Says it all really of the MSM – when the Herald puts up as web-page headline, links to commentary written by Year 11 Students. (That’s the old Fifth Form or Level 1 NCEA, people)
Bit sad but unsurprising that the media think his reasoning is sound. In fact, he sounds a lot like most of what you’ll read in the papers – stuff wrtten by people 20 or 30 years older than him. Which is sadder still. If I were an English teacher, I’d have kids write opinions like that and then show them how to examine the evidence of their thinking processes.
It’s the logic used by the Centre for Independent Thought, the neoliberal political lobby group, and the piece is formulated in much the same way as their usual opinion pieces in the MSM. It’s clever sounding, patronising bullshit.
Just another pic for his photo album. Him smiling at the camera, telling everyone it’ll be alright cos we have started the hunt for people, to do what our doc people used to do, we will pay them heaps as consultants. Have faith we will muddle through.
With all the usual reservations about standardised personality and aptitiude testing, and the limitations of surveys, (and I have a lot, especially where used with individuals rather than groups), here is an extended summary of Marc Wilson’s NZ personality, attitudes, and political preferences survey.
It does make interesting reading, for quirky things, e.g. the association between authoritarianism and moustache wearing in men (confirms a long held predjudice of mine), and more important stuff.
Problem with those types of surveys is that the questions themselves are deeply orthodox and conservative.
eg (just as a throw-a-way) Co-operation doesn’t figure as a main heading value in that particular survey.
If questions were such that people had to rely on their ‘innate’ sensibilities to respond, rather than their interpretation or reactions to ‘orthodoxy as propaganda’, then the responses would be remarkably different in some instances.
I remember posting a British Attitudes survey results from the Guardian a while back that showed this. On questions couched in orthodoxy, the results were quite conservative or right wing. But when the same attitudes were sought employing questions outside the bounds of ‘received wisdom’, the results were often diametrically opposed.
I did the survey and had difficulty with the liberal/conservative spectrum. To me liberal attitudes are pretty much centre of the left-right spectrum and based in notions of individualism and individual social rights – rather than, for instance, in the relative power/marginalisation of various social/demographic groups. I don’t see the left-right spectrum as just one focused solely on economic issues, as assumed in the above linked summary of the survey results.
PS: The listed scales of published indexes the survey was based on seemed to include are pretty skewed list of topics: e.g. hunting attitudes, food diaries, conspiracy beliefs, religious orthodoxy and fundamentalism (the latter 2 quite US-centric IMO), competitiveness, paranoia and death anxiety… and nothing on co-operation as mentioned above by Bill.
On page 15 “Where does John Key fall on these continua?” This was a self answering set rather than what others might assess. What this shows is a self delusional approach to life. But what sort of person would score thus:
Maybe a middle aged bloke who is doing a simple job and who goes fishing in his weekend and drinks the odd beer with his mates and gets on well with his easy-going wife and 3 kids, would also score highly on the Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Openess self scoring.
I laughed at that too. It doesn’t reflect well on Wilson as an academic, that he took the answers given by a named politician (in an election year to boot), as being a genuine reflection of his personality. Naive to say the least.
Because an individual’s score may have important consequences for his or her future, and because the potential for harm if the test is used or administered incorrectly is considerable, Hare argues that the test should only be considered valid if administered by a suitably qualified and experienced clinician under controlled and licensed conditions.
I’d say that would be true of any psychological test especially when you consider that psychopaths are very good at pretending to be normal, ie, they know the answers that are being looked for. I’d say that John Keys actions (throat slash to Labour, his snide remarks and sneer in parliament, and his obvious snap decisions (Pike River getting the bodies out etc etc)) show that he was less than truthful on the test.
In fact, Act supporters endorsed ‘protecting freedom of speech’ more than any other party (remember they value self-direction as much as the Greens), but (paradoxically) were also second-least concerned about giving people a say in government decisions.
