Profits are easily manipulated with deferring income and creating provisions and write downs, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s ok but disappointing in some respects with reference made to costs of the new convention centre planning etc etc
All part of the neo lib con job NACT run via the MSM and the pathetic international joke that is the NZX.
I can see Peters pushing the envelop over the legality of being muzzled from speaking
under parliamentary privilege about we know what. I hope he pushes Carter to the point of booting him out of the house, now that will get the media excitable and the sheep nattering.
Really do hope he stands in Northland? If he does will organise a major public forum against the contenders.
“i am really looking forward to doing the commentary on q-time 2day…”
– your commentary cannot be worse than the professional’s efforts yesterday
(no offence intended phillip 🙂 )
Most pathetic award: John Key for trying to hilariously pretend that the opposition not liking the idea of the taxpayer throwing cash at Sky City means that they suddenly really like the original Sky City deal.
I just finished watching Question Time. It was clear SkyCity is a distraction to the real issue which is the sudden resignation of Sabin and all the murky details surrounding it.
It was a pity Peters had used up his allocated sups and lost the opportunity to jump in on the patsy question new Whangarei Nat MP Shane Reti asked Bridges.
The Northland By-Election ‘will’ expose to the New Zealand public the cover up and corruption being harboured by National. I can pretty much guarantee this personally.
Yes because the police are sooooo trustworthy and honest whatever they say must be correct and they always obey the laws…..what planet have you been on lately.
All the evidence appears that he was only informed in December. Unless you wish to progress another theory that goes against what Key, the Police, and the media are saying.
It’s part of the characteristics of RWNJs. Despite demanding that people take personal responsibility for their actions they will never take responsibility for theirs unless they get some sort of benefit from it. On that latter point, they’re more than willing to take responsibility for someone else’s actions if they think that they can spin it to make it look like they did it. This is shown by National claiming success from what Labour led governments have done.
Phil, the relatively few times I’ve got something wrong here, I’ve always put my hand up. A couple of times I’ve even outed myself before anyone else saw the mistake. I know I often argue my corner staunchly, but that doesn’t mean I’m not beyond admitting my errors. I suspect your problem is you’d like to be the one to find one, but they don’t live at the bottom of the bong, dude.
Shearer was shockingly disloyal to the team, he is no poker playein. nor the god botherer Nat whip showing his nervousness at Key getting grilled over the Shonkey Sky deal. Sitting there behind Davis looking sceptical at Kelvins line of questioning.
You know when you look at the hand Little has to play with, you really realise the opposition is fucked without Peters. Bit the bullet and run a few by elections, parachute some talent in.
Also Phil Goff was very good. But Labour’s Defence spokesperson, Phil Goff, said the pretence that no Government decision has been made just was not honest.
“The reason the Prime Minister [has given] for taking that decision isn’t honest either.
“This isn’t about the need to protect human rights and fight evil. It’s about, as he admitted earlier, the price of ‘being in the club’ led by other countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.”
Mr Goff questioned what the New Zealand Defence Force could do that the Iraqi Army could not do for itself.
“Over $25 billion has been invested by the United States over the past 10 years in training and equipping them, and that investment has made practically no difference.
“Our efforts can do very little to help with the real problems of persistent corruption, deep sectarian divisions and poor leadership which lie behind the incompetence of the Iraqi Army.”
Just note that Phil Goff starts talking about 1.30 mins into the audio clip. Just in case you tire of listening to Key’s anguished rant about the awful things happening under ISIS. He is so tender hearted, and hasn’t heard of all the dreadful happenings that occur daily around the world. Really he’s too sensitive and unworldly to be PM. yek for gardening leave for the duration?
I would pay no credence to anything Slater said about Labour but a lot of credence about anything he says about National. Besides rumours have been swirling around for a while.
“I would pay no credence to anything Slater said about Labour but a lot of credence about anything he says about National. Besides rumours have been swirling around for a while”
Anything negative Slater says about National must be true but anything negative he says about Labour isn’t true, Don’t you see how stupid that is. You cant have it both ways Mickey.
I don’t think Andrew Little exchanges texts with slater.
Apparently Key does, though.
That’s how it can happen both ways – one lot talk to him (to stab each other in the back, most likely), the other lot he makes shit up about.
Yeah right. As I have said before. In my opinion Matt is a bit of a technophobe. He can use a cellphone.
A damn good thing really. He is a hell of a worker of people and people systems from what I have seen of him. Almost over-compensated in that respect….
Surely Cam Slater realises that? He should realise the effects of over-compensation. Cam appears to be vastly over compensated as being a hypocritical arsehole with delusions of grandeur and a reality of repeated incompetence.
Tolley was told in August. She said the police did not tell her who the MP was but I would bet dollars to donuts she found out from other sources.
Which has got to be another lie. There’s no point in the police telling the minister that an MP is under investigation under the ‘No Surprises’ policy if they don’t tell them who the MP is.
True. I very strongly doubt that she would have been informed without a name. How stupid do NAct think the electorate is? Stupid enough to vote Key in three times in a row?
its a shame that JK gave two different dates then isnt it
which kinda does make him a liar
and for that to even work we have to believe that JK finds out about such issues via a tip off from their opponents before any internal party channels tell him – which is just simply not believable
All the evidence appears that he was only informed in December.
No, all the evidence (when the police told the minister) shows that National have known since before the election. Everything else that we’ve heard is National Making Shit Up to try and hide the fact that they knew before the election.
National are just on borrowed time for now, due to the suppression order of January 30 2015. The prominent person was remanded by a district court to reappear on 19 February 2015.
Up to now national have not misled the house and this will continue until name suppression is lifted, (if lifted at all).
A lot more water to go under the bridge on this topic.
Jestirer the Police haven’t told media when they told Key.
But under no surprises Key would have been told about any serious prosecutions.
Key has kept a lid on it till after the election combined with dirty politics it would have been a disaster.
Now the perverbial has hit the fan not even Slater believes your pathetic attempt to smear little.
Hope you have posted on WO.
It seems only National MP’s can get blanket suppression orders even after the drafting of new laws reducing excuses for suppresion.
It was Ironic that a former National MP who posted a suppressed former MP’s name got name suppression himself.
Their needs to be an independent enquiry.
If it were anyone on the left it would be all over the headlines like Dominique Straus Kahn.
While Thatcher managed to cover up a spy associated to conseravative peer pedophile ring who managed to destroy evidence that would have prevented further predatory rampant abuse of victims.
Its time for an independent enquiry into police and Justice dept behaviour.
As these decisions lack of openess is essential so police Moral is not undermined.
Even an inquiry the Attorney General could embargo the full police or parliamentary evidence. This has been done before e.g. Colin Moyle incident 17 June 1975 (full police evidence is still locked up) and Sir Alfred North’s December 1976 inquiry was embargoed until mid April 1978. Prior to Christmas 1976 there was a partial release of information by the media, but the cop involved in the 17 June 1975 incident had name suppression until mid April 1978.
Actually, the evidence points to two possibilities: either Key knew before december, maybe even august, or both tolley and eagleson were informed of a serious situation and withheld that information from Key. I suspect the former, because the latter possibility means that Key is routinely kept out of the loop on matters of nation-wide importance and therefore effectively does nothing as prime minister.
I like to think that he actually does the job he was elected and paid to do. The fact that his sole responsibilities now consist of tourismand the prime minister’s office (with everyone else doing the heavy lifting) suggest that the role isn’t too onerous.
Various Government ministers knew an MP was under police investigation before the 2014 election, though they were not told who it was until later that year, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Now, if you believe that various minister knew and that the PM didn’t and that they didn’t know who then I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
Jester you are dead right a conspiracy to keep bad news under wraps till after the election.
Unbridled power and corruption of the police and justice system by National and its cronies.
We need an NSW style enquiry to sort out any ambiguity.
And a completely seperate police complaints Authority.
The Police should be able to tell the Media within a maximum of 48 hrs of charging prominent people including politicians.
One law for the powerful(predators rely on power to operate).
One law for the rest.
The Sabin story has changed again. Apparently just before the election, the cops told two Ministers an MP was under investigation but did not name him. Then they apparently disclosed his name in November.
Sure, sure.
As I have stated before Key & Joyce treated Sabin like a leper at an election forum that Sabin organised. They were not comfortable being there, when Sabin mucked up by insisting Key to take questions from the floor, where someone nailed him over the Northland’s broken roads & wasted money on the holiday highway, team Key sneered
Sabin’s way, like your a liability, I laughed.
Now the way Tolley is refusing to answer questions really stinks of a cover up, a deliberate cover up orchestrated by Joyce and Key.
What was behind leaving this lap dog in place rather than cutting him is the question I’d like to know.
How do upstanding members of the community usually strengthen their positions: through their support networks.
Sabin’s authoritarian support network in the National Party obviously wields considerable influence. You wouldn’t want to piss them off without a very good excuse.
Present : John Key, Anne Tolley, Wayne Eagleson, Steven Joyce.
Anne Tolley – The cops rang me yesterday. Apparently they’re investigating an MP.
John Key – Oh yeah? Did they say who it was?
Anne Tolley – No, didn’t mention it.
Wayne Eagleson – Would you like me to check out police sources John.
John Key – nah don’t bother. This is more interesting. I’ve got some designs for the new flag here. Have a look at them. Which one do you like the best?
“President Barack Obama says that Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine….”
Does Wendy Petrie ever think about what she reads out on air?
Television One 6 p.m. News, Tuesday 10 February 2015
Wendy Petrie first came to television viewers’ attention for a minor gaffe, caused by nervousness, on the very last evening of 1999. She was the weather presenter for TV3 at the time… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EBIj1L7KVc
After her stint at TV3, Petrie moved to TVNZ, where some pathetic old git in management obviously noticed that she was a good looking young blonde. She was eventually promoted to the position of main news co-anchor and a huge swathe of taxpayers’ money was soon being spent on a slickly produced campaign to promote her, ridiculously and demeaningly, as a sex object. TVNZ viewers were inflicted for several months with a series of toe-curlingly embarrassing station promos, showing sad middle-aged males taking a break from their work to leeringly yell at the camera: “Wendy, she’s HOT!”
In other words, TVNZ’s disgusting campaign treated her pretty much like the morons promoting the 2001 Heineken Open had treated Anna Kournikova. Eventually, however, someone—probably friends and family of Petrie’s—must have had a concerned word with someone in authority, because after a while the sex kitten thing was quietly retired, and Petrie was no longer the face of the future for the struggling channel.
Petrie escaped the axe at TVNZ, but her star had faded; by 2009 she was reduced to doing live crosses from the street—the television equivalent of being the No. 11 batsman in a very poor cricket team. Even in that humble position, she managed to upset many viewers by crassly signalling her approval of the Bain retrial verdict…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M35WAmfPK68
These days, despite being a regular fill-in newsreader, she has pretty much managed to languish in obscurity—deservedly so, for she doesn’t seem to have a single thought in her head. Of course, that makes her not a lot worse than the likes of her colleagues Rawdon Christie, Peter Williams, Simon Dallow and Greg Boyed.
As any thoughtful and discriminating viewer is all too painfully aware, much of what is presented as “news” on television is nothing more than handouts from corporate PR firms, barely if at all modified, and extremely biased political cant. In spite of many years of watching television news, I’m still astonished when newsreaders manage to keep a straight face and read out some of the outrageous scripts they are given. Hearteningly, though, now and again these people DO register some kind of reaction, contriving to subtly undermine and cast doubt on the nonsense they are forced to mouth. Greg Boyed sometimes flinches and raises an eyebrow at the absurdity of the crap unrolling on his monitor, and Simon Dallow occasionally comes up with a troubled, conflicted look. I even saw Peter Williams frown last July, as he read out brutal and shameless canards, as if straight from the Israeli embassy, about the massacre in Gaza.
But Wendy Petrie? No, I have never detected that there’s a thoughtful or serious person underneath that carefully maintained, pleasant exterior. Tonight she read out, in the most serious tone she could muster, another of those pieces of nasty propaganda masquerading as a news item: “President Barack Obama says that Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine….”
What an honest and impartial news script would have said was: “President Barack Obama says that what he calls Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine….”
