I thought I would be cheeky and group-source some ideas for a trip round West Coast/ Malborough. Must visit towns, places etc. Neither of us are enthusiastic walkers. An hour each way at the most (he said a little shamefully).
We are headed to the Wild Foods Festival In Hokitika then go have a look at Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers. Then we have a week or so to meander to Nelson. (I want to check out a few cideries and find any craft beer breweries).
not exactly what you are asking, but on the Coast slow down and spend more time in fewer places. If you find the really cool place to stay, then stay an extra night rather than trying to pack it all in. I've lived and worked in remote tourism places and it's the people that are moving more slowly and really getting a place that makes the connections special.
Too true weka. I have made that boo-boo once or twice before, cramming a lot into a small amount of time and you just feel like yr constantly leaving and driving.
From the suggestions that follow below, we are going to miss a few things. Good excuse to return though.
The Greymouth to Westport road is well worth an hour of your time, for the stunning coastal views and scenery alone, not to mention the drive itself. Stop at the pancake rocks at Punakaiki, about halfway between the two, for a 20 minute easy walk to the blowhole and back.
The seal colony in Tauranga bay can be got at from two directions. The cape foulwind lighthouse end trek is the longest and more difficult of the two, so look at doing the shorter easier walk.
If you do travel down/up the West coast I would recommend filling the car before you leave Westport/Greymouth & to check where the petrol stations are. As there are none from memory out of Westport and the first is just north of Greymouth.
Also the local galleries at Hokitika and Greymouth are worth spending time viewing local artists works and perhaps helping them out by purchasing 1 or 2.
We've enjoyed a few trips around The South in our Bus…and your " Neither of us are enthusiastic walkers. An hour each way at the most (he said a little shamefully)." caught my attention.
Had my man not broken his neck some fifty years ago he would have been an enthusiastic walker. In order to give him a wee taste of what others take for granted we have taken the Bus into the hinterlands and dragged the wheelchair as far as my strength will allow.
Standouts include "doing" both ends of the Heaphy Track. A river stopped us from the Kohaihai end…and sandflies just about airlifted us back to the Bus. You might as well check out the Oparara Arches on the way. The drive through the valley, (and a visit to the famous Bainham Store) and a drive across the very dodgy looking bridge knocked off the other end. And while you're in the vicinity a visit to Farewell Spit, Port Puponga and a diversion down the west coast through the Little Whanganui Harbour and on down to Paterau would be on our 'must do' list.
Walking the entire length of the Mole at Aramoana (after literally squeezing the wheelchair through the narrow gate) was fun…but seal shit does pong a bit and gets stuck in the tyre treads. Back in the day they built a wharf and railtrack to load ballast from the quarry a little way back towards Port Chalmers.
If you're taking a car, rather than a camper vehicle, do buy/beg/borrow a little tent and some very basic camping gear. DOC camps are all over the place, and though basic have what you need for a civilised overnight stay. Biggest mistake is rushing….as Weka says…slow down.
Good ideas above. For Marlborough, big selection of craft beers at Dodson's in Blenheim including the Renaissance Brewery beers next door; also enjoy his German style food
Visit the Omaka Aviation Museum for a great display of war planes. Take a ride on a steam train and visit the Marlborough Museum and displays at the Brayshaw Heritage Park.
The Sounds- worth a day from Havelock on the mail boat.
Walk for an hour round the Grovetown lagoon and count the swans and see other aquatic birds there or at the Wairau lagoon where you can also see forty kilometres of Māori dug canals and be on/near the site of Aotearoa's first Polynesian settlement.
Stop and see the Pou Whenua at the new bridge at the northern entrance to Blenheim and read the history of the area which is truer and more accurate than, shall we say, Michael Bassett's version of pre- and early European times.
Take a train trip to Kaikoura. Some of the best scenery in the world where mountains and sea are in close proximity- see whales and seal colonies. Craft beer brewery in Kaikoura.
Travel to Kaikoura from the West Coast via the Lewis pass, Hanmer with its hot springs and then via the Inland road to Kaikoura, then north to Blenheim. Nelson is then only 100 km away and return from there to Blenheim and Picton via Tophouse and the trip down the Wairau Valley.
Been here fifty years, and there's still stuff to see and do…..
Obviously, its retail and hospitality that will have the greatest impact in terms of unemployment. But still, I cant help but think we are going backwards in the evolution of equality for women.
Not only are they still earning less, they are also first to be "let go" as there is still the dinosaur belief that men are the bread winners.
So far I haven't seen anyone of the younger generation standing up to be counted on that issue. It was in times past the achievement of "boomers" and their mothers to make progress and it took decades to make inroads only to see this now eroded in a very fast pace.
when we stand up to say something about this 'inbalance' we are shut down with 'identity politics'.
We don't even mention that women have a higher unemployment rate, nor that on average we earn less, and in the current rejoicing about wages going up, we don't mention the fact that we have lost so many jobs on the bottom that the average goes up while nothing has actually changed, other then a lot of people – err women – have lost their low paid, part time, casual, temporary min wage jobs.
so as long as we can shut down discussions about parts of the population with calls of 'identity politics' it will not change.
Dude, So i guess you too don't want to talk about the fact that female unemployment is 1% higher then the national average (and that was 3 month ago at the seasonal peak of employment) and no one cares to comment on that fact. Nor the fact that women earn less while they work, and those that lost jobs may not even get any benefit at all cause they have a partner or family to pick up the slack, leaving said women totally at the mercy – yes mercy – of whom ever houses, feeds and clothes them and maybe even provides her with petty cash. And those women that are lucky to get a benefit need to bend themselves into a 12 pleat yeast bread in order to get them. And the fact that earning less will take care of us being poorer in old age, less likely to afford a mortgage, get decent health care and and and.
At the end of the day, let me put it plainly, it sucks.
If we only would! It sometimes feels like the 50's never stopped. The real bastard in all that is that, in todays climate you need 2 earners to live somewhat secure as a family and we wont even talk about singe women and the elderly who most likely have worked more than their fair share but have to continue because it would be bread and water under the bridge otherwise.
It will be the male population that will bring about the hunger games for the women and children with their demands being first to be met. Reality will soon enough bite.
Definitely been some improvements since the 50's – DPB means you can more easily leave violent and abusive relationships (though the imposition of state requirements by national and left in by labour has just transferred some of the abuse from the husband to the public/state), benefits got split in half so it didn't all go to the husband and it is no longer legal to rape or beat your wife.
But yeah lots of things that went forward have slipped backwards in recent years.
if i am not mistaken the Domestic Purpose Benefit was removed and now there is the Sole Parent benefit. And it is nothing more then a starvation / begging benefit.
if we want to know why women don't leave, the answer next to fear and no where to go is money. They generally have non, and before they get any of that sweet government largesse they really need to be in the deepest whole to be found.
lol Hosking will be pissed – clearly the government has decided they don't need the ZB audience for successful comms, and a slap in the face for ZB management who clearly haven’t managed Hosking well enough.
More generally, an interesting move – perhaps a harbinger that social media is regarded as more useful?
I think its a silly move. The only way to counter Hosking and his one sided commentary is to get on his show and give it to him. Like Jacinda generally did.
Now he gets to preach with no one from the 9th floor countering his bullshit.
Hosking has the biggest commercial breakfast audience in the country. The Prime Minister needs to be talking directly to that audience.
Except that she will be fronting his show as special issues or developments arise. It simply won't be a regular spot anymore and I think we'll find its going to be more or the less the same across all the broadcasting outlets.
Sounds sensible to me because she's got more important things to do in these days of uncertainty.
I shall give you a double thumbs up for your sentiments there Anne.
Hosking is a wasted space anyway. Since stating she will not appear on his show regularly now, Hosking has gone on a rant, accusing the PM of not wanting to be held to account. Pathetic and petulant on his part.
RNZ has by far the biggest morning audience. Hosking over-stepped the mark on numerous occasions last year with bullying and patronising questioning that amounted to misogyny.