It’s not paradoxical at all. Act supporters want to do whatever they like, whenever they like without anybody else having a say no matter if they’re affected by the Act supporters actions or not. It is this unconcern about their actions affects others that make them (libertarians in general) dictators hiding behind liberal values. They, quite simply, don’t want others to have a say in what they do.
From the department of criminalising a whole country.
Under the French HADOPI law 60 ISP account holders have received their third strike, 650,000 have received “first strike” notices with 44,000 of those receiving a second strike as well.
I think the lignite mining proposal is really this government’s response to peak oil: a coal to liquids plant. IIRC I read that once production gets up to full levels it’ll be able to provide about 2/3rds of the countries annual consumption of diesel.
But does the cost of producing that diesel from such a filthy source make it truly viable, Lanthanide? I can see the lignite mines of Southland becoming like the tar sand mining in Canada. Peter Jackson didn’t require a real Modor for his movies and there is no reason to create one out of our farmland. If we reduced the demand for diesel (increased rail use etc) we wouldn’t be so dependent on it. Producing more diesel in such a desperate way is just delaying the transition to other forms of energy.
As I understand it, it takes more energy to extract the diesel from lignite than what the aforementioned diesel produces, so it will probably be very uneconomic to run those lignite fields.
I belive that the Alberta tar sands have the same problems, though Harper and his gang of merry men are too stupid to realise it. We are better off leaving the lignite where it is (or at least finding a more economical use for it)
As I understand it, it takes more energy to extract the diesel from lignite than what the aforementioned diesel produces
Nope, you’re looking at it the wrong way, although you are quite right to bring up the EROEI discussion.
The lignite is a source of energy itself, and you can use it to provide most of the energy investment (particularly thermal energy) required to get a L of diesel out, without having to source that much external energy from offsite.
BTW it’s an approximate 40% conversion loss to convert lignite into diesel. IE you start with 1MJ of lignite, but you only get 0.6MJ of diesel out.
The lignite being dug up and turned into diesel will produce more food nationally, as well as allow it to be distributed, than the land that would be ruined by any open cast mining.
Perhaps, but someone will have to do the math on that assertion. And there may be other ways of achieving the same thing while leaving the lignite in the ground.
What’s more productive: modern industrial farming with fossil-fuel derived pesticides, fertilisers and farm equipment such as tractors and ploughs, or 19th century farming techniques that don’t have those things?
Lanthanide-Dairy farms produce huge amounts of waste that could easily be converted into methanol based fuel.
I recently heard a dairy farmer talking about his conversion to organic methods (contemporary not 19th century) and he has found greater profits. He spends a minimum on supplementary feed and artificial fertilizer and both his pastures and his cows are healthier. His cows live twice as long and require fewer medications as well. It works: http://www.organicnz.org/108/the-profitability-of-organic-dairy-farming/
Despite organic dairy products being popular and profitable, Fonterra has recently removed their support.
Do you think John Key and his bank$ter mates will approve of this USA bill to ‘nationalise the Federal Reserve’?
Dennis Kucinich introduces key bill to nationalise the Federal Reserve
Dennis Kucinich
You Tube
October 6, 2011
Washington D.C. (October 4, 2011) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following video and statement in support of the protestors on Wall Street and around the country who have identified themselves with the hashtag #OccupyWallStreet.
…
“We need a government of the people and for the people. We need a financial system that is of the people and for the people. It is time we take our nation back and take our monetary system back from the big banks.
“I recently introduced H.R. 2990, the National Emergency Employment Defense Act, to put the Federal Reserve under the Treasury, to end the practice of fractional reserve banking and to take control of our monetary policy and make sure it works for the people.
“We can use our Constitutional authority to coin money and spend it into circulation to put millions of Americans back to work in a way that is noninflationary. The time for bold change is now.
“We are the American people. Our dream of freedom and prosperity is too big to fail.”
