“The New Zealand dollar LIBOR (bbalibor) interest rate is the average interbank interest rate at which a large number of banks on the London money market are prepared to lend one another unsecured funds denominated in New Zealand dollars” and
“The New Zealand dollar LIBOR interest rate serves as a base rate for all sorts of other products such as savings accounts, mortgages and loans”
“The FSA has identified price-rigging dating back to 2005, yet some current and former traders say that problems go back much further than that. “Fifteen years ago the word was that LIBOR was being rigged,” says one industry veteran closely involved in the LIBOR process. “It was one of those well kept secrets, but the regulator was asleep, the Bank of England didn’t care and…[the banks participating were] happy with the reference prices.” Says another: “Going back to the late 1980s, when I was a trader, you saw some pretty odd fixings…With traders, if you don’t actually nail it down, they’ll steal it.””
Wasn’t our popular, esteemed leader a money-market trader during this period?
This article from Seumus Milne from The Guardian on the the thieving lying manipulative ‘get away with it if you can’ culture endemic in private sector banks…
Barclays bank and others fixed the lending rate on trillions of pounds of debt holdings. The result of this: borrowers & lenders pay more or receive less than they should have. Ultimately it’s consumers, companies & the economy that picks up the tab.
And the bank directors simply can’t see – or agree – that this is corruption on a massive scale….
A soon to be released study will show that the use of cannabis when young can lead to impaired intellectual ability at age 38 – this was mentioned last night during a debate by the director of the Dunedin Study.
It wasn’t made clear whether dopes smoke dope, or dope smoking makes you dopey – probably both.
The same may be said about excessive alcohol use – booze to bozoness?
PG the hairpiece smoked when he was young explains it all .
Alcohol does similar damage to formative minds.
The WHO research shows that putting up the minimum price reduces consumption significantly.Stopping glamorization (advertising ) also reduces consumption.
Nactuf don’t care about the harm it does their more worried about the harm to their electoral chance’s.
By george its about time they grew some.
What I care about is penalising many to address the abuses of a few.
CHAUVEL JUMPS GUN ON ALCOHOL LAW REFORMS
There are rumbles within Labour over MP Charles Chauvel promoting a minimum pricing regime for upcoming alcohol law changes as party policy.
TVNZ reported Labour had the numbers to pass the minimum pricing regime but it appears Mr Chauvel may not have all his colleagues on board, let alone the crucial votes of United Future and ACT.
pathetic Grovelar your just like an alcoholic.Every excuse under the sun.
You and your Tory mates are drug pushers.
Alcohol is NZs 2nd most dangerous drug.
PG your tacky coalition has no morality at all.
Allowing the Alcohol Industry to Glamorize and push
Cheap Alcohol onto young people so they get addicted.
Puts you up their with the likes of the mongrel mob black power bikie and other gangs
morally.
You live in Dunedin and see the results in the main St and university should know better but just keep pushing the pushers(alcohol industry) propaganda against a thorough cross party enquiry and over whelming evidence no wonder your so hated by most people on this site.
PG your in their back pocket.
It’s a pity your rant isn’t based on anything factual.
I’m looking for information, asking for information and promoting discussion. It’s a big and complex issue with no simple solutions. I’m aware we have massive problems with alcohol and as a society we need to address them better.
Throwing an over the top spaz like you’ve done here is about as counterproductive to getting anywhere that you can get.
What do you want to see happen in the Alcohol Reform Bill? I’ve got no idea, you’ve been too busy hallucinating.
But I like to buy a bottle of wine at $7 or $8. When Lianne Dalziel starts getting zealous about reducing alcohol consumption so people don’t get trashed I think she should be concentrating on RTDS and spirits and high alcohol fortified wine, sherry etc. I don’t think wine is so bad and it would take a lot for that quick feeling of silly, stupid, funny and don’t care that I think is the desire of binge drinkers.
It’s all very well for her on nearly $100,000 a year salary and reimbursements.
I get considerably less and like my Corbans white Muller Thurgau (although Austin Whatsisname said that was very passe’ when he came back to NZ. Wine snob!) The delicate traces of passionfruit flowers and hay with a touch of honey or whatever that I get from my cheap wine is pleasant and good enough for me. I don’t want to pay the price that Lianne would consider cheap.
How would it be that the pollies base pay is whatever the averge is for all NZs. Then add reasonable allowances, uses of taxis, transport etc with a cap on those. I think they need a reality check. And can we say that we haven’t got monkeys now that we are paying them quality nuts.
Quite agree. How many Labour voters have few pleasures left these days apart from a glass of wine here and there. Labour are determined to lose votes one way or another. Sort it out Labour, I cannot believe where they are coming from at times.
It’s not just Labour – in fact it’s not all Labour according to reports, there’s mixed feelings amongst Labour MPs and it’s a conscience vote for them – it’s a Green Party position and also a Maori Party position.
PG you should give up politics and start a waffle business.
How long did the parliamentary enquiry go on for.
How many tax payers Dollars were put into it.
Waffle on troll.
no wonder your so hated by most people on this site.
mike e, it’s got nothing to do with how I am, you hate the image you’ve created because that’s something you want to hate. But it’s nonsense. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you enter into a reasonable discussion here.
I read that a couple of cretins managed to put themselves in hospital last week after ‘hufffing’ gas from a 9kg bottle, so we clearly need to increase the price of filling gas bottles.
No petes solution would be to glamorise it on TV And make sure its available to as many young people as possible.Only maybe 1’000 people huff inNZ several million drink.
Alcohol damage is much worse its been identified in the enquiry as costing 5to6 billion dollars a year huffing even as a flying kiwi you must be huffing all the time would have a harm factor of less than a $million a year .
