Until we see the text of the TPPA, we won’t know the extent of its impact on our health, environment and sovereignty.
However, we do know we didn’t get any magic beans for our cow.
Thats true Paul. And without knowing any of the details of the deal, in full, we can’t organise protest and action around the very worst aspects of the deal.
Mind you, will a political shitstorm in the States while they are full swing into election campaigning, actually provide the people of the 12 nations with a glimmer of hope that the deal won’t be ratified? (See TPP Roundup post).
The lives of NZer’s and the protections of our environment are beyond our control and are now in the hands of the Americans. They decide, not us. We are now at their mercy.
“Thats true Paul. And without knowing any of the details of the deal, in full, we can’t organise protest and action around the very worst aspects of the deal.”
Without knowing the details – how will you know there is anything to protest about?
Oh thats right. The TPP is a totally benign deal that will in no way affect the citizens of the countries involved in any detrimental way at all.
Thats why we don’t have groups like Doctors For Healthy Trade, It’s Our Future and Action Stations and respected academics like Jane Kelsey spending the last few years…………..oh yeah, there might be a problem with the TPP. And those thousands that tuned out in the streets to protest. Just “rent a crowd” eh?
Well one thing we know already James is that under the TPP NZ can’t ban the sale of NZ property to investors from any of the countries signed to the TPP. So, the action that the OIO took in blocking the sale of the Lochivar Station to overseas buyers wouldn’t be allowed to happen once the TPP is ratified.
A massive free for all NZ land grab by wealthy overseas investors. You OK with that? that whole “tenant in our own land” buzz?
Hi Rosie, could you please give me specific examples of how my life and the protection of my environment is no longer to be within my control? How am I personally now to be at the mercy of the Americans?
Groan. I can’t give you specific examples of how your life will be affected because as yet, we don’t have access to the full text of the deal. Hence my initial comment to Paul re planning protest and action. No plans without knowledge of the text.
Our future as NZer’s is at the mercy of the Americans as they are the ones that trigger the TPP being signed off once they ratify it. It’s out of our hands.
In the meantime maybe don’t plan to buy a house in Auckland or get cancer in the next few years.
Yes, I read it that way too. I was winding music4menz up – the comment made was kind of a smart ar*e one. He/she is asking for definites when there aren’t any, especially without knowing what part of the social hierarchy they fit into, and how vulnerable or not they may be the effects of the TPP, further down the track, should it be ratified.
Also, everyone I know who is into music is a lot cooler than that.
Farrell: “this ruling will lead to new pressures to limit the kinds of indiscriminate surveillance against citizens that many countries — not just the United States — have engaged in over the last 15 years. “
Guyon Espiner this morning has gone up in my estimation. Wouldn’t let Joyce away with turning a TPP interview into an anti labour (‘it’s their fault) rant or trying ‘Look!-The point is…blah blah….’diversions. (Only just stopped short of calling him a liar.)
Or how novopay is going….relax he’ll be back to giving him a spongebath and shaitsu in a few months as Gluon’s just a more subtle govt cheerleader than the likes of Hoskins/Henry etc
@Rodel Agreed. Espiner can be very good with his questioning despite his right-leaning views.
The best part was when he got Joyce to admit that the policy that is in force in Australia, where only permanent residents can buy a house and where overseas people investing in housing must build a house, is allowable under TPPA. So Labour can stick to this policy.
My understanding is a new government can renegotiate the whole thing. Labour has said it will not be bound by some parts of the agreement, if it ever comes into force.
@Pat Not quite that simple. Grant Robertson has explained Labour’s position here (from the Herald today):
“The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) includes a non-discrimination provision which would prevent the New Zealand Government banning foreign nations from buying property in New Zealand.
This provision went against of Labour’s bottom lines for supporting the deal.
Mr Robertson said: “We will take a good look at the agreement and we are reserving the right to review and renegotiate.
“There is always the scope to review them, there are just consequences if we make a law, there are consequences if we go against the agreement.
“We will have to look into what all of those are and balance that up.”
The TPP also includes provisions which allow investors to seek compensation from the Government if it breaches its investment obligations.
This meant if a Government banned foreign investment in housing it could face a legal challenge from overseas investors or companies.”
Any legal challenge to a law made by Parliament would take years.
It’s a trade agreement rather than a treaty. Not sure if they have the same status. But if other signatories have get-outs, as Australia appears to have on housing, then would NZ not be able to argue that should apply here too?
Who exactly would sue NZ in the situation where it changed legislation on housing?
Australia have EXISTING restrictions….it is the change that opens the possibility of the ISDS provisions being enacted.
