And now it seems, Aussie speaker Mr Slipper has done the right thing and resigned (as speaker only I assume). But well done, Gillard for calling out Aboott on his own misogyny and double standards re-sexism.
While it would be good to see the back of Key, and we will as soon as the puppet masters feel there is no more use for him.
Rest assured that the succession plan for the Nats will already be in place, and the requisite training (brainwashing) being given. Keep an eye on those who off to the USA for “educational opportunities”, such as Nikki Kaye and co were on earlier this year.
As the rot sets in over the coming months those ‘do nothing’ back and middle bench MP’s will begin to realise their time on the gravy train is nearing an end. When Labour steams ahead of them in the poles watch the knives come out as the factions go to war on each other.
The National caucus will do what every National caucus does. PANIC and sack their leader.
I can’t wait for it happen. When that day finally comes it will be momentus in the history of this country. The most corrupt, nasty and evil leader to have ever been in charge will be gone and we will be able to celebrate his demise.
It will be like a new dawning when the people of this country can finally say goodbye to their current miserable lves and look forward to colective prosperity and hapiness.
E is E. Shonekys demise and in fact the entire National Govt’s demise is something I fantasise about on a regular basis. I hear what you say about the caucus having the ability to sack him and we’ve seen it done before during a National term, however, will this really happen? Who would replace him?
Its apparent he doesn’t like his job anymore and its not the fun he was thinking it might be but he’s the head puppet at the moment and the one that has all the moves that his parasitic masters need. He is their servant, not ours and his responsibility is to them so he’ll just continue to lie and deny until his term dies a natural death. And until then he’ll just be all:
Rosie the 2008-2011 term was the first term since 1993-1996 that the Nats have not sacked their leader. It is what they do when things get tough.
You say ask who would replace him? They throw any mug in. Shipley, English, Brash were never going to win and election but were propmoted by their caucus. They panic and put in anyone who is making headlines at the time.
Collins or Joyce will never win an election but I would put a lazy fiver on it that one of them will lead the Nats to defeat in 2014.
Agreed they would “throw any old mug in”. My money would be on a woman. Probably Collins as you suggest. In their minds they might think that would soften the blow for the voters. Then it would be more of the same crap and a long wait until 2014.
And if you listen very carefully you can hear the hiss of steel on steel just ready to stab him in the chest. Yes so please please Nacts panic. Just ignore the Hitchhickers guide to the Galaxy and PANIC!!!
The old Warhorse Winnie has his mojo back! You can see him just lapping this up.
Key is seriously rattled over the whole Dotcom affair. With the Peters shark, smelling blood and ferocious in cross-examination…hell, I’d be scared too.
Those Key denials are only lasting 24 hours. There is much more to come out, and it will be ugly every step of the way.
I hope Danyl of the Dimpost wont mind me reproducing most of the concluding paragraph from his post on the “Starting Out” youth wage, below.
An excellent read. Am I the only person who is furious at the continuing moves to appropriate resources that are supposed to support the poorest, to put them into the pockets of business? I see Labour intends to continue its own sojourns into business-welfare from when it was last in government, with its latest policy of ‘pay the dole to any business taking on an apprentice worker’ employer bonus.
Anyway, Danyl:
….(which means that the crucial 15-19 year old ‘youth unemployment’ category goes down in the HLFS stats). Only for six months though, although – and here’s the beauty of it – along with the sub-minimum wage offer you can insist on a 90 day fire-at-will clause in their contract and they can’t refuse the job, because if they do they’ll lose their benefit. Which means you can sack that worker long before they’re eligible for a higher wage and employ another youth worker on the same terms (you have approximately 32,000 to choose from). Permanent 20% discount on your labour costs!
I’m very concerned about the proposed open-cast mine on the Denniston Plateau and also the Crown Minerals (Permitting Crown Land) Bill. The supporters of the mine base their arguments on economic growth but that is just hope and pray. The opponents of the mine offer facts in abundance. As I conclude after outlining some of those facts,
“These are FACTS. The opposite of the wishes and hopes of the economic growth fantasists, and they won’t change their minds, no. Their minds are made up. But they need the acquiescence of the people to do it. They can only do it if we let them.”
