has rerouted Dotcom’s feed so that it can be analysed. Quite likely given the current performance of the various Government Departments. They seem to not understand that the law is something they should adhere to.
3. It is a monumental stuff up by Telecom and its technicians and Dotcom is elegantly playing us all like chumps. This cannot be ruled out given Telecom’s general performance and Dotcom’s uncanny ability to affect public discourse of the issue.
For a slightly more geeky pointy headed discussion of the issue try Dimpost’s blog at http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/a-question-for-the-level-3-boys/
Apologies for no embedded links. I am on holiday and on an Ipad …
Considering the GCSB is there too protect us from Cyber Terrorism, they are actually the people you people should be asking.
They are meant too be protecting us, not spying on us.
They sent a message to me and others on this board, the message was a scary one.
Nothing too do with them, someone else was trying out those stack smashers they left behind last night.
We have nothing too hide, so not a big deal, but why would he smash his own board?
…… Coz he’s a wannabe hacker.
Anonymous are a bunch of incompetents who never read a single line of kernel code it their lives, they steal the ability from people who have, and we hate them for it.
So JH watch out, they know you now ……..
This one’s for Muzza and for David H. A few days ago we had a chat about the psychology of commenters on stuff.co.nz, comapring them to talkback callers. You made the point Muzza that these folks don’t necessarily represent the mindset of the rest of NZ but are influential in their own way.
After a bout of despair I vowed not to get involved in these discussions again but…….there is an article in yesterdays Dom Post by Vernon Small questioning whether voters are turning away from Key. Check out the feedback. It’s refreshing. Add your voice if you want, the discussion is continuing today. We keep looking to opposition politicans for leadership and hope but we can’t forget that WE as a population are the ones that should be driving democracy. (In a very general sense, and via action not just by posting comments on an msm news site lol)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/vernon-small/7766785/Vernon-Small-Are-voters-turning-against-John-Key
I’ve seen a lot of very negative comments about Key and National leading up to the last election, too. I guess turnout was just depressed enough thanks to the MSM narrative of National having a home-run that we ended up with the result we did.
Thanks for that link Rosie. I understand the despair too … have felt it acutely since NACT got in and more so since their return but I have to believe good over comes bad, compassion and integrity wins over greed and self-interest. It is certainly unravelling before our very eyes and with such volume that even the least politically aware must be noticing. Rose tinted glasses perhaps but it helps keep me going!
Hi Rosie, hope you’re well.
I’ll check out the link later, thanks for posting..
The thing with the MSM is that they generally do not care who the government is, they simply make up the news, and drive the narrative which suits their corporate owners agenda.
News media generally meant to straddle the middle line, as they exist regardless of who is in government or who is in opposition, they get to “make the news”
So far as people joining online conversations and the like – My feelings are that online anything comes with the elevated risk of false economy, which is when people use online communities and believe they they are making a difference, or that its influential, this to me is false, because my feeling is that it is not!
Online, especially in the MSM is heavily controlled, monitored and moderated, and as such is is not hard to see where it can be used to take the energy away from people, by allowing them to feel a sense of emotion either positive or negative about , in this instance our political situation.
Only when people take to the streets, and become very enagaged in political process, not just voting, but demanding accountability through continued engagement, will NZ stand any chance of turning around the course we are on!
Have a good day Rosie, Cheers
Thanks Lanthanide and LynW:)
Hey Muzza. I fully agree with your thoughts on the msm, and am under no illusion of it’s agenda. Its’ content is often quite vapid and becoming more inane with an increasing focus on “entertainment” (mind numbing celebrity entertainment). In regard to the Vernon Small article, I was just very pleased to see some anti national/shonkey talk going on. And yes, these msm online comments sections are very moderated. Only about 50% or less of my posts ever make it to the page (on fairfax).
I also firmly believe in action but man, where is it? Yes, theres been some solid protest around asset sales, but over the last decade, and the last 4 years in particular, it feels like we have become the “OK” meme. Just accepting.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvx6evUA2F1qf04yf.jpg
Maybe just too tired, too indifferent, too preoccupied and disillusioned? I was just a kid during the time of the Springboks tour and the Nuclear Free movement but later came to appreciate and admire the actions and efforts (sometimes at great personal risk) that went into promoting and standing up for social and environmental justice. I was inspired by these people and I guess that gave me the encouragment to ‘get involved’ in taking action alongside others as other issues arose. (So thank you to anyone here who was involved in those protests) Governments come and go and we are faced with evolving threats and issues regularly but it feels like we’ve lost our fire. And our unity.