Now deaths attributted.Alcohol over 10 years 5to6 thousand deaths
Huffing 10 deaths.
What exactly is the point of comment 2? Apart from providing an opportunity for Pete to link to Pete’s blog, the comment is almost entirely useless. Without the actual research (which hasn’t been released yet) in front of us, there is nothing to discuss. And people can’t resist reacting to Pete’s hooks, so yet again we have another round of Georgiandrivel clogging up the start of Open Mike.
I’m grateful to RedFred for having gotten up earlier this morning than Pete.
“We needed to control their sovereign right to do whatever suited their fancy. The whole point of international law is to put limits around countries’ sovereignty on the basis of negotiated understandings.”
Little Timmy Grosser, the corporate poodle, and global government cheerleader!
And, of course, Groser’s focus is all on “free trade” benefiting NZ.
New Zealand’s problem had been the “excess sovereignty” other countries had exerted over it, such as introducing export subsidies, when it tried to diversify its markets away from Europe.
“Because we have operated in agriculture, in particular, where there were such inadequate legal frameworks internationally, people have just screwed us.
[…]
He said increased domestic wealth generated by free trade agreements meant New Zealand would be less reliant on foreign investment.
But the people who opposed foreign investment also opposed free trade agreements.
Concerns have been mounting over part of the deal which gives foreign investors power over countries.
The article doesn’t report him as saying anything about impact of social welfare, health, environment, etc. So which Kiwis benefit most from these deals, and which ones overall lose out?
Sound tom me like a benefit for the wealthy, losses in the extent of access to social welfare, health, clean living environment, affordable housing etc, for the majority.
Absolutely, Carol. I think a great deal could be added to your “etc” as concerns the majority! This morning’s Herald right wing columnists are in full flourish and as sickening as ever. Key is restored to all his (supposed) glory as he triumphs over the Aussies.
I am at a loss as to whether she is actually , completely clueless or corrupted now that these type of writings are all she is capable of!
Fran genuinely seems to believe that “business” and “winning”, are important, and use of quotes such as “NZ Envy”
“After years of “big brother little brother” sentiment about the transtasman relationship, it is good to see NZ politicians once again footing it in a competitive fashion”
Fran really does not (want to) see that what the Ozzies are holding out on in regards to the TPPA is, in fact the right thing. Too busy looking for anything that resembles “a win” by her team, even when that means selling out the country to business…
+1 Muzza. Groser’s loyalty is to Trade Agreements in themselves, not to New Zealanders and any advantage they might get from clever competent negotiation.
Putting Groser, a pure Trade wonk, into this role was stupid. Unlike Labour’s Jim Sutton or Phil Goff, who have mandates and experience as publically elected politicians, Groser would find gaming a negotiation for the benefit of working Kiwis abhorrent.
Key has sent a wee flawed mon into the TPPA gunfight armed with a butter knife. http://nzh.tw/10817941
I would say it was deliberate to send Groser to the negotiations, because they would have already “vetted” him in advance to see how weak he was, and know what his push back was going to be. These guys are all brothers, in it for themselves, thats as far as it goes. Little Timmy being on the world stage is about all he cares about, the fellating goes on, and the damage is going to be to the rest of this country, outside the few.
Once consessions are made, the door is open, and we can be reasonably sure what way the traffic flow!
Its just a stage in which the outcomes are already known…I understand that people don’t want to believe it, but how much more obvious does it have to bget, until people are going to stand up to these sorts of abuses?
Muz they will just give growsum a reefer and he will just agree to everything including the spin(dope Pun not intended).
They will give him the propaganda (spin again) lines to remember and he will blatantly lie to the public as these negotiations will not be released for 4 years because of commercial sensitivity the same old rip off bullshit that the US body corporate con us every time!
Maybe Petey George’s soon to be released study above is superfluous………Little Timmy Groser is ample proof.
No, Petey in his sneaky round about way is saying he supports dope testing for those ghastly beneficiaries. Groser doesn’t even address the matter of those ghastly beneficiaries.
You’re proving yourself to be the repeat liar there, absent any proof as usual. That’s not an opinion, it’s a fact.
Your stalking attack obsessions have been going for, what, nearly a year? That you seem to have a free pass to continue with immunity says quite a bit. Funny telling me to harden up from cowardly cover.
I guess you’re angling for me to be labelled the thread disruptor again. Try a mirror. What you keep doing reflects on you.
Ho ho, Pete. You can easily prove me wrong by supplying the evidence you claim to hold, yet, oddly, you don’t. That’s because you are a liar, Pete, and you can’t fudge that fact.
The good news is that it doesn’t affect your credibility; you have none.
I don’t have to prove anything – you repeat accusations with zero proof.
micky knows but has chosen to remain silent on it. I wouldn’t trust you with information because you have a record of ignoring facts to continue your cowardice. That’s not a good look with your Labour connections, is it.
Don’t blame other posters, Pete. Put up or shut up. If you aren’t a liar, defend yourself.
*For the benefit of younger readers, Pete lied about having the support of the Labour Party for his weak Super discussion site and has consistently refused to put up the evidence that he claims will clear him. This, despite the obvious fact that if Labour had endorsed it, there is no reason why the method of endorsement should be hidden. It can’t be both a public endorsement and a priviliged communication.
This is one of your more pathetic lines of attack, and as usual you don’t know when to give it up. Your accusation, no proof. I don’t have to do anything, with you especially.
I have contact with MPs. An email from Trevor Mallard yesterday (and others), from Charles Chauvel the day before. You just sound hissy, is that because it’s your party who talk to me? Do they ignore you?