Penny Bright
Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
Candidate for Epsom
Campaigning against ‘White Collar’ CRIME, CORPORATE WELFARE, CORRUPTION – and its root cause – PRIVATISATION (how is it decided who gets the contract$?)
There was a report on the current goevernment’s use of urgency, with justifications from Simon Power, criticisms from opposition MPs ( Chauvel, Greens, Goff), plus a more nuanced critique by a Vic Uni academic who has been researching use of urgency since the 90s, and comments by law lecturers like Andrew Geddis.
But I was gobsmacked to hear that Bomber (about 26 mins on the mediawatch audio file) has been excluded from Jim Mora’s afternoon Panel in the future. This is because, last Thursday, he read his “partisan” blog and Stratos rants about the PM’s response to the guy who attempted to jump from the public gallery of Parliament.
Part of the reason for exclusion related to Bomber talking over Mora. However, the main reason given by RNZ is that Bomber unacceptably breached RNZ’s editorial policies. The RNZ editor claims Bomber breached their requirement for fairness and balance, that they hadn’t been advised in advance that Bomber was going to strongly criticise the PM, and wouldn’t jeopardise RNZ’s hard earned reputation for “fairness and balance” – really? on The Panel?
Sorry… didn’t see that Anthony had already posted on this, in the last hour.
.
I missed that panel discussion and tried to get it on replay radio but Part 2 was not hung up. Now I know why.
Ever heard Matthew Hooton talk over both Katherine or whoever is the Left commentator? And promote some pretty nasty stuff. To be consistent Hooton would be banned but surprise surprise? Not
This morning has been spent on the Cambridge Labour Party stall.
We take a lot of flake in Tory Cambridge, but today has been different .A number of people have told us they are voting Labour .Many saying they were fed up with Key ,this from Cambridge the heart of Toryism. This branch has had a stall here for about 15 years and never has there been a positive response like this . Has there been a change in attitude over the last few days? Has the outburst of madness from Key over the balcony incident made people realise just what Key is like. Has anyone else noticed this change?
I’ve spent some time this weekend campaigning in some very Tory suburbs.
A few evil looks from passer-bys in flash new vehicles but a lot of people I talked to were interested in the Labour message or at least neutral and wanting more information. AND we got some new volunteers for Labour as well.
There was some reminiscing about the Helen Clark days too.
Has there been a change in attitude over the last few days? Has the outburst of madness from Key over the balcony incident made people realise just what Key is like. Has anyone else noticed this change?
Good stuff PP. In Auckland I cannot reconcile the polls with the on the ground feeling. I am hoping that on November 28 the tories will say “bugger the polls” …
After further consideration I’m siding with the speaker on his recent banhammering.
The chap from the Herald thinks his reporters should follow the standing orders up to the point where they reckon they shouldn’t. He reckons this was such an extraordinary situation that breaking the rules was justified.
But look at what they were reporting. Was this a matter of crucial importance to our democracy? Nah, they don’t do that sort of reporting because they reckon no-one’s interested. Political journalism is strictly limited to “who’s winning the horse race this week”. It’s sports coverage.
They published Audrey’s photo for one reason only: the sensationalist value of the story.
So fuck ’em. It’s high time they started earning their press gallery credentials by acting as our fourth estate instead of the gossip hacks they’ve reduced themselves to.
I do not know why they did not go to Smith and show him Audrey’s iPhone and say “mind if we print this”? A quiet word to Joyce and I am sure it could have been arranged.
too right felix. these little popinjays from the herald are starting to believe their own bylines. What was a personal tragedy is just an excuse for them to break down the dignity of parliament in a manner that the neo -cons would be proud of. They should get real jobs before they get shoulder tapped in J school for being obedient servants of the bosses that employ them and kid them along that they are doing something mneaningful.
We don’t so much have media but mediums for delivering their masters message…media works was a bargain using taxpayers dosh, TVNZ and granny were already onside with the nats so neutering RNZ via Griffin etc just rounded it out nicely.