Rosie, student loans have a big part to play, so does immigration/emmigration, into the mix.
I recall when I was growing up, that locally when there were protests, it was the students who seemed to be leading the charge so to speak, and taking stands against the issues of the time. so how to quell what was a large chunk of protestors? Get them under control via debt, its certainly worked well to crush what was left of the student protests for the past 10-15 years.
We see some coming about again of late, but nothing which is going to make change.
Immigration/emmigration is self explanatory IMO, and of course there are the pro’s and con’s on both sides. Needless to say that if you want to remove unity from any country, then just ensure that you keep the doors revolving as quickly as possible. That alongside keeping those who stay, at eachother using the worst kinds of race/class warfare you could find in the “developed” world!
You are right though, the fire has been extinguished, and people appear to me to be very “thick” these days, walking around like mindless zombies, talking about “stuff” which is simply that, just stuff. I look at the younger generations in my family, and realise that they do not even realise just how dumbed down life has made them, the digital kids are trapped.
If people want to argue the attack on peoples mind, they need look no further than the charter schools fiasco, as the lastest attack on furture generations of Kiwi young.
Its going to take something very big before that unity you refer might kick in again, but it will happen Rosie, the question for me is, will it be too late.
Points noted re student debt and revolving door population and its effect on our ‘voicelessness”.
“people appear to me to be very ‘thick’ these days”
Try living in the Ohariu electorate Muzza! I do understand what you say however. I also wonder how it is for young people who have been born in the time of neoliberalism (getting sick of that word). Very generally speaking they haven’t been raised in a way, or exposed to a system that honours collectivity, and the idea of collective effort equalling collective gain. Many in my generation (x) have abandoned that priciple too, and have rather selfish pursuits. They don’t realise that independence (in the form of creativity and self sufficience) and selflessness/ compassion can co exist. It’s all “MY independence or nothing” Maybe that lack of collective awareness prevents young people and gen y’ers in general from particpating in democracy, even our most basic democratic right – voting.
Dumbing down. Well, we’ve seen the effects of that on the American population in regard to their education system and your point about charter schools being introduced here is valid. As it is it does feel like we live in time devoid of critical thinking (or just thinking), questioning and engagement in meaningful discussion. It is just ‘stuff’ that seems to be the topic, as you say. Look at our free tv content. Unless it’s on Maori chanel (and they do have some great shows) you’ll have to get a dvd out or go online if you want to watch a documentary. A dumbed down nation is a submissive nation.
Anyway, I am deteriorating into rant so will leave you in peace.
One time if you feel like answering I’d be interested to know your thoughts (if any) on the outcomes of the Occupation Movement, internationally and here.
Very right Rosie, thats exactly what it is…
The occupy movement, along with the “arab spring’, should be under the microscope for how to manufacture, hijack and destroy, hope, the same can be applied to Obama (remember is campaign slogans). Remember the Tea Party in the USA – How people brought into what was solid ideas, but yet the movement had been created entirely to steal the energy from the real grass roots movements. The key feature is to take over and re-direct what could be a threat to nullify it, or to turn it into something, that next time people will not be inclined to get involved with
Occupy internationally and locally lacked cohesive demands, and then got taken over in the USA by the likes of Michael Moore, David Graber, which means that the establishment had already taken the control of the messages. While the intentions of the occupy movement were most likely solid, they were well and truly schooled in how technology will be used, along with the intelligence community to divert the energy to where it wants it to be directed, to control the narrative, to kill something off.
NZ occupy, while not controlled to the same degree, was IMO still equally missing some basic tennants of what might have allowed them some degree of success. The active community from what I heve seen in AKL, is factuous, and full of people in it for their own gains, and the chance of a joined up approach is currently not likely. There are some really good people too, but until self importance is put aside, and they can find a “face” who can translate some very clear messages which ressonate with the “middle class”, its going to be hard to see it being a force for change!
For an examply of how to get some traction see Syriza in greece, they brought together a bunch of disparate factions cohesively, had clear concise ideas, which they portrayed coherently, they increased their vote from 4-27%, and were a wisker away from being part of the government. What that would have meant is debateable in reality, but the case study is how Syriza pulled itslf together, the clarity of the messages/policies, and what those message/policies were!
Could go all day on this, but thats about it for now…Take it easy Rosie
“Occupy internationally and locally lacked cohesive demands and got taken over…………”
Agreed. Thanks for taking ther the time to respond Muzza. Noted your points about the unity in the left wing factions in Greece, and their almost success in their elections. Also noted your point about there being good people in the movement in NZ, in Akld in your example but the movement was factious and folks driving their own agenda. Ditto here in Wgtn.