I would guess that Prime Minsters department has raised the issue of his unacceptable behaviour with his employers and either they can't control Hosking (likely) or they couldn't come to an agreement on how these interviews were proceed in a civilised manner.
Either way, this decision would be driven by Hosking's behaviour rather than the PM's robustness to debate him.
breakfast radio very much like breakfast tv. most of the audience are only catching snippets as they do there morning routines. therefore to keep audience attention(for the advertisers,the really important part of the equation) the talking heads have to resort to shock jock tactics. while newdorkzb might be the biggest comical radio show, that is still a small percentage of the team of five million. no doubt, the p.m. department has done the sums, and pandering to sad old white whingers isnt a biggie. codgers like hoskings are on a downward spiral from nightly prime time tv to breakfast audio wallpaper to? midnight to dawn with mike lol.even granny seems to have given him the push. advertisers dont want to be associated with sour grippers, dont hear much talk of disintering banks, plunket etc.
The Prime Minister needs to be talking directly to that audience.
Hooray, the PM has realised that there's little point dignifying Hosking's "partisan hackery" with a response. An excellent decision, imho, and the shock jock's reaction confirms this – why have anything to do with such an oily tick, and a lightweight pimple-brain to boot.
The PM fronts press conferences and answers tough questions in the House, as no doubt she will tomorrow at 2 pm.
Judith Collins disparaged the PM today in a tweet- "all those tough questions". Judith Collins knows how to ask tough questions in the House, after all. "Does the PM stand by all her statements….?"
Oh, it's bias from the Speaker now being alleged, plus a good dose of mysogyny?
Questions in the House, general debates, written questions, press interviews, post Cabinet briefings, being out and about in the street and meeting constituents and the public, facebook discussions, public meetings with the local Chambers of Commerce.
Oh yeah, she's hiding alright. That meme has as much credibilty as media criticism causes earthquakes. Pffft, indeed.
no, wasting time and effort on a monday morning, only helps legitimize hoskings as someone important. much better to ignore him and talk directly to us.
I also wonder what effect this regular spot had on his behaviour. If it gave him a weekly reminder to tone it down and pretend to be a serious interviewer, left largely to his own devices I wonder if he go all John Banks and accidentally end his own career anytime soon.
That is the problem "Talk directly to us" So who determines the topics and who challenges the PM/govt as to what their actions are ? Or are you happy for the govt to control any and all messaging ? e.g. Sunday last night on the state of the fish stocks within the Hauraki Gulf – Minister declined opportunity to speak.
We are allowing our leaders IMO to hide and let the problems go away. Another example was our Fin Min pass on the housing problem to the reserve bank. Min Roberston you have been in this position for 3.5 years and had 9 years in opposition to formulate responses, and we belatedly get this !!!!
To many out there on the left – Just be wary what we accept today one day will pass to National.
dont think that any morning radio host has uncovered anything and made it stick . they might have ruffled a couple of feathers, but mostly its a wasted five minutes. to actually do anything worthwhile the interview needs to be 20 minutes plus, like morning report etc. hoskings morning phonecall is a soundbite, worth more to the shows advertisers than the gov(any gov).
I am sure about a year ago the owners of businesses benefited from Mike Hoskins insistence that council and govt agencies were feeding the PM and others fause info about the road works on Hobson street and that there was no remediation awarded to those business inconvienced by the continual works that limited foot traffic. From memory it was found that what the PM was being told regrading all businesses be communicated was not the case. Just 1 case of where the small people benefited from these morning phone calls.
"But, when pressed again on the issue yesterday, Twyford was unable to provide much detail as to what that meant.He told Newstalk yesterday that his advice from CRL was that it had been talking to affected businesses about the issue.
When asked how many, he said a "handful" bit was not able to answer with any more specificity as he didn't know."
I think once Mike Hoskins brought this to the attention of our PM eventually the matter progresses after as few weeks of having the PM having this brought to her attention.
Just 1 case of where the small people benefited from these morning phone calls.
If there was just one case over the course of a year, then either the "small people" (?) need a better shock jock than Hosking, or the legends of 'Teflon Jacinda' are true.
Ardern quickly dispelled any establishment fears that she was about to storm the citadels of capitalist power. For Ardern, ‘transformation’ merely means tinkering with the policy settings of neoliberalism, not overturning it. While this might still upset hard right wingers like Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking, it has caused few ripples elsewhere.
Has Mike started whining about being 'cancelled' yet? As the holder of an extraordinarily powerful platform that is undeserved in the first place because it is not underpinned by any record of journalistic achievement, insight, investigation or even by mere rationality – it will he highly amusing if he does wheel out the "c" word.
The Prime Minister kept away from Sean Plunkett as well and he wheedled about it endlessly, delighting his wheedle audience but impressing those who voted for Labour and The Greens (if any were listening) not one whit! Peter Williams went full-wheedle when Grant Robertson said, "Sayonara" and probably won't stop until he too is retired from his position on Magic Radio (not a recommended listen).
It's the same old pattern of behaviour. The PM will have known/been advised that the gains from snubbing Hosking would be greater than any harm done. In my opinion.
I see Kate H has an opinion piece in the Herald which isn't paywalled, Headline "Why Jacinda and Meghan are the same" or some such nonsense. Didn't read as wouldn't want to give her a click.
Maybe Mike feels affronted that Meghan snubbed him and went with Oprah instead!!!s
How dare these women exercise some choice and control! Fancy snubbing Mike!
I was commenting last night as we watched the documentary regarding the health of the fishing stocks within the Auckland harbour and that how ministers do not front or make comment anymore. Not since Holmes and to a lesser extent Cambell did we have government ministers fronting, and the comment was passed that perhaps programmers should make time available to The Greens, Act and National to embarrass not fronting ministers to front and not hide (In the current govts case, the PM's cult of personality)
So who is to determine what "Instead, Ardern says she and and other ministers will now appear on the country's top-performing commercial radio show "as and when issues arise". covers or is warranted ?? FFS we really don't want to challenge any government to change do we 🤢
Will this government do anything to arrest the path that we are currently travelling down ??? We are left with such soft reporting as.
It's not the most pressing issue to face the world, but I love the way everyone is passing judgement on the Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey that nobody has yet seen.
Well let's face it – Harry and Megan's biggest sin is to expose the imperial fantasyland of pomp and pageantry inhabited by the UK ruling elites for the wizened fairyland of tat and tinsel it really is.
A small booklet was left in my letterbox called "National Sunday Law" and written by an American, A. Jan Marcussen. It's the most grotesque load of garbage I've ever seen. It revolves around a theory that “The Papacy” is really Satan and we are all going to die terrible deaths etc. etc. etc….
Its dangerous stuff and no doubt the kind of people who revel in such conspiracies are feeling enabled by recent developments in the US.
I'd be interested to know if the book is being spread elsewhere in NZ.
That's interesting Janice. I live in Auckland. Looks like it is being distributed widely. There are many gullible people out in the community and we have seen how much trouble and confusion they can cause. Indeed the ChCh massacre is a prime example of what can happen when stuff like that is allowed to spread far and wide.
I know it would be fraught with problems, but I think broader based legislation preventing the distribution of such damaging hate material – be it religious or whatever – is overdue.
Let me just stop you there Anne, but who are you claiming should not be able to distribute such material. Especially as most did not receieve it as a pamphlet from the Tamaki's (or their Church) but read it on RNZ. Should we prevent RNZ from writing about this incident?
Silencing/banning/deplatforming simply won't work. These tactics merely cast an aura of mystique … encouraging folk to actually go looking for such material. Oh the thrill!
(And I'm not entirely sure it is entirely PC these days to refer to folk as "raving lunatics". Akin to using 'retard' methinks.)
I got it in Wellington; I read enough to see that there was no obvious NZ organisation inviting people to enquire . . . then straight to recycling collection.
Yes Nickthenz there is a difference between Tvnz and RNZ and their worth to thinking people. Vive la difference. Long may it continue but beware says Tom Frewen about the dullards in politics who don't know the value of anything the country has but only what their salary and perks can buy.
On the state we are in with Radionz – Tom has written 1-5 series about this. Here is #5 which will lead you to others.