You can stop me any time you choose to post the evidence that you are not a liar. But you can’t, you silly goose, because the evidence doesn’t exist.
Anyhoo, must dash, championship threepeats don’t win themselves and I’ve got to go do my weekly red faced, red nosed Alec Fergusson impression down the park. Hairdryers and squeaky bum time!
Sorry to upset you Petey………it was just a comment on your extraordinary ability to have dollars each way on everything……….but end up rooting for the right wing anyway……..usually. Just like your boss. Because despite your sham earnestness you’re a right winger who just wants power.
Having just read Gordon Campbell on Maher Arar (Google him), I now think that the Yanks cannot be trusted for anything and we should not sign any agreements with them.
I would go further and suggest that NZ get Dotcom to set up a file sharing system to distribute US music and US movies for free.
That’s a good article and spot on about the memories of the MSM. As for the US administration, I realised some time ago that they habitually break both international and their law and get away with it. As they get away with it it becomes even more embedded in the corrupt culture that is the US administration and it then gets copied to other administrations – our present government is a case in point. Being able to do so is part of the trappings of the height of power in every empire ever recorded.
Doom and gloom merchants may have to take a back seat for a month or two after the Government accounts released yesterday showed an improvement in both corporate tax and GST for the 11 months ended May.
The accounts show that core Crown tax revenue in the 11 months was $50.54 billion, up 1.3% on the Budget economic fiscal update figure of $49.87 billion.
More startling was that the tax take in the year to May was 6.7% higher than the $47.4 billion collected in the previous corresponding period – again throwing doubt on the accuracy of Treasury figures.
The May 2012 operating balance before losses and gains (obegal) was an improvement at a deficit of $5.9 billion compared with a Treasury forecast of $7 billion.
Finance Minister Bill English has been one of the most conservative commentators on his own figures but was moved yesterday to call the reduction in the operating deficit “encouraging” – with a caveat.
“But the global environment remains uncertain, leading to a number of fluctuations in the tax take from month to month.”
Perhaps another sign that we are coming out of the worst of the economic woes. We just have to keep hoping the wider economic world doesn’t custardise.
Now we have the green “I don’t drive a car” politician Gareth Hughes flying to Europe on a tax payer funded junket, for what? They are all the same ……… bloody politicians are full of shit
RA this parliamentary exchange has been occurring for maybe 50 to 60 years.
Its apart of helping democracies flourish at 160,000 dollars its cheap compared to the bio security fuck up on nationals cost cutting at bio security of $400 million which the government could be liable for as they made many mistakes which allowed the psa virus to damage the kiwifruit crop. now farmers are suing biosecurity .
Because of staff and funding cuts.
Regardless of how long it has been running – Gareth Hughes – the green MP likes to go on about how good to the planet he is by not owning a car, yet he is responsible for helping to create at least 2 more humans (the most environment destroying species on the planet), and he is lying to us about Kiwi Saver, and flying to Europe. We are in the age of video conferencing and Skype, surly a GREEN MP doesn’t have to fly anywhere?
Maybe the greeds can launch an inquiry into the size of each party’s foot print? Over what they actually do in parliament verses what they consume.
Anyone remotely concerned that the money people are turning our natural gas into methanol and exporting it, I guess as the population starves to death we will not need to heat empty houses.
RA the synfuel plant has been moth balled for many years as far as I know.
Most of our excess of natural gas that’s not used for heating commercial or domestic is being used for generating electricity
Mike, they have just spent $100 million de mothballing it, and don’t New Zealanders use electricity to heat their homes?
Oh and if he does own a car, it wouldn’t surprise me that he lied about it, you know politician and all that, maybe the car is in the dogs name, and they just borrow it?
I’m not sure whether it’s irony, humour, cynicism or silliness… Karl Marx was recently chosen from a list of 10 contenders to appear on a new issue of MasterCard by customers of German bank Sparkasse in Chemnitz.
Perhaps these quotes may shed light on the rebirth of some ideas:
Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.
Marx
The more the division of labor and the application of machinery extend, the more does competition extend among the workers, the more do their wages shrink together.
Marx
Political Economy regards the proletarian … like a horse, he must receive enough to enable him to work. It does not consider him, during the time when he is not working, as a human being. It leaves this to criminal law, doctors, religion, statistical tables, politics, and the beadle.
Little Johny Howard talking to Little Johny Key on TV last night about State Asset sales ” Private ownership is always more efficient, that’s a truism” . Gordon Campbell on Private Public Partnerships so favoured by Shonkey and his lot, in England they cost 12 times more than purely State run Assets!
Funny that.
I doubt that, this is about acquisition of assets and the “little folks” will be swept aside either by persuasion or forcing circumstances to lead to the same goal. Watch and learn.
You mean aged blowhard Ozzie fuck black liar “they throw their babies overboard” Little Johnny Howard ? A prime candidate for the Ponce’s affections, of course.
They really are a scam. One of the parties in the partnership that won the Hobsonville school PPP contract is an Aus property management company. They get a guaranteed income for a quarter of a century. So much for competitive tenders.
The whole bunch were pretty scary.Certainly Key was looking very comfortable with Howard and his far Right cronies. I rememeber Yasmin Brown saying on “Dateline London ” that the two most dangerous men in the world were Bush and Howard. I have said before that Key is dangerous and watching him with Howard confirms that. The nuclear issue , privatisation , low wages are what they have in common ,and dont forget their ghastly beliefs on refuges, in nutshell as both have said “we
dont want you here. Even if it means drowning.