Am not a lawyer but i imagine a case could be made by say a large real estate company ( or even an investment fund) that has a substantial proportion of its commissions (or portfolio) paid by overseas investors in say the Auckland market if offshore investment in the NZ property market was banned……whether this would be successful or not is irrelevant as it would cost the Gov to defend and even before the policy was made the possibility would have to be considered…am sure sharper minds than mine could come up with a myriad of potential scenarios.
Attention all aficionados of mondo bizarro television:
Jamie “Lock Up His Sisters” Whyte is on Paul Henry this morning!
TV3, Wednesday 7 October 2015
At 7:55 this morning, after a ridiculous interview with “Boobs on Bikes” organiser Steve Crow, Paul Henry made an ominous announcement: “Coming up after the news, the daily panel, today featuring Mary Lambie and Jamie Whyte.”
Mary Lambie is Jim Mora’s wife, and can be relied on for saying something anodyne and unmemorable. So she is about as dependable a guest as it is possible to get.
Jamie “Lock Up His Sisters” Whyte, however, is another can of worms entirely. He is the disgraced former ACT leader who managed in his brief few months in that rôle to come across as the worst ACT leader of them all, displaying an embarrassing level of ignorance about nearly everything and, memorably, positioning ACT as the pro-incest party.
So it’s high quality commentary as usual on Paul Henry’s show!
How does Mary Lambie get a spot on a political panel?
Because she is Mora’s wife?
The fact she is seen as a welcome guest on Henry’s show demonstrates the political bias within the Mora household.
No wonder he gets away with hat awful show the Panel. The Tories must love him.
And hasn’t he ruined Checkpoint?
I agree but hopefully he will be almost gone soon. Once the new programme format starts Mora will be reduced to 1 hour 3-4 pm. Which sort of suits me I do not like the current host/format of 1-4 so switch to BBC. I am in a little quandy with Checkpoint as by taking Campbell on board we lose Mary who IMHO is one of the best talents RNZ have. I don’t see Campbell ever being a strong interviewer and as much as I like him for the Human Interest story we need strong personalities when interviewing people that need to be held to account. Checkpoint is not necessarily the best use of his talent. Which is probably why he got the job.
This past fortnight makes me realise just how good it is to have Kim available she can actually think on her feet and if the subject tries to fluff around she zeros in and kills them.
No wonder he gets away with that awful show the Panel. The Tories must love him.
And hasn’t he ruined Checkpoint?
No, there’s a difference. David Cundliffe was without any doubt, for whatever reason, a failure. By contrast, Whyte’s catastrophic command of ACT, that doomed ferry of the damned, was a disgrace. Someone who progresses instantly from anonymity to being the butt of public ridicule, without achieving even a modicum of respect in between, has been disgraced.
Right from his disastrously inept first public appearance last year, Whyte was obviously the least eloquent and the least informed of all the political leaders on display. He then, almost incredibly, compounded his dire public image by stating his tolerance for incest.
Only the sort of bewildered souls who voted for ACT would countenance “philosophical exploration” about incest.*
Whyte’s performance on Paul Henry this morning confirmed that impression of intellectual mediocrity. He even, foolishly, quoted Margaret Thatcher’s ideological quip about any man of thirty who travels on public transport being a failure, then undermined himself by admitting he travelled by train in London.
* The question must be asked: how far have the people who propound and/or defend such “philosophical explorations” of incest taken these “philosophical explorations”?
Well, I have to admit that I haven’t ever seriously contemplated taking my sister or my mother as a wife. That sort of philosophical exploration is best left to the broader, subtler, more refined type of intellect that is instinctually drawn to the party of Hide, Garrett, Whyte and Seymour.
For God’s sake why do you waste your time. Stop watching/listening to anything on MediaWorks. Choose something with a modicum of intelligence to follow.
I stopped the day Campbell left. And when RNZ start doing much the same on some of their programmes I limit my time there. Thanks goodness for the BBC World Service.
At 7:55 this morning, after a ridiculous interview with “Boobs on Bikes” organiser Steve Crow, Paul Henry made an ominous announcement: “Coming up after the news, the daily panel, today featuring Mary Lambie and Jamie Whyte.”
Sorry, Ron, but the BBC is even worse, more ideologically biased and politically controlled, than TV3 and Radio New Zealand.
You perhaps are thinking of the good BBC, which brought us such gems as Dad’s Army. Since Alastair Campbell and Tony Blair took an axe to it when it dared to tell the truth, briefly, in 2004, it has more than ever become the British state broadcaster—about as trustworthy and independent as Pravda, XinWa or Fox News.