Joe Bennett has an opinion peice in the christchurch press today,which includes
the goings on of key’s visit to hollywood etc,good humour for the day and so
apt.
Just released on tv3 news the deficit has gone from $18 bil to $9 bil,garner
passing comment on us, the taxpayers being ‘moaners’ etc, for myself
i ask shonkey and blinglish to ‘show us the money trail’ the paper work
as well,the timing is too convieniant.
A school district in Texas came under fire earlier this year when it announced that it would require students to wear microchip-embedded ID cards at all times. Now students who refuse to be monitored say they are feeling the repercussions.
Since October 1, students at John Jay High School and Anson Jones Middle School in San Antonia, Texas have been asked to attend class clasping onto photo ID cards equipped with radio-frequency identification chips to keep track of each and every pupil’s personal location. Educators insist that the endeavor is being rolled out in Texas to relax the rampant truancy rates devastating the state’s school and the subsequent funding they are failing to receive as a result, and pending the program’s success the RFID chips could soon come to 112 schools in all and affect nearly 100,000 students.
Man goes for run to stay healthy. Comes back to a hotdog lunch. AAhh the mystery of life. I blame the Germans. (No, not really) Is 2pm too late for lunch?
Still, if you have the means Fritz’ Wieners are quite delicious. I think they even have a vegetarian option, non-gender specific, though clearly anti-vegan, culturally oppressive as the product of a colonial power and the serving bench is the wrong height for people in wheelchairs.
Maybe this is the beginning of madness.
Maybe it’s your conscience:
a knot of life in which we are seized and known
and untied for existence.
So in cathedrals of crystals not found on earth
the prudent spider of light
draws the ribs apart and gathers them again
into one bundle.
And gathered together by one thin beam
the bundles of pure light give thanks.
One day they will meet, they will assemble
like guests with the visors up,
and here on earth, not in heaven,
as in a house filled with music,
if only we don’t offend them, or frighten them away.
How good to see to live it!
Forgive me for what I am saying.
Read it to me quietly, quietly.
-Osip Mandelstam (USSR)
( ” People fall drunkenly from scaffolding into machines, beams collapse…ladders come crashing down, what ever is lifted up falls down, whatever is spread on the ground people trip over, and it gives one a headache. To think of all those young girls in china-ware factories who keep falling down stairs with huge piles of dishes in their arms.”)
Interesting polling in Brisbane’s Courier Mail today which shows that Queenslanders are so resolutely opposed to Asset Sales they would likely turf Campbell Newman’s new(ish) Liberal/National Party government out of office if he proceeds with sale of the State’s electricity assests. Also it seems his popularity has declined to the point that he might well lose his Ashgrove seat in an election.
Crikey! First time that a TV journalist has put the whole saga together dating from 2011. Again and again it is so hard to believe that Key knew nothing when so many officials and others, knew such a lot.
There are fairies at the bottom of our garden. Believe that? Believe anything.
What is meaningful is the long-term trend, which clearly shows Labour stuck, and has done for a long time.
Look at the graph. In 2 years Labour have not moved. Meanwhile the Greens and NZ First have picked up around 10%.
Of course Labour are on track to be part of the next government. But the voters’ message is clear and consistent, across many polls, for many months – they are increasingly turning against National, not to Labour.
So Labour will be fine, unless there’s an actual election? We’re all familiar with the dead cat bounce … Bill English got one after 2002. It’s irrelevant.
When Key was flying sky-high, with fawning media coverage and Goff struggling, Labour were … where they are now.
It has never been easier for an opposition party. It is almost impossible not to benefit from free gifts dropping into the lap. If Labour had any drive or leadership or focus or even basic competence, they would be at 50%.
6% in 11 months, GS. That’s actually pretty impressive, if you think about it. And it’s not dead cat bounce, it’s 11 months of regular incremental increases. Shearer’s a genius!