In the early days of the movement before it came here I spent everyday on the livestream talking with people involved. It was hugely exciting and there was a real sense of connection and hope. I was uplifted by the speeches from people like Naomi Klein (I attended one of her talks over a decade ago when I lived in AK and have always liked where she comes from) and other campaigners who I’d never heard of and from the people themselves. I was wondering how this movement would translate into our culture. Not so well, I think, in the end and despite the best intentions.
After attending the international day of solidarity in October last year I decided to stay on the periphery of the movement. I didn’t know how the movement could progress without a clear directive and demands, or leadership for that matter. I got that they wanted to diffuse a traditional power dynamic and they wanted to stay true to the model of the movement but just in my opinion there was no time for navel gazing. When I raised issues of our current political status I was told the movement was a post political movement. I was at odds with that statement. How could any movement that is essentially wanting a system change not be political? There was also the issue of the ego’s yet again and I felt a sense of the Wgtn chapter being exclusive and some how closed. There were some great people doing great work so I don’t mean to be disrespectful however I think we missed a good opportunity in NZ, especially as we were going into an election. I think there was more effect or should a say a different effect in both the US and the UK due to a different tact and a different political, economic and social situation compared to here, even though we have similarities. I could go on too.
Got to dash – I have ducklings and their parents that come into the garden looking for food and water!
Cheers Muzza, have a great weekend!
Rosie, I appreciate your affirmation of the Springbok protest “activists”. I was one of them, and in the middle of the Hamilton ground which was terrifying. Now I am old and, regrettably, cannot get “out there” to demonstrate any more. (Nowadays, I am a “computer activist”!) But I have to say that I am dismayed at the amount of apathy in this country in connection with vitally important issues which are likely to adversely affect my grandchildren. Indifference is the killer! Oh, for some sign of “the old fire” (with the sole exception of the Queen Street protest against this government wrecking our beautiful environment in its insatiable greed to make money, especially for the already rich.
Dr Terry. That is great to hear of your participation in the Springboks protests. Yes, I can imagine how terrifying that must have felt. What courage it must have taken to stand your ground. (The picket line has been a scary enough place for me at times! I’d have been useless had I been in your position) One of my former colleagues was involved in the Mt Eden protest and it was her determination and conviction that I found so inspiring. She was also a feminist and I learnt what I could from her about feminism. Its your generation that cared and made changes, so don’t feel regret at not being ‘out there’ now. Doing what you do is necessary and relevent. I’m not surprised that you feel dismay at the current apathy and I feel uncomfortable that my generation is part of that apathy.
muzza, at the risk of sounding like a poltician, may I congratulate you because I agree with you.
Regards,
Rosie, where is the button to order comments from oldest to newest?
Hi Weka. They’ve changed their format. To read in chronological order you will need to scroll down till you get to click on “read more comments” And then scroll backwards to read in order of the thread.Currently there are 50 comments.
It started out positive yesterday and has deteriorated.
I’m kicking myself because I broke my ban on commenting on fairfax sites and now have a jerk called eziyo telling me I’m the reason he’s moving to Australia (yes, a complete stranger he has never met) plus other inanities directed at me. It was kind of my fault becuase I got personal and called him racist. My bad. Ignorant and prejudiced would have been the correct term. He’s also completely misunderstood what I’m talking about. Oh god, why do I even care…………..
Thank you Rosie for that .. Yay it finally looks as if the worm is turning. There was a couple of very good comments from a Kiwi who will never desert NZ ( I came here when I was 15 from England) I will never leave either. Coming from England via italy and round the cape on a liner, it was great I was 15 and the parents had owned a pub, so didn’t worry about the drinking, until the beer flavored sea sickness lol. BUT NZ was so clean after Southampton, Genoa, they were all dirty and grey. Capetown was very Dangerous Height of apartheid. Damn I’m getting old lol. It was amazing arriving at the Overseas Terminal at 10pm on a clear warm October night back in 1969. I’m getting stir crazy, been stuck in bed with this rotten flu all week. So don’t let the depressing views of the haters get to you, just hope that the Nacts implode before they can do too much damage. And Shearer stands aside in favour of Cunliffe it’s the only way to go. Thanks again it was great to see that there are not just haters out there. Keep up the good work.