Wendy Petrie, however, didn’t register even a flash of discomfort at what she was reading. This is only an instance, of course, but it’s a telling example of the way that newsreaders play a vital part in campaigns of disinformation, whether they’re compliantly using National Government distortions such as “reform”, “changes” and “restructuring” instead of “government cuts”, or reading out equally cynical, but far more ominous and dangerous, statements saying it is Russia rather than the neo-Nazi junta that is the aggressor in the Ukraine.
You missed the obvious pun involving ‘Petrie’ and ‘dish’, in your gender focussed assessment, Moz. And you also missed the bit where newsreaders are paid to read the news not editorialise. Despite your sexist summary of Petrie’s alleged weaknesses, the essence of your complaint is that she is too professional. Weird, huh?
You missed the obvious pun involving ‘Petrie’ and ‘dish’
DAMN! I completely missed that slam dunk. That’s why you’re the man, Te Reo—fair play to you.
in your gender focussed assessment
In what way was my analysis of Wendy Petrie’s seeming lack of consciousness a “gender focussed assessment”? I mentioned that four of her male colleagues were more or less just as bad as she was. You need to read what I wrote once again, my friend, and I’m sure you’ll realize that what I was attacking was her almost preternatural lack of awareness, not her gender.
newsreaders are paid to read the news not editorialise
They editorialise all the time—like Petrie did after the Bain verdict—about things that don’t matter at all. So most of them manage to say something censorious about the silly antics of Kim Kardashian or Kanye West or some petty criminal, but they are too frightened to comment on the crimes and seriously outrageous words of Barack Obama, David Cameron and, of course, John Key.
Despite your sexist summary of Petrie’s alleged weaknesses, the essence of your complaint is that she is too professional. Weird, huh?
Could you point out how what I wrote was “sexist”? I pointed out that some old fool at TVNZ obviously salivated over Petrie and set in train that risible–and mercifully short-lived—advertising campaign. Obviously TVNZ was—maybe still is—an organization riddled with sexism as well as racism: does pointing that out make me somehow, magically, become the same as them?
Petrie didn’t celebrate the Bain verdict, she was celebrating a successful live cross. And importantly, she turned from the viewers and celebrated with a single other person to her right, maybe her producer, having thought the camera was off. So clearly not editorialising as you claim.
Your review emphasised gender in a way you do not do when you critique males of the media. You suggest her entire early career at TVNZ was based on her looks not her ability. Without any evidence other than a single 30 spot among many supposed vox pops from the ad campaign for her and Dallow. You twice suggest she is empty headed and in one of those references you define her as being more empty headed than four male colleagues. You use phrases like “good looking young blonde” and “underneath that carefully maintained, pleasant exterior”.
I reckon you should have a good think about your own rhetoric and see if you aren’t the real salivating old fool.
Petrie didn’t celebrate the Bain verdict, she was celebrating a successful live cross.
Sure. By the way, Te Reo, I have a bridge in Whanganui you might be interested in buying.
You suggest her entire early career at TVNZ was based on her looks not her ability.
It was, just like the entire career of the great gorgeous emptiness that is Simon Dallow. Can you perhaps point the rest of us to an example of this “ability” you suggest she possesses?
I reckon you should have a good think about your own rhetoric
I explicated her failure to register any human emotion as she read out a frightful, preposterous piece of political propaganda. I did not use rhetoric, except to describe the old goats at TVNZ who treated her as little better than a porn star.
and see if you aren’t the real salivating old fool.
I assure you that I have never salivated over Wendy Petrie. I did nearly choke last night, however, during her dreadful performance.
Some people would be upset, but I know you well enough now to simply be amused by how quickly you turn to personal abuse after failing to convince others that black is white and up is down.
I don’t know what’s funnier—your insisting that it’s me, instead of the people that marketed her with the “Wendy, she’s HOT” slogan that treated her like a porn star, or your bizarre interpretation of her triumphal fist-pumping after the Bain verdict.
It’s not personal abuse, it’s pointing out an aspect of your behaviour in print. Remember, it’s you who claims that there was a ‘Wendy, she’s HOT’ campaign, you who claim that TVNZ exec’s hired her for her looks and you who wrote the sexist descriptions of her. Own it mate, it’s entirely your invention.
and re: the fist pump, all I can suggest is that you actually watch the video. My explanation fits the evidence, yours is complete and utter bollocks.
You called my analysis of Petrie’s robotic news-reading “sexist” and “gender focussed”. If Petrie were Māori rather than Pākehā, I have no doubt you would have called me a racist.
You’ll no doubt be encouraged to see that dear old McFlock has waddled up to support you. He’s a bit slow to the party, as always, but you need all the help you can get—even if it’s about as useful as mighty Tonga’s contribution to that surreally comical “Coalition of the Willing” in 2003.
I would only have called your analysis racist if you’d focussed on race. In this case your analysis (and fantasies about Petrie’s career) were sexist, so I called you on that.
Still, no matter, I’m sure no one thinks any less of you because of one thoughtless piece. And I’ve no doubt you’ll be even more skillful in your future skewerings of other talking heads as a result of this discussion 😉
Moz’s little line about Petrie “signalling her approval of the Bain retrial verdict” links to the “fist pump” clip that took place before she even knew what the verdict was. They just knew that the jury were coming in, as is evident from the clip.
Couldn’t agree more morrissey about the crap that newsreaders have to read out.
Of course it was the USA which overthrow the democratically elected government in the Ukraine.
Yes that’s right – the USA effectively invaded Ukraine and threw out a government put in place by elections and voting of the people, by the people and for the people.
The USA is the biggest rogue state in the world.
The USA is a liar and a traitor to the people.
The USA is out of control – of that there is no doubt. We must all be very very wary of such a state, particularly as our own leader is so in love with it.
+1. There is an interesting youtube video of a Ukrainian politician addressing the Rada prior to the Maidan protests about a coming civil war within Ukraine fomented by the US Embassy. What happened subsequently? You be the judge.
Of course not, but so many New Zealanders, who have been swamped by massive anti-ruskie propaganda since WWI and before, seem to think the yanks are different and can be trusted more.
No it wasn’t. What happened there is that the Crimeans voted, under the UN guarantee of self-determination, to move back to being Russian. The US didn’t like this after they’d gone to a lot of effort to overthrow Ukraine’s elected government and thus bring the Ukraine into their sphere of influence.
Now it appears that East Ukraine doesn’t want to be a part of the Ukraine either and the US is even more upset that people just won’t do what they’re told.
Don’t trust the Russkies any more than the Yanks mate.
Indeed. But Ukraine is not the US security neighbourhood. The Ruskies are naturally concerned about the USA wanting to put NATO missile bases in the Ukraine, just a few hundred kms from Moscow.
The US wouldn’t look kindly on Russia trying to put missiles back on Cuba now, would they.
The US does not have any intermediate range nuclear missiles in its operational arsenal. Neither does Russia, for that matter. Under the New START treaty, they are both limited to 1550 active warheads on ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers. There is an in-depth verification process that both parties follow to ensure transparency.
Tactical nuclear warheads with yields of less than 10kt delivered by drones or nuclear tipped cruise missiles or various other delivery systems can take the place of intermediate range cruise missiles.
Ukraine in 2015 is not Turkey in 1962.
It’s not but the point remains – Moscow is not going to allow adversary nuclear forces to be stationed just hundreds of kilometres from it.
That’s strange, saying the junta is the aggressor. I mean, Ukraine didn’t invade Crimea. Ukraine didn’t invade Donbass. I mean, yes, their government is unsavoury and the US is playing Xanatos Speed Chess manipulating in Ukraine, but Ukraine hasn’t invaded anywhere.
Russia gave Crimea to the Ukraine back in the 1950s when both were part of the USSR. The Crimeans didn’t like it then and have now decided to go back to being Russian.
Russia didn’t invade the Ukraine, Crimea, of their own free will, left the Ukraine.
I’m aware of the history. There’s no ‘free will’ when there’s Russian troops and tanks everywhere. Chechnya, Ossetia, Ingushetia and Dagestan show that. And Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars didn’t get much of a say in things did they?
And if Russia didn’t invade, did they give back to Ukraine the military equipment they stole in Sevastopol? Thought not.
Most of that “Ukranian military equipment” was Soviet era Russian military equipment.
And who are you to deny a population the right to self determination? A vote was held and 96% of Crimeans under massive turn out voted to join the Russian Federation.
Are you trying to suggest that another Crimean election held now under independent UN supervision would show us that the populace would majority vote to go with the morally, politically and financially unstable Kiev government?
You simply cannot fairly hold a referendum in such a short interval after troops have piled into an area. The actually responsible, mature country thing to do for Russia and Crimea would be to pressure Ukraine to give Crimea a referendum on independence, rejoining Russia or autonomy.
The same could be worked towards in Donbass, Luhansk (both ~40% Russian, and ~70% native Russian speaking, though historically much less than this) and other eastern provinces of Ukraine.
But no, tanks and guns. Mess everything up so Putin can claim the wreckage. And the coal.
Regarding Iraq, I was thoroughly opposed to the US invasion. I was not following political affairs as closely in 2003, so I do not know the particulars of the vote you refer to.
Indeed. With so many rounds of goodwill.
If soldiers “on leave” but wearing “army surplus” uniforms and National party rosettes were hanging around election booths in otago, how free would you feel to vote left?
You’re right, they should hold the elections again, run and monitored by neutral international observers.
Given what a shite job Kiev has done of ruling Ukraine (and bringing it to the edge of financial and energy bankruptcy) in the last 12 months, I think the pro-Moscow vote will go up on last time.
Well, Russia is never going to let Sevastapol become a NATO base, so at least I am being realistic.
By the way are you against re-running the referendum? Like I said, the pro-Moscow vote is likely to increase. No one is Crimea is going to want to subject themselves to Kiev’s suicide draft.
Actually, I am against rerunning the referendum. The Russians screwed the pooch. They should pull out and let things stabilize, refugees return, that sort of thing.
But as you say, not realistic. So I think that if Russia is prepared to escalate, Europe should as well. They’ve seen how appeasement just results in more territorial demands. Maybe the next one will be further down the caucuses. At least Chechnya gave them a bloody nose for a while.
The nato base line was funny. Russia losing Sevastopol was as much an issue as the US losing guantanamo.
But at least you’ve stopped hiding behind the sham legitimacy of a so-called referendum, pleading realpolitik instead. “Pro-moscow vote is likely to increase” – lol. I’m sure RT reckons so. /sarc
The “massive turnout” was 30-40% apparently. And that was in a referendum held at gunpoint in which the retaining the status quo was not even an option on the ballot paper. It was a crock.
You mean in your opinion if a referendum was held under fairer conditions, the people of Crimea would choose to return to Kiev control?
“At gun point”
There were barely two or three casualties in the Russian takeover of Crimea. Totally minimal resistance at “gun point.” Shows you the pro-Russian mood of the people there.
No, I meant it was a crock. The option of staying in the Ukraine was not on the ballot, so it’s a completely moot point what might have happened in a fair referendum.
However you quibble, the vote was taken under the rule of the gun. It doesn’t matter if it was 3 deaths or 300, it was not democratic or legitimate.
As I said to McFlock above, maybe you are right and they should re-run the referendum. Given what a political and financial shit fight Ukraine has descended into over the last 12 months, I think the pro-Moscow vote will increase.
I see you’ve been drinking the Kool-aid again. Wikipedia:
The official result from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was a 96.77 percent vote for integration of the region into the Russian Federation with an 83.1 percent voter turnout.
With that sort of turnout and that result I’m pretty sure that the people of Crimea, if they held the referendum under the ideal conditions that you demand, would still vote to join Russia. As the saying goes: Quantity has a quality that’s hard to argue with.
Keep reading the wikipedia page, Draco. There’s more info there than just the Russian state sponsored Koolaid you’ve been swallowing. For a start, you need to factor in the thousands who fled the Russian advance who couldn’t vote, then the thousands still there who just denied the opportunity to vote, then those that were too scared to either register or vote.
Funny old world when someone like you goes into defence mode for an oppressive state invading its neighbors. I was pretty sure you stood against that sort of thing.
That’s an interesting article, Joe. It’s amazing what intellectual compromises people will make if they see an advantage in another area they have an interest in.
Yep, quite a lot including polls that indicate that the Crimeans are happy with the move back to being Russian. In fact, the only people who are upset with it seem to be the US and their lickspittles.