Got one in Queenstown RD too, which would have helped the RD contractor’s cashflow. So can presume most letterboxes in the country got one delivered (if the postie was conscientious) as well.
The world is probably pretty safe though, I found it the almost completely unreadable, so I doubt many would take much notice. Granted reading time waa less than time taken to walk directly to the recycling bin with the rest of the junk mail delivered that day.
Unbelievable. Brian Tamaki says the cause of the earthquakes and tsunami warnings was criticism of his fleeing Auckland.
Equally valid would be the assertion that the Bishop caused the earthquakes etc by fleeing Auckland……..
As for Marcussen's polemic, it arrived in Blenheim, too. It says that 36 million copies have been printed. That's big money.
Amused by the assertion of this Seventh Day Adventist minister that "Vicarius Filii Dei" adds up to 666, and that therefore the sign of the Beast applies to the Pope, I read that the name of the founder of his church, one Ellen Gould White, also adds up to 666.
That's as far as I want to go down that rabbit hole.
Tamaki's promoted himself to "Apostle", now? And seems to be claiming apostolic infallibility? It took hundreds of years for Catholicism to get to that level.
He'll be god by 2030, cult mass suicide a few years after that.
Frank Macskasy has put together a damn good, and rather convincing, citizen journalist style piece. He sent an OIA to the Ministry of Health and constructs his article around their reply and many other sources. Did you know about the Heartland Hotel Air NZ used in proximity to the airport, and certain cool stores linked to other COVID cases?
Yes I read that. Appears to confirm that AirNZ would rather run lax covid protocols than increase the number of people employed at relatively small cost so that quarantine can be correctly observed. After all it's so much more important that the bottom line is good and those executive bonuses keep flowing when the costs of covid in the hundreds of millions fall on the rest of the community.
It's frankly unbelievably selfish and at this point the majority shareholder could perhaps look at sacking the board and all the executive management.
NZ Taxpayers have contributed many millions over the years to the airline, including a $900 mill COVID loan, and Govt. still have 52% ownership–hopefully that means they should understand if they are read a “safety card” involving MIQs.
Maybe what would be good is to request all possible AirNZ executives to give thought to assisting the country by giving to the blood bank which is often in need. They are well paid and should be healthy and well fed and this is a thing that money can't buy, but goodwill provides. Put something back where the people need it I think. It would be a good look if the execs could give an example of caring to our needy nation.
Looks like the Americans proxy rabid dog israel is getting set to start WW3 with their anti Iranian threats about Irans non existant nukes. This is pure hypocrisy by a loose cannon nuclear weapon State.
Heart sinks once again about our poor standards of dealing with polluting waste. Our disdainful attitudes to the quality of management of our resources are irresponsible beyond understanding.
[Auckland University biotechnology researcher, Dr Emily] Frost, who studies plastic pollution, has herself picked up the clips from beaches in Wellington and the Firth of Thames.
Most cow stomachs are rendered to make fertiliser or animal feed. Because a small amount of plastic contamination is allowed in these byproducts, some of the clips get ground up with the offal in the rendering process, Frost says. The rest should be caught in freezing works' effluent traps. "But some are obviously getting through," she says.
A champion NZr for the environment! Perhaps every traveller can do a bit of picking up and have a bag ready for it like carrying a doggy bag?
Since early 2019, [Des] Watson’s been circumnavigating the country’s coastline, picking up rubbish to highlight the level of plastic pollution in our seas.
After collecting a small haul of oesophagus clips from Hawke’s Bay beaches last month, he rang the regional council’s pollution hotline. When he didn’t get any satisfactory answers, he rang the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
“MPI said they would investigate,” he says.
MPI did, but decided it’s a matter for regional councils to deal with.
A good snappy slogan for that answer from MPI – Bulldust and buck passing!
Your book in your own words: The Hollow Bones is based on the bizarre, true story of Ernst Schäfer, a little-known zoologist and explorer, who was chosen by Heinrich Himmler to lead an expedition of young German scientists into Tibet in 1938. Although their official aim was to explore the local flora and fauna, charting hitherto unmapped terrain, the secret reason behind their SS-funded mission was to find the true origins of the Nordic Aryan race, in a bid to claim more territory for the Reich.
The story brings together the perils of pseudoscience, cultural fascism, humankind’s relationship with nature and our obsession with the categorisation of all sentient beings. It explores the small missteps taken that lead to a slippery slope of perilous moral decline. At the heart of the book is the romance between Schäfer and his loyal childhood sweetheart, Herta, who becomes dangerously entangled in her lover’s obsession with furthering his own career. She is the true voice of compassion and beauty, a constant and uncomfortable reminder to Schäfer of the Faustian bargain he has struck.
What were you reading when you wrote it? I read widely while researching the novel. I was particularly taken by Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See and the way it examines the internal terrain of human beings caught up in the vagaries of war, exploring the moral choices they make.
She was cancelled, by an absolute majority, despite fronting the public with Ardern who answered her 'tough questions'. That same majority had access to Hosking's 'reckons', Hannah Tamaki's nuttiness, J-L Ross's stupidity, and Billy Te Kahika's sermons from a rabbit hole.
National's Judith Collins needs to be careful that the wind doesn't change and set her face permanently in a sour, aggrieved appearance. That old parents response to grizzly children actually applies to the whole Gnashional Party.
Now Judith is suggesting a report on the performance under the Covid19. Why? Anything that hasn't gone right should be tabled for discussion, but we don't want paralysis by analysis. This is a changing forward-moving situation, and unfortunately National is in reverse. Pity that their gears are stuck so they can't show relevance in these demanding times. And ACT their mouthpiece, flaps all the time yet isn't as useful as an airsock – don't take notice of it when landing on any policy!
Anyone see what Collins' eyebrows were doing when she said that?
“I think what you’re seeing is the absolute arrogance of this Government,” Collins told Magic Talk on Monday, echoing Hosking who said the Prime Minister was “running for the hills“.
I have as much respect for ‘shock jock Hosking‘ and Judith ‘Eyebrows‘ Collins has they have shown for PM Ardern. C’mon Hosking, you brought this on yourself – man up.
Yeah, nah. Collins is not cancelled. I see her face and reckons almost as much as I see Meghan Markle’s and she, at least, has a story to sell tell, I’ve been told (by the media). However, I’ve stopped almost completely paying any attention to National MPs and their Leader. Polemics with a parsnip are more entertaining and informative. Is National not overdue for another dead cat bounce on the table? Oh, the report is due tomorrow. Let’s leak it!
'Research firm Venture Insights points out that in south-east Australia’s 2019-20 bushfires, about 88% of the telecommunications outages were caused by loss of power outages and only 1% were due to direct fire damage, which implies that better power backups could significantly reduce outages.1'
After more than 1000 mobile towers and other facilities were disabled as a result of bushfires last summer, the Commonwealth Government announced a $37.1m funding package to strengthen telco resilience, including $10m for the Mobile Blackspot Program and battery backup solutions.
Repairs to damaged power lines can take time, especially if many poles must be replaced. So, battery backup solutions are important for maintaining communications in times of disaster.
The key to a successful backup battery solution is an Uninterruptible Power supply (UPS), which is an on-demand, instant switch battery back-up.
New Zealand trailer boat builders are experiencing their best times ever, but it does come at a cost for consumers. Order a boat today from a dealer, and you are probably going to be waiting 12 months or, in some cases, 18 months more before you get it.
We are all aware that boat sales, like cars, houses, and swimming pools, have gone ballistic, and when you walk into a boatyard these days, it's hard to find a new boat on display. Plus, if it is, then it's almost guaranteed that it is already sold and await fitout. I talked to several manufacturers last week about their current build situation, and almost everyone had the same answer…maxed out till next year.
Engine, electronics, and marine equipment suppliers are also reporting delays in obtaining stock, which certainly impacts the boat builders. Air freighting parts to enable a boat to be finished adds cost, and somewhere along the chain, that has to be added into the charges.