One can live in hope! I guess its better late than never that folks are waking up to the reality of the monster govt they voted in. Now we just need some action. (And I agree, Cunliffe needs to be in that oppostion leadership position sooner rather than later)
Sorry to hear of your flu. I bet its a stunning day up the coast today so hopefully thats enough to signal to that virus that its time to go. All the best for a good recovery:)
Gotta love the irony of people using their employers internet to complain about bludgers…
Anyone else been getting redirect loop problems under chrome for “the standard”? I have tried clearing cookies several times etc, but the problem reappears almost immediately. “The Standard” is the only site I have encountered this problem with under chrome.
Yes, same experience I have to run IE to view the site.
Happening to me too. Just in the last week. Having to use IE just for the standard. Chrome is now opening TS in a different way too.
Yeah, I often get “redirect loop” problems at the standard – usually when I get into a conversation with tsmithfield, Gosman, kiwi_prometheus or BalancedView.
The fact checks on yesterdays US debates make interesting reading.
Factcheck; Dubious Denver Debate Declarations
Politifact: Fact-checking the Denver presidential debate.
Washington Post: Factchecking the first presidential debate of 2012.
I/S has an interesting post up at NRT:
It seems that the police may be getting a little gung-ho in their use of the armed forces to assist with policing.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7774170/Armed-standoff-at-military-base-house
In the National Business Review dated Friday January 20 2012 (The same day as the Dotcom raids).
OFCANZ deputy director Detective Inspector Grant Wormald talks about working with the U.S. Authorities over recent months.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/megaupload-founder-arrested-new-zealand-us-officials-request-aw-108114
OFCANS work is prioritised and assigned by the Commissioner of police who seeks advice from the Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Co-ordination (ODESC)
http://www.ofcanz.govt.nz/faq
The ODESC gives the Prime Minister strategic advice on security and intelligence Matters, according to Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officials_Committee_for_Domestic_and_External_Security_Co-ordination
Given that the GCSB is part of the OCDES that advises the Prime Minister and according to Wormald
“The FBI contacted New Zealand Police in early 2011 with a request to assist with their investigation into the Mega Conspiracy.” said Mr Wormald.
“We were happy to provide this assistance. Staff from OFCANZ and New Zealand Police have worked with the US authorities over recent months to effect today’s successful operation.
When the FBI first contacted the N.Z. Police to assist in their investigation how far up the chain of command did that request go? After all this was not a run of the mill Armed Offenders Squad call out. And it was way above the operational level that the Prime Minister doesn’t get involved in.
I know Wormald has a creditability problem with some people, but credible or not as deputy director of OFCANZ saying that N.Z. Police and OFCANZ had been working with the U.S. Authorities for months prior to the raid proves that Key knows more than he is telling, he must do surly.
Oh Dear
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/7771898/Wellington-families-face-lean-times
Feminine mystery, restrained by logic
Becomes mostly masculine, except in one obvious way.
One should not expect a man to be unable to see the beauty – is that the request?
The danger, I’m told, is to weave your webs in the morning.
Having met the danger, it is bewildering.
There will be no loss of life or limb;
No piercings or tattoos, but you’ll excuse me if I shave.
The varmints path, while rough,
is still too indulgent.
Isn’t it just that the four seasons have forgotten their name?
Nothing that is forgotten disappears.
Nothing that is given up is rejected.
The Way that can be told of is not an Unvarying Way:
The names that can be named are not unvarying names.
It was from the Nameless that Heaven and Earth sprang;
The named is but the mother that rears the ten thousand creatures, each after its kind.
Truly, ‘Only he that rids himself forever of desire can see the Secret Essences’;
He that has never rid himself of desire can see only the Outcomes.
These two things issued from the same mould, but nevertheless are different in name.
This ‘same mould’ we can but call the Mystery,
Or rather the ‘Darker than any Mystery’,
The Doorway whence issued all Secret Essences.
–
Friend, hope for the Guest while you are alive.
Jump into the experience while you are alive!
Think…and think…while you are alive.
What you call “salvation” belongs to the time
before death.
If you don’t break your ropes while you’re alive,
do you think
ghosts will do it after?
The idea that the soul will rejoin with the ecstatic
just because the body is rotten-
that is all fantasy.
What is found now is found then.
If you find nothing now,
you will simply end up with an apartment in the
City of Death.
If you make love with divine now, in the next
life you will have the face of satisfied desire.
So plunge into the truth, find out who the Teacher is,
Believe in the Great Sound!
Kabir says this: When the Guest is being searched for,
it is the intensity of the longing for the Guest that
does all the work.