Operation Chokepoint is forcing US business to shut down by pressuring banks to close merchant accounts of businesses in certain industries. Among the targeted industries are dating services (??!), credit repair services and coin dealers.
So the cops inform two ministers that an “unamed” MP is under investigation and neither minister delved further into who it might be ? That’ll take some believing !
Yes, Tolley not willing to answer a fair question on a topic of public interest.
Is this how journalists are going to fare with this government which has been stone walling, hanging up on the journalist, refusing to come onto radio where they may be questioned closely for some time?
This has become a technique of unplausible deniability. Can’t be caught lying if you say nothing. If you can’t remember. Much easier for a deceitful person to remember what they haven’t said.
Might the technique here to talk to a minister about ostensibly one aspect of his/her portfolio and then shift onto a more contentious area be a new tactic?
I can’t say I blame any of the vegetables for not wanting to discuss it openly. On the one hand, legal matters, on the other hand John Key has been lying very much, and on the other hand (three hands, yay!), Sabin’s National Party enablers haven’t gone anywhere.
Yes Adam
Behind the scene the jockeying for the leadership has been bubbling away for some time.
Joyce and Collins have been undermining each other. While Joyce like Key is more a centralist compared to Judith who positions herself further Right. Key backs Joyce and has aided him by removing dead end MP’s like Henare and others who Collins could have counted on for support.
Sabin & son were called upon by Joyce to put the slipper into Collins while she appeared weak. Key was too frightened and gutless to remove JC when the milk company scandel broke, for fear of upsetting wealthy party backers that JC charmed and pulled to the party. Key was smart enough to be wary of Slater and his scheming with Collins. Look for him to be forced to bring Collins back on to the front bench as Nationals bench starts floundering under opposition and a turning media’s pressure. I do respect Collins for being the toughest Ministers the Tories have had.
Paddy Gower seems a bit quiet this morning I wonder if it’s due to him having to spend 2 minutes talking about all that’s going wrong for the godkey at the mo.
Is that the wind of change blowing down the halls of power.
Defence Minister Brownlee on RNZ this morning responded to close Espiner questioning about how long he had been organising the armed forces into training for conflict with ISIS with a snarky “well you’d know much more than I do about that.” Not a good way to treat a journalist who do after all get the last word. As they say, never argue with the man with the microphone.
The government’s lackey ministers like Tolley and Brownlee have been so long protected by Key’s fronting National’s media front that they’ve forgotten how to deal with journalists who are starting to themselves remember how to question closely and perseveringly.
Key seems to be getting flustered more too- mocking, misquoting, misrepresenting other’s points of view seems to be more of his game now. How many times did he make fun of Little’s name in the speech yesterday on government’s intentions for 2015?
I’ve always thought of Brownlee as the village idiot of the National Party. Unbelievable that he was once deputy-leader, although once they got near power they dumped him pretty quickly for the ‘dream team’ of Bill and John.
Key doesn’t handle pressure well. When it’s all going his way he has a smarmy look; when it isn’t he has a kind of caught in the headlights look. I guess in the money markets he never had to front up to any sort of stiff questioning.
The wheels may well start to come off in the third term, just as they did for Helen Clark (who was a lot like Key in my view).
I don’t have any particular view of LIttle because the problem for anti-capitalists is not the leader of the Labour Party but the Labour Party *as an institution*. Whose side is it on?
Here’s one view that it is clearly not on the side of the working class and oppressed: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/the-truth-about-labour-a-bosses-party/
I’m just working on a piece in the next couple of days about the 1949 Auckland carpenters’ dispute; another indication of which class Labour is ultimately loyal to.
Brownlee knows where bodies are buried, that is the only plausible explanation from Nat party conference bouncer and bully boy to… to whatever he is today
what is the up-date status of Nicky Hager’s computer in police custody?
…in many countries this is a big scandal and investigations are happening…closer to home in Australia for example…shouldnt we be doing the same in New Zealand?…parliamentary questions?
Nicky is not keen for the fuzz to take copies of all his stuff, something about protecting sources, corrupt senior cops, journalistic integrity, blah blah
well super sleuth Chooky has just checked out the internet and there is a report yesterday from our very own Herald ….some New Zealanders are involved in this international scandal of tax evasion and tax avoidance!…who are they?….any MPs?…anyone we on The Standard should kinow about ?…any Nact MPs?
And I can only imagine what the poor Greeks must be thinking right now since it seems that the same governments that have shoved austerity down their throats as a punishment for being feckless, money borrowing, tax avoiding, southern European ne’er-do-wells were quite happy to turn a blind eye to the goings-on at HSBC Zurich on behalf of the wealthiest people on the planet. This is the sort of shit that started the French Revolution.
That was a massive “let them eat cake” gig and still all those old Etonians in the Conservative Party can’t quite fathom why they aren’t more palatable to the average UK voter.
Not sure if paranoid or just untrusting of comms technology in the hands of authorities but I have no need, want or the money for a smart phone. They can be easily tracked can’t they? And why develop a crook in your neck staring at useless bits of info when you can be observing your fellow humans, observing the fucked up edness, as well as the beauty of the changing seasons around you, and generally staying connected to the living world? How much electronic white noise to you need in your life?
I have an old skool pre pay phone and spend about $20 on it every 3 months as it’s hardly ever used. I use cash. A credit card is used about twice a year for absolute emergencies only. Not on fb, not on twitter.
I prefer it that way.
Use the post. Send birthday cards to your friends. It will bowl over those who are over reliant of technology. They love it, a card in the post.
Absolutely easily. If the telephone company’s computers can direct an incoming call or txt to your phone, then they know where you are in the network down to the nearest cell tower. If your smart phone is GPS enabled, they will have your location down to the nearest 5m.
@ Rosie Use the post. Send birthday cards to your friends. It will bowl over those who are over reliant of technology. They love it, a card in the post.
+1
I just saw a piece on US grade schools only being required to teach handwriting to Grade 1 now. From then on schools can focus solely on keyboard and touchscreen entry.
It’s going to destroy the creativity and skills of the younger generation.
Nikki kaye was on tv the other day excited about heading us in the same direction. She was in a primary school where everyone had an i-pad…
That’s the NZ she and the Liar in Chief visit, the Sallies visit the NZ where not even the classroom has an i-pad, maybe a laptop for everyone to share…
Percentages seem so straightforward that they can confuse. Like GST used to be 10% added to the the cost price but 11% off the total price.
In that advert of course 20% off $4 is not $1. And the real joke about it is that 4 Croissants at 75c will amount to $3 anyway so it’s a blatant con. But the shop can rely on busy buyers not nutting all that out.
It reminds me of a joke I read – a doughnut seller had a sign –
Doughnuts each 60 cents, four for $3.00. A friend pointed this out and he explained. People put me right about the price and then buy four at the full price, feeling pleased they haven’t overpaid. I sell a lot more doughnuts because of that sign.
That strategy of getting info is costing donations I bet , I personally am not against giving my details but I bet some possible donors shy away from it.
I find it very amusing that we are supposedly superior enough in our military capabilities to be able to ‘train’ people in warfare who have been fighting wars since day dot. If anything I would have expected the middle east people to be training us.
Of course everybody knows it is a ruse to free up US resources for more frontline activity. We are effectively on the frontline.
Expect a Sydney-Ottawa-Boston-London event in NZ….
The Peshmerga could train our infantry. They are considered as the best light infantry in the world. A shame that FJK considers many of them terrorists because of the PKK. A Kurdish taxi driver was very happy that I knew about them and told me stories of the Turkish Army pissing their pants and running when the Peshmerga turned up. I was careful not to tip him in case FJK withdrew my passport for supporting terrorism.
Labour and NZ First should work together and get that message out there, don’t vote National in the byelection!
Where was National when Northland Flooded?
Where was National when the PSA virus hit?
Where was National when rates and insurance premiums have skyrocketed?
Why are National selling off our power?
Why are National selling off our state houses?
Why are National selling off our farms?
Why are National selling off our country?
Why is National funding Real estate for Sky City?
Do you want to get National’s attention?
DON’T VOTE FOR THEM IN THE BY ELECTION!
Prime Minister John Key has confirmed he offered a deal to Sky City allowing the casino to have more pokie machines in return for building a multimillion-dollar convention centre. Mr Key, speaking from Indonesia, confirmed he made the offer to Sky City in his capacity as Minister of Tourism, Newstalk ZB reported…
… Mr Key was asked last July in a question for written answer from Green MP Sue Kedgley whether he or any of his ministers had met representatives from the casino to discuss changes to the Gambling Act.
He replied: “I attended a dinner with the Sky City board 4 November 2009 where we discussed a possible national convention centre and they raised issues relating to the Gambling Act 2003″. ”
* NO INCREASE IN GST—(From 12.5 to 15%..Fooled you!)
* NO MORE ASSET SALES—(We will sell state houses!..Gotcha!)
* NO TAX PAYER GOVT FUNDS TO SKY CITY, EVER!—(Ha, ha! Fooled you again, suckers!)
This has been interesting to follow over the past few days:
Nazi Germany’s 3.5-year occupation of Greece was bloody and destructive. The Paris reparations conference in 1945 accepted calculations that estimated damage to Greece to amount to 7bn pre-war US dollars…
Greece received 115 million Deutsche Marks – a sum that has since been subject to myths and legends from both sides of the Greek-German divide.
Further compensation for war damages were denied, supposedly on the grounds that only a reunified Germany could agree to make such payments, but it was an open secret that Germany’s government actively tried to postpone the payment indefinitely (“until Greek calends”)– even after reunification… Once one reparation payment had been granted to one country, officials in newly unified Germany with urgent investment needs in the east asked themselves where it would end.
Yet it’s important in this case to make a distinction between reparation payments for war crimes and repayments of so-called Besatzungsanleihe: monthly loans demanded from the Greek government in 1942-44 to pay for the maintenance costs of the Greek army and further military activity in the Mediterranean… 476m Reichsmarks, which would be roughly €10bn today.
Lynn, I think Pat O’Dea’s comments at the dailyblog are insulting to other authors here at the standard. Especially Bill, and all the fine – well thought out, and written post he has done on man made climate change.
If you get ban people – read what Lynn sends you – read the rules around posts, and learn what the standard expects. Your the guest here – would you walk into a house and put you muddy shoes on someone’s couch? Or walk into someone’s house and change the TV channel on them?
Sorry – but, this pisses me off. If you get banned don’t complain about it. Adult up, and take responsibility for your own comments.
As someone who was banned – I accept my comment broke the standards and I deserved what happened. Please if you cop a ban – do the same, then come back and try to be constructive.
Why is it anarchists, get that people have their own standards and expectations, and we can respect them for it. We may disagree – but, and quite frankly – respect is a very simple concept.
Pat does appear to have an agenda. For all of his talk about the left working together, it appears that his actual (unthoughtful) view on it is effectively that everyone should think like him and listen to the font of his obsessions. He reads more like a poor evangelist than someone anyone could really work with. It is also a pity that his grasp of climate change issues reads a bit like that of an excitable adolescent or a climate change denier.
Anyway, I have been using the posts over there (when I have time) as an opportunity to carry on eliciting and widening the actual moderation policies at The Daily Blog. It is a bit of a moving target at present, and post-election I think that the uncertainty is contributing rather too much to their falling readership.
I haven’t been banned yet and don’t really want to be, but I’d prefer a truce between lprent and Bumbler. Anyone who starts a blog must have a healthy ego, and I think them for doing it, but the Romans are the real enemy. Aqueducts were OK, but their weird sex and convention centres are taking things a bit far.
As for Pat, he’s been a bit uncompromising ever since I’ve known him. I probably am too, but it’s more important to me to inspire thinking than having people agree with me. Just as well, I suppose.
From DPF @ Kiwiblog: “Greens host GE deniers conference at Parliament”
“89% of scientists think GM food is safe, a slightly higher percentage (88%) who think humans are mostly responsible for climate change.”
Given that 48% of Meteorologists are skeptics and survey after survey shows that two-thirds of geoscientists and engineers are skeptics, the 87% figure “across the sciences” seems hard to believe. 3748 members of AAAS took the survey — and as A.Scott points out on WUWT in comments, only 7% of the respondents were from the Earth Sciences, and nearly half were “biomedical”.