I read somewhere that it was estimated that somewhere around $NZ18 billion had stayed in the country due to Covid-19 and closed borders. I am not sure that was correct, but I know how much I have not spent on overseas trips. I can't say saved, as my wife did find ways of spending it, such as a new bed, bathroom and travels around the country."
Oh my God, if you want an example of a bitter piece of writing from a bewildered boomer reduced to waving his fist at clouds as he struggles with being sidelined for the first time in his life then I can give you Barry Soper…
Agree. I find it ironic that the iconic commentator Soper commits an obvious English error in the very paragraph where he snidely snipes at her degree in communications.
"Having worked with the past 10 prime ministers, Jacinda Ardern would be the most removed from the media than any of them." No, Barry Soper – Jacinda Ardern has not worked with the past ten PMs.
Soper was trying to say that he himself had done so, but incompetently ignored the rule that following a participial clause should be the subject of that clause. He should have written, "Having worked with the past 10 prime ministers, I would place JA as…"
Poor quality language as well as biased analysis.
A similar error –
“As a Leftie, Soper is wrong”
“As a Leftie. I think Soper is wrong.”
Soper is not a Leftie, so the first example is very poor use of language, like Soper’s.
The second example is correct.
soper hasnt "worked with the last ten P.M.s'" running around, after a poli, and interviewing your keyboard isnt working with a P.M. Im sure if you asked those ten P.M.s about their working relationship with soper, they would all say, :who?: way to talk yourself up. must be contract renewal time.
Since we're being critical of one whose career is writing, how's this paragraph of Soper's for making one sentence out of two?
"She's commanded the Covid pulpit to such an extent that the virus has become her security blanket, without it she'd be forced to face the reality that her Government has been moribund."
Two main clauses joined by a comma. Tsk tsk.
What of course is worse is the claim that this government would be moribund without Covid-19.
What a stupid statement. This government would be far down the track of social reform without having had to deal with a disease that has killed half a million Americans.
To what country in the world can Soper point that has managed to keep its citizens safe, its economy running and carry out meaningful social reform.
For God's sake, keeping the pandemic controlled and lives saved is a huge social achievement.
What does the US Preamble say? "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
And the first is? Life.
How do 500,000 Americans enjoy liberty and the pursuit of happiness in their Covid graves, without life?
Soper says 'moribund' . The word comes from the Latin for death and means dying or expiring, at the point of death.
Soper is hyper-exaggerating, and has joined others of the media fraternity, journalists, political commentators and party spin merchants in a new attack orchestrated by last year's defeated pundits upon the PM.
Surprise, surprise. It has to happen, but let's recognise it when it occurs.
"She's commanded the Covid pulpit to such an extent that the virus has become her security blanket, without it she'd be forced to face the reality that her Government has been moribund."
Ahhh… but dunnit sound awful good. Real clever hyperbole – Covid pulpit, securityblanket, moribund. So impressive. 🙄
Btw, he hasn't joined other of the media fraternity… he was one of the founders some 25 -30 years ago.
I missed the egregious run-on sentence because I was so outrageously aggrieved by the misrelated participial clause.
I think what he meant to write was: ",without which' instead of what he did write.
Can't even proof-read his own rubbish before he sends it in, and, obviously, the Herald can no longer afford to hire good proof-readers. (Unless the humble proof-readers dare not question the linguistic excellence of the most elevated Barry Soper..)
Yes, obviously, the hyper-exaggerated emotive terms are what counts for approval, and good language no longer counts.
Soper seems pissed off that Ardern hasn't established some sort of 'old boys club' way of working, cosying up to the likes of him, "Jacinda Ardern would be the most removed from the media than any of them. (The 10 previous Prime Ministers.)
"All of her predecessors got to know the parliamentary media by inviting them to their ninth floor Beehive office, at least a couple of times a year. It puts a human face on the public performer."
How unsettling, things are being done differently.
The boys, Hosking and Soper are throwing little NZME tanties.
'The Prime Minister's press conferences usually begin with a sermon – it took eight minutes for her to get to the fact that she was moving the country down an alert level last Friday. When it comes to Question Time in Parliament her forearm stiffens and her hand flicks to those she'll take a question from. Some of us are left barking from the sidelines."
It must be terrible to be his age and be pissed off because you're not teacher's pet. At least he got part of it petulant.
Given that a lot of the MSM used to feel like the Nat party PR machine – I can understand why the "best buddies " schtick isn't quite where Labour is at. So why does that surprise our Barry?
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – 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 is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
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. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
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I thought I would be cheeky and group-source some ideas for a trip round West Coast/ Malborough. Must visit towns, places etc. Neither of us are enthusiastic walkers. An hour each way at the most (he said a little shamefully).
We are headed to the Wild Foods Festival In Hokitika then go have a look at Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers. Then we have a week or so to meander to Nelson. (I want to check out a few cideries and find any craft beer breweries).
Thanks, in advance for any input.
not exactly what you are asking, but on the Coast slow down and spend more time in fewer places. If you find the really cool place to stay, then stay an extra night rather than trying to pack it all in. I've lived and worked in remote tourism places and it's the people that are moving more slowly and really getting a place that makes the connections special.
+1
Too true weka. I have made that boo-boo once or twice before, cramming a lot into a small amount of time and you just feel like yr constantly leaving and driving.
From the suggestions that follow below, we are going to miss a few things. Good excuse to return though.
The Greymouth to Westport road is well worth an hour of your time, for the stunning coastal views and scenery alone, not to mention the drive itself. Stop at the pancake rocks at Punakaiki, about halfway between the two, for a 20 minute easy walk to the blowhole and back.
Pancake rocks
The Great Coast Road
The seal colony in Tauranga bay can be got at from two directions. The cape foulwind lighthouse end trek is the longest and more difficult of the two, so look at doing the shorter easier walk.
Cape Foulwind seal colony
Could try:
https://www.aa.co.nz/travel/must-dos-this-summer/cross-the-buller-river-on-new-zealands-longest-swing-bridge/
About Cometline and Supaman Ride https://bullergorge.co.nz/
https://blackballhilton.co.nz/
Hokitika – https://treetopsnz.com/
Blenheim – Omaka Aerodrome Planes https://www.omaka.org.nz/
Hanmer Springs has lovely walks and horse riding too I think
The swingbridge and supaman look thrilling but not too much for me.
A Jamboree or two ago, at Blenheim I got to go to Omaka. It was great, highly recommended.
Second the Blackball Hilton and when you are in Blackball don't forget to try some Blackball salami
https://www.blackballsalami.co.nz/contact.php
Forgot to mention the West Coast Brewery in Westport.
They do tours (link on the website) but I believe it's by advance booking rather than walk ins.
Not boutique but Monteith’s are in Greymouth and do tours
https://www.thebrewery.co.nz
And Reefton Distilling are in, guess? Reefton
https://www.reeftondistillingco.com
Punakaiki is on our list as is Cape Foulwind. The West Coast Brewery is a new addition to the itinerary.
Thanks Al1en.
This place used to be a great cafe across the bay from the seal colony – looks like you can stay there now: https://www.bayhouse.co.nz/
Pancake rocks are worth a visit, specially now with lower visitor numbers.
I prefer the Pororari River Track just north of it though.
If you do travel down/up the West coast I would recommend filling the car before you leave Westport/Greymouth & to check where the petrol stations are. As there are none from memory out of Westport and the first is just north of Greymouth.
Also the local galleries at Hokitika and Greymouth are worth spending time viewing local artists works and perhaps helping them out by purchasing 1 or 2.
You will be amazed at how much land is being converted to hops around Tapawera and now starting in Murchison.
Townshend Brewery and taproom located in grounds of Toad Hall cafe in Motueka. Best beer outside the UK imo. Cafe is pretty good too.
Hop Federation brewery and tasting room just outside Motueka at Riwaka.
Free House Nelson – awesome beers on tap in an old church.
Eddyline Brewery and Pizzeria between Richmond and Nelson.
We always go to Eddyline for a beer and pizza after a walk / run. Recommended.
The hop harvest has come up once or twice. I'm keen to check the hops out.
We are familiar with The Free House from previous cider festivals.
Thanks for the heads-up of Hop Federation and Eddyline.