Nope I was thinking of the BBC World Service that is broadcast in Auckland.
I am not worrying about the political side of things but the articles on World Service are very good. Way ahead of anything we get on RNZ.
Morrissey. I worry about you watching Henry. Its pollutant stuff.
Hope you’re taking medication or preventative therapy.
I cant grab the remote fast enough when he appears.
Actually yes I can with practice, but I did hear his manic
child-cackle for a millisecond last night… couldn’t sleep for hours.
so now jonkey nact has signed the corporate takeover of New Zealand via TPPA… (unless good Americans with a social conscience stop TPPA in its tracks)
….i guess we need an new corporate flag to match our new corporate controlled country …Red Peak anyone? ( afterall this is jonkey’s and James Shaw’s favourite choice)
“the Red Peak flag was created by a Xero product design director (Dustin), has had its online campaign coordinated by another Xero associate (Simpson), and was included in the top 40 while the Xero CEO (Drury) was one of the dozen on the selection panel; perhaps we should ask how has the Greens relationship with that company changed recently?
Two years ago:
Norman issued a media release yesterday questioning whether Palantir, a firm co-founded by wealthy US technology investor and Xero shareholder Peter Thiel, had been hired by the Government to spy on New Zealanders…”
LOL’s the ultimate slap down of NZ citizens, to have an electronic security and surveillance company logo as it’s own branded flag.
I never got excited about the red peak design. I could never see it as something real and meaningful to consider as long as Key was in control of the flag “process”. Maybe if the flag process had been led by the people instead, it might have been different.
I also couldn’t take it seriously when I spend days staring out the window to a sea of new buildings that make up the relentless suburban sprawl of North Wellington, and all I see is the red peak design in the Tekton logo on the building wrap:
I know it’s not the same but it blurs together if you let your mind enter a numb zone, a zone that lets you slip away from the pain of what has become of our country in recent years.
+100 Rosie…and not another vacuous , ubiquitous Red Peak!..maybe you could take up stained glass window making( books in the library, also do- it- yourself kits)…and design yourself a beautiful colourful window to block the bloody thing out …a maidenhair fern in front of a stained glass window which lets in the refracted light could be just the thing to block out the Tekton red peak logo
Gosh that description of the stain glass window with the maidenhair fern on the windowsill took me right back to the memory of sitting in someones villa restoration in the eighties. A pleasant enough memory 🙂
It’s an environmental wasteland up here on The Development. We have responded by planting native trees and shrubs on our borders. That should block out the sight of the sprawl in a few years and bring life to the area by attracting birds and insects. (+ purple flowers to attract the bees)
If Morning Report is going to discuss significant topics, such as a difference in pay between men and women, why can’t they interview people who are actually talking about the subject rather than an entirely different matter?
This morning the first person spoken to about lower pay for women than men came out with the following –
“A school librarian, who asked not to be identified, said gender bias was unmistakable at her work.
“I have been employed as a teacher in a school and I’m now employed as support staff at a school – I feel like I’m the same person with the same abilities and skills and qualifications and work ethic, but the way I’m treated is significantly different.””
What on earth does her complaint have to do with gender bias? It is solely about the fact that in a school the frontline, teaching, staff were treated differently than people in support roles. It doesn’t have anything at all to do with her sex. If it had we wouldn’t be this complaint at all as she wouldn’t be treated any differently as a female support worker than she was as a female teacher.
Don’t the people trying to produce Morning Report understand that interviews on a topic should have something to do with that topic?
+100…what a hero…enjoyed the tv series Wallander ….must watch out for his books
…”Mankell was known for his rights activisim, and joined the 2010 flotilla trying to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip…
“He said he wanted to create a situation where “Palestinians are not treated like second-class citizens in their own country, a sort of apartheid system.”
Mankell’s collection of dark novels about the Swedish police inspector Wallander brought the author international fame after it was made into a television series by the BBC starring Oscar-nominated actor and director Kenneth Branagh.”
I have just read the front page of the Herald ,Top story the romance of Key’s son Max.No wonder the Herald is giving the paper away free for a few weeks, Wh the hell would pay money for the trash. Once the largest daily paper in NZ it is now reduced to local gossip and Tory propaganda Oh fpo the days when the daily newspaper . was something to look forward too. However at least we have the Standard . Which is not to be missed on any day.
+1 – by the way – my theory is that Max Key (does he even work?) is being groomed to collect the 18 – 29 year old votes next election for Pops. The herald is the propaganda site for the grooming to the public.