Engdahl carefully documents how the intellectual foundations of ‘eugenics,’ mass culling of the sick, coloured, and otherwise disposable races, were actually first established, and even legally approved, in the United States. Eugenics research was financially supported by the Rockefeller and other elite families and first tested on Jews under Nazi Germany.
…
He describes how the Rockefellers guided the US agriculture policy, used their powerful tax-free foundations worldwide to train an army of bright young scientists in hitherto unknown field of microbiology. He traces how the field of Eugenics was renamed “genetics” to make it more acceptable and also to hide the real purpose.
Francis Galton (the Englishman who developed the term “eugenics”) was also a pioneer in meteorology, so meteorologists are unreliable, and they named the field after an astrological method of predicting meteor impacts (according to someone on the interwebz). /sarc
I believe I recall the conversation to which you claim to be referring, but the conversation I recall is so distant from what you seem to now be recollecting that maybe you are referring to another conversation which I have since forgotten.
Even if the conversation in question went as you remembered it (which seems to be pretty doubtful), I never called myself anything like “exceptional”. In fact, the idea that I am fairly unexceptional was intrinsic to the point I recall making.
So how about you link to it, just so everyone can see how fucking deluded you are? Is your ego so fragile that you are incapable of even that?
If you are anything other than a liar or delusional blow-hard, linking to a conversation where I explicitly or implicitly stated that I was “exceptional” should be pretty simple.
Me saying that I’m “an exception” to a bullshit delusion you have does not mean I’m “exceptional“. Indeed, if my abilities were unusually good as well as contradicting your general[ly stupid] rule, then that would have defeated my own point. The fact that I am unexceptional means that pretty much anyone can do it once they know where the important switches are.
Now I’m glad that Ure is unintelligible for the most part – he’s easy to skip over without reading, where as your comments are just as facile and egotistical as his, but initially tend towards the vaguely possible. And then we drill down to what you’re actually saying, and you turn out to be a fucking idiot with more ego than braincells.
Rawshark…
I looked at those fatalities. And there are more factors to consider than GE. How much of the deaths were connected with GE? Could you give a link? I would have to look back through my stuff to find what I put up.
Definitely worth checking other possible causes, but much of what I’ve read on the subject indicates that the stock losses are closely linked to GE swedes – “a strong link” as quoted in this article.
Genoreinhart propaganda site.
Ulgy truth.
Cherry picking spurious facts.
You should not stop watching Fox news.
Otherwise you might have to live up to your name!
There was a time when capitalism was able to substantially reduce the working week, albeit not without workers having to struggle to achieve the 40-hour week.
Nevertheless there was a very substantial reduction. Whereas in the decades following the Industrial revolution, workers in Britain were working 60 or 70 hours a week, this was progressively reduced. In NZ, the 40-hour week was won without massive battles.
A century on, then, shouldn’t we be down to a 20-hour week?
Keynes in 1930 suggested that before the end of the twentieth century this would be the case. Instead there was the Great Depression and WW2. However, after WW2 came the long postwar economic boom, from late 1940s to early 1970s.
Since the end of that boom there has been nothing comparable. Capitalist economies have returned to a shorter boom and bust cycle, with the booms increasingly being short and centred in the artificial economy (or around individual sectors) and the busts have been deeper and more protracted, eg the fallout from the GFC.
Far from shortening, and us now enjoying the benefits of living in a leisure society, as capitalist ideologues promised in the 1960s at the height of the boom, we are living in a period of the extension of work hours – more working hours a week and, in some countries, more working years as the retirement age has been extended – an example being in the south of Ireland, courtesy of the Fine Gael-Labour government (one of the reasons that Labour was decimated by Sinn Fein in the local and Euro elections there last May).
I’d be happy to agree that the poorest workers are the most surveilled for time.
Also happy to agree that digital surveillance now enables this more finely.
But I’m not so sure of the proposed clean break between industrial and pre-industrial step change in time-oppression.
Those who are at the lowest rungs of society have always been at the whim of the master, day or night, rational or irrational, reasonable or unreasonable. Granted there are minor and brief historical exceptions. But that’s what they are.
Also, we are in the era of headphones, digital games, and other time-suspensory maenads that resist the force of analogue time with both time and space independent of hard reality. At minimum, they can have eight hours of my meat-time oppression, but now I can form new times and spaces until my next shift. Time becomes my game.
Workers are getting too little a share of national income and shareholders/corporates too much. And the unemployed sweet FA.
If workers were all getting a fair share of national income everybody would be on a living wage and not having to work more than 4 days a week if they didn’t want to.
And to solve the mess, the US again decided to act against the international law, building an anti-ISIS coalition that is “meaningless, apart from being illegal.”
“A law-abiding state would go to the Security Council, ask for a declaration by the Security Council of a threat to peace, and request the Security Council to organize direct response to it. And that could be done. The US could then participate in it, but so could Iran,” which is a major military force and would probably wipe out ISIS in no time, if it was allowed to join the fight on the ground, Chomsky believes.
+100…thanks for that….makes a lot of sense…a political solution through the UN is the only way to go
(I doubt however that the Israelis and the Saudis would agree….because they both have their own agendas in the Middle East and want to cripple Iran and Assad/Syria )
Wouldn’t it be good if even just one of the media outfits in NZ took our parliament seriously and livestreamed Question Time like they routinely do in Australia, Canada and the UK?
I kind of meant the way SMH/The Age, CBC in Canada and The Guardian often have the livestream of QT from their respective parliament tv channels on their online sites. It would help, I imagine to generate a larger audience for the undertakings of parliament. At any rate it turns out that TVNZ (whose interest in politics is usually zilch) ran the live feed of today’s QT on their site. Good on them.
Key looking tired, disinterested at Question time today. Not to mention distinctly uncomfortable when questioned about the Sky City fiasco. Both he and Joyce (confidence man extraordinaire) appeared to be backtracking when they weren’t downright evasive.
Agree entirely Wyndham about Key at question time. Just seem it on Prime News.
Key trying to crack jokes and not looking funny. And although I don’t approve as such of Peter’s mentioning Key dyes his hair, I think it is making him look ridiculous and pathetic (sometimes means justifies the ends????) And although two wrongs don’t make a right, Key has been a B…….doing this to others.
If you’re referring to Question time today ankerawshark, it was Key who brought it up not Peters. All Peters did was ask the perennial question “Does he have confidence in all his ministers”. He was planning to attack Steven Joyce and the Sky City shambles. Key anticipated as much so he diverted the question to his hair. The exchange that followed was actually very funny on both sides, so much so even the Speaker was laughing too much to intervene.
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of levity from time to time… and then it was back to serious business so nobody got off the hook.
I have never understood how he gets away with starting every question time trying to be the funny guy. You would think his own Party would mention it at least once. A quiet hand on the shoulder as they turn into the chamber ‘John, stop trying to be the funniest guy in the room, you’re good but no-one can be George Burns everyday. Look what that did to George Burns.
But seriously folks, when did you last see the Prime Minister, especially when answering a sombre question, simply stand and show respect for the House of Representatives, the central institution of our nation’s governance.
I was thinking of buildings that the UNACT government have taken an interest in, besides casinos, and one they didn’t like was Broadcasting House in Wellington and there was one they ‘lost’, referred to in the finance committee report, in Auckland.
And then there is the matter of what went on in the buildings, public broadcasting.
Some quotes and links:
Comment on public concern at last attack on public broadcasting: The difference this time is the public support for New Zealand’s last public service broadcaster – back in the 1990s, when there was a move to remove public broadcasting – massive campaigning by the station itself was needed to raise awareness.
NewsRoom business website founder and editor Peter Fowler led the 1996/1997 campaign against the demolition of Radio NZ’s home in Wellington.
“The destruction of Broadcasting House next to Parliament was scandalous and needless, but a good example of the regard Radio New Zealand has been held in by past National Governments,” he says.
When Broadcasting House was demolished in 1997 – after it mysteriously caught fire – Radio NZ not only lost its base, but also a symbol for public broadcasting.
“One major effect was the loss of some of the best studios in the Southern Hemisphere. I regard the attack on Broadcasting House as just another example of the attack on public broadcasting itself. What better way to demoralise someone than to evict them and demolish their home.”
Radio New Zealand lost the building, but saved broadcasting. http://www.newswire.co.nz/2010/03/can-a-mouse/
2003/04 FINANCIAL REVIEW – RADIO NEW ZEALAND Political coverage, balance and fairness
Some of us are concerned that Radio NZ is not maintaining an appropriate balance and fairness in its politi cal coverage, and believe that particular programmes with
substantial political content, such as Checkpoint have consistently under
represented some political parties in recent years. Radio NZ assured us that balance and fairness is maintained, if not on an individual programme basis, across programming as a whole….
Then on why Radionzs audience research should cost $145,000 yet not be able to be compared to those of commercial broadcasters. McCully was not happy with the explanation because as a stakeholder he thought he should be able to measure them (though completely different) together. McCully
Let’s get a couple of things straight here. You accept that Radio New
Zealand’s actually owned by the taxpayers of New Zealand – the citizens of
New Zealand – that we are stakeholders, and you’ve got some basic
obligation to report to us. You do agree with that?
Cavanagh
I do.
McCully
And you spend $145,000 of our money, if you like, collecting ratings
information. Right? That ratings information, in addition to the cume figures,
which I regard as meaningless but which you regard as meaningful, in
addition you collect the audience figures on a basis that is roughly
comparable to the commercial sector
John Roughan’s hagiography of John Key is going to be made into a movie “Fifty Fades of Key”. Some scenes involve holding people of a barrel while shafting and screwing them. The main character has a speech impediment, voluntary bouts of amnesia, and appears to be “relaxed and comfortable” with the suffering of others. In the movie several henchmen write blogs that are a worse insult to the human intellect than Vogon poetry. Casting has already started but many wannabies had to be hospitalised after reading the script. OSH is investigating but Steven Joyce thinks it is pretty legal.
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The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
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i am really looking forward to doing the commentary on q-time 2day…
..it promises to be interesting…
..also of interest is that sky casino post their annual-profits 2day…
..hopefully that will raise the condemnation of this latest scam/rort being played on us by these casino-bastards..(and key)..
..to fever-pitch..
Profits are easily manipulated with deferring income and creating provisions and write downs, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s ok but disappointing in some respects with reference made to costs of the new convention centre planning etc etc
All part of the neo lib con job NACT run via the MSM and the pathetic international joke that is the NZX.
I can see Peters pushing the envelop over the legality of being muzzled from speaking
under parliamentary privilege about we know what. I hope he pushes Carter to the point of booting him out of the house, now that will get the media excitable and the sheep nattering.
Really do hope he stands in Northland? If he does will organise a major public forum against the contenders.
97% oppose that hand-out to sky-city..
..and tvone wheels out a pimp for the deal..
..is that what you call ‘balance’..?
Apparently, what the MSM regard as balanced is them regurgitating what the rich tell them.
“i am really looking forward to doing the commentary on q-time 2day…”
– your commentary cannot be worse than the professional’s efforts yesterday
(no offence intended phillip 🙂 )
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/beehive-live/65982544/beehive-live-parliament-opens
Trying to find the list of questions for today, from the parliament link I could only find Dec 10 and all previous to this.
the questions get posted @ about midday usually…
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/new-zealand-parliament-list-of-questions-for-oral-answer-wednesday-11-february-2015/
(excerpt:..)
‘..key yells out to him that ‘there is no dye in these locks’..(referring to peters yesterday accusing him of dying his hair..)
..peters replied:..’so why don’t the curtains match the carpet..?’..’
So is it worth me watching when I get home from work, by reading your critique it sounds underwhelming?
it was underwhelming in the sense of no sabin-talk/holding to account….
..but it is worth watching for seeing key getting monstered over sky city..
..first by little..then by turei..
..i’ve watched/sat thru/endured far worse..in that forum..
..in the name of the public-record..
i gave turei performer-of-the-day-award…
..and goff gave the peace-sign..
..with his blood-stained fingers..
..it was quite the moment..
..and i had an irony-overdose @ the sight..
Most pathetic award: John Key for trying to hilariously pretend that the opposition not liking the idea of the taxpayer throwing cash at Sky City means that they suddenly really like the original Sky City deal.
that one had a kinda crosby-textor stench about it..
I just finished watching Question Time. It was clear SkyCity is a distraction to the real issue which is the sudden resignation of Sabin and all the murky details surrounding it.