It’s the arrogance and aloofness of sideshows mob in general and in treating Epsom like a doormat mat that should make this a lot more interesting than the MSM would have you believe.
Everything you wanted to know about national intelligence, but were afraid to ask! A refreshingly open look into intelligence gathering in Britain has been provided in the Reith Lectures this year on Radionz. During 4 ‘til 8 with Katrina Batten, as the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller has discussed the MI5 role and added her own comment and answered questions or not as possible (she has made the point that she finished her role in 2007).
4:07 The Sunday Feature: The BBC Reith Lectures: Securing Freedom. This year’s annual BBC Radio’s Reith Lectures resume in our Sunday Feature slot this week. To mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller offers a unique perspective on the event, its impact on the world and the repercussions from it. She considers the role of security intelligence, and reflects more broadly on the threats to freedom and the means of countering them. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes//4til8
There have been 3 or 4 lectures delivered in a cool and intelligent way. Matters discussed have been wide ranging and included Saudi Arabia and its actions to control extremism, and her feeling that fairer conditions and inclusion and advances for the lower class would reduce it. On the other hand she dropped in a comment on the need for infrastructure in Russia, after a Russian diplomat was (probably) stung into a comment after somebody made reference to the murder of one of their defectors. The Baroness remarked that they needed women’s toilets for visitors to the Lubianka prison. She had noted the lack of provision on a recent visit.
Eliza Manningham-Buller was Director General of MI5, the British Security Service, from October 2002 until her retirement in April 2007. She led the organisation through substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the growing threat from Al-Qaeda.
Under her leadership MI5 doubled in size and altered its approach to the professional development of staff with the establishment of a training academy.
See the BBC website to find out more about this programme.
Simon Bridges arguing against MMP – icky – just yuck.
And while we are on icky – Simon Power goes on the list too, I find it hard to believe that he is really respected by both sides of the house, the relentless praise of the MSM for the ‘blitzkrieg legislator’ makes me suspect that he might be a comeback kid – I hope not, he doesn’t seem to care much for democracy (those pesky OIA requests and dealing with the media etc etc)
Anyone interested in joining an elite team to go and clear mines from fields so small farmers could use them again? People thrill-oriented yet brave, disciplined and committed only. For a period of one month (first week on training). Must provide own transport and return ticket also medical insurance and death certificate fund to be held on behalf by group leader. Wouldn’t that be a holiday with a difference as a birthday present for the young man or woman who has it all?
Buzz from the Beehive Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – New Zealanders recently learned about a new feature film. It will be about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – and taxpayers will subsidise it to the tune of NZ$800,000. Ardern had nothing personally to do with either the film or the subsidy. But her government’s ...
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
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 ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
Says it all really of the MSM – when the Herald puts up as web-page headline, links to commentary written by Year 11 Students. (That’s the old Fifth Form or Level 1 NCEA, people)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/college-herald/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502920&objectid=10757205
Bit sad but unsurprising that the media think his reasoning is sound. In fact, he sounds a lot like most of what you’ll read in the papers – stuff wrtten by people 20 or 30 years older than him. Which is sadder still. If I were an English teacher, I’d have kids write opinions like that and then show them how to examine the evidence of their thinking processes.
It’s the logic used by the Centre for Independent Thought, the neoliberal political lobby group, and the piece is formulated in much the same way as their usual opinion pieces in the MSM. It’s clever sounding, patronising bullshit.
The kid obviously needs lessons in logic.
/shrug
It’s probably just the drivel that he’s been told by his father and nothing he’s actually thought about or researched.
John Key to visit the Rena. Is he walking there?
The guy’s been walking on water for the past 5 years…
No i have just heard, he flew over. He also told the country that it is inevitible that the oil will come ashore, guy knows everything.