We've enjoyed a few trips around The South in our Bus…and your " Neither of us are enthusiastic walkers. An hour each way at the most (he said a little shamefully)." caught my attention.
Had my man not broken his neck some fifty years ago he would have been an enthusiastic walker. In order to give him a wee taste of what others take for granted we have taken the Bus into the hinterlands and dragged the wheelchair as far as my strength will allow.
Standouts include "doing" both ends of the Heaphy Track. A river stopped us from the Kohaihai end…and sandflies just about airlifted us back to the Bus. You might as well check out the Oparara Arches on the way. The drive through the valley, (and a visit to the famous Bainham Store) and a drive across the very dodgy looking bridge knocked off the other end. And while you're in the vicinity a visit to Farewell Spit, Port Puponga and a diversion down the west coast through the Little Whanganui Harbour and on down to Paterau would be on our 'must do' list.
Walking the entire length of the Mole at Aramoana (after literally squeezing the wheelchair through the narrow gate) was fun…but seal shit does pong a bit and gets stuck in the tyre treads. Back in the day they built a wharf and railtrack to load ballast from the quarry a little way back towards Port Chalmers.
If you're taking a car, rather than a camper vehicle, do buy/beg/borrow a little tent and some very basic camping gear. DOC camps are all over the place, and though basic have what you need for a civilised overnight stay. Biggest mistake is rushing….as Weka says…slow down.
Enjoy.
Good ideas above. For Marlborough, big selection of craft beers at Dodson's in Blenheim including the Renaissance Brewery beers next door; also enjoy his German style food
Visit the Omaka Aviation Museum for a great display of war planes. Take a ride on a steam train and visit the Marlborough Museum and displays at the Brayshaw Heritage Park.
The Sounds- worth a day from Havelock on the mail boat.
Walk for an hour round the Grovetown lagoon and count the swans and see other aquatic birds there or at the Wairau lagoon where you can also see forty kilometres of Māori dug canals and be on/near the site of Aotearoa's first Polynesian settlement.
Stop and see the Pou Whenua at the new bridge at the northern entrance to Blenheim and read the history of the area which is truer and more accurate than, shall we say, Michael Bassett's version of pre- and early European times.
Take a train trip to Kaikoura. Some of the best scenery in the world where mountains and sea are in close proximity- see whales and seal colonies. Craft beer brewery in Kaikoura.
Travel to Kaikoura from the West Coast via the Lewis pass, Hanmer with its hot springs and then via the Inland road to Kaikoura, then north to Blenheim. Nelson is then only 100 km away and return from there to Blenheim and Picton via Tophouse and the trip down the Wairau Valley.
Been here fifty years, and there's still stuff to see and do…..
Thanks Mac, Rosemary and Stuart, plenty to choose from.
Looks like more wage slavery for me as this trip has used up all my annual leave…
The Last Resort in Karamea is worth a visit.
Obviously, its retail and hospitality that will have the greatest impact in terms of unemployment. But still, I cant help but think we are going backwards in the evolution of equality for women.
Not only are they still earning less, they are also first to be "let go" as there is still the dinosaur belief that men are the bread winners.
So far I haven't seen anyone of the younger generation standing up to be counted on that issue. It was in times past the achievement of "boomers" and their mothers to make progress and it took decades to make inroads only to see this now eroded in a very fast pace.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300244506/were-all-in-this-together-but-women-taking-the-burden
when we stand up to say something about this 'inbalance' we are shut down with 'identity politics'.
We don't even mention that women have a higher unemployment rate, nor that on average we earn less, and in the current rejoicing about wages going up, we don't mention the fact that we have lost so many jobs on the bottom that the average goes up while nothing has actually changed, other then a lot of people – err women – have lost their low paid, part time, casual, temporary min wage jobs.
so as long as we can shut down discussions about parts of the population with calls of 'identity politics' it will not change.
Wouldn't that be the same identity politics that shuts women down for wanting to be women and treated with equality?
Dude, So i guess you too don't want to talk about the fact that female unemployment is 1% higher then the national average (and that was 3 month ago at the seasonal peak of employment) and no one cares to comment on that fact. Nor the fact that women earn less while they work, and those that lost jobs may not even get any benefit at all cause they have a partner or family to pick up the slack, leaving said women totally at the mercy – yes mercy – of whom ever houses, feeds and clothes them and maybe even provides her with petty cash. And those women that are lucky to get a benefit need to bend themselves into a 12 pleat yeast bread in order to get them. And the fact that earning less will take care of us being poorer in old age, less likely to afford a mortgage, get decent health care and and and.
At the end of the day, let me put it plainly, it sucks.
If we only would! It sometimes feels like the 50's never stopped. The real bastard in all that is that, in todays climate you need 2 earners to live somewhat secure as a family and we wont even talk about singe women and the elderly who most likely have worked more than their fair share but have to continue because it would be bread and water under the bridge otherwise.
It will be the male population that will bring about the hunger games for the women and children with their demands being first to be met. Reality will soon enough bite.
Definitely been some improvements since the 50's – DPB means you can more easily leave violent and abusive relationships (though the imposition of state requirements by national and left in by labour has just transferred some of the abuse from the husband to the public/state), benefits got split in half so it didn't all go to the husband and it is no longer legal to rape or beat your wife.
But yeah lots of things that went forward have slipped backwards in recent years.
if i am not mistaken the Domestic Purpose Benefit was removed and now there is the Sole Parent benefit. And it is nothing more then a starvation / begging benefit.
see here https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/benefit-rates/benefit-rates-april-2020.html#null
if we want to know why women don't leave, the answer next to fear and no where to go is money. They generally have non, and before they get any of that sweet government largesse they really need to be in the deepest whole to be found.
have a feeling Mike will be stewing. Hell has no fury like a narcissist/rich man scorned
lol Hosking will be pissed – clearly the government has decided they don't need the ZB audience for successful comms, and a slap in the face for ZB management who clearly haven’t managed Hosking well enough.
More generally, an interesting move – perhaps a harbinger that social media is regarded as more useful?
I think its a silly move. The only way to counter Hosking and his one sided commentary is to get on his show and give it to him. Like Jacinda generally did.
Now he gets to preach with no one from the 9th floor countering his bullshit.
Hosking has the biggest commercial breakfast audience in the country. The Prime Minister needs to be talking directly to that audience.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/commercial-radio-ratings-newstalk-zb-and-zm-hit-highest-ever-audiences/2IX4YG6YO4L24HSC4UP2PAAKCQ/
Except that she will be fronting his show as special issues or developments arise. It simply won't be a regular spot anymore and I think we'll find its going to be more or the less the same across all the broadcasting outlets.
Sounds sensible to me because she's got more important things to do in these days of uncertainty.
I shall give you a double thumbs up for your sentiments there Anne.
Hosking is a wasted space anyway. Since stating she will not appear on his show regularly now, Hosking has gone on a rant, accusing the PM of not wanting to be held to account. Pathetic and petulant on his part.
Well done Jacinda. A poke in the eye for Hosking!
"she will be fronting his show".
Just how will that work do you think? Will she simply demand the time or will she have to plead with him to be allowed on?
Husk's producers will beg for it in order to keep up the pretense that he's a news personality rather than a shock jock.
It is a silly move.
I tuned in to that part of the show to hear the PM give her views in what was one of the very few unscripted regular appearances the PM gives.
DNFTT.
RNZ has by far the biggest morning audience. Hosking over-stepped the mark on numerous occasions last year with bullying and patronising questioning that amounted to misogyny.
I would guess that Prime Minsters department has raised the issue of his unacceptable behaviour with his employers and either they can't control Hosking (likely) or they couldn't come to an agreement on how these interviews were proceed in a civilised manner.
Either way, this decision would be driven by Hosking's behaviour rather than the PM's robustness to debate him.
Hosking has the biggest commercial breakfast audience in the country.