Yeah, channelling Withnail there (Danny’s a genius!). I’d have gone with DC meself and lord knows where Labour would be if he’d got the gig. But this ain’t a bad result.
Assuming Mana, ACT, UF and the Maori Party retain their electorate seats, then its a 122 seat Parliament. National + cling ons = 56 seats, one less than Lab/Green combined.
However, if the MP drop to one seat and National pick up Epsom, as seems likely for both, then it’s 121 seats, Nat bloc = 54, Lab/G = 58.
In both scenario’s, NZF can join one or the other bloc or simply passively support a minority Government. However, if Lab/Greens pick up 2% more between them, they have a one seat majority whatever Winston does. Just 2% more folks and we have the coolest Government in a generation.
Personally I dislike the presidential style of politicking,where you have leadership by papal doctrine and infallibility and which can clearly backlash on you when you blame your team.
I think this actually goes against the NZ pysch,if you compare say against leaders in sports,such as McCaw,who always emphasis the importance of the team,ie a cooperative system as opposed to credit takers.
I cannot take heart from poll results until such time as I can take heart from the Labour Party. One heartening thing is the work being done by Parker and Cunliffe with the manufacturers and the EPMU with a view to reviving manufacturing. Less heartening are Hooten’s suggestion that Cunliffe be sacked for undermining the leader, the possible return of John Tamihere, who was recently on Close Up defending Charter Schools, http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/2012-10-09-video-5124125 and the fact that with this mooted cabinet reshuffle, I have absolutely no idea what might count as under-performing. Where there is no defined position, there is no clear standard, and so no real basis for measuring performance.
Lynn, twice today I’ve had an error on posting a comment. Instead of the comment posting, I go to a page which says “ERROR: please type a comment.”. Unlike previous mishaps with posting, on using the back button I find I’ve lost the whole comment from the text box 🙁 Seems like a new problem (Safari).
That conclusion isn’t going to satisfy everyone. The evidence here overwhelmingly suggests that parking minimums do distort the supply of spaces, but exactly what ceiling to replace them with remains open to interpretation. The un- (or, at least, less-) regulated market in London does seem to give people the parking they want. Whether it gives London what the city wants — namely, increased transit and decreased congestion in the places that need it most — is a different question.
Above all Liz I feel that the American public is not being fed the true story of what’s going on in this region and it’s very dangerous because when the public is constantly fed messages that are potentially leading us into a war that may not be necessary it’s not fair to the American people and it’s not fair to journalism because the truth isn’t being told here what’s being told here is the way these networks want to spin the truth and that’s leading us into another potential conflict with Iran…
Translation: The MSM spin lies to get people to believe what the elites want them to believe so that the elites can do what they want.
The U.S. could “win” by dropping hundreds of nuclear weapons on Iran’s military bases, nuclear facilities and industrial centres (i.e. cities) and killing five to 10 million people, but short of that, nothing works. On this we have the word of Richard Clarke, counter-terrorism adviser in the White House under three administrations.
In the early 1990s, Clarke revealed in an interview with the New York Times four years ago, the Clinton administration had seriously considered a bombing campaign against Iran, but the military professionals told them not to do it.
“After a long debate, the highest levels of the military could not forecast a way in which things would end favourably for the United States,” he said. The Pentagon’s planners have war-gamed an attack on Iran several times in the past 15 years, and they just can’t make it come out as a U.S. victory.
Thanks for that Draco, interesting to hear about the wonderfully named Amber Lyons. While I already had no doubt that the US MSM was propaganda, it’s nice to hear an award-winning former employee spell it out like this.
“CNN is being paid by governments worldwide to produce and air sponsored programs disguised as news with minimal to no disclosure to viewers.”
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
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 ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated. While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, 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. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
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Opinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
The thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...
The Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nicole Sharwood, Injury epidemiologist | Expert Witness, UNSW Sydney Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock Injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among Australian children and adolescents. At least a quarter of all emergency department presentations during childhood are injury-related. Injuries can ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University Shutterstock/Ground PictureMany Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Salman Shooshtarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Salman Shooshtarian Asbestos has been found in mulch used for playgrounds, schools, parks and gardens across Sydney and Melbourne. Local communities naturally fear for the health of their ...