Just another pic for his photo album. Him smiling at the camera, telling everyone it’ll be alright cos we have started the hunt for people, to do what our doc people used to do, we will pay them heaps as consultants. Have faith we will muddle through.
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/psyc/attachments/wilson-2011-sst-descriptive-summary.pdf
Especially for Draco T:
With all the usual reservations about standardised personality and aptitiude testing, and the limitations of surveys, (and I have a lot, especially where used with individuals rather than groups), here is an extended summary of Marc Wilson’s NZ personality, attitudes, and political preferences survey.
It does make interesting reading, for quirky things, e.g. the association between authoritarianism and moustache wearing in men (confirms a long held predjudice of mine), and more important stuff.
Problem with those types of surveys is that the questions themselves are deeply orthodox and conservative.
eg (just as a throw-a-way) Co-operation doesn’t figure as a main heading value in that particular survey.
If questions were such that people had to rely on their ‘innate’ sensibilities to respond, rather than their interpretation or reactions to ‘orthodoxy as propaganda’, then the responses would be remarkably different in some instances.
I remember posting a British Attitudes survey results from the Guardian a while back that showed this. On questions couched in orthodoxy, the results were quite conservative or right wing. But when the same attitudes were sought employing questions outside the bounds of ‘received wisdom’, the results were often diametrically opposed.
I did the survey and had difficulty with the liberal/conservative spectrum. To me liberal attitudes are pretty much centre of the left-right spectrum and based in notions of individualism and individual social rights – rather than, for instance, in the relative power/marginalisation of various social/demographic groups. I don’t see the left-right spectrum as just one focused solely on economic issues, as assumed in the above linked summary of the survey results.
PS: The listed scales of published indexes the survey was based on seemed to include are pretty skewed list of topics: e.g. hunting attitudes, food diaries, conspiracy beliefs, religious orthodoxy and fundamentalism (the latter 2 quite US-centric IMO), competitiveness, paranoia and death anxiety… and nothing on co-operation as mentioned above by Bill.
Taken as read Bill.
There’s no way it can not be skewed and show incomplete and inaccurate pictures, for a myriad of reasons.
On page 15 “Where does John Key fall on these continua?” This was a self answering set rather than what others might assess. What this shows is a self delusional approach to life. But what sort of person would score thus:
Maybe a middle aged bloke who is doing a simple job and who goes fishing in his weekend and drinks the odd beer with his mates and gets on well with his easy-going wife and 3 kids, would also score highly on the Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Openess self scoring.
I laughed at that too. It doesn’t reflect well on Wilson as an academic, that he took the answers given by a named politician (in an election year to boot), as being a genuine reflection of his personality. Naive to say the least.
Hare Psychopathy Checklist
I’d say that would be true of any psychological test especially when you consider that psychopaths are very good at pretending to be normal, ie, they know the answers that are being looked for. I’d say that John Keys actions (throat slash to Labour, his snide remarks and sneer in parliament, and his obvious snap decisions (Pike River getting the bodies out etc etc)) show that he was less than truthful on the test.
Quoting referenced article.
It’s not paradoxical at all. Act supporters want to do whatever they like, whenever they like without anybody else having a say no matter if they’re affected by the Act supporters actions or not. It is this unconcern about their actions affects others that make them (libertarians in general) dictators hiding behind liberal values. They, quite simply, don’t want others to have a say in what they do.
Indeed – tory “freedoms” are when THEY get to do what they want, without being inconvenienced by anyone else.
For some reason, despite many tries, I can’t get it to load.. 🙁
From the department of criminalising a whole country.
Under the French HADOPI law 60 ISP account holders have received their third strike, 650,000 have received “first strike” notices with 44,000 of those receiving a second strike as well.
There is an alternative to mining lignite in Southland that will provide long term benefits for the region, silica.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/10/silica-not-lignite-should-be-southlands.html
I think the lignite mining proposal is really this government’s response to peak oil: a coal to liquids plant. IIRC I read that once production gets up to full levels it’ll be able to provide about 2/3rds of the countries annual consumption of diesel.