The whole bunch were pretty scary.Certainly Key was looking very comfortable with Howard and his far Right cronies. I rememeber Yasmin Brown saying on “Dateline London ” that the two most dangerous men in the world were Bush and Howard. I have said before that Key is dangerous and watching him with Howard confirms that. The nuclear issue , privatisation , low wages are what they have in common ,and dont forget their ghastly beliefs on refuges, in nutshell as both have said “we
dont want you here. Even if it means drowning.
On Radionz this morning grilled by Kim Hill – he was some hot potato! Be ready to think important and uneasy thoughts.
(There were many good thinkers and talkers this a.am.)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday
11:05 Guy McPherson http://guymcpherson.com/
Conservation biologist Guy McPherson is Emeritus Professor, Natural Resources and the Environment, at the University of Arizona, and lives off the grid in a straw bale house in New Mexico, raising small livestock and interacting with his rural community. He is visiting New Zealand as keynote speaker for the School Executive Officers’ Conference 2012 (4-6 July).
The case has been described as “destroying the savings and affecting the mental health” of a group of people whose retirement plans have been ruined . . the scheme was an early public-private partnership using private money to underwrite a public project.
We’re usually compliant with anything said from ‘overseas’ and especially the USA. But now overseas scientists, according to Steven Joyce are ‘silly’ to complain that a drop in NIWA scientists doing important climate change ozone hole monitoring will make a hole in the science network studying this. ‘Silly’, a new scientific word for describing low scientific priorities. Meanwhile SPARC will probably get big bucks as usual.
Quite frankly, Stephen “Juvenile and Silly” Joyce should desist from name-calling and, in his own word, “respect” the comment from the internationally respected Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites (CICS), as well as explain how job cuts will not compromise the valuable work NIWA has been doing.
The city where the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed 346 homes and forced more than 34,000 residents to evacuate turned off one-third of its streetlights two years ago, halted park maintenance and cut services to close a $28 million budget gap after sales-tax revenue plummeted and voters rejected a property-tax increase.
The municipality, at 416,000 the state’s second-largest, auctioned both its police helicopters and shrank public-safety ranks through attrition by about 8 percent; it has 50 fewer police and 39 fewer firefighters than five years ago. More than 180 National Guard troops have been mobilized to secure the city after the state’s most destructive fire. At least 32 evacuated homes were burglarized and dozens of evacuees’ cars were broken into, said Police Chief Pete Carey.
“It has impacted the response,” said Karin White, a 54- year-old accountant, who returned home June 28 to a looted and vandalized house, with a treasured, century-old family heirloom smashed.
i’m truly sorry for those who lost their homes, but will the libertarian mayor and populace recognise that the ‘market’ isn’t going to help them to fight fires and rebuild their city… or will they just see what they can screw out of the US federal system…
The sentence is in addition to others that had already received the former dictator.
The former dictator Jorge Videla of Argentina (1976-1981) was sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison, while the former dictator Reynaldo Bignone (1982-1983) to 15 years in prison, guilty of a systematic theft of babies, children of prisoners -disappeared, said the court.
“Sentencing the former general Jorge Videla (86 years) to 50 years imprisonment (…) and the former general Reynaldo Bignone (84) to 15 years,” read the court’s president, Mary Roqueta, before a packed room in the presence Estela de Carlotto, the leader of the humanitarian organization Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo.
Hundreds of relatives of the victims, grandmothers and grandchildren recovered by humanitarian activists celebrated the verdict with shouts and chants, amid scenes of tears and relief against a giant screen installed in the door of the Courts.
For the implementation of the system and change of identity theft of minors were other judgments to different jail terms between 40 and 15 years, other agents exjerarcas and dictatorial (1976-1983), including a military doctor that operated on midwife clandestine maternity scheme.
Videla just confessed in a book “about 7 or 8 thousand people had to die” in the repression of opponents and is serving two life sentences in common cell for crimes against humanity, so that the Court decided on Thursday to unify the penalties to maintain life in prison.
About Bignone (84 years) also weighs a sentence of imprisonment and a sentence of 25 years in prison in two other trials for serious human rights violations.
A far more satisfying and just outcome than that for the dictators of Iraq and Libya. Who were murdered judicially (or ex-judicially) keeping their crimes and their accomplices secret.
All human rights abusers take note. No matter how much you think you have the support of the rulers of your nation and your backers and supporters. One day all your support networks will fall away and you will be held to account for your actions
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
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. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion.It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
Wondering if we are being screwed, me too.
“The New Zealand dollar LIBOR (bbalibor) interest rate is the average interbank interest rate at which a large number of banks on the London money market are prepared to lend one another unsecured funds denominated in New Zealand dollars” and
“The New Zealand dollar LIBOR interest rate serves as a base rate for all sorts of other products such as savings accounts, mortgages and loans”
http://www.global-rates.com/interest-rates/libor/new-zealand-dollar/new-zealand-dollar.aspx
From http://www.economist.com/node/21558281 – “The rotten heart of finance”
“The FSA has identified price-rigging dating back to 2005, yet some current and former traders say that problems go back much further than that. “Fifteen years ago the word was that LIBOR was being rigged,” says one industry veteran closely involved in the LIBOR process. “It was one of those well kept secrets, but the regulator was asleep, the Bank of England didn’t care and…[the banks participating were] happy with the reference prices.” Says another: “Going back to the late 1980s, when I was a trader, you saw some pretty odd fixings…With traders, if you don’t actually nail it down, they’ll steal it.””
Wasn’t our popular, esteemed leader a money-market trader during this period?
That’s right and he’s now trying to steal our State Assets.
This article from Seumus Milne from The Guardian on the the thieving lying manipulative ‘get away with it if you can’ culture endemic in private sector banks…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/03/private-banks-failed-barclays-scandal
Barclays bank and others fixed the lending rate on trillions of pounds of debt holdings. The result of this: borrowers & lenders pay more or receive less than they should have. Ultimately it’s consumers, companies & the economy that picks up the tab.