( nice for some: thinking here about high suicide rate amongst Maori youth, NZ unemployed and top New Zealand graduates who cant afford to carry on and do university postgrad studies in their own country , even although invited to by their professors , because they are already overburdened with student debt….not to mention the fact that nactional has cut postgrad student loans)
Yeah, and to watch the ejaculate smeared all over TVOne News tonight re The Ponce Key’s top secret trip to Afghanistan…….well, you’d think he’d flown a Tiger Moth low over the mountains of Bamyan, touched down and single-handedly slain 40 baddies……
‘The War-Hero Ponce Key !’ what ? Jeezuz ! TV “Boys’ Own” One !
Just to have ago at Sirdom while we all live in Serfdom
Every time I see JK as initials for the PM i cant help but see Sir John Kirwan in there so to avoid any further unnecessary confusion I propose the PM become the patron of what ever depression group Sir JK is promoting as a way of atoning for his constant alcoholic depressed rhetoric because most of it isnt believed by the real world that the majority of the population live with
Anyone who can smile for the camera and speak the bs he does is really out of it and expect to be believed and if it is the truth well God help us all to 2017
Joins the search…..in a suit ? Hope for the sake of the boy and family and friends we’re not to be reminded of Pike River politics ? Hope it’s not a case of 0800CrosbyTextorDisasterLine. Couldn’t be……there are depths even they wouldn’t plumb, aren’t there ?
“Hope it’s not a case of 0800CrosbyTextorDisasterLine. Couldn’t be……there are depths even they wouldn’t plumb, aren’t there ?”.
Oh God. Quite possibly.
I don’t know a single person in Horowhenua who didn’t vote for Nathan Guy. Then again, I don’t know a single person in Horowhenua who has a good hard think about anything……………… Although I think there is a small smattering of TS readers up that way. No offence intended towards our comrades in the Horowhenua.
Just been talking to a mate of mine in Auckland……senior union office-holder……(constantly having to check him about his ever more frequent sorties into the Koru Club !)……his comment on The Ponce Key War Hero’s vile Americanism, “……a God-Damn awful place !” re Iraq. My mate’s response – “Who made it a God-Damn awful place FFS ? True that !
The Times UK
“The newspaper reported that the soft drinks giant, a major sponsor of the Olympics, the Fifa World Cup and the Rugby World Cup, has financial links to more than a dozen British scientists, including government health advisers and others who cast doubt on the commonly accepted link between sugary drinks and the obesity crisis.” http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article4581174.ece
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The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Until we see the text of the TPPA, we won’t know the extent of its impact on our health, environment and sovereignty.
However, we do know we didn’t get any magic beans for our cow.
Thats true Paul. And without knowing any of the details of the deal, in full, we can’t organise protest and action around the very worst aspects of the deal.
Mind you, will a political shitstorm in the States while they are full swing into election campaigning, actually provide the people of the 12 nations with a glimmer of hope that the deal won’t be ratified? (See TPP Roundup post).
The lives of NZer’s and the protections of our environment are beyond our control and are now in the hands of the Americans. They decide, not us. We are now at their mercy.
and relying on Congress is fraught as the corporates have the deepest pockets
Yep, they’ll be chucking millions of $$$ at targeted candidates to keep their agenda on track.
“Thats true Paul. And without knowing any of the details of the deal, in full, we can’t organise protest and action around the very worst aspects of the deal.”
Without knowing the details – how will you know there is anything to protest about?
Oh thats right. The TPP is a totally benign deal that will in no way affect the citizens of the countries involved in any detrimental way at all.
Thats why we don’t have groups like Doctors For Healthy Trade, It’s Our Future and Action Stations and respected academics like Jane Kelsey spending the last few years…………..oh yeah, there might be a problem with the TPP. And those thousands that tuned out in the streets to protest. Just “rent a crowd” eh?
Well one thing we know already James is that under the TPP NZ can’t ban the sale of NZ property to investors from any of the countries signed to the TPP. So, the action that the OIO took in blocking the sale of the Lochivar Station to overseas buyers wouldn’t be allowed to happen once the TPP is ratified.
A massive free for all NZ land grab by wealthy overseas investors. You OK with that? that whole “tenant in our own land” buzz?
Hi Rosie, could you please give me specific examples of how my life and the protection of my environment is no longer to be within my control? How am I personally now to be at the mercy of the Americans?
Groan. I can’t give you specific examples of how your life will be affected because as yet, we don’t have access to the full text of the deal. Hence my initial comment to Paul re planning protest and action. No plans without knowledge of the text.
Our future as NZer’s is at the mercy of the Americans as they are the ones that trigger the TPP being signed off once they ratify it. It’s out of our hands.