Look at me, and you will see a slave of that intensity.
by Kabir
–
Love After Love- Derek Walcott
The time will come
When, with elation,
You will greet yourself arriving
At your own door, in your own mirror,
And each will smile at the other’s welcome,
And say, sit here, Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give Wine. Give Bread. Give back your heart
To itself, to the stranger who has loved you
All your life, whom you ignored
For another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
The photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
🙂
“…..proves that Key knows more than he is telling, he must do surly.” Yep. Surly describes him well. 🙂 Back at Katy @7
Katy. That is a useful piece of research. It does suggest that a proper inquiry is needed – desperately!
I suppose if a group is not visible, and is unlikely to have light shone on them, and if the representative of the people whose job it is to oversee is asleep, then it would be human nature to bend/break the rules. Integrity would become flexible?
ianmac. Agreed “a proper inquiry is needed – desperately!” This must exclude any of Key’s henchmen(women). God spare us from the likes of Neazor!
Todays daily rag:
“MR KEY GOES TO HOLLYWOOD”
A STRANGE TERRIBLE AND TRAGIC TALE OF THE RUBE WHO GETS ROBBED OF ALL HIS BREAD IN TINSEL TOWN.
and it wan’t even his own money!!!
an aside,
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day. 2 Peter 3: 8
handy to remember when too focused, the |Devil| is in the detail
“All this Time the Guard was looking at her through a telescope,
then through a microscope and then through an opera glass
At last he said,
You’re going the wrong way and shut up the window and went away.”
(As it is written: “See I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” )-To the Romans 9:33
Ok, I this has got to be one of the most desperate attempts at character assassination that I’ve ever seen.
lolz
gop sez dems pwned.
I love that playing WoW is a character defect in republican eyes, but wearing a tri-corner hat and demanding to see birth certs in real life is simply “heartland america”.
Loltastic.
If someone with active commenting ability at kiwiblog would dump this into the Ansell thread over there, I would be much obliged. :
http://t.co/5DYeV4N5
So what now? If companies have to pay for background checks, depending on the cost then how many are doing to say bugger it? and it’s even worse if the schools are cash strapped.
if the govt keeps cutting funding to the police and others eventually there will be anarchy
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10838478
I mean make people pay for background checks what next ? Judge Dredd?
Neo liberalism in a nutshell: public schools having to pay for public police checks.
Hi folks!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FOR YOURSELVES HOW WE ARE NOT GIVEN THE ‘DEVILISH DETAIL’ ABOUT WHERE OUR TAXES ARE BEING SPENT?
http://wheresmytaxes.co.nz/
See?
We aren’t told the NAMES of the contractors/ consultants; the SCOPE; TERM or VALUE of the contracted services within each ‘slice’ of the pie chart.
The ‘devil is in the detail’.
Isn’t it time to OPEN THE BOOKS and give us this DEVILISH DETAIL?
Given that New Zealand is ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ – shouldn’t we be the MOST ‘transparent’?
So why aren’t we being told EXACTLY where our public monies are being spent?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00095/wheres-nationals-corporate-welfare-reform.htm
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
Just released that meridian has walked away from the talks with the smelter at bluff.
A source also said that meridian had plans with the electricity that the smelter would
have used.
Sorry cant link, but it is on the stuff site.
What next for the economy, the ‘great decimation of our economy’ continues by the
‘keystoners’
MSM
-Civil Defence-dysfunctional
-divided
Duplication of Control (Kaos) Too many chiefs(over-managed like the rest of NZ)
another freakin disaster?
-Willis Street Pedestrian Barriers; Killing Business? Just Kill More Pedestrians.
(kill kill kill kill kill the poor: Glad I’m not a Kennedy, imagine being a Kennedy)
-over the Ring-Wraiths
-NZTA; New Zealand Termination Agency (knackered PR)
Brit Comedy Friday on ONE: laugh your way to the chamber.
(Yes Minister)
Parkinsons Dis-ease-Now Pigs On The Wing: nothing like a little xenotransplantation to get ya movin.
Oh this is not good. This is not good at all. Negotiations break down between Rio Tinto and Meridian. Closure of Tiwai Point would devastate the lower South Island. The small silver lining is that it would make power companies a less attractive investment for asset sales with a flood of electricity onto the market, but this would harm a lot of workers and their families.
Mitt Romney’s ‘victory’ in the first presidential debate is disturbing.
The guy is probably the most right wing Republican presidential candidate ever, and his running mate is even more right wing then he is (Im waiting for some war vet to ‘nut out’ and shoot Romney, so Paul Ryan can slide into the Oval Office – a la Manchurian Candidate).
If Romney gets in, those in the USA who aren’t rich are pretty much fucked.
Couple a thousand less hits last month, changing politics? or minds?