Christ, that's a sad and depressing statistic. There truly is no hope for us.
breakfast radio very much like breakfast tv. most of the audience are only catching snippets as they do there morning routines. therefore to keep audience attention(for the advertisers,the really important part of the equation) the talking heads have to resort to shock jock tactics. while newdorkzb might be the biggest comical radio show, that is still a small percentage of the team of five million. no doubt, the p.m. department has done the sums, and pandering to sad old white whingers isnt a biggie. codgers like hoskings are on a downward spiral from nightly prime time tv to breakfast audio wallpaper to? midnight to dawn with mike lol.even granny seems to have given him the push. advertisers dont want to be associated with sour grippers, dont hear much talk of disintering banks, plunket etc.
Hooray, the PM has realised that there's little point dignifying Hosking's "partisan hackery" with a response. An excellent decision, imho, and the shock jock's reaction confirms this – why have anything to do with such an oily tick, and a lightweight pimple-brain to boot.
The PM fronts press conferences and answers tough questions in the House, as no doubt she will tomorrow at 2 pm.
Judith Collins disparaged the PM today in a tweet- "all those tough questions". Judith Collins knows how to ask tough questions in the House, after all. "Does the PM stand by all her statements….?"
Don't forget, in the house she has Mallard to protect her.
pfft.
Nice excuse for the opposition's crap performance, I guess
Oh, it's bias from the Speaker now being alleged, plus a good dose of mysogyny?
Questions in the House, general debates, written questions, press interviews, post Cabinet briefings, being out and about in the street and meeting constituents and the public, facebook discussions, public meetings with the local Chambers of Commerce.
Oh yeah, she's hiding alright. That meme has as much credibilty as media criticism causes earthquakes. Pffft, indeed.
I have to say, Ardern does do a lot less overseas travelling than her predecessors. Why fly when you can Zoom?
I agree, I think it is silly of her to cancel. She needs to be better prepared and actually answer questions and 'give it to him' as you say.
no, wasting time and effort on a monday morning, only helps legitimize hoskings as someone important. much better to ignore him and talk directly to us.
I also wonder what effect this regular spot had on his behaviour. If it gave him a weekly reminder to tone it down and pretend to be a serious interviewer, left largely to his own devices I wonder if he go all John Banks and accidentally end his own career anytime soon.
That is the problem "Talk directly to us" So who determines the topics and who challenges the PM/govt as to what their actions are ? Or are you happy for the govt to control any and all messaging ? e.g. Sunday last night on the state of the fish stocks within the Hauraki Gulf – Minister declined opportunity to speak.
We are allowing our leaders IMO to hide and let the problems go away. Another example was our Fin Min pass on the housing problem to the reserve bank. Min Roberston you have been in this position for 3.5 years and had 9 years in opposition to formulate responses, and we belatedly get this !!!!
To many out there on the left – Just be wary what we accept today one day will pass to National.
dont think that any morning radio host has uncovered anything and made it stick . they might have ruffled a couple of feathers, but mostly its a wasted five minutes. to actually do anything worthwhile the interview needs to be 20 minutes plus, like morning report etc. hoskings morning phonecall is a soundbite, worth more to the shows advertisers than the gov(any gov).
I am sure about a year ago the owners of businesses benefited from Mike Hoskins insistence that council and govt agencies were feeding the PM and others fause info about the road works on Hobson street and that there was no remediation awarded to those business inconvienced by the continual works that limited foot traffic. From memory it was found that what the PM was being told regrading all businesses be communicated was not the case. Just 1 case of where the small people benefited from these morning phone calls.
"But, when pressed again on the issue yesterday, Twyford was unable to provide much detail as to what that meant.He told Newstalk yesterday that his advice from CRL was that it had been talking to affected businesses about the issue.
When asked how many, he said a "handful" bit was not able to answer with any more specificity as he didn't know."
I think once Mike Hoskins brought this to the attention of our PM eventually the matter progresses after as few weeks of having the PM having this brought to her attention.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/delayed-city-rail-link-taking-enormous-toll-on-businesses-impacted-by-its-construction/F5H27YDGNZW7AXFDRW7TZ4X56I/
If there was just one case over the course of a year, then either the "small people" (?) need a better shock jock than Hosking, or the legends of 'Teflon Jacinda' are true.
It's not like Ardern has just invented the concept of not continuing previously-frequent interview slots.
John Key with Morning Report, and Helen Clark with John Campbell post-corngate come to mind.
Has Mike started whining about being 'cancelled' yet? As the holder of an extraordinarily powerful platform that is undeserved in the first place because it is not underpinned by any record of journalistic achievement, insight, investigation or even by mere rationality – it will he highly amusing if he does wheel out the "c" word.
The Prime Minister kept away from Sean Plunkett as well and he wheedled about it endlessly, delighting his wheedle audience but impressing those who voted for Labour and The Greens (if any were listening) not one whit! Peter Williams went full-wheedle when Grant Robertson said, "Sayonara" and probably won't stop until he too is retired from his position on Magic Radio (not a recommended listen).
It's the same old pattern of behaviour. The PM will have known/been advised that the gains from snubbing Hosking would be greater than any harm done. In my opinion.
I see Kate H has an opinion piece in the Herald which isn't paywalled, Headline "Why Jacinda and Meghan are the same" or some such nonsense. Didn't read as wouldn't want to give her a click.
Maybe Mike feels affronted that Meghan snubbed him and went with Oprah instead!!!s
How dare these women exercise some choice and control! Fancy snubbing Mike!
Oh dear, what a shame, never mind!
I was commenting last night as we watched the documentary regarding the health of the fishing stocks within the Auckland harbour and that how ministers do not front or make comment anymore. Not since Holmes and to a lesser extent Cambell did we have government ministers fronting, and the comment was passed that perhaps programmers should make time available to The Greens, Act and National to embarrass not fronting ministers to front and not hide (In the current govts case, the PM's cult of personality)
So who is to determine what "Instead, Ardern says she and and other ministers will now appear on the country's top-performing commercial radio show "as and when issues arise". covers or is warranted ?? FFS we really don't want to challenge any government to change do we 🤢
Will this government do anything to arrest the path that we are currently travelling down ??? We are left with such soft reporting as.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/irish-schoolgirls-letter-from-new-zealand-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern/5I7OFM6BXTXI2DUSO7DFXAUEH4/
It's not the most pressing issue to face the world, but I love the way everyone is passing judgement on the Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey that nobody has yet seen.
No one has even seen….
Lols.
Personally looking forward to the US west coast MSM steamrolling the British MSM – with the US backing its adopted own to the hilt.
This is going to be Independence Day redux.
Well let's face it – Harry and Megan's biggest sin is to expose the imperial fantasyland of pomp and pageantry inhabited by the UK ruling elites for the wizened fairyland of tat and tinsel it really is.
Picked up on this:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/brian-tamaki-suggests-criticism-his-lockdown-flee-caused-earthquakes-tsunami-warnings
And talking of raving lunatics:
A small booklet was left in my letterbox called "National Sunday Law" and written by an American, A. Jan Marcussen. It's the most grotesque load of garbage I've ever seen. It revolves around a theory that “The Papacy” is really Satan and we are all going to die terrible deaths etc. etc. etc….
Its dangerous stuff and no doubt the kind of people who revel in such conspiracies are feeling enabled by recent developments in the US.
I'd be interested to know if the book is being spread elsewhere in NZ.
I got one in Waiuku. It went straight in the recycling as I realised that there must be conservative religious money behind it.
That's interesting Janice. I live in Auckland. Looks like it is being distributed widely. There are many gullible people out in the community and we have seen how much trouble and confusion they can cause. Indeed the ChCh massacre is a prime example of what can happen when stuff like that is allowed to spread far and wide.
I know it would be fraught with problems, but I think broader based legislation preventing the distribution of such damaging hate material – be it religious or whatever – is overdue.
Let me just stop you there Anne, but who are you claiming should not be able to distribute such material. Especially as most did not receieve it as a pamphlet from the Tamaki's (or their Church) but read it on RNZ. Should we prevent RNZ from writing about this incident?
Sorry, meant TVNZ not RNZ.
Don’t think you correctly read my comment @ 5.
….but I think broader based legislation preventing the distribution of such damaging hate material – be it religious or whatever – is overdue.