It was a pity Peters had used up his allocated sups and lost the opportunity to jump in on the patsy question new Whangarei Nat MP Shane Reti asked Bridges.
The Northland By-Election ‘will’ expose to the New Zealand public the cover up and corruption being harboured by National. I can pretty much guarantee this personally.
and of course one of the biggest-lies told by key in that q-time..
..was the claim that he has ‘locks’ of hair..
..i looked real hard..
..but i cd see little signs of..
..’ tress – curl – or ringlet’..
I dimly recall speculation about a hairpiece, but maybe he’s using “Adveenced Hair, yeah yeah”
I’m guessing we will see an apology from Andrew Little over calling Key a liar about being advised by police in August.
Yes because the police are sooooo trustworthy and honest whatever they say must be correct and they always obey the laws…..what planet have you been on lately.
That’s not what Little said, Jester. No mention of August, just that the PM was lying when he said he didn’t know until December.
Looking forward to you apologising to Little, because you’re not a hypocrite, eh.
All the evidence appears that he was only informed in December. Unless you wish to progress another theory that goes against what Key, the Police, and the media are saying.
Apart from the evidence the NBR has: that Key has known since last April and National since before 2011.
Why does Sabin have so many cheerleaders? Are you still afraid of him?
What evidence? Key has provided none and the cops have said they followed the ‘no surprises’ policy.
Be nice if you apologised for claiming Little said August when he didn’t.
We won’t see any personal responsibility from a hypocrite.
It’s part of the characteristics of RWNJs. Despite demanding that people take personal responsibility for their actions they will never take responsibility for theirs unless they get some sort of benefit from it. On that latter point, they’re more than willing to take responsibility for someone else’s actions if they think that they can spin it to make it look like they did it. This is shown by National claiming success from what Labour led governments have done.
@ trp..
“..Be nice if you apologised ..”
bloody hell..!..
..like you do when u r proven wrong..?
..whoar..!
..goff has already snared todays’ hypocrite-award..
..so i’ll have to strike a special bare-arsed-cheek-award for u..
..it will be fast-couriered to you..
Phil, the relatively few times I’ve got something wrong here, I’ve always put my hand up. A couple of times I’ve even outed myself before anyone else saw the mistake. I know I often argue my corner staunchly, but that doesn’t mean I’m not beyond admitting my errors. I suspect your problem is you’d like to be the one to find one, but they don’t live at the bottom of the bong, dude.
got even one example of that..?
I turned the TV off upon hearing Lieutenant General Brownlee swat Goff’s (basically patsy) questions with ease.
Did Goff end with a crisp military salute to Gerry?
nah..! he stuck on a headband..
..and a ‘peace-sign’ t-shirt..
..then shearer whipped out his gee-tar..
..and they banged out a couple of verses of ‘masters of war’…
Shearer was shockingly disloyal to the team, he is no poker playein. nor the god botherer Nat whip showing his nervousness at Key getting grilled over the Shonkey Sky deal. Sitting there behind Davis looking sceptical at Kelvins line of questioning.
You know when you look at the hand Little has to play with, you really realise the opposition is fucked without Peters. Bit the bullet and run a few by elections, parachute some talent in.
u mean labour-whip..?
No I added the former christian heritage candidate Tim Mc Indoe’s rant in between bleating on about Shearer then edit elapsed. Sorry bout that.
I thought good comments on Radionz from Ron Marks about defence force personnel going to Iraq.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20166752
Also Phil Goff was very good.
But Labour’s Defence spokesperson, Phil Goff, said the pretence that no Government decision has been made just was not honest.
“The reason the Prime Minister [has given] for taking that decision isn’t honest either.
“This isn’t about the need to protect human rights and fight evil. It’s about, as he admitted earlier, the price of ‘being in the club’ led by other countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.”
Mr Goff questioned what the New Zealand Defence Force could do that the Iraqi Army could not do for itself.
“Over $25 billion has been invested by the United States over the past 10 years in training and equipping them, and that investment has made practically no difference.
“Our efforts can do very little to help with the real problems of persistent corruption, deep sectarian divisions and poor leadership which lie behind the incompetence of the Iraqi Army.”
Mr Goff says New Zealand would achieve more by providing humanitarian help to the millions of refugees caused by conflict in the region.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20166761/govt-accused-of-dishonesty-over-nzdf-training-for-iraq
Just note that Phil Goff starts talking about 1.30 mins into the audio clip. Just in case you tire of listening to Key’s anguished rant about the awful things happening under ISIS. He is so tender hearted, and hasn’t heard of all the dreadful happenings that occur daily around the world. Really he’s too sensitive and unworldly to be PM. yek for gardening leave for the duration?
“All the evidence”? What evidence would that be you funny man?
“All the evidence …”
Tolley was told in August. She said the police did not tell her who the MP was but I would bet dollars to donuts she found out from other sources.
Your friend Cameron Slater said this a couple of weeks ago:
“What astonishes me is that National did almost nothing about this issue for months…despite knowing about it, all the way to the top.
They just let Mike Sabin blow smoke up their arses despite plenty of concern outside of the party.
When full details of what has transpired are revealed then there are going to be some serious questions asked of the leadership.”
And that well known left wing paper the NBR is convinced Key knew last April.
Time to open your eyes Jester.
NBR is “convinced”. Well that’s solid evidence Mickey.
And Slater’s comment? Or is that too inconvenient to address?
Slater has also gone on record stating that Matt McCarten was directly involved in the hack of his emails.
Yep, pretty credible that Slater.
I would pay no credence to anything Slater said about Labour but a lot of credence about anything he says about National. Besides rumours have been swirling around for a while.
“I would pay no credence to anything Slater said about Labour but a lot of credence about anything he says about National. Besides rumours have been swirling around for a while”
Anything negative Slater says about National must be true but anything negative he says about Labour isn’t true, Don’t you see how stupid that is. You cant have it both ways Mickey.
I don’t think Andrew Little exchanges texts with slater.
Apparently Key does, though.
That’s how it can happen both ways – one lot talk to him (to stab each other in the back, most likely), the other lot he makes shit up about.
@ naki man..
..no it’s not..
..the credibility comes from him criticising his own..
..what do u find so hard to understand about that..?
I wonder what percentage of Sabin apologists share his values, as opposed to simply suffering from Stockholm syndrome.
Yeah right. As I have said before. In my opinion Matt is a bit of a technophobe. He can use a cellphone.
A damn good thing really. He is a hell of a worker of people and people systems from what I have seen of him. Almost over-compensated in that respect….
Surely Cam Slater realises that? He should realise the effects of over-compensation. Cam appears to be vastly over compensated as being a hypocritical arsehole with delusions of grandeur and a reality of repeated incompetence.
maybe i should have added the “sarc” tag?
Sorry lPrent. you’re wrong.Cameron has delusions of mediocrity and justifiably so.
The problem with being deluded is that you’re impervious to facts and logic. Perhaps cognitive therapy may help our friend Cameron??
I suppose the NBR might suddenly have decided to alienate its entire client base by running with unverified information.
On the other hand perhaps they simply did what journalists do and got a couple of independent confirmations before they went to press.
I hope your loyalty to Sabin isn’t an indication that you share his values.
No jester, where is your evidence?
You made a claim about evidence – so where is it?
Have you not got any?
NBR a right wing publication.
Which has got to be another lie. There’s no point in the police telling the minister that an MP is under investigation under the ‘No Surprises’ policy if they don’t tell them who the MP is.
True. I very strongly doubt that she would have been informed without a name. How stupid do NAct think the electorate is? Stupid enough to vote Key in three times in a row?
Hmmm….oops.
Like she wouldn’t have demanded to know who and for what.
its a shame that JK gave two different dates then isnt it
which kinda does make him a liar
and for that to even work we have to believe that JK finds out about such issues via a tip off from their opponents before any internal party channels tell him – which is just simply not believable
No, all the evidence (when the police told the minister) shows that National have known since before the election. Everything else that we’ve heard is National Making Shit Up to try and hide the fact that they knew before the election.
National are just on borrowed time for now, due to the suppression order of January 30 2015. The prominent person was remanded by a district court to reappear on 19 February 2015.
Up to now national have not misled the house and this will continue until name suppression is lifted, (if lifted at all).
A lot more water to go under the bridge on this topic.
The House sits on 24 – 26 February 2015.
Jestirer the Police haven’t told media when they told Key.
But under no surprises Key would have been told about any serious prosecutions.
Key has kept a lid on it till after the election combined with dirty politics it would have been a disaster.
Now the perverbial has hit the fan not even Slater believes your pathetic attempt to smear little.
Hope you have posted on WO.
It seems only National MP’s can get blanket suppression orders even after the drafting of new laws reducing excuses for suppresion.
It was Ironic that a former National MP who posted a suppressed former MP’s name got name suppression himself.
Their needs to be an independent enquiry.
If it were anyone on the left it would be all over the headlines like Dominique Straus Kahn.
While Thatcher managed to cover up a spy associated to conseravative peer pedophile ring who managed to destroy evidence that would have prevented further predatory rampant abuse of victims.
Its time for an independent enquiry into police and Justice dept behaviour.
As these decisions lack of openess is essential so police Moral is not undermined.
Even an inquiry the Attorney General could embargo the full police or parliamentary evidence. This has been done before e.g. Colin Moyle incident 17 June 1975 (full police evidence is still locked up) and Sir Alfred North’s December 1976 inquiry was embargoed until mid April 1978. Prior to Christmas 1976 there was a partial release of information by the media, but the cop involved in the 17 June 1975 incident had name suppression until mid April 1978.
Moyle was not charged with an offence.
Actually, the evidence points to two possibilities: either Key knew before december, maybe even august, or both tolley and eagleson were informed of a serious situation and withheld that information from Key. I suspect the former, because the latter possibility means that Key is routinely kept out of the loop on matters of nation-wide importance and therefore effectively does nothing as prime minister.
I like to think that he actually does the job he was elected and paid to do. The fact that his sole responsibilities now consist of tourismand the prime minister’s office (with everyone else doing the heavy lifting) suggest that the role isn’t too onerous.
He’s still a pivotal lead operator in our nation’s revamped intelligence and surveillance apparatus.
lol right. With finlayson doing the heavy lifting.
Ministers knew unnamed MP was under investigation
Now, if you believe that various minister knew and that the PM didn’t and that they didn’t know who then I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
Ah so it’s a conspiracy TC.
The story keeps changing. That’s because it’s a lie.
Key has known since last April. Take it up with the NBR.
Jester you are dead right a conspiracy to keep bad news under wraps till after the election.
Unbridled power and corruption of the police and justice system by National and its cronies.
We need an NSW style enquiry to sort out any ambiguity.
And a completely seperate police complaints Authority.
The Police should be able to tell the Media within a maximum of 48 hrs of charging prominent people including politicians.
One law for the powerful(predators rely on power to operate).
One law for the rest.
The Sabin story has changed again. Apparently just before the election, the cops told two Ministers an MP was under investigation but did not name him. Then they apparently disclosed his name in November.
Sure, sure.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11399804
As I have stated before Key & Joyce treated Sabin like a leper at an election forum that Sabin organised. They were not comfortable being there, when Sabin mucked up by insisting Key to take questions from the floor, where someone nailed him over the Northland’s broken roads & wasted money on the holiday highway, team Key sneered
Sabin’s way, like your a liability, I laughed.
Now the way Tolley is refusing to answer questions really stinks of a cover up, a deliberate cover up orchestrated by Joyce and Key.
What was behind leaving this lap dog in place rather than cutting him is the question I’d like to know.
“Lap dog”?
How do upstanding members of the community usually strengthen their positions: through their support networks.
Sabin’s authoritarian support network in the National Party obviously wields considerable influence. You wouldn’t want to piss them off without a very good excuse.
can’t help but wonder if Fletcher’s sudden departure is associated in here somehow …. maybe he couldn’t stand the growing stench?
PM’s Office early August 2014.
Present : John Key, Anne Tolley, Wayne Eagleson, Steven Joyce.
Anne Tolley – The cops rang me yesterday. Apparently they’re investigating an MP.
John Key – Oh yeah? Did they say who it was?
Anne Tolley – No, didn’t mention it.
Wayne Eagleson – Would you like me to check out police sources John.
John Key – nah don’t bother. This is more interesting. I’ve got some designs for the new flag here. Have a look at them. Which one do you like the best?