In the meantime maybe don’t plan to buy a house in Auckland or get cancer in the next few years.
No music4womenz?
All a matter of how you read it Rosie. Could be ‘music 4 me nz’.. 🙂
Yes, I read it that way too. I was winding music4menz up – the comment made was kind of a smart ar*e one. He/she is asking for definites when there aren’t any, especially without knowing what part of the social hierarchy they fit into, and how vulnerable or not they may be the effects of the TPP, further down the track, should it be ratified.
Also, everyone I know who is into music is a lot cooler than that.
The European Court of Justice finds that US surveillance breaches the fundamental rights of European citizens: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/10/06/heres-how-the-facebook-case-has-just-transformed-the-surveillance-debate/
Farrell: “this ruling will lead to new pressures to limit the kinds of indiscriminate surveillance against citizens that many countries — not just the United States — have engaged in over the last 15 years. “
+1
Guyon Espiner this morning has gone up in my estimation. Wouldn’t let Joyce away with turning a TPP interview into an anti labour (‘it’s their fault) rant or trying ‘Look!-The point is…blah blah….’diversions. (Only just stopped short of calling him a liar.)
Did he ask Joyce about the loss of our sovereignty?
Or how novopay is going….relax he’ll be back to giving him a spongebath and shaitsu in a few months as Gluon’s just a more subtle govt cheerleader than the likes of Hoskins/Henry etc
@Rodel Agreed. Espiner can be very good with his questioning despite his right-leaning views.
The best part was when he got Joyce to admit that the policy that is in force in Australia, where only permanent residents can buy a house and where overseas people investing in housing must build a house, is allowable under TPPA. So Labour can stick to this policy.
except they cannot as it is not an already in force policy
My understanding is a new government can renegotiate the whole thing. Labour has said it will not be bound by some parts of the agreement, if it ever comes into force.
afraid not…confirmed this morning by a number of international treaty experts….and admitted by joyce this morning
@Pat Not quite that simple. Grant Robertson has explained Labour’s position here (from the Herald today):
“The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) includes a non-discrimination provision which would prevent the New Zealand Government banning foreign nations from buying property in New Zealand.
This provision went against of Labour’s bottom lines for supporting the deal.
Mr Robertson said: “We will take a good look at the agreement and we are reserving the right to review and renegotiate.
“There is always the scope to review them, there are just consequences if we make a law, there are consequences if we go against the agreement.
“We will have to look into what all of those are and balance that up.”
The TPP also includes provisions which allow investors to seek compensation from the Government if it breaches its investment obligations.
This meant if a Government banned foreign investment in housing it could face a legal challenge from overseas investors or companies.”
Any legal challenge to a law made by Parliament would take years.
[lprent: Use a link please. ]
yes there are consequences…ISDS… http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/286302/labour-told-tpp-property-provision-here-to-stay
It’s a trade agreement rather than a treaty. Not sure if they have the same status. But if other signatories have get-outs, as Australia appears to have on housing, then would NZ not be able to argue that should apply here too?
Who exactly would sue NZ in the situation where it changed legislation on housing?
Australia have EXISTING restrictions….it is the change that opens the possibility of the ISDS provisions being enacted.
Am not a lawyer but i imagine a case could be made by say a large real estate company ( or even an investment fund) that has a substantial proportion of its commissions (or portfolio) paid by overseas investors in say the Auckland market if offshore investment in the NZ property market was banned……whether this would be successful or not is irrelevant as it would cost the Gov to defend and even before the policy was made the possibility would have to be considered…am sure sharper minds than mine could come up with a myriad of potential scenarios.
Attention all aficionados of mondo bizarro television:
Jamie “Lock Up His Sisters” Whyte is on Paul Henry this morning!
TV3, Wednesday 7 October 2015
At 7:55 this morning, after a ridiculous interview with “Boobs on Bikes” organiser Steve Crow, Paul Henry made an ominous announcement: “Coming up after the news, the daily panel, today featuring Mary Lambie and Jamie Whyte.”
Mary Lambie is Jim Mora’s wife, and can be relied on for saying something anodyne and unmemorable. So she is about as dependable a guest as it is possible to get.
Jamie “Lock Up His Sisters” Whyte, however, is another can of worms entirely. He is the disgraced former ACT leader who managed in his brief few months in that rôle to come across as the worst ACT leader of them all, displaying an embarrassing level of ignorance about nearly everything and, memorably, positioning ACT as the pro-incest party.
So it’s high quality commentary as usual on Paul Henry’s show!
How does Mary Lambie get a spot on a political panel?
Because she is Mora’s wife?
The fact she is seen as a welcome guest on Henry’s show demonstrates the political bias within the Mora household.