And the bank directors simply can’t see – or agree – that this is corruption on a massive scale….
To them its not corruption, its business as usual.
Dope to dope
A soon to be released study will show that the use of cannabis when young can lead to impaired intellectual ability at age 38 – this was mentioned last night during a debate by the director of the Dunedin Study.
It wasn’t made clear whether dopes smoke dope, or dope smoking makes you dopey – probably both.
The same may be said about excessive alcohol use – booze to bozoness?
http://yournz.org/2012/07/07/dope-to-dope/
PG the hairpiece smoked when he was young explains it all .
Alcohol does similar damage to formative minds.
The WHO research shows that putting up the minimum price reduces consumption significantly.Stopping glamorization (advertising ) also reduces consumption.
Nactuf don’t care about the harm it does their more worried about the harm to their electoral chance’s.
By george its about time they grew some.
What I care about is penalising many to address the abuses of a few.
It sounds like some in Labour have already woken up to how unpopular doubling the price of wine and beer will be amongst there own voters.
Problems should be targeted, nanny state shouldn’t be imposed on everyone.
The Green Party hasn’t looked at the Labour proposals yet (according to spokesperson Kevin Hague).
They support “all the measures in Te Ururoa’s SOP” – the Maori Party proposals.
pathetic Grovelar your just like an alcoholic.Every excuse under the sun.
You and your Tory mates are drug pushers.
Alcohol is NZs 2nd most dangerous drug.
PG your tacky coalition has no morality at all.
Allowing the Alcohol Industry to Glamorize and push
Cheap Alcohol onto young people so they get addicted.
Puts you up their with the likes of the mongrel mob black power bikie and other gangs
morally.
You live in Dunedin and see the results in the main St and university should know better but just keep pushing the pushers(alcohol industry) propaganda against a thorough cross party enquiry and over whelming evidence no wonder your so hated by most people on this site.
PG your in their back pocket.
It’s a pity your rant isn’t based on anything factual.
I’m looking for information, asking for information and promoting discussion. It’s a big and complex issue with no simple solutions. I’m aware we have massive problems with alcohol and as a society we need to address them better.
Throwing an over the top spaz like you’ve done here is about as counterproductive to getting anywhere that you can get.
What do you want to see happen in the Alcohol Reform Bill? I’ve got no idea, you’ve been too busy hallucinating.
Good minimising of the massive harm and costs alcohol inflicts across ALL of society.
But I like to buy a bottle of wine at $7 or $8. When Lianne Dalziel starts getting zealous about reducing alcohol consumption so people don’t get trashed I think she should be concentrating on RTDS and spirits and high alcohol fortified wine, sherry etc. I don’t think wine is so bad and it would take a lot for that quick feeling of silly, stupid, funny and don’t care that I think is the desire of binge drinkers.
It’s all very well for her on nearly $100,000 a year salary and reimbursements.
I get considerably less and like my Corbans white Muller Thurgau (although Austin Whatsisname said that was very passe’ when he came back to NZ. Wine snob!) The delicate traces of passionfruit flowers and hay with a touch of honey or whatever that I get from my cheap wine is pleasant and good enough for me. I don’t want to pay the price that Lianne would consider cheap.
MP base pay is $141K pa or thereabouts.
How would it be that the pollies base pay is whatever the averge is for all NZs. Then add reasonable allowances, uses of taxis, transport etc with a cap on those. I think they need a reality check. And can we say that we haven’t got monkeys now that we are paying them quality nuts.
Quite agree. How many Labour voters have few pleasures left these days apart from a glass of wine here and there. Labour are determined to lose votes one way or another. Sort it out Labour, I cannot believe where they are coming from at times.
It’s not just Labour – in fact it’s not all Labour according to reports, there’s mixed feelings amongst Labour MPs and it’s a conscience vote for them – it’s a Green Party position and also a Maori Party position.
PG you should give up politics and start a waffle business.
How long did the parliamentary enquiry go on for.
How many tax payers Dollars were put into it.
Waffle on troll.
‘What I care about is penalising many to address the abuses of a few.’
This is exactly how most of us feel about you and your party’s support of asset sales.
no wonder your so hated by most people on this site.
mike e, it’s got nothing to do with how I am, you hate the image you’ve created because that’s something you want to hate. But it’s nonsense. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you enter into a reasonable discussion here.
Mmm, waffles, delicious! (Keep the troll though, it’ll spoil the taste.) 😀
I read that a couple of cretins managed to put themselves in hospital last week after ‘hufffing’ gas from a 9kg bottle, so we clearly need to increase the price of filling gas bottles.
No petes solution would be to glamorise it on TV And make sure its available to as many young people as possible.Only maybe 1’000 people huff inNZ several million drink.
Alcohol damage is much worse its been identified in the enquiry as costing 5to6 billion dollars a year huffing even as a flying kiwi you must be huffing all the time would have a harm factor of less than a $million a year .
Now deaths attributted.Alcohol over 10 years 5to6 thousand deaths
Huffing 10 deaths.
for those who would like a more balanced breakfast than the current bowls of reefer madness that are being offered. . .
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/05/study-the-gateway-drug-is-alcohol-not-marijuana/
One of the most obvious deflections of all time of its type, is the lie that pot is the gateway drug..
Alcohol, has been, and will always be, the gateway drug to other substances, whatever they might be.
The blantant spin and lies around this disgraceful, as if alchohol is not the first drug that most will encounter!