Yeah right!!
“President Barack Obama says that Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine….”
Does Wendy Petrie ever think about what she reads out on air?
Television One 6 p.m. News, Tuesday 10 February 2015
Wendy Petrie first came to television viewers’ attention for a minor gaffe, caused by nervousness, on the very last evening of 1999. She was the weather presenter for TV3 at the time… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EBIj1L7KVc
After her stint at TV3, Petrie moved to TVNZ, where some pathetic old git in management obviously noticed that she was a good looking young blonde. She was eventually promoted to the position of main news co-anchor and a huge swathe of taxpayers’ money was soon being spent on a slickly produced campaign to promote her, ridiculously and demeaningly, as a sex object. TVNZ viewers were inflicted for several months with a series of toe-curlingly embarrassing station promos, showing sad middle-aged males taking a break from their work to leeringly yell at the camera: “Wendy, she’s HOT!”
In other words, TVNZ’s disgusting campaign treated her pretty much like the morons promoting the 2001 Heineken Open had treated Anna Kournikova. Eventually, however, someone—probably friends and family of Petrie’s—must have had a concerned word with someone in authority, because after a while the sex kitten thing was quietly retired, and Petrie was no longer the face of the future for the struggling channel.
Petrie escaped the axe at TVNZ, but her star had faded; by 2009 she was reduced to doing live crosses from the street—the television equivalent of being the No. 11 batsman in a very poor cricket team. Even in that humble position, she managed to upset many viewers by crassly signalling her approval of the Bain retrial verdict…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M35WAmfPK68
These days, despite being a regular fill-in newsreader, she has pretty much managed to languish in obscurity—deservedly so, for she doesn’t seem to have a single thought in her head. Of course, that makes her not a lot worse than the likes of her colleagues Rawdon Christie, Peter Williams, Simon Dallow and Greg Boyed.
As any thoughtful and discriminating viewer is all too painfully aware, much of what is presented as “news” on television is nothing more than handouts from corporate PR firms, barely if at all modified, and extremely biased political cant. In spite of many years of watching television news, I’m still astonished when newsreaders manage to keep a straight face and read out some of the outrageous scripts they are given. Hearteningly, though, now and again these people DO register some kind of reaction, contriving to subtly undermine and cast doubt on the nonsense they are forced to mouth. Greg Boyed sometimes flinches and raises an eyebrow at the absurdity of the crap unrolling on his monitor, and Simon Dallow occasionally comes up with a troubled, conflicted look. I even saw Peter Williams frown last July, as he read out brutal and shameless canards, as if straight from the Israeli embassy, about the massacre in Gaza.
But Wendy Petrie? No, I have never detected that there’s a thoughtful or serious person underneath that carefully maintained, pleasant exterior. Tonight she read out, in the most serious tone she could muster, another of those pieces of nasty propaganda masquerading as a news item: “President Barack Obama says that Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine….”
What an honest and impartial news script would have said was: “President Barack Obama says that what he calls Russia’s aggression in the Ukraine….”
Wendy Petrie, however, didn’t register even a flash of discomfort at what she was reading. This is only an instance, of course, but it’s a telling example of the way that newsreaders play a vital part in campaigns of disinformation, whether they’re compliantly using National Government distortions such as “reform”, “changes” and “restructuring” instead of “government cuts”, or reading out equally cynical, but far more ominous and dangerous, statements saying it is Russia rather than the neo-Nazi junta that is the aggressor in the Ukraine.
You missed the obvious pun involving ‘Petrie’ and ‘dish’, in your gender focussed assessment, Moz. And you also missed the bit where newsreaders are paid to read the news not editorialise. Despite your sexist summary of Petrie’s alleged weaknesses, the essence of your complaint is that she is too professional. Weird, huh?
Yep, they are repeaters not reporters
You missed the obvious pun involving ‘Petrie’ and ‘dish’
DAMN! I completely missed that slam dunk. That’s why you’re the man, Te Reo—fair play to you.
in your gender focussed assessment
In what way was my analysis of Wendy Petrie’s seeming lack of consciousness a “gender focussed assessment”? I mentioned that four of her male colleagues were more or less just as bad as she was. You need to read what I wrote once again, my friend, and I’m sure you’ll realize that what I was attacking was her almost preternatural lack of awareness, not her gender.
newsreaders are paid to read the news not editorialise
They editorialise all the time—like Petrie did after the Bain verdict—about things that don’t matter at all. So most of them manage to say something censorious about the silly antics of Kim Kardashian or Kanye West or some petty criminal, but they are too frightened to comment on the crimes and seriously outrageous words of Barack Obama, David Cameron and, of course, John Key.
Despite your sexist summary of Petrie’s alleged weaknesses, the essence of your complaint is that she is too professional. Weird, huh?
Could you point out how what I wrote was “sexist”? I pointed out that some old fool at TVNZ obviously salivated over Petrie and set in train that risible–and mercifully short-lived—advertising campaign. Obviously TVNZ was—maybe still is—an organization riddled with sexism as well as racism: does pointing that out make me somehow, magically, become the same as them?
Petrie didn’t celebrate the Bain verdict, she was celebrating a successful live cross. And importantly, she turned from the viewers and celebrated with a single other person to her right, maybe her producer, having thought the camera was off. So clearly not editorialising as you claim.
Your review emphasised gender in a way you do not do when you critique males of the media. You suggest her entire early career at TVNZ was based on her looks not her ability. Without any evidence other than a single 30 spot among many supposed vox pops from the ad campaign for her and Dallow. You twice suggest she is empty headed and in one of those references you define her as being more empty headed than four male colleagues. You use phrases like “good looking young blonde” and “underneath that carefully maintained, pleasant exterior”.
I reckon you should have a good think about your own rhetoric and see if you aren’t the real salivating old fool.
Petrie didn’t celebrate the Bain verdict, she was celebrating a successful live cross.
Sure. By the way, Te Reo, I have a bridge in Whanganui you might be interested in buying.
You suggest her entire early career at TVNZ was based on her looks not her ability.
It was, just like the entire career of the great gorgeous emptiness that is Simon Dallow. Can you perhaps point the rest of us to an example of this “ability” you suggest she possesses?
I reckon you should have a good think about your own rhetoric
I explicated her failure to register any human emotion as she read out a frightful, preposterous piece of political propaganda. I did not use rhetoric, except to describe the old goats at TVNZ who treated her as little better than a porn star.
and see if you aren’t the real salivating old fool.
I assure you that I have never salivated over Wendy Petrie. I did nearly choke last night, however, during her dreadful performance.
Again with the sexism. It’s not “old goats” at TVNZ who see her as a porn star, it’s you. Why don’t you give up while you’re behind?
ps glad you’ve accepted that she wasn’t editorialising. That was only central to your argument, after all.
Some people would be upset, but I know you well enough now to simply be amused by how quickly you turn to personal abuse after failing to convince others that black is white and up is down.
I don’t know what’s funnier—your insisting that it’s me, instead of the people that marketed her with the “Wendy, she’s HOT” slogan that treated her like a porn star, or your bizarre interpretation of her triumphal fist-pumping after the Bain verdict.
It’s not personal abuse, it’s pointing out an aspect of your behaviour in print. Remember, it’s you who claims that there was a ‘Wendy, she’s HOT’ campaign, you who claim that TVNZ exec’s hired her for her looks and you who wrote the sexist descriptions of her. Own it mate, it’s entirely your invention.
and re: the fist pump, all I can suggest is that you actually watch the video. My explanation fits the evidence, yours is complete and utter bollocks.
It’s not personal abuse
You called my analysis of Petrie’s robotic news-reading “sexist” and “gender focussed”. If Petrie were Māori rather than Pākehā, I have no doubt you would have called me a racist.
Your behaviour on this occasion was abusive. Sadly for you, I do not get intimidated by that kind of nonsense, any more than I did by the desperate tactics of Messrs McFlock and Populuxe when they bayed that my criticism of a couple of incendiary hate comedians was anti-Semitic….
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29122012/#comment-567893
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24122012/#comment-566434
You’ll no doubt be encouraged to see that dear old McFlock has waddled up to support you. He’s a bit slow to the party, as always, but you need all the help you can get—even if it’s about as useful as mighty Tonga’s contribution to that surreally comical “Coalition of the Willing” in 2003.
I would only have called your analysis racist if you’d focussed on race. In this case your analysis (and fantasies about Petrie’s career) were sexist, so I called you on that.
Still, no matter, I’m sure no one thinks any less of you because of one thoughtless piece. And I’ve no doubt you’ll be even more skillful in your future skewerings of other talking heads as a result of this discussion 😉
And cheers to you too, Te Reo.
don’t let facts get involved.
Moz’s little line about Petrie “signalling her approval of the Bain retrial verdict” links to the “fist pump” clip that took place before she even knew what the verdict was. They just knew that the jury were coming in, as is evident from the clip.
Couldn’t agree more morrissey about the crap that newsreaders have to read out.
Of course it was the USA which overthrow the democratically elected government in the Ukraine.
Yes that’s right – the USA effectively invaded Ukraine and threw out a government put in place by elections and voting of the people, by the people and for the people.
The USA is the biggest rogue state in the world.
The USA is a liar and a traitor to the people.
The USA is out of control – of that there is no doubt. We must all be very very wary of such a state, particularly as our own leader is so in love with it.
+1. There is an interesting youtube video of a Ukrainian politician addressing the Rada prior to the Maidan protests about a coming civil war within Ukraine fomented by the US Embassy. What happened subsequently? You be the judge.
And the link if anyone is interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260&v=y9hOl8TuBUM
So it wasn’t Russia who took over Crimea then? Damn Martians…
Don’t trust the Russkies any more than the Yanks mate.
Of course not, but so many New Zealanders, who have been swamped by massive anti-ruskie propaganda since WWI and before, seem to think the yanks are different and can be trusted more.
History and facts indicate bullshite
No it wasn’t. What happened there is that the Crimeans voted, under the UN guarantee of self-determination, to move back to being Russian. The US didn’t like this after they’d gone to a lot of effort to overthrow Ukraine’s elected government and thus bring the Ukraine into their sphere of influence.
Now it appears that East Ukraine doesn’t want to be a part of the Ukraine either and the US is even more upset that people just won’t do what they’re told.
+1 informative, cheers. I haven’t followed it closely.
Indeed. But Ukraine is not the US security neighbourhood. The Ruskies are naturally concerned about the USA wanting to put NATO missile bases in the Ukraine, just a few hundred kms from Moscow.
The US wouldn’t look kindly on Russia trying to put missiles back on Cuba now, would they.
The US does not have any intermediate range nuclear missiles in its operational arsenal. Neither does Russia, for that matter. Under the New START treaty, they are both limited to 1550 active warheads on ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers. There is an in-depth verification process that both parties follow to ensure transparency.
Ukraine in 2015 is not Turkey in 1962.
Tactical nuclear warheads with yields of less than 10kt delivered by drones or nuclear tipped cruise missiles or various other delivery systems can take the place of intermediate range cruise missiles.
It’s not but the point remains – Moscow is not going to allow adversary nuclear forces to be stationed just hundreds of kilometres from it.
Sorry I meant Intermediate Range Nuclear Missiles.
I understand your point that the two situations are not analogous. Still you can guess what the US reaction to a new Russian airbase in Cuba would be.
That’s strange, saying the junta is the aggressor. I mean, Ukraine didn’t invade Crimea. Ukraine didn’t invade Donbass. I mean, yes, their government is unsavoury and the US is playing Xanatos Speed Chess manipulating in Ukraine, but Ukraine hasn’t invaded anywhere.
No, the EU and the US have. In the exact same way the EU and the US claim the Russians have
Russia gave Crimea to the Ukraine back in the 1950s when both were part of the USSR. The Crimeans didn’t like it then and have now decided to go back to being Russian.
Russia didn’t invade the Ukraine, Crimea, of their own free will, left the Ukraine.
I’m aware of the history. There’s no ‘free will’ when there’s Russian troops and tanks everywhere. Chechnya, Ossetia, Ingushetia and Dagestan show that. And Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars didn’t get much of a say in things did they?
And if Russia didn’t invade, did they give back to Ukraine the military equipment they stole in Sevastopol? Thought not.
The reports were that neither Russian nor her troops pressured the civilians.