No wonder he gets away with hat awful show the Panel. The Tories must love him.
And hasn’t he ruined Checkpoint?
I agree but hopefully he will be almost gone soon. Once the new programme format starts Mora will be reduced to 1 hour 3-4 pm. Which sort of suits me I do not like the current host/format of 1-4 so switch to BBC. I am in a little quandy with Checkpoint as by taking Campbell on board we lose Mary who IMHO is one of the best talents RNZ have. I don’t see Campbell ever being a strong interviewer and as much as I like him for the Human Interest story we need strong personalities when interviewing people that need to be held to account. Checkpoint is not necessarily the best use of his talent. Which is probably why he got the job.
This past fortnight makes me realise just how good it is to have Kim available she can actually think on her feet and if the subject tries to fluff around she zeros in and kills them.
Its all very utterly utter, pip pip, what what,and please dont get upset Fuck MARYS LEAVING now we really are in the last days
Can’t tell if you’re being satirical or actually showing that level of rabid ignorance.
Whyte was never “disgraced” as far as i know. “Failed” perhaps.
And i would hope you can tell the difference between a philosophical exploration of an idea, and an actual policy platform.
Yes, you’re quite right. Poor hopeless ignorant delusional Jamie is just misunderstood.
No, there’s a difference. David Cundliffe was without any doubt, for whatever reason, a failure. By contrast, Whyte’s catastrophic command of ACT, that doomed ferry of the damned, was a disgrace. Someone who progresses instantly from anonymity to being the butt of public ridicule, without achieving even a modicum of respect in between, has been disgraced.
Right from his disastrously inept first public appearance last year, Whyte was obviously the least eloquent and the least informed of all the political leaders on display. He then, almost incredibly, compounded his dire public image by stating his tolerance for incest.
Only the sort of bewildered souls who voted for ACT would countenance “philosophical exploration” about incest.*
Whyte’s performance on Paul Henry this morning confirmed that impression of intellectual mediocrity. He even, foolishly, quoted Margaret Thatcher’s ideological quip about any man of thirty who travels on public transport being a failure, then undermined himself by admitting he travelled by train in London.
* The question must be asked: how far have the people who propound and/or defend such “philosophical explorations” of incest taken these “philosophical explorations”?
Shit politician perhaps. But he has a broader mind than yours.
Shit politician perhaps.
Shit politician, shit thinker, shit philosopher.
But he has a broader mind than yours.
Well, I have to admit that I haven’t ever seriously contemplated taking my sister or my mother as a wife. That sort of philosophical exploration is best left to the broader, subtler, more refined type of intellect that is instinctually drawn to the party of Hide, Garrett, Whyte and Seymour.
Small things amuse and misuse a small mind a right ridiculous and waste of time and space
For God’s sake why do you waste your time. Stop watching/listening to anything on MediaWorks. Choose something with a modicum of intelligence to follow.
I stopped the day Campbell left. And when RNZ start doing much the same on some of their programmes I limit my time there. Thanks goodness for the BBC World Service.
Sorry, Ron, but the BBC is even worse, more ideologically biased and politically controlled, than TV3 and Radio New Zealand.
You perhaps are thinking of the good BBC, which brought us such gems as Dad’s Army. Since Alastair Campbell and Tony Blair took an axe to it when it dared to tell the truth, briefly, in 2004, it has more than ever become the British state broadcaster—about as trustworthy and independent as Pravda, XinWa or Fox News.
Nope I was thinking of the BBC World Service that is broadcast in Auckland.
I am not worrying about the political side of things but the articles on World Service are very good. Way ahead of anything we get on RNZ.
Morrissey. I worry about you watching Henry. Its pollutant stuff.
Hope you’re taking medication or preventative therapy.
I cant grab the remote fast enough when he appears.
Actually yes I can with practice, but I did hear his manic
child-cackle for a millisecond last night… couldn’t sleep for hours.
so now jonkey nact has signed the corporate takeover of New Zealand via TPPA… (unless good Americans with a social conscience stop TPPA in its tracks)
….i guess we need an new corporate flag to match our new corporate controlled country …Red Peak anyone? ( afterall this is jonkey’s and James Shaw’s favourite choice)
RED PEAK the logo for Active Security Group
http://www.activesecuritygroup.co.uk/
“the Red Peak flag was created by a Xero product design director (Dustin), has had its online campaign coordinated by another Xero associate (Simpson), and was included in the top 40 while the Xero CEO (Drury) was one of the dozen on the selection panel; perhaps we should ask how has the Greens relationship with that company changed recently?