I guess you're going to sit in judgement as to what constitutes 'damaging hate material'? You'd start with the Book itself, right?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Lots-daughters.html
The bigger threat is that twerp Hoskings enjoying such popularity.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-03-2021/#comment-1782246
Silencing/banning/deplatforming simply won't work. These tactics merely cast an aura of mystique … encouraging folk to actually go looking for such material. Oh the thrill!
(And I'm not entirely sure it is entirely PC these days to refer to folk as "raving lunatics". Akin to using 'retard' methinks.)
Riverton too.
It was distributed in Wellington as well a couple of weeks ago.
I got it in Wellington; I read enough to see that there was no obvious NZ organisation inviting people to enquire . . . then straight to recycling collection.
Yes Nickthenz there is a difference between Tvnz and RNZ and their worth to thinking people. Vive la difference. Long may it continue but beware says Tom Frewen about the dullards in politics who don't know the value of anything the country has but only what their salary and perks can buy.
On the state we are in with Radionz – Tom has written 1-5 series about this. Here is #5 which will lead you to others.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2103/S00022/concert-bungle-the-sequel-part-5.htm
Got one in Queenstown RD too, which would have helped the RD contractor’s cashflow. So can presume most letterboxes in the country got one delivered (if the postie was conscientious) as well.
The world is probably pretty safe though, I found it the almost completely unreadable, so I doubt many would take much notice. Granted reading time waa less than time taken to walk directly to the recycling bin with the rest of the junk mail delivered that day.
Judging by the above posts that is a lot of copies distributed over a wide area. It can't have been cheap so who on earth actually funded it?
Unbelievable. Brian Tamaki says the cause of the earthquakes and tsunami warnings was criticism of his fleeing Auckland.
Equally valid would be the assertion that the Bishop caused the earthquakes etc by fleeing Auckland……..
As for Marcussen's polemic, it arrived in Blenheim, too. It says that 36 million copies have been printed. That's big money.
Amused by the assertion of this Seventh Day Adventist minister that "Vicarius Filii Dei" adds up to 666, and that therefore the sign of the Beast applies to the Pope, I read that the name of the founder of his church, one Ellen Gould White, also adds up to 666.
That's as far as I want to go down that rabbit hole.
Tamaki's promoted himself to "Apostle", now? And seems to be claiming apostolic infallibility? It took hundreds of years for Catholicism to get to that level.
He'll be god by 2030, cult mass suicide a few years after that.
I always thought there was a resemblance.
Yep.
I'm not even joking. The dude is claiming to be one step (on water) away from Jesus, and once you're god then the only way to go is down.
Yes, I got it too. I thought it was from Brash and the Brethren. Haven’t looked at it yet.
lol they're in bed again?
I think it might be a friendship with benefits.
Air NZ link to recent COVID outbreaks?
Frank Macskasy has put together a damn good, and rather convincing, citizen journalist style piece. He sent an OIA to the Ministry of Health and constructs his article around their reply and many other sources. Did you know about the Heartland Hotel Air NZ used in proximity to the airport, and certain cool stores linked to other COVID cases?
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/03/08/does-oia-evidence-confirm-possible-air-nz-link-to-recent-covid-outbreaks/
Yes I read that. Appears to confirm that AirNZ would rather run lax covid protocols than increase the number of people employed at relatively small cost so that quarantine can be correctly observed. After all it's so much more important that the bottom line is good and those executive bonuses keep flowing when the costs of covid in the hundreds of millions fall on the rest of the community.
It's frankly unbelievably selfish and at this point the majority shareholder could perhaps look at sacking the board and all the executive management.
NZ Taxpayers have contributed many millions over the years to the airline, including a $900 mill COVID loan, and Govt. still have 52% ownership–hopefully that means they should understand if they are read a “safety card” involving MIQs.
Maybe what would be good is to request all possible AirNZ executives to give thought to assisting the country by giving to the blood bank which is often in need. They are well paid and should be healthy and well fed and this is a thing that money can't buy, but goodwill provides. Put something back where the people need it I think. It would be a good look if the execs could give an example of caring to our needy nation.
why was this isolation facility secret? Heartland Hotel? And do we have other secret isolation facilities?
Looks like the Americans proxy rabid dog israel is getting set to start WW3 with their anti Iranian threats about Irans non existant nukes. This is pure hypocrisy by a loose cannon nuclear weapon State.
Heart sinks once again about our poor standards of dealing with polluting waste. Our disdainful attitudes to the quality of management of our resources are irresponsible beyond understanding.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/437878/plastic-clips-from-freezing-works-washing-up-on-beaches
[Auckland University biotechnology researcher, Dr Emily] Frost, who studies plastic pollution, has herself picked up the clips from beaches in Wellington and the Firth of Thames.
Most cow stomachs are rendered to make fertiliser or animal feed. Because a small amount of plastic contamination is allowed in these byproducts, some of the clips get ground up with the offal in the rendering process, Frost says.
The rest should be caught in freezing works' effluent traps.
"But some are obviously getting through," she says.
A champion NZr for the environment! Perhaps every traveller can do a bit of picking up and have a bag ready for it like carrying a doggy bag?
Since early 2019, [Des] Watson’s been circumnavigating the country’s coastline, picking up rubbish to highlight the level of plastic pollution in our seas.
After collecting a small haul of oesophagus clips from Hawke’s Bay beaches last month, he rang the regional council’s pollution hotline. When he didn’t get any satisfactory answers, he rang the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
“MPI said they would investigate,” he says.
MPI did, but decided it’s a matter for regional councils to deal with.
A good snappy slogan for that answer from MPI – Bulldust and buck passing!
This book sounds interesting.
Leah Kaminsky
The Hollow Bones
Vintage
Your book in your own words: The Hollow Bones is based on the bizarre, true story of Ernst Schäfer, a little-known zoologist and explorer, who was chosen by Heinrich Himmler to lead an expedition of young German scientists into Tibet in 1938. Although their official aim was to explore the local flora and fauna, charting hitherto unmapped terrain, the secret reason behind their SS-funded mission was to find the true origins of the Nordic Aryan race, in a bid to claim more territory for the Reich.
The story brings together the perils of pseudoscience, cultural fascism, humankind’s relationship with nature and our obsession with the categorisation of all sentient beings. It explores the small missteps taken that lead to a slippery slope of perilous moral decline. At the heart of the book is the romance between Schäfer and his loyal childhood sweetheart, Herta, who becomes dangerously entangled in her lover’s obsession with furthering his own career. She is the true voice of compassion and beauty, a constant and uncomfortable reminder to Schäfer of the Faustian bargain he has struck.
What were you reading when you wrote it? I read widely while researching the novel. I was particularly taken by Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See and the way it examines the internal terrain of human beings caught up in the vagaries of war, exploring the moral choices they make.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/17/carrie-tiffany-ean-higgins-dominic-kelly-and-more-on-what-theyre-reading-in-march
Umm, she was cancelled. On 17 October, 2020.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/03/national-s-judith-in-disbelief-at-jacinda-ardern-dropping-weekly-interview-with-newstalk-zb-s-mike-hosking.html
She limps on, all crooked and pinched.
She was cancelled, by an absolute majority, despite fronting the public with Ardern who answered her 'tough questions'. That same majority had access to Hosking's 'reckons', Hannah Tamaki's nuttiness, J-L Ross's stupidity, and Billy Te Kahika's sermons from a rabbit hole.
National's Judith Collins needs to be careful that the wind doesn't change and set her face permanently in a sour, aggrieved appearance. That old parents response to grizzly children actually applies to the whole Gnashional Party.
Now Judith is suggesting a report on the performance under the Covid19. Why? Anything that hasn't gone right should be tabled for discussion, but we don't want paralysis by analysis. This is a changing forward-moving situation, and unfortunately National is in reverse. Pity that their gears are stuck so they can't show relevance in these demanding times. And ACT their mouthpiece, flaps all the time yet isn't as useful as an airsock – don't take notice of it when landing on any policy!