Of course, the real question is: Did you say that when Iraq first went to the polls after the US invasion in 2003?
Most of that “Ukranian military equipment” was Soviet era Russian military equipment.
And who are you to deny a population the right to self determination? A vote was held and 96% of Crimeans under massive turn out voted to join the Russian Federation.
Are you trying to suggest that another Crimean election held now under independent UN supervision would show us that the populace would majority vote to go with the morally, politically and financially unstable Kiev government?
You simply cannot fairly hold a referendum in such a short interval after troops have piled into an area. The actually responsible, mature country thing to do for Russia and Crimea would be to pressure Ukraine to give Crimea a referendum on independence, rejoining Russia or autonomy.
The same could be worked towards in Donbass, Luhansk (both ~40% Russian, and ~70% native Russian speaking, though historically much less than this) and other eastern provinces of Ukraine.
But no, tanks and guns. Mess everything up so Putin can claim the wreckage. And the coal.
Regarding Iraq, I was thoroughly opposed to the US invasion. I was not following political affairs as closely in 2003, so I do not know the particulars of the vote you refer to.
But the troops “on leave” in the crimea were/are just sharing their goodwill. Rapidly. At 700m/s.
Couldn’t affect a referendum at all 🙂
Well it was Russian regular military who invaded Crimea.
It’s Russian troopers who are “on extended leave” who are hanging around in the Donbass…
Indeed. With so many rounds of goodwill.
If soldiers “on leave” but wearing “army surplus” uniforms and National party rosettes were hanging around election booths in otago, how free would you feel to vote left?
You’re right, they should hold the elections again, run and monitored by neutral international observers.
Given what a shite job Kiev has done of ruling Ukraine (and bringing it to the edge of financial and energy bankruptcy) in the last 12 months, I think the pro-Moscow vote will go up on last time.
lol
You’re as bad as fisi.
edit: I note you didn’t say that the first thing “they” should do is get their troops back to their side of the border
Well, Russia is never going to let Sevastapol become a NATO base, so at least I am being realistic.
By the way are you against re-running the referendum? Like I said, the pro-Moscow vote is likely to increase. No one is Crimea is going to want to subject themselves to Kiev’s suicide draft.
Actually, I am against rerunning the referendum. The Russians screwed the pooch. They should pull out and let things stabilize, refugees return, that sort of thing.
But as you say, not realistic. So I think that if Russia is prepared to escalate, Europe should as well. They’ve seen how appeasement just results in more territorial demands. Maybe the next one will be further down the caucuses. At least Chechnya gave them a bloody nose for a while.
The nato base line was funny. Russia losing Sevastopol was as much an issue as the US losing guantanamo.
But at least you’ve stopped hiding behind the sham legitimacy of a so-called referendum, pleading realpolitik instead. “Pro-moscow vote is likely to increase” – lol. I’m sure RT reckons so. /sarc
The “massive turnout” was 30-40% apparently. And that was in a referendum held at gunpoint in which the retaining the status quo was not even an option on the ballot paper. It was a crock.
“It was a crock”?
You mean in your opinion if a referendum was held under fairer conditions, the people of Crimea would choose to return to Kiev control?
“At gun point”
There were barely two or three casualties in the Russian takeover of Crimea. Totally minimal resistance at “gun point.” Shows you the pro-Russian mood of the people there.
No, I meant it was a crock. The option of staying in the Ukraine was not on the ballot, so it’s a completely moot point what might have happened in a fair referendum.
However you quibble, the vote was taken under the rule of the gun. It doesn’t matter if it was 3 deaths or 300, it was not democratic or legitimate.
As I said to McFlock above, maybe you are right and they should re-run the referendum. Given what a political and financial shit fight Ukraine has descended into over the last 12 months, I think the pro-Moscow vote will increase.
I see you’ve been drinking the Kool-aid again. Wikipedia:
With that sort of turnout and that result I’m pretty sure that the people of Crimea, if they held the referendum under the ideal conditions that you demand, would still vote to join Russia. As the saying goes: Quantity has a quality that’s hard to argue with.
Keep reading the wikipedia page, Draco. There’s more info there than just the Russian state sponsored Koolaid you’ve been swallowing. For a start, you need to factor in the thousands who fled the Russian advance who couldn’t vote, then the thousands still there who just denied the opportunity to vote, then those that were too scared to either register or vote.
Funny old world when someone like you goes into defence mode for an oppressive state invading its neighbors. I was pretty sure you stood against that sort of thing.
It’s a strange, strange world we live in, Te Reo Putake.
http://krytyka.com/en/community/blogs/left-or-russia-strange-case-foreign-pro-kremlin-radical-leftists
That’s an interesting article, Joe. It’s amazing what intellectual compromises people will make if they see an advantage in another area they have an interest in.
Yep, quite a lot including polls that indicate that the Crimeans are happy with the move back to being Russian. In fact, the only people who are upset with it seem to be the US and their lickspittles.
Operation Chokepoint is forcing US business to shut down by pressuring banks to close merchant accounts of businesses in certain industries. Among the targeted industries are dating services (??!), credit repair services and coin dealers.
We’re all so much safer now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=46Am7qFf16c
@ amirite.
So the cops inform two ministers that an “unamed” MP is under investigation and neither minister delved further into who it might be ? That’ll take some believing !
and they don’t tell key/colleagues..?
..and what was that deputation of national party luminaries to sabin..way before the election..
..w.t.f. was that all about..?
Re: National Party values:
Tolley just hung up on Ferguson. A stone wall.
Yes, Tolley not willing to answer a fair question on a topic of public interest.
Is this how journalists are going to fare with this government which has been stone walling, hanging up on the journalist, refusing to come onto radio where they may be questioned closely for some time?
This has become a technique of unplausible deniability. Can’t be caught lying if you say nothing. If you can’t remember. Much easier for a deceitful person to remember what they haven’t said.
Might the technique here to talk to a minister about ostensibly one aspect of his/her portfolio and then shift onto a more contentious area be a new tactic?
All signs of unease and pressure within the ranks perhaps?
The ship has developed a list
I can’t say I blame any of the vegetables for not wanting to discuss it openly. On the one hand, legal matters, on the other hand John Key has been lying very much, and on the other hand (three hands, yay!), Sabin’s National Party enablers haven’t gone anywhere.
“and on the other hand (three hands, yay!),”
The correct phrase is “on the gripping hand”.
three hands? Goes with theyr two faces.
you are on fire today, at least the ones i have read, making me chuckle, alot
What was the question? I was out walking the dog.
Along the lines of, “Since you were Minister of Police last year, when did you get told of the investigation into a certain MP?”
I bet Brownlee and Tolley both wish they were out walking their dogs this morning.
you mean key didnt replace brownlee with Wilkinson so he could make her resign for his poor oversight later?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20166768
relevant section at 03:00
Thanks 🙂
Anne Tolley has just had a hissy fit on Radio NZ. Touchy, touchy!
edit: snap, OAB!
She doesn’t like having to lie for Key of course she informed him Sabin was in the shit.
Key downplayed the issue to her and now she is the fall gal.
Does beg the question Skinny – how many can Key throw under the bus – before the backbenchers revolt?
Where are they going to get votes from though? Team English? The extremist authoritarian bully faction?
the national party is like a nasty-cake..
..baked using rotten-ingredients…
Yes Adam
Behind the scene the jockeying for the leadership has been bubbling away for some time.
Joyce and Collins have been undermining each other. While Joyce like Key is more a centralist compared to Judith who positions herself further Right. Key backs Joyce and has aided him by removing dead end MP’s like Henare and others who Collins could have counted on for support.
Sabin & son were called upon by Joyce to put the slipper into Collins while she appeared weak. Key was too frightened and gutless to remove JC when the milk company scandel broke, for fear of upsetting wealthy party backers that JC charmed and pulled to the party. Key was smart enough to be wary of Slater and his scheming with Collins. Look for him to be forced to bring Collins back on to the front bench as Nationals bench starts floundering under opposition and a turning media’s pressure. I do respect Collins for being the toughest Ministers the Tories have had.
Crusher Collins vs Cashier Key
A 10 year zoology degree and a successful radio station, what more do you need to run a country?
They only like lying for themselves? Like when she and Bennett were asked about Cabinet Club…
Paddy Gower seems a bit quiet this morning I wonder if it’s due to him having to spend 2 minutes talking about all that’s going wrong for the godkey at the mo.
Is that the wind of change blowing down the halls of power.
Defence Minister Brownlee on RNZ this morning responded to close Espiner questioning about how long he had been organising the armed forces into training for conflict with ISIS with a snarky “well you’d know much more than I do about that.” Not a good way to treat a journalist who do after all get the last word. As they say, never argue with the man with the microphone.
The government’s lackey ministers like Tolley and Brownlee have been so long protected by Key’s fronting National’s media front that they’ve forgotten how to deal with journalists who are starting to themselves remember how to question closely and perseveringly.
Key seems to be getting flustered more too- mocking, misquoting, misrepresenting other’s points of view seems to be more of his game now. How many times did he make fun of Little’s name in the speech yesterday on government’s intentions for 2015?
Beyond the limits of humour, anyway.
I’ve always thought of Brownlee as the village idiot of the National Party. Unbelievable that he was once deputy-leader, although once they got near power they dumped him pretty quickly for the ‘dream team’ of Bill and John.
Key doesn’t handle pressure well. When it’s all going his way he has a smarmy look; when it isn’t he has a kind of caught in the headlights look. I guess in the money markets he never had to front up to any sort of stiff questioning.
The wheels may well start to come off in the third term, just as they did for Helen Clark (who was a lot like Key in my view).
I don’t have any particular view of LIttle because the problem for anti-capitalists is not the leader of the Labour Party but the Labour Party *as an institution*. Whose side is it on?
Here’s one view that it is clearly not on the side of the working class and oppressed: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/the-truth-about-labour-a-bosses-party/
I’m just working on a piece in the next couple of days about the 1949 Auckland carpenters’ dispute; another indication of which class Labour is ultimately loyal to.
Phil
Brownlee knows where bodies are buried, that is the only plausible explanation from Nat party conference bouncer and bully boy to… to whatever he is today
Would any New Zealanders and MPs be involved in this?….just asking
International Banking Tax Evasion Scandal
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/09/hsbc-files-bank-swiss-arm-tax-international-response
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/10/mps-knew-of-hsbc-swiss-tax-evasion-claims-in-2011
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/09/hsbc-swiss-files-leading-australian-figures-held-offshore-bank-accounts
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/10/hsbc-us-prosecutors-criminal-charges-elizabeth-warren
I’m sure our heroic 0.01% captains of industry would never tarnish themselves with such a filthy display of naked greed and contempt for law.
what is the up-date status of Nicky Hager’s computer in police custody?
…in many countries this is a big scandal and investigations are happening…closer to home in Australia for example…shouldnt we be doing the same in New Zealand?…parliamentary questions?
There’s this report from just before Christmas:
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/legal-battle-over-police-raid-on-nicky-hagers-property/
Nicky is not keen for the fuzz to take copies of all his stuff, something about protecting sources, corrupt senior cops, journalistic integrity, blah blah
well super sleuth Chooky has just checked out the internet and there is a report yesterday from our very own Herald ….some New Zealanders are involved in this international scandal of tax evasion and tax avoidance!…who are they?….any MPs?…anyone we on The Standard should kinow about ?…any Nact MPs?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11399132
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11398974
where is Winnie… to ask questions in the House?
And I can only imagine what the poor Greeks must be thinking right now since it seems that the same governments that have shoved austerity down their throats as a punishment for being feckless, money borrowing, tax avoiding, southern European ne’er-do-wells were quite happy to turn a blind eye to the goings-on at HSBC Zurich on behalf of the wealthiest people on the planet. This is the sort of shit that started the French Revolution.
……. as did this:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/private-jets-luxury-castles-and-a-210000-statue-of-margaret-thatcher-welcome-to-the-tory-version-of-austerity-britain-10037028.html
That was a massive “let them eat cake” gig and still all those old Etonians in the Conservative Party can’t quite fathom why they aren’t more palatable to the average UK voter.
https://contribute-nzlabour.nationbuilder.com/forms/donations
This has probably been posted already, but no harm in putting it up again.
Glad to give some cash to this.
I’ve said it before and I ‘ll say it again why can’t labour put a account numder on payment page for those of us clever enough not to do credit cards.