What exactly is the point of comment 2? Apart from providing an opportunity for Pete to link to Pete’s blog, the comment is almost entirely useless. Without the actual research (which hasn’t been released yet) in front of us, there is nothing to discuss. And people can’t resist reacting to Pete’s hooks, so yet again we have another round of Georgiandrivel clogging up the start of Open Mike.
I’m grateful to RedFred for having gotten up earlier this morning than Pete.
Of course trade agreements involve concessions over the sovereign rights of countries to do things,” he told the Weekend Herald. ” That’s the point of international law.”
“We needed to control their sovereign right to do whatever suited their fancy. The whole point of international law is to put limits around countries’ sovereignty on the basis of negotiated understandings.”
Little Timmy Grosser, the corporate poodle, and global government cheerleader!
And, of course, Groser’s focus is all on “free trade” benefiting NZ.
The article doesn’t report him as saying anything about impact of social welfare, health, environment, etc. So which Kiwis benefit most from these deals, and which ones overall lose out?
Sound tom me like a benefit for the wealthy, losses in the extent of access to social welfare, health, clean living environment, affordable housing etc, for the majority.
Will be able to keep its labour/employment laws, or will they be “in the way”?
Absolutely, Carol. I think a great deal could be added to your “etc” as concerns the majority! This morning’s Herald right wing columnists are in full flourish and as sickening as ever. Key is restored to all his (supposed) glory as he triumphs over the Aussies.
DT – Just read FOS’s article,
I am at a loss as to whether she is actually , completely clueless or corrupted now that these type of writings are all she is capable of!
Fran genuinely seems to believe that “business” and “winning”, are important, and use of quotes such as “NZ Envy”
“After years of “big brother little brother” sentiment about the transtasman relationship, it is good to see NZ politicians once again footing it in a competitive fashion”
Fran really does not (want to) see that what the Ozzies are holding out on in regards to the TPPA is, in fact the right thing. Too busy looking for anything that resembles “a win” by her team, even when that means selling out the country to business…
Well done Fran, you are a bloody idiot!
Quoting article:
Yeah, there’s a reason for that – they’re essentially the same thing.
+1 Muzza. Groser’s loyalty is to Trade Agreements in themselves, not to New Zealanders and any advantage they might get from clever competent negotiation.
Putting Groser, a pure Trade wonk, into this role was stupid. Unlike Labour’s Jim Sutton or Phil Goff, who have mandates and experience as publically elected politicians, Groser would find gaming a negotiation for the benefit of working Kiwis abhorrent.
Key has sent a wee flawed mon into the TPPA gunfight armed with a butter knife.
http://nzh.tw/10817941
I would say it was deliberate to send Groser to the negotiations, because they would have already “vetted” him in advance to see how weak he was, and know what his push back was going to be. These guys are all brothers, in it for themselves, thats as far as it goes. Little Timmy being on the world stage is about all he cares about, the fellating goes on, and the damage is going to be to the rest of this country, outside the few.
Once consessions are made, the door is open, and we can be reasonably sure what way the traffic flow!
Its just a stage in which the outcomes are already known…I understand that people don’t want to believe it, but how much more obvious does it have to bget, until people are going to stand up to these sorts of abuses?
Muz they will just give growsum a reefer and he will just agree to everything including the spin(dope Pun not intended).
They will give him the propaganda (spin again) lines to remember and he will blatantly lie to the public as these negotiations will not be released for 4 years because of commercial sensitivity the same old rip off bullshit that the US body corporate con us every time!
Maybe Petey George’s soon to be released study above is superfluous………Little Timmy Groser is ample proof.
No, Petey in his sneaky round about way is saying he supports dope testing for those ghastly beneficiaries. Groser doesn’t even address the matter of those ghastly beneficiaries.
That’s a blatantly false attribution, I didn’t say (or intend to say) anything like that.
Harden up, Pete, it’s an opinion, not an attribution. You know the difference, being a proven liar yourself.
You’re proving yourself to be the repeat liar there, absent any proof as usual. That’s not an opinion, it’s a fact.
Your stalking attack obsessions have been going for, what, nearly a year? That you seem to have a free pass to continue with immunity says quite a bit. Funny telling me to harden up from cowardly cover.
I guess you’re angling for me to be labelled the thread disruptor again. Try a mirror. What you keep doing reflects on you.
PG stalking and lying about alcohol and Dunny can’t do anything.
Yeah right right you need winding up. when youcan’t stop blatantly BSing .
Ho ho, Pete. You can easily prove me wrong by supplying the evidence you claim to hold, yet, oddly, you don’t. That’s because you are a liar, Pete, and you can’t fudge that fact.
The good news is that it doesn’t affect your credibility; you have none.
I don’t have to prove anything – you repeat accusations with zero proof.
micky knows but has chosen to remain silent on it. I wouldn’t trust you with information because you have a record of ignoring facts to continue your cowardice. That’s not a good look with your Labour connections, is it.
Don’t blame other posters, Pete. Put up or shut up. If you aren’t a liar, defend yourself.
*For the benefit of younger readers, Pete lied about having the support of the Labour Party for his weak Super discussion site and has consistently refused to put up the evidence that he claims will clear him. This, despite the obvious fact that if Labour had endorsed it, there is no reason why the method of endorsement should be hidden. It can’t be both a public endorsement and a priviliged communication.
This is one of your more pathetic lines of attack, and as usual you don’t know when to give it up. Your accusation, no proof. I don’t have to do anything, with you especially.
I have contact with MPs. An email from Trevor Mallard yesterday (and others), from Charles Chauvel the day before. You just sound hissy, is that because it’s your party who talk to me? Do they ignore you?
PG Are you sure you didn’t talk to your mummy as well.
You can stop me any time you choose to post the evidence that you are not a liar. But you can’t, you silly goose, because the evidence doesn’t exist.