Family First says that the latest abortion statistics make grim and upsetting reading, with a 25% increase in abortions since the decriminalisation of abortion in March 2020. According to an Official Information Act request received by Right to Life ...
Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study on populism reveals a pervasive sense of societal and economic decline among New Zealanders. MORE DETAILS AND FULL REPORT HERE Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study ...
And now it seems, Aussie speaker Mr Slipper has done the right thing and resigned (as speaker only I assume). But well done, Gillard for calling out Aboott on his own misogyny and double standards re-sexism.
I watched her ‘tear Abbott a new one’ But she just seems to be too quiet, and polite to do a real Ass rip on Abbot.
Tory Party HQ
Good one Draco.
Oh dear. Could only happen in Britain- couldn’t it?
Loved TV3 news last night reporting that Winston Peters had called for Key to sack himself . If only……. it could solve so many problems…
While it would be good to see the back of Key, and we will as soon as the puppet masters feel there is no more use for him.
Rest assured that the succession plan for the Nats will already be in place, and the requisite training (brainwashing) being given. Keep an eye on those who off to the USA for “educational opportunities”, such as Nikki Kaye and co were on earlier this year.
The caucus can sack him though.
As the rot sets in over the coming months those ‘do nothing’ back and middle bench MP’s will begin to realise their time on the gravy train is nearing an end. When Labour steams ahead of them in the poles watch the knives come out as the factions go to war on each other.
The National caucus will do what every National caucus does. PANIC and sack their leader.
I can’t wait for it happen. When that day finally comes it will be momentus in the history of this country. The most corrupt, nasty and evil leader to have ever been in charge will be gone and we will be able to celebrate his demise.
It will be like a new dawning when the people of this country can finally say goodbye to their current miserable lves and look forward to colective prosperity and hapiness.
E is E. Shonekys demise and in fact the entire National Govt’s demise is something I fantasise about on a regular basis. I hear what you say about the caucus having the ability to sack him and we’ve seen it done before during a National term, however, will this really happen? Who would replace him?
Its apparent he doesn’t like his job anymore and its not the fun he was thinking it might be but he’s the head puppet at the moment and the one that has all the moves that his parasitic masters need. He is their servant, not ours and his responsibility is to them so he’ll just continue to lie and deny until his term dies a natural death. And until then he’ll just be all:
http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/alfred_e_neuman(2).jpg
In saying that E is E, if your vision came true then the champagne is on me!
busted link rosie 🙁
Rosie the 2008-2011 term was the first term since 1993-1996 that the Nats have not sacked their leader. It is what they do when things get tough.
You say ask who would replace him? They throw any mug in. Shipley, English, Brash were never going to win and election but were propmoted by their caucus. They panic and put in anyone who is making headlines at the time.
Collins or Joyce will never win an election but I would put a lazy fiver on it that one of them will lead the Nats to defeat in 2014.
Agreed they would “throw any old mug in”. My money would be on a woman. Probably Collins as you suggest. In their minds they might think that would soften the blow for the voters. Then it would be more of the same crap and a long wait until 2014.
And if you listen very carefully you can hear the hiss of steel on steel just ready to stab him in the chest. Yes so please please Nacts panic. Just ignore the Hitchhickers guide to the Galaxy and PANIC!!!
The old Warhorse Winnie has his mojo back! You can see him just lapping this up.
Key is seriously rattled over the whole Dotcom affair. With the Peters shark, smelling blood and ferocious in cross-examination…hell, I’d be scared too.
Those Key denials are only lasting 24 hours. There is much more to come out, and it will be ugly every step of the way.
http://dimpost.wordpress.com/
I hope Danyl of the Dimpost wont mind me reproducing most of the concluding paragraph from his post on the “Starting Out” youth wage, below.