“those of us clever enough not to do credit cards”
ha ha, well put. We are the authors of our own demise.
Best moves are towards stepping out of the current financial system, in the same way people go offline.
+1
gradually going off grid, or “going dark” as the FBI term it
i am partly doing that..’going dark’..
..no cellphone-connection..(just use phone to photograph documents..and the like…).
..no landline..
..can only be contacted by email…(and skype..)
..and i am fucken enjoying it..!
..and also increasingly noticing how everyone is slave to a little screen..
..if is frankly..fucken bizarre ..once you stop..and start looking/noticing..
..(and in more ‘strangely-gratifying’ old-skool ‘news’..)
..i have a daughter who lives in parts foreign..and we email/skype..
..but she sent me a post-card that i got the other day..
..and it is so cool..!..
..i can handle it/turn it over/hold it up in the air….
..i am/was surprised at how chuffed i was to get it..
..back to/for the future..!…(in parts..eh..?..)
+1 wags, CR. vto and phillip.
Didn’t know the FBI term was “going dark”.
Not sure if paranoid or just untrusting of comms technology in the hands of authorities but I have no need, want or the money for a smart phone. They can be easily tracked can’t they? And why develop a crook in your neck staring at useless bits of info when you can be observing your fellow humans, observing the fucked up edness, as well as the beauty of the changing seasons around you, and generally staying connected to the living world? How much electronic white noise to you need in your life?
I have an old skool pre pay phone and spend about $20 on it every 3 months as it’s hardly ever used. I use cash. A credit card is used about twice a year for absolute emergencies only. Not on fb, not on twitter.
I prefer it that way.
Use the post. Send birthday cards to your friends. It will bowl over those who are over reliant of technology. They love it, a card in the post.
Absolutely easily. If the telephone company’s computers can direct an incoming call or txt to your phone, then they know where you are in the network down to the nearest cell tower. If your smart phone is GPS enabled, they will have your location down to the nearest 5m.
Everything except the GPS applies to dumb phones, too.
And signal triangulation between towers is more precise than a simple radius around a particular tower.
“..How much electronic white noise to you need in your life?..”
..that is the nub of that conversation..
@ Rosie
Use the post. Send birthday cards to your friends. It will bowl over those who are over reliant of technology. They love it, a card in the post.
+1
I am going back to cash… shopkeepers seem very frightened of it…
That’s cos they have to do numbers in their heads. Scary stuff.
I just saw a piece on US grade schools only being required to teach handwriting to Grade 1 now. From then on schools can focus solely on keyboard and touchscreen entry.
It’s going to destroy the creativity and skills of the younger generation.
Nikki kaye was on tv the other day excited about heading us in the same direction. She was in a primary school where everyone had an i-pad…
That’s the NZ she and the Liar in Chief visit, the Sallies visit the NZ where not even the classroom has an i-pad, maybe a laptop for everyone to share…
And remember Labour had this flash education plan to give every kid a “digital device” to help their learning. Suckers.
Bloody hell I have enough problems writing stuff down these days. Too much keyboard/screen time. I can go for several days without touching a pen.
(and my writing is a mess, my primary school teacher would be dismayed)
Anne
the machine still does the maths BUT I think many don’t recognise it… 😉
Yeah but they still have to open the till and count out the change what the machine says is owing and that’s the scary bit.
good point!!
Anne & Tracey
I think you might enjoy this pic – sent to me today from Australia
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10991380_806090206131119_3909414163215636366_n.jpg?oh=ca593b7c583c852b95b7b53d26aadb9f&oe=55943D1B&__gda__=1432473413_cc0c522e08c18362e15c43426dd01f00
Percentages seem so straightforward that they can confuse. Like GST used to be 10% added to the the cost price but 11% off the total price.
In that advert of course 20% off $4 is not $1. And the real joke about it is that 4 Croissants at 75c will amount to $3 anyway so it’s a blatant con. But the shop can rely on busy buyers not nutting all that out.
It reminds me of a joke I read – a doughnut seller had a sign –
Doughnuts each 60 cents, four for $3.00. A friend pointed this out and he explained. People put me right about the price and then buy four at the full price, feeling pleased they haven’t overpaid. I sell a lot more doughnuts because of that sign.
cash…..love it.
Indeed. They have the “pull” for credit cards or direct debit. But not a simple bank account.
However I suspect that the reasoning behind that has to do probably has something to do with collecting information about their supporters.
That strategy of getting info is costing donations I bet , I personally am not against giving my details but I bet some possible donors shy away from it.
I find it very amusing that we are supposedly superior enough in our military capabilities to be able to ‘train’ people in warfare who have been fighting wars since day dot. If anything I would have expected the middle east people to be training us.
Of course everybody knows it is a ruse to free up US resources for more frontline activity. We are effectively on the frontline.
Expect a Sydney-Ottawa-Boston-London event in NZ….
Then point the finger directly at John Key
The Peshmerga could train our infantry. They are considered as the best light infantry in the world. A shame that FJK considers many of them terrorists because of the PKK. A Kurdish taxi driver was very happy that I knew about them and told me stories of the Turkish Army pissing their pants and running when the Peshmerga turned up. I was careful not to tip him in case FJK withdrew my passport for supporting terrorism.
Have the Peshmerga train the Iraqi Army…yeah right, like that would ever happen.
And that is part of the problem of the Iraqi quagmire.
Labour and NZ First should work together and get that message out there, don’t vote National in the byelection!
Where was National when Northland Flooded?
Where was National when the PSA virus hit?
Where was National when rates and insurance premiums have skyrocketed?
Why are National selling off our power?
Why are National selling off our state houses?
Why are National selling off our farms?
Why are National selling off our country?
Why is National funding Real estate for Sky City?
Do you want to get National’s attention?
DON’T VOTE FOR THEM IN THE BY ELECTION!
All mention of Northland is in breach of standing orders.
Northland is pretty
Pretty with blue poo
Pretty with blue doo
Pretty with blanket bans
Pretty and out of hand
A ban on blankets in Northland is being blamed for a spate of “cold shoulder syndrome”.
Acting Chief Inspector Fiddler of the Dunedin Police, who are handling the situation, refused to comment, and then arrested himself.
“I know too much”, said Acting Chief Inspector Fiddler.
I hope someone puts up a billboard asking why the minister of Tourism only holidays in Hawaii and Omaha not Northland?
That’s not going to look good on Imgur: “Dad and I playing golf with [redacted] in [redacted]“
The convention centre can be called
Sky ‘Joyce’ City….
or maybe just the
SkyJoy which is a bit of a KillJoy
The grotesque convention centre will probably be empty and soul less, like the last National foray in real estate Shed 10 with the Cloud.
In the name of monuments to ego’s, there is also a convention centre planned for Christchurch too,,,,
The Brownlee
lol…killjoy and brownie…what floats to the top….key names for Nact convention centres
Led by Cashier Key and his Keystone Kops
lol
SKY CITY DEAL WAS JOHN KEY’S OWN OFFER!
“10:20 AM Wednesday Apr 18, 2012
Prime Minister John Key has confirmed he offered a deal to Sky City allowing the casino to have more pokie machines in return for building a multimillion-dollar convention centre. Mr Key, speaking from Indonesia, confirmed he made the offer to Sky City in his capacity as Minister of Tourism, Newstalk ZB reported…
… Mr Key was asked last July in a question for written answer from Green MP Sue Kedgley whether he or any of his ministers had met representatives from the casino to discuss changes to the Gambling Act.
He replied: “I attended a dinner with the Sky City board 4 November 2009 where we discussed a possible national convention centre and they raised issues relating to the Gambling Act 2003″. ”
– Source
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10799699
“WATCH MY LIPS” LIES:
* NO INCREASE IN GST—(From 12.5 to 15%..Fooled you!)
* NO MORE ASSET SALES—(We will sell state houses!..Gotcha!)
* NO TAX PAYER GOVT FUNDS TO SKY CITY, EVER!—(Ha, ha! Fooled you again, suckers!)
any shares available?
This has been interesting to follow over the past few days:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/10/germany-greece-second-world-war-reparations
Lynn, I think Pat O’Dea’s comments at the dailyblog are insulting to other authors here at the standard. Especially Bill, and all the fine – well thought out, and written post he has done on man made climate change.
If you get ban people – read what Lynn sends you – read the rules around posts, and learn what the standard expects. Your the guest here – would you walk into a house and put you muddy shoes on someone’s couch? Or walk into someone’s house and change the TV channel on them?
Sorry – but, this pisses me off. If you get banned don’t complain about it. Adult up, and take responsibility for your own comments.
As someone who was banned – I accept my comment broke the standards and I deserved what happened. Please if you cop a ban – do the same, then come back and try to be constructive.
Why is it anarchists, get that people have their own standards and expectations, and we can respect them for it. We may disagree – but, and quite frankly – respect is a very simple concept.
Pat does appear to have an agenda. For all of his talk about the left working together, it appears that his actual (unthoughtful) view on it is effectively that everyone should think like him and listen to the font of his obsessions. He reads more like a poor evangelist than someone anyone could really work with. It is also a pity that his grasp of climate change issues reads a bit like that of an excitable adolescent or a climate change denier.
Anyway, I have been using the posts over there (when I have time) as an opportunity to carry on eliciting and widening the actual moderation policies at The Daily Blog. It is a bit of a moving target at present, and post-election I think that the uncertainty is contributing rather too much to their falling readership.
I haven’t been banned yet and don’t really want to be, but I’d prefer a truce between lprent and Bumbler. Anyone who starts a blog must have a healthy ego, and I think them for doing it, but the Romans are the real enemy. Aqueducts were OK, but their weird sex and convention centres are taking things a bit far.
As for Pat, he’s been a bit uncompromising ever since I’ve known him. I probably am too, but it’s more important to me to inspire thinking than having people agree with me. Just as well, I suppose.
Some very good points my friend,but (Adult up) come on.For the love of Adult kind. 😉
From DPF @ Kiwiblog: “Greens host GE deniers conference at Parliament”
“89% of scientists think GM food is safe, a slightly higher percentage (88%) who think humans are mostly responsible for climate change.”
Given that 48% of Meteorologists are skeptics and survey after survey shows that two-thirds of geoscientists and engineers are skeptics, the 87% figure “across the sciences” seems hard to believe. 3748 members of AAAS took the survey — and as A.Scott points out on WUWT in comments, only 7% of the respondents were from the Earth Sciences, and nearly half were “biomedical”.
http://joannenova.com.au/2015/01/public-are-not-buying-science-experts-opinions-aaas-survey-shows-30-50-gap/
Engdahl carefully documents how the intellectual foundations of ‘eugenics,’ mass culling of the sick, coloured, and otherwise disposable races, were actually first established, and even legally approved, in the United States. Eugenics research was financially supported by the Rockefeller and other elite families and first tested on Jews under Nazi Germany.
…
He describes how the Rockefellers guided the US agriculture policy, used their powerful tax-free foundations worldwide to train an army of bright young scientists in hitherto unknown field of microbiology. He traces how the field of Eugenics was renamed “genetics” to make it more acceptable and also to hide the real purpose.
http://www.rense.com/general82/hid.htm
It gets even worse than that:
Francis Galton (the Englishman who developed the term “eugenics”) was also a pioneer in meteorology, so meteorologists are unreliable, and they named the field after an astrological method of predicting meteor impacts (according to someone on the interwebz). /sarc
Q. Does it occur that by responding to such posts in the manner and frequency you do is an exposé of your self proclaimed ‘exceptionalism’ ?
when did I self-proclaim “exceptionalism”? Got a link for that?
… I guess your were just making shit up in a fire-and-forget piece of pretentiousness.
Q. Launchpad McDuck surely you recall claiming to be ‘an exception’ regarding the flying aircraft ?
Lack of take off and landing abilities seemingly no obstacle to your self proclaimed ‘exceptionalism’
Woops 2
links or it didn’t happen, liar.
When did I call myself exceptional, you pretentious idiot?
Q. Have you genuinely forgotten the conversation ?
I believe I recall the conversation to which you claim to be referring, but the conversation I recall is so distant from what you seem to now be recollecting that maybe you are referring to another conversation which I have since forgotten.
Even if the conversation in question went as you remembered it (which seems to be pretty doubtful), I never called myself anything like “exceptional”. In fact, the idea that