But does the cost of producing that diesel from such a filthy source make it truly viable, Lanthanide? I can see the lignite mines of Southland becoming like the tar sand mining in Canada. Peter Jackson didn’t require a real Modor for his movies and there is no reason to create one out of our farmland. If we reduced the demand for diesel (increased rail use etc) we wouldn’t be so dependent on it. Producing more diesel in such a desperate way is just delaying the transition to other forms of energy.
As I understand it, it takes more energy to extract the diesel from lignite than what the aforementioned diesel produces, so it will probably be very uneconomic to run those lignite fields.
I belive that the Alberta tar sands have the same problems, though Harper and his gang of merry men are too stupid to realise it. We are better off leaving the lignite where it is (or at least finding a more economical use for it)
Nope, you’re looking at it the wrong way, although you are quite right to bring up the EROEI discussion.
The lignite is a source of energy itself, and you can use it to provide most of the energy investment (particularly thermal energy) required to get a L of diesel out, without having to source that much external energy from offsite.
BTW it’s an approximate 40% conversion loss to convert lignite into diesel. IE you start with 1MJ of lignite, but you only get 0.6MJ of diesel out.
The long term future of Southland’s lignite region is food production. This highly fertile farmland will be lost to open cast mines that will not be restored to farmland by Solid Energy but turned into “recreational lakes”.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leave-the-Lignite-Save-the-Soil/129179047159254
The lignite being dug up and turned into diesel will produce more food nationally, as well as allow it to be distributed, than the land that would be ruined by any open cast mining.
Perhaps, but someone will have to do the math on that assertion. And there may be other ways of achieving the same thing while leaving the lignite in the ground.
What’s more productive: modern industrial farming with fossil-fuel derived pesticides, fertilisers and farm equipment such as tractors and ploughs, or 19th century farming techniques that don’t have those things?
Lanthanide-Dairy farms produce huge amounts of waste that could easily be converted into methanol based fuel.
I recently heard a dairy farmer talking about his conversion to organic methods (contemporary not 19th century) and he has found greater profits. He spends a minimum on supplementary feed and artificial fertilizer and both his pastures and his cows are healthier. His cows live twice as long and require fewer medications as well. It works:
http://www.organicnz.org/108/the-profitability-of-organic-dairy-farming/
Despite organic dairy products being popular and profitable, Fonterra has recently removed their support.
You also have to consider the costs of the huge increase in carbon emissions from using lignite, over 17 million tonnes annually.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/04/lignite-mining-what-price-for-future.html
Seen this?
Do you think John Key and his bank$ter mates will approve of this USA bill to ‘nationalise the Federal Reserve’?
Dennis Kucinich introduces key bill to nationalise the Federal Reserve
Dennis Kucinich
You Tube
October 6, 2011
Washington D.C. (October 4, 2011) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following video and statement in support of the protestors on Wall Street and around the country who have identified themselves with the hashtag #OccupyWallStreet.
…
“We need a government of the people and for the people. We need a financial system that is of the people and for the people. It is time we take our nation back and take our monetary system back from the big banks.
“I recently introduced H.R. 2990, the National Emergency Employment Defense Act, to put the Federal Reserve under the Treasury, to end the practice of fractional reserve banking and to take control of our monetary policy and make sure it works for the people.
“We can use our Constitutional authority to coin money and spend it into circulation to put millions of Americans back to work in a way that is noninflationary. The time for bold change is now.
“We are the American people. Our dream of freedom and prosperity is too big to fail.”
http://www.infowars.com/dennis-kucinich-tells-occupy-wall-street-to-nationalize-the-federal-reserve/
Penny Bright
Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
Candidate for Epsom
Campaigning against ‘White Collar’ CRIME, CORPORATE WELFARE, CORRUPTION – and its root cause – PRIVATISATION (how is it decided who gets the contract$?)