An excellent read. Am I the only person who is furious at the continuing moves to appropriate resources that are supposed to support the poorest, to put them into the pockets of business? I see Labour intends to continue its own sojourns into business-welfare from when it was last in government, with its latest policy of ‘pay the dole to any business taking on an apprentice worker’ employer bonus.
Anyway, Danyl:
Actual Link
Hammer the Scots
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10839473
(i am a son of Robert myself, but this is just haggis)
😉
Really? Even if they are how many of them know that? How many of them would care?
And it didn’t take long for this to happen. Imported American film workers taking Kiwi jobs!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10839444
Only in NZ. who else has a fuckwit for a PM ?
Australia, France, UK, US, Russia……….
nomination for a caption contest, what a great photo:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/joe-bennett/7793274/PMs-long-expected-party
What a great story too! Naughty Joe!
Rena’s toxic legacy
You’ve got to wonder if the bad news about the Rena disaster is only going to get worse…
I’m very concerned about the proposed open-cast mine on the Denniston Plateau and also the Crown Minerals (Permitting Crown Land) Bill. The supporters of the mine base their arguments on economic growth but that is just hope and pray. The opponents of the mine offer facts in abundance. As I conclude after outlining some of those facts,
“These are FACTS. The opposite of the wishes and hopes of the economic growth fantasists, and they won’t change their minds, no. Their minds are made up. But they need the acquiescence of the people to do it. They can only do it if we let them.”
http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/if-we-let-them.html
Joe Bennett has an opinion peice in the christchurch press today,which includes
the goings on of key’s visit to hollywood etc,good humour for the day and so
apt.
The Tiger thought so too @ 7
Just released on tv3 news the deficit has gone from $18 bil to $9 bil,garner
passing comment on us, the taxpayers being ‘moaners’ etc, for myself
i ask shonkey and blinglish to ‘show us the money trail’ the paper work
as well,the timing is too convieniant.
Yeah the word Bullshit did spring to mind and then there’s the 50 billion of loans that they have and still are racking up
Oh look, a higher deficit, how did that happen…
Why more borrowing? That article suggests less borrowing.
More taxes can be used to offset less borrowing.
The headlines in stuff and herald are interesting
stuff
Deficit running higher than forecast
Herald
Headline on front page
deficit halved to $9.2b last year
on the article when you click through
Govt says deficit halved to $9.2b last year
Land of the free….wait on!
Man goes for run to stay healthy. Comes back to a hotdog lunch. AAhh the mystery of life. I blame the Germans. (No, not really) Is 2pm too late for lunch?
Still, if you have the means Fritz’ Wieners are quite delicious. I think they even have a vegetarian option, non-gender specific, though clearly anti-vegan, culturally oppressive as the product of a colonial power and the serving bench is the wrong height for people in wheelchairs.
You decide.
The odds are always stacked agains’t the gambler, Key’s lucky run is drawing to an end.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/keys-compulsive-gambling-revealed.html
Maybe this is the beginning of madness.
Maybe it’s your conscience:
a knot of life in which we are seized and known
and untied for existence.
So in cathedrals of crystals not found on earth
the prudent spider of light
draws the ribs apart and gathers them again
into one bundle.
And gathered together by one thin beam
the bundles of pure light give thanks.
One day they will meet, they will assemble
like guests with the visors up,
and here on earth, not in heaven,
as in a house filled with music,
if only we don’t offend them, or frighten them away.
How good to see to live it!
Forgive me for what I am saying.
Read it to me quietly, quietly.
-Osip Mandelstam (USSR)
( ” People fall drunkenly from scaffolding into machines, beams collapse…ladders come crashing down, what ever is lifted up falls down, whatever is spread on the ground people trip over, and it gives one a headache. To think of all those young girls in china-ware factories who keep falling down stairs with huge piles of dishes in their arms.”)
That poem is pretty explicit, terrifying, or warming, depending on your point of view.
(Beware the government voucher for free holidays!)
We are lucky that the internet brings people that should never meet, closer apart.