Anyhoo, must dash, championship threepeats don’t win themselves and I’ve got to go do my weekly red faced, red nosed Alec Fergusson impression down the park. Hairdryers and squeaky bum time!
Seconded, Pete! (One of the few times I agree with you). He drives me mental, and gets away with all sorts of nastiness, I have no clue why!
Satire poor little pete!
Sorry to upset you Petey………it was just a comment on your extraordinary ability to have dollars each way on everything……….but end up rooting for the right wing anyway……..usually. Just like your boss. Because despite your sham earnestness you’re a right winger who just wants power.
Having just read Gordon Campbell on Maher Arar (Google him), I now think that the Yanks cannot be trusted for anything and we should not sign any agreements with them.
I would go further and suggest that NZ get Dotcom to set up a file sharing system to distribute US music and US movies for free.
http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/05/gordon-campbell-on-the-lack-of-context-and-love-of-tears-in-our-news-bulletins/
That’s a good article and spot on about the memories of the MSM. As for the US administration, I realised some time ago that they habitually break both international and their law and get away with it. As they get away with it it becomes even more embedded in the corrupt culture that is the US administration and it then gets copied to other administrations – our present government is a case in point. Being able to do so is part of the trappings of the height of power in every empire ever recorded.
A sign of economic improvement??
Perhaps another sign that we are coming out of the worst of the economic woes. We just have to keep hoping the wider economic world doesn’t custardise.
No dickhead the global situation is in fact deteriorating!
We are not immune down here!
How is our debt situation looking!
Yeah. Peak debt and peak oil are landing body blows on the global economy. PG: about the world economy, even a dead body can twitch.
Now we have the green “I don’t drive a car” politician Gareth Hughes flying to Europe on a tax payer funded junket, for what? They are all the same ……… bloody politicians are full of shit
Suckling on the taxpayers tit for their own personal benefit is one thing that they all agree on.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/215353/speakers-tour-cost-158000
Damn their eyes !!
Pathetic Grovelar RA thisOne quarter of economic growth in seven years as finance minister still makes Dipstick the worst finance minister ever.
RA this parliamentary exchange has been occurring for maybe 50 to 60 years.
Its apart of helping democracies flourish at 160,000 dollars its cheap compared to the bio security fuck up on nationals cost cutting at bio security of $400 million which the government could be liable for as they made many mistakes which allowed the psa virus to damage the kiwifruit crop. now farmers are suing biosecurity .
Because of staff and funding cuts.
Regardless of how long it has been running – Gareth Hughes – the green MP likes to go on about how good to the planet he is by not owning a car, yet he is responsible for helping to create at least 2 more humans (the most environment destroying species on the planet), and he is lying to us about Kiwi Saver, and flying to Europe. We are in the age of video conferencing and Skype, surly a GREEN MP doesn’t have to fly anywhere?
Maybe the greeds can launch an inquiry into the size of each party’s foot print? Over what they actually do in parliament verses what they consume.
Anyone remotely concerned that the money people are turning our natural gas into methanol and exporting it, I guess as the population starves to death we will not need to heat empty houses.
RA the synfuel plant has been moth balled for many years as far as I know.
Most of our excess of natural gas that’s not used for heating commercial or domestic is being used for generating electricity
Mike, they have just spent $100 million de mothballing it, and don’t New Zealanders use electricity to heat their homes?
Oh and if he does own a car, it wouldn’t surprise me that he lied about it, you know politician and all that, maybe the car is in the dogs name, and they just borrow it?
I’m pretty sure he does own a car, at least there’s one parked outside his house and I’m sure I’ve seen his family getting into it.
I’m not sure whether it’s irony, humour, cynicism or silliness…
Karl Marx was recently chosen from a list of 10 contenders to appear on a new issue of MasterCard by customers of German bank Sparkasse in Chemnitz.
Perhaps these quotes may shed light on the rebirth of some ideas:
Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.
Marx
The more the division of labor and the application of machinery extend, the more does competition extend among the workers, the more do their wages shrink together.
Marx
Political Economy regards the proletarian … like a horse, he must receive enough to enable him to work. It does not consider him, during the time when he is not working, as a human being. It leaves this to criminal law, doctors, religion, statistical tables, politics, and the beadle.
Marx, Wages of Labour (1844)
Little Johny Howard talking to Little Johny Key on TV last night about State Asset sales ” Private ownership is always more efficient, that’s a truism” . Gordon Campbell on Private Public Partnerships so favoured by Shonkey and his lot, in England they cost 12 times more than purely State run Assets!
Funny that.
http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/06/gordon-campbell-on-private-sector-delivery-as-an-inter-generational-scam/
Hope the morons in Treasury take note.
I doubt that, this is about acquisition of assets and the “little folks” will be swept aside either by persuasion or forcing circumstances to lead to the same goal. Watch and learn.
You mean aged blowhard Ozzie fuck black liar “they throw their babies overboard” Little Johnny Howard ? A prime candidate for the Ponce’s affections, of course.
They really are a scam. One of the parties in the partnership that won the Hobsonville school PPP contract is an Aus property management company. They get a guaranteed income for a quarter of a century. So much for competitive tenders.
The whole bunch were pretty scary.Certainly Key was looking very comfortable with Howard and his far Right cronies. I rememeber Yasmin Brown saying on “Dateline London ” that the two most dangerous men in the world were Bush and Howard. I have said before that Key is dangerous and watching him with Howard confirms that. The nuclear issue , privatisation , low wages are what they have in common ,and dont forget their ghastly beliefs on refuges, in nutshell as both have said “we
dont want you here. Even if it means drowning.