Two years ago:
Norman issued a media release yesterday questioning whether Palantir, a firm co-founded by wealthy US technology investor and Xero shareholder Peter Thiel, had been hired by the Government to spy on New Zealanders…”
Sharp observation Chooky!!!
LOL’s the ultimate slap down of NZ citizens, to have an electronic security and surveillance company logo as it’s own branded flag.
I never got excited about the red peak design. I could never see it as something real and meaningful to consider as long as Key was in control of the flag “process”. Maybe if the flag process had been led by the people instead, it might have been different.
I also couldn’t take it seriously when I spend days staring out the window to a sea of new buildings that make up the relentless suburban sprawl of North Wellington, and all I see is the red peak design in the Tekton logo on the building wrap:
http://tektonproducts.com/images/Tekton-WPS-Logo-333×99.png
I know it’s not the same but it blurs together if you let your mind enter a numb zone, a zone that lets you slip away from the pain of what has become of our country in recent years.
+100 Rosie…and not another vacuous , ubiquitous Red Peak!..maybe you could take up stained glass window making( books in the library, also do- it- yourself kits)…and design yourself a beautiful colourful window to block the bloody thing out …a maidenhair fern in front of a stained glass window which lets in the refracted light could be just the thing to block out the Tekton red peak logo
Gosh that description of the stain glass window with the maidenhair fern on the windowsill took me right back to the memory of sitting in someones villa restoration in the eighties. A pleasant enough memory 🙂
It’s an environmental wasteland up here on The Development. We have responded by planting native trees and shrubs on our borders. That should block out the sight of the sprawl in a few years and bring life to the area by attracting birds and insects. (+ purple flowers to attract the bees)
good on you Rosie…hope those native trees and shrubs grow fast for you
Yes what say should be highlighted to the max more corporate abuse of our democracy
If Morning Report is going to discuss significant topics, such as a difference in pay between men and women, why can’t they interview people who are actually talking about the subject rather than an entirely different matter?
This morning the first person spoken to about lower pay for women than men came out with the following –
“A school librarian, who asked not to be identified, said gender bias was unmistakable at her work.
“I have been employed as a teacher in a school and I’m now employed as support staff at a school – I feel like I’m the same person with the same abilities and skills and qualifications and work ethic, but the way I’m treated is significantly different.””
What on earth does her complaint have to do with gender bias? It is solely about the fact that in a school the frontline, teaching, staff were treated differently than people in support roles. It doesn’t have anything at all to do with her sex. If it had we wouldn’t be this complaint at all as she wouldn’t be treated any differently as a female support worker than she was as a female teacher.
Don’t the people trying to produce Morning Report understand that interviews on a topic should have something to do with that topic?
The Herald seems to have removed all signs of John Armstrong. I had heard that he has been unwell but…
[lprent: He is quite unwell at present. ]
Okay MS. Wish him well.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/06/worried-imf-world-economic-outlook-report
…no mystery here…too much in the hands of too few
Following on from our low business confidence and our record suicide rates comes the GOOD NEWS.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/72767992/nz-third-best-place-to-die
NZ Third Best Place To Die!!!!!
Thirds good. Gets a medal.
+1
Jeremy Corbyn is not the only decent man to draw the ire of the haters
This sneering piece in the far right wing Times of Israel tries but fails to denigrate the late, great Henning Mankell…..
http://www.timesofisrael.com/swedish-crime-writer-henning-mankell-dies-at-67/
+100…what a hero…enjoyed the tv series Wallander ….must watch out for his books
…”Mankell was known for his rights activisim, and joined the 2010 flotilla trying to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip…
“He said he wanted to create a situation where “Palestinians are not treated like second-class citizens in their own country, a sort of apartheid system.”
Mankell’s collection of dark novels about the Swedish police inspector Wallander brought the author international fame after it was made into a television series by the BBC starring Oscar-nominated actor and director Kenneth Branagh.”
Great news about soft drinks: they’re good for you.
According to the General Manager of Coca-Cola New Zealand
“We need to stop demonizing sugar, and Coca Cola can be part of a balanced lifestyle.”
—-Paul Fitzgerald, General Manager of Coca-Cola New Zealand
Balanced in favour of increasing CocA-Colas profits is about all it will do to you
David Cameron being roasted in an interview over human rights here (1min 22s).
https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/videos/10153264721241939/
Why oh why have we not got a journalist in NZ who will hold Key to account in the same way?
Because all the ones that are left in the MSM support everything that Key and National do no psychopathic it is.
Greatest trademe auction in history.