“…it takes many years to learn the skill of archery and as a result the birds fly higher…”
Robin often determined to miss
-Yosemite Sam
🙂
Have Some “Sympathy For The Devil” (Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a Man of Wealth and Taste….”)
http://books.google.co.nz/books/about/The_Natural_History_of_the_Rich.html?id=q8HGjT8KnJkC&redir_esc=y
these low wages do not Smell Like Teen Spirit
Smack of I-GT
(school holidays
children head down on scooters
too small for them
heads into I-phones
learning about
the wind in their hair
cycling)
Its a Sign, A SIGN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudrillard
Struggle Without End
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranginui_Walker
Hypnotic Deception
http://books.google.co.nz/books/about/Cosmopolis.html?id=uMU0jQ8EjnIC
scriptures are a way forward
begin with humility
Interesting polling in Brisbane’s Courier Mail today which shows that Queenslanders are so resolutely opposed to Asset Sales they would likely turf Campbell Newman’s new(ish) Liberal/National Party government out of office if he proceeds with sale of the State’s electricity assests. Also it seems his popularity has declined to the point that he might well lose his Ashgrove seat in an election.
Check out Campbell Live, 7 pm tonight.
More revealed about Key-Dotcom …
Crikey! First time that a TV journalist has put the whole saga together dating from 2011. Again and again it is so hard to believe that Key knew nothing when so many officials and others, knew such a lot.
There are fairies at the bottom of our garden. Believe that? Believe anything.
Fairies Wear Boots and ya gotta believe me, I saw it I saw it with my own two eyes…
And the latest poll is out:
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2012/4831/
National down.
Greens and Winston up.
Labour static.
Voters desert government for opposition. No surprise there!
[lprent: Links to the graphs added. Love the GCR ]
Actually Labour is up slightly 0.5%. Most interesting though is that Labour/Greens is essentially tied with National/NZFirst.
0.5% is statistically meaningless.
What is meaningful is the long-term trend, which clearly shows Labour stuck, and has done for a long time.
Look at the graph. In 2 years Labour have not moved. Meanwhile the Greens and NZ First have picked up around 10%.
Of course Labour are on track to be part of the next government. But the voters’ message is clear and consistent, across many polls, for many months – they are increasingly turning against National, not to Labour.
Er, actually, Labour have gained 6% in less than a year. The Greens and NZF have gained 2.5% between them over the same period.
So Labour will be fine, unless there’s an actual election? We’re all familiar with the dead cat bounce … Bill English got one after 2002. It’s irrelevant.
When Key was flying sky-high, with fawning media coverage and Goff struggling, Labour were … where they are now.
It has never been easier for an opposition party. It is almost impossible not to benefit from free gifts dropping into the lap. If Labour had any drive or leadership or focus or even basic competence, they would be at 50%.
Shearer’s leadership has made a big difference mate, don’t you forget it.
I’ll be pleased to see these Tory fuckers out of office…but what kind of Government will we have in there instead? A mildly less bad one?
6% in 11 months, GS. That’s actually pretty impressive, if you think about it. And it’s not dead cat bounce, it’s 11 months of regular incremental increases. Shearer’s a genius!
Are you allowed to say things like that? I thought this site was devoted to Cunliffe?
Yeah, channelling Withnail there (Danny’s a genius!). I’d have gone with DC meself and lord knows where Labour would be if he’d got the gig. But this ain’t a bad result.
ps Speaking of Withnail … separated at birth?
Converted to seats its:
National 51
Labour 41
Greens 16
NZF 8
Assuming Mana, ACT, UF and the Maori Party retain their electorate seats, then its a 122 seat Parliament. National + cling ons = 56 seats, one less than Lab/Green combined.
However, if the MP drop to one seat and National pick up Epsom, as seems likely for both, then it’s 121 seats, Nat bloc = 54, Lab/G = 58.
In both scenario’s, NZF can join one or the other bloc or simply passively support a minority Government. However, if Lab/Greens pick up 2% more between them, they have a one seat majority whatever Winston does. Just 2% more folks and we have the coolest Government in a generation.