The whole bunch were pretty scary.Certainly Key was looking very comfortable with Howard and his far Right cronies. I rememeber Yasmin Brown saying on “Dateline London ” that the two most dangerous men in the world were Bush and Howard. I have said before that Key is dangerous and watching him with Howard confirms that. The nuclear issue , privatisation , low wages are what they have in common ,and dont forget their ghastly beliefs on refuges, in nutshell as both have said “we
dont want you here. Even if it means drowning.
On Radionz this morning grilled by Kim Hill – he was some hot potato! Be ready to think important and uneasy thoughts.
(There were many good thinkers and talkers this a.am.)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday
11:05 Guy McPherson http://guymcpherson.com/
Conservation biologist Guy McPherson is Emeritus Professor, Natural Resources and the Environment, at the University of Arizona, and lives off the grid in a straw bale house in New Mexico, raising small livestock and interacting with his rural community. He is visiting New Zealand as keynote speaker for the School Executive Officers’ Conference 2012 (4-6 July).
Very interesting, and a good mix of political and environmental understanding as well as having intelligent solutions.
“The industrial world is irredeemably corrupt”
Interesting he doesn’t like public health via tax.
When MoM goes bad . . .
Public pays for court clash over flats
The case has been described as “destroying the savings and affecting the mental health” of a group of people whose retirement plans have been ruined . . the scheme was an early public-private partnership using private money to underwrite a public project.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10817969
We’re usually compliant with anything said from ‘overseas’ and especially the USA. But now overseas scientists, according to Steven Joyce are ‘silly’ to complain that a drop in NIWA scientists doing important climate change ozone hole monitoring will make a hole in the science network studying this. ‘Silly’, a new scientific word for describing low scientific priorities. Meanwhile SPARC will probably get big bucks as usual.
Quite frankly, Stephen “Juvenile and Silly” Joyce should desist from name-calling and, in his own word, “respect” the comment from the internationally respected Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites (CICS), as well as explain how job cuts will not compromise the valuable work NIWA has been doing.
Is this what we can look forward to after the sale of our energy companies?
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jul2012/heat-j06.shtml
Here’s a pic of the auction held at John Key’s house today:
http://i49.tinypic.com/167p8gp.jpg
It was announced that the house was bought by Kim Dotcom.
Wonderful, LOL! And is that a cardboard cutout Bennett that I can see there? Not an Aucklander, so a little more info would be welcome………..
Another outstanding turnout
Yes there were several cardboard cutouts:
http://i49.tinypic.com/2hxvv4p.jpg
It was an excellent protest. It was covered by TV1 and TV3 and Radio NZ and Sky and the Herald and Stuff.
Good one Jay.Great work. Would have liked to been there. (Had to work that day.)
Memo to Bronagh – next house should have a front and back driveway. Oh, don’t worry we’ll be out of here soon anyway.
Who would’ve thunk.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-02/wildfire-tests-police-force-in-colorado-anti-tax-movement-s-home.html
The city where the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed 346 homes and forced more than 34,000 residents to evacuate turned off one-third of its streetlights two years ago, halted park maintenance and cut services to close a $28 million budget gap after sales-tax revenue plummeted and voters rejected a property-tax increase.
The municipality, at 416,000 the state’s second-largest, auctioned both its police helicopters and shrank public-safety ranks through attrition by about 8 percent; it has 50 fewer police and 39 fewer firefighters than five years ago. More than 180 National Guard troops have been mobilized to secure the city after the state’s most destructive fire. At least 32 evacuated homes were burglarized and dozens of evacuees’ cars were broken into, said Police Chief Pete Carey.
“It has impacted the response,” said Karin White, a 54- year-old accountant, who returned home June 28 to a looted and vandalized house, with a treasured, century-old family heirloom smashed.
edit: this too
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=753
i’m truly sorry for those who lost their homes, but will the libertarian mayor and populace recognise that the ‘market’ isn’t going to help them to fight fires and rebuild their city… or will they just see what they can screw out of the US federal system…
I hear the invisible hand materialising new subdivisions as we speak.
Good riddance.
Google translation
The sentence is in addition to others that had already received the former dictator.
The former dictator Jorge Videla of Argentina (1976-1981) was sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison, while the former dictator Reynaldo Bignone (1982-1983) to 15 years in prison, guilty of a systematic theft of babies, children of prisoners -disappeared, said the court.
“Sentencing the former general Jorge Videla (86 years) to 50 years imprisonment (…) and the former general Reynaldo Bignone (84) to 15 years,” read the court’s president, Mary Roqueta, before a packed room in the presence Estela de Carlotto, the leader of the humanitarian organization Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo.
Hundreds of relatives of the victims, grandmothers and grandchildren recovered by humanitarian activists celebrated the verdict with shouts and chants, amid scenes of tears and relief against a giant screen installed in the door of the Courts.
For the implementation of the system and change of identity theft of minors were other judgments to different jail terms between 40 and 15 years, other agents exjerarcas and dictatorial (1976-1983), including a military doctor that operated on midwife clandestine maternity scheme.
Videla just confessed in a book “about 7 or 8 thousand people had to die” in the repression of opponents and is serving two life sentences in common cell for crimes against humanity, so that the Court decided on Thursday to unify the penalties to maintain life in prison.
About Bignone (84 years) also weighs a sentence of imprisonment and a sentence of 25 years in prison in two other trials for serious human rights violations.
A far more satisfying and just outcome than that for the dictators of Iraq and Libya. Who were murdered judicially (or ex-judicially) keeping their crimes and their accomplices secret.
All human rights abusers take note. No matter how much you think you have the support of the rulers of your nation and your backers and supporters. One day all your support networks will fall away and you will be held to account for your actions