There was some interesting and informative stuff on Media Watch on RNZ this morning:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
There was a report on the current goevernment’s use of urgency, with justifications from Simon Power, criticisms from opposition MPs ( Chauvel, Greens, Goff), plus a more nuanced critique by a Vic Uni academic who has been researching use of urgency since the 90s, and comments by law lecturers like Andrew Geddis.
But I was gobsmacked to hear that Bomber (about 26 mins on the mediawatch audio file) has been excluded from Jim Mora’s afternoon Panel in the future. This is because, last Thursday, he read his “partisan” blog and Stratos rants about the PM’s response to the guy who attempted to jump from the public gallery of Parliament.
This kind of thing:
http://tumeke.blogspot.com/2011/10/keys-attempt-to-blame-labour-for-man.html
Part of the reason for exclusion related to Bomber talking over Mora. However, the main reason given by RNZ is that Bomber unacceptably breached RNZ’s editorial policies. The RNZ editor claims Bomber breached their requirement for fairness and balance, that they hadn’t been advised in advance that Bomber was going to strongly criticise the PM, and wouldn’t jeopardise RNZ’s hard earned reputation for “fairness and balance” – really? on The Panel?
Sorry… didn’t see that Anthony had already posted on this, in the last hour.
.
I missed that panel discussion and tried to get it on replay radio but Part 2 was not hung up. Now I know why.
Ever heard Matthew Hooton talk over both Katherine or whoever is the Left commentator? And promote some pretty nasty stuff. To be consistent Hooton would be banned but surprise surprise? Not
This morning has been spent on the Cambridge Labour Party stall.
We take a lot of flake in Tory Cambridge, but today has been different .A number of people have told us they are voting Labour .Many saying they were fed up with Key ,this from Cambridge the heart of Toryism. This branch has had a stall here for about 15 years and never has there been a positive response like this . Has there been a change in attitude over the last few days? Has the outburst of madness from Key over the balcony incident made people realise just what Key is like. Has anyone else noticed this change?
I’ve spent some time this weekend campaigning in some very Tory suburbs.
A few evil looks from passer-bys in flash new vehicles but a lot of people I talked to were interested in the Labour message or at least neutral and wanting more information. AND we got some new volunteers for Labour as well.
There was some reminiscing about the Helen Clark days too.
This fight is only just starting.
Let’s (cautiously) hope!
Good stuff PP. In Auckland I cannot reconcile the polls with the on the ground feeling. I am hoping that on November 28 the tories will say “bugger the polls” …
After further consideration I’m siding with the speaker on his recent banhammering.
The chap from the Herald thinks his reporters should follow the standing orders up to the point where they reckon they shouldn’t. He reckons this was such an extraordinary situation that breaking the rules was justified.
But look at what they were reporting. Was this a matter of crucial importance to our democracy? Nah, they don’t do that sort of reporting because they reckon no-one’s interested. Political journalism is strictly limited to “who’s winning the horse race this week”. It’s sports coverage.
They published Audrey’s photo for one reason only: the sensationalist value of the story.
So fuck ’em. It’s high time they started earning their press gallery credentials by acting as our fourth estate instead of the gossip hacks they’ve reduced themselves to.
I do not know why they did not go to Smith and show him Audrey’s iPhone and say “mind if we print this”? A quiet word to Joyce and I am sure it could have been arranged.
The Speaker does have a valid point. Giving media oxygen to Public Gallery protests would open a very undesirable floodgate.
However his response was OTT which played into the hands of the Herald.
too right felix. these little popinjays from the herald are starting to believe their own bylines. What was a personal tragedy is just an excuse for them to break down the dignity of parliament in a manner that the neo -cons would be proud of. They should get real jobs before they get shoulder tapped in J school for being obedient servants of the bosses that employ them and kid them along that they are doing something mneaningful.