Yuss …
Well as I’ve said before in the past I’d rather see labour in power (pref without the greens) then national in a coalition with winstonfirst
. Love the GCR
-14% In 7 weeks,that is a real problem,the unsure component is up to 18% which is where some policy needs to be defined,eg protecting savers etc,
A question? Have Labour taken any notice of any of the polls, that say Nats and Labour Down or static, they both have the same problem. The Leaders.
edit:
And don’t you think that after the all the probs the NACTS have had that Labour with a decent leader would be polling over 40 now
Personally I dislike the presidential style of politicking,where you have leadership by papal doctrine and infallibility and which can clearly backlash on you when you blame your team.
I think this actually goes against the NZ pysch,if you compare say against leaders in sports,such as McCaw,who always emphasis the importance of the team,ie a cooperative system as opposed to credit takers.
Labour happy to wait for the tide to go out on National and to form a ‘Left’ government with a couple in majority.
I cannot take heart from poll results until such time as I can take heart from the Labour Party. One heartening thing is the work being done by Parker and Cunliffe with the manufacturers and the EPMU with a view to reviving manufacturing. Less heartening are Hooten’s suggestion that Cunliffe be sacked for undermining the leader, the possible return of John Tamihere, who was recently on Close Up defending Charter Schools, http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/2012-10-09-video-5124125 and the fact that with this mooted cabinet reshuffle, I have absolutely no idea what might count as under-performing. Where there is no defined position, there is no clear standard, and so no real basis for measuring performance.
What Is Industryous about Pushing Synthetic Highs?
Who ever is Behind this New Legislation-God Bless You
(freakin junk)
you dont scare me, you dont scare me I said.. to whatever it was echoing around my head…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69BozyMnVSg
it was The Ghost of A Texas Ladies Man
Lynn, twice today I’ve had an error on posting a comment. Instead of the comment posting, I go to a page which says “ERROR: please type a comment.”. Unlike previous mishaps with posting, on using the back button I find I’ve lost the whole comment from the text box 🙁 Seems like a new problem (Safari).
Should the Market Alone Determine Parking Supply?
I have mentioned before that the market is irrational haven’t I?
You can go back to the scene of a perfect crime.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_theory
night John-Boy, night Elizabeth.
Media are feeding Americans WMD ‘propaganda’ again to lead us into war with Iran
Translation: The MSM spin lies to get people to believe what the elites want them to believe so that the elites can do what they want.
The Cat Came Back
(if only for a little while.. Deep Purple, howz that for Alpha and Omega, Child In Time?)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229956_485479288152189_395693849_n.jpg
US go to war with an opponent far larger and far more internally cohesive than Iraq? Yeah that’s going to end very well.
The U.S. could “win” by dropping hundreds of nuclear weapons on Iran’s military bases, nuclear facilities and industrial centres (i.e. cities) and killing five to 10 million people, but short of that, nothing works. On this we have the word of Richard Clarke, counter-terrorism adviser in the White House under three administrations.
In the early 1990s, Clarke revealed in an interview with the New York Times four years ago, the Clinton administration had seriously considered a bombing campaign against Iran, but the military professionals told them not to do it.
“After a long debate, the highest levels of the military could not forecast a way in which things would end favourably for the United States,” he said. The Pentagon’s planners have war-gamed an attack on Iran several times in the past 15 years, and they just can’t make it come out as a U.S. victory.
http://www.pakalertpress.com/2010/08/19/no-way-can-us-win-a-non-nuclear-war-with-iran/
Thanks for that Draco, interesting to hear about the wonderfully named Amber Lyons. While I already had no doubt that the US MSM was propaganda, it’s nice to hear an award-winning former employee spell it out like this.
“CNN is being paid by governments worldwide to produce and air sponsored programs disguised as news with minimal to no disclosure to viewers.”
“Info-mercials for Dictators”
http://amberlyonlive.com/2012/10/09/cnns-info-mercials-for-dictators/
Most people only know what they are told, and what they are told is bullshit.