Priceless from ACT! – “ACT says you can’t deliver better public policy if you don’t show humility, and this Government’s arrogance is getting in the way of solving problems and helping people,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2103/S00040/governments-super-majority-creating-extreme-arrogance.htm
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/437856/covid-19-govt-rejects-nats-push-for-outbreak-inquiry
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-national-leader-judith-collins-wants-inquiry-into-latest-cluster/D4WL7SSIJGAHWVKS7ZF4X6RC4A/
Anyone see what Collins' eyebrows were doing when she said that?
I have as much respect for ‘shock jock Hosking‘ and Judith ‘Eyebrows‘ Collins has they have shown for PM Ardern. C’mon Hosking, you brought this on yourself – man up.
Yeah, nah. Collins is not cancelled. I see her face and reckons almost as much as I see Meghan Markle’s and she, at least, has a story to
selltell, I’ve been told (by the media). However, I’ve stopped almost completely paying any attention to National MPs and their Leader. Polemics with a parsnip are more entertaining and informative. Is National not overdue for another dead cat bounce on the table? Oh, the report is due tomorrow. Let’s leak it!Seems like NZ needs this? Uninterruptible Power supply (UPS) or have we got one already?
https://powertec.co.nz/battery-backup/
'Research firm Venture Insights points out that in south-east Australia’s 2019-20 bushfires, about 88% of the telecommunications outages were caused by loss of power outages and only 1% were due to direct fire damage, which implies that better power backups could significantly reduce outages.1'
After more than 1000 mobile towers and other facilities were disabled as a result of bushfires last summer, the Commonwealth Government announced a $37.1m funding package to strengthen telco resilience, including $10m for the Mobile Blackspot Program and battery backup solutions.
Repairs to damaged power lines can take time, especially if many poles must be replaced. So, battery backup solutions are important for maintaining communications in times of disaster.
The key to a successful backup battery solution is an Uninterruptible Power supply (UPS), which is an on-demand, instant switch battery back-up.
After our discussion about the net affects of covid including tourism and jobs. This from Barry Thompson at
Powerboat Magazine. Home – Power Boat News (powerboatmagazine.co.nz)
"IT'S GOOD AND IT'S BAD
New Zealand trailer boat builders are experiencing their best times ever, but it does come at a cost for consumers. Order a boat today from a dealer, and you are probably going to be waiting 12 months or, in some cases, 18 months more before you get it.
We are all aware that boat sales, like cars, houses, and swimming pools, have gone ballistic, and when you walk into a boatyard these days, it's hard to find a new boat on display. Plus, if it is, then it's almost guaranteed that it is already sold and await fitout. I talked to several manufacturers last week about their current build situation, and almost everyone had the same answer…maxed out till next year.
Engine, electronics, and marine equipment suppliers are also reporting delays in obtaining stock, which certainly impacts the boat builders. Air freighting parts to enable a boat to be finished adds cost, and somewhere along the chain, that has to be added into the charges.
I read somewhere that it was estimated that somewhere around $NZ18 billion had stayed in the country due to Covid-19 and closed borders. I am not sure that was correct, but I know how much I have not spent on overseas trips. I can't say saved, as my wife did find ways of spending it, such as a new bed, bathroom and travels around the country."
Oh my God, if you want an example of a bitter piece of writing from a bewildered boomer reduced to waving his fist at clouds as he struggles with being sidelined for the first time in his life then I can give you Barry Soper…
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/barry-soper-jacinda-ardern-is-treading-water-the-master-of-soft-flattering-interviews/4GKJG4UBCLIKKX4POQWHK4EXD4/
Entitled self-righteous prat
didnt realise that soper was still alive.thought he had been pickled and preserved years ago.
I'd really like to see his metrics for how many of hosking's listeners switched their vote to Labour last election despite listening to hosking.
But then key invited the press gallery for drinkies, as well as doing swimming shots for metro, so Ardern is awful.
Agree. I find it ironic that the iconic commentator Soper commits an obvious English error in the very paragraph where he snidely snipes at her degree in communications.
"Having worked with the past 10 prime ministers, Jacinda Ardern would be the most removed from the media than any of them." No, Barry Soper – Jacinda Ardern has not worked with the past ten PMs.
Soper was trying to say that he himself had done so, but incompetently ignored the rule that following a participial clause should be the subject of that clause. He should have written, "Having worked with the past 10 prime ministers, I would place JA as…"
Poor quality language as well as biased analysis.
A similar error –
“As a Leftie, Soper is wrong”
“As a Leftie. I think Soper is wrong.”
Soper is not a Leftie, so the first example is very poor use of language, like Soper’s.
The second example is correct.
soper hasnt "worked with the last ten P.M.s'" running around, after a poli, and interviewing your keyboard isnt working with a P.M. Im sure if you asked those ten P.M.s about their working relationship with soper, they would all say, :who?: way to talk yourself up. must be contract renewal time.
Since we're being critical of one whose career is writing, how's this paragraph of Soper's for making one sentence out of two?
"She's commanded the Covid pulpit to such an extent that the virus has become her security blanket, without it she'd be forced to face the reality that her Government has been moribund."
Two main clauses joined by a comma. Tsk tsk.
What of course is worse is the claim that this government would be moribund without Covid-19.
What a stupid statement. This government would be far down the track of social reform without having had to deal with a disease that has killed half a million Americans.
To what country in the world can Soper point that has managed to keep its citizens safe, its economy running and carry out meaningful social reform.
For God's sake, keeping the pandemic controlled and lives saved is a huge social achievement.
What does the US Preamble say? "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
And the first is? Life.
How do 500,000 Americans enjoy liberty and the pursuit of happiness in their Covid graves, without life?
Soper says 'moribund' . The word comes from the Latin for death and means dying or expiring, at the point of death.
Soper is hyper-exaggerating, and has joined others of the media fraternity, journalists, political commentators and party spin merchants in a new attack orchestrated by last year's defeated pundits upon the PM.
Surprise, surprise. It has to happen, but let's recognise it when it occurs.
There's more than grammar at stake.
Ahhh… but dunnit sound awful good. Real clever hyperbole – Covid pulpit, security blanket, moribund. So impressive. 🙄
Btw, he hasn't joined other of the media fraternity… he was one of the founders some 25 -30 years ago.
Quite right both Mac1 and Anne.
I missed the egregious run-on sentence because I was so outrageously aggrieved by the misrelated participial clause.
I think what he meant to write was: ",without which' instead of what he did write.
Can't even proof-read his own rubbish before he sends it in, and, obviously, the Herald can no longer afford to hire good proof-readers. (Unless the humble proof-readers dare not question the linguistic excellence of the most elevated Barry Soper..)
Yes, obviously, the hyper-exaggerated emotive terms are what counts for approval, and good language no longer counts.
It is more than grammar.
Soper seems pissed off that Ardern hasn't established some sort of 'old boys club' way of working, cosying up to the likes of him, "Jacinda Ardern would be the most removed from the media than any of them. (The 10 previous Prime Ministers.)
"All of her predecessors got to know the parliamentary media by inviting them to their ninth floor Beehive office, at least a couple of times a year. It puts a human face on the public performer."
How unsettling, things are being done differently.
The boys, Hosking and Soper are throwing little NZME tanties.
'The Prime Minister's press conferences usually begin with a sermon – it took eight minutes for her to get to the fact that she was moving the country down an alert level last Friday. When it comes to Question Time in Parliament her forearm stiffens and her hand flicks to those she'll take a question from. Some of us are left barking from the sidelines."
It must be terrible to be his age and be pissed off because you're not teacher's pet. At least he got part of it petulant.
Given that a lot of the MSM used to feel like the Nat party PR machine – I can understand why the "best buddies " schtick isn't quite where Labour is at. So why does that surprise our Barry?
Silly Soper sounds so sad since she smilingly soared staring sternly at star-struck Soper.
The most bitter of alt-right tears.
Remember, Soper is the one who went into bat for the parliamentary harasser.
I hope NZ Farmers are coming together like the Australians are with their practices and learnings so all can move forward together.
https://www.facebook.com/TheMulloonInstitute/