Every one wants their next job to be as Key’s Press Secretary, and maybe after that, Chair of Radio New Zealand (or TVNZ).
We don’t so much have media but mediums for delivering their masters message…media works was a bargain using taxpayers dosh, TVNZ and granny were already onside with the nats so neutering RNZ via Griffin etc just rounded it out nicely.
It’s the arrogance and aloofness of sideshows mob in general and in treating Epsom like a doormat mat that should make this a lot more interesting than the MSM would have you believe.
Pretty big quake just now, some distance away. I’m guessing 5-5.5M on banks peninsula, so Akaroa might be a little screwed.
looks like lyttleton/port hills
7 on the intensity (not ritcher) scale. could be damaging.
http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/shakenz-interactive.html
5.5M
That intensity scale is always way off so I wouldn’t bother with it.
http://geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3591999g.html
Argies have 73% possession against the AB’s??? What is up with that???
JonKey is probably chewing his finger nails, blaming Phil Goff, and wondering if he should schedule some photo ops with Robbie Deans.
Good point. An Australian win will in fact be a New Zealand win because of Robbie Deans. Textor Crosby scribbling away furiously taking notes.
Everything you wanted to know about national intelligence, but were afraid to ask! A refreshingly open look into intelligence gathering in Britain has been provided in the Reith Lectures this year on Radionz. During 4 ‘til 8 with Katrina Batten, as the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller has discussed the MI5 role and added her own comment and answered questions or not as possible (she has made the point that she finished her role in 2007).
4:07 The Sunday Feature: The BBC Reith Lectures: Securing Freedom. This year’s annual BBC Radio’s Reith Lectures resume in our Sunday Feature slot this week. To mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller offers a unique perspective on the event, its impact on the world and the repercussions from it. She considers the role of security intelligence, and reflects more broadly on the threats to freedom and the means of countering them.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes//4til8
There have been 3 or 4 lectures delivered in a cool and intelligent way. Matters discussed have been wide ranging and included Saudi Arabia and its actions to control extremism, and her feeling that fairer conditions and inclusion and advances for the lower class would reduce it. On the other hand she dropped in a comment on the need for infrastructure in Russia, after a Russian diplomat was (probably) stung into a comment after somebody made reference to the murder of one of their defectors. The Baroness remarked that they needed women’s toilets for visitors to the Lubianka prison. She had noted the lack of provision on a recent visit.
Eliza Manningham-Buller was Director General of MI5, the British Security Service, from October 2002 until her retirement in April 2007. She led the organisation through substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the growing threat from Al-Qaeda.
Under her leadership MI5 doubled in size and altered its approach to the professional development of staff with the establishment of a training academy.
See the BBC website to find out more about this programme.
Big aftershock 5.5, biggest one i felt since june.
Simon Bridges arguing against MMP – icky – just yuck.
And while we are on icky – Simon Power goes on the list too, I find it hard to believe that he is really respected by both sides of the house, the relentless praise of the MSM for the ‘blitzkrieg legislator’ makes me suspect that he might be a comeback kid – I hope not, he doesn’t seem to care much for democracy (those pesky OIA requests and dealing with the media etc etc)
Ah so I’m old and I only just discovered humans could do this. Moogaloop and MoogaloopMore
Wow. Exactly like the dreams.
Anyone interested in joining an elite team to go and clear mines from fields so small farmers could use them again? People thrill-oriented yet brave, disciplined and committed only. For a period of one month (first week on training). Must provide own transport and return ticket also medical insurance and death certificate fund to be held on behalf by group leader. Wouldn’t that be a holiday with a difference as a birthday present for the young man or woman who has it all?
In complete bad taste, I would comment that they have a significiant probability of coming back with less.
Personally I would only go near a minefield only if I absolutely had to.
Tax the Rich!
It seems Bill Gates may come out publicly in support of an FTT.
Maybe.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/09/2011924125427182350.html