October 21 2015 (usa) October 22 2015 (Nzl)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=960950905&permanent=0
Pledge to march
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/72767069/prices-up-99-per-cent-at-fonterra-globaldairytrade-auction
Thats 9.9% not 99% but still not bad, thats four increases in a row since Mr Andrew Little declared a crisis
And are volumes up as well?
I have just read the front page of the Herald ,Top story the romance of Key’s son Max.No wonder the Herald is giving the paper away free for a few weeks, Wh the hell would pay money for the trash. Once the largest daily paper in NZ it is now reduced to local gossip and Tory propaganda Oh fpo the days when the daily newspaper . was something to look forward too. However at least we have the Standard . Which is not to be missed on any day.
The media has gotten so bad you have to wonder if its end days are not far away.
+1 – by the way – my theory is that Max Key (does he even work?) is being groomed to collect the 18 – 29 year old votes next election for Pops. The herald is the propaganda site for the grooming to the public.
re “Max Key (does he even work?)”…this is what he does:
‘Max Key – I’ll get you into Harvard: Prime Minister’s son gets top consulting role’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11513568
http://www.scout.co.nz/Max-Key-grooms-students-for-Ivy-League/tabid/511/articleID/5617/Default.aspx
‘Auckland’s extravagant, young, elite society you need to know about’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11471687
( nice for some: thinking here about high suicide rate amongst Maori youth, NZ unemployed and top New Zealand graduates who cant afford to carry on and do university postgrad studies in their own country , even although invited to by their professors , because they are already overburdened with student debt….not to mention the fact that nactional has cut postgrad student loans)
hear hear
Yeah, and to watch the ejaculate smeared all over TVOne News tonight re The Ponce Key’s top secret trip to Afghanistan…….well, you’d think he’d flown a Tiger Moth low over the mountains of Bamyan, touched down and single-handedly slain 40 baddies……
‘The War-Hero Ponce Key !’ what ? Jeezuz ! TV “Boys’ Own” One !
John Key has just been so brave. “Prime Minister John Key’s secret trip to Iraq.”
Was he looking for pandas?
Weird story here, but some great journalism, http://thespinoff.co.nz/07-10-2015/media-a-bargain-from-the-block-the-curious-case-of-julie-christies-mansion/
+1
Why did Dan News have to get involved with Glucinas new outfit? I used to like Dan news…
5:07 and all’s well.
Yeah.
My pet theory is that it was a ploy by someone to get easier access to high-demand books held on close reserve 🙂
Fiendish! So all we have to do is round up everyone who borrowed a book yesterday…
Just to have ago at Sirdom while we all live in Serfdom
Every time I see JK as initials for the PM i cant help but see Sir John Kirwan in there so to avoid any further unnecessary confusion I propose the PM become the patron of what ever depression group Sir JK is promoting as a way of atoning for his constant alcoholic depressed rhetoric because most of it isnt believed by the real world that the majority of the population live with
Anyone who can smile for the camera and speak the bs he does is really out of it and expect to be believed and if it is the truth well God help us all to 2017
Missing boy in Levin has National MP, Nathan Guy, joining the search.
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/search-for-missing-boy-continues-near-levin-2015100707?ref=video#axzz3nr5UtXfc
Nathan Guy being there will go down well with locals.
Where is Rob McCann?
Joins the search…..in a suit ? Hope for the sake of the boy and family and friends we’re not to be reminded of Pike River politics ? Hope it’s not a case of 0800CrosbyTextorDisasterLine. Couldn’t be……there are depths even they wouldn’t plumb, aren’t there ?
No. In his running gear.
“Hope it’s not a case of 0800CrosbyTextorDisasterLine. Couldn’t be……there are depths even they wouldn’t plumb, aren’t there ?”.
Oh God. Quite possibly.
I don’t know a single person in Horowhenua who didn’t vote for Nathan Guy. Then again, I don’t know a single person in Horowhenua who has a good hard think about anything……………… Although I think there is a small smattering of TS readers up that way. No offence intended towards our comrades in the Horowhenua.
Just been talking to a mate of mine in Auckland……senior union office-holder……(constantly having to check him about his ever more frequent sorties into the Koru Club !)……his comment on The Ponce Key War Hero’s vile Americanism, “……a God-Damn awful place !” re Iraq. My mate’s response – “Who made it a God-Damn awful place FFS ? True that !
+100
The Times UK
“The newspaper reported that the soft drinks giant, a major sponsor of the Olympics, the Fifa World Cup and the Rugby World Cup, has financial links to more than a dozen British scientists, including government health advisers and others who cast doubt on the commonly accepted link between sugary drinks and the obesity crisis.”
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article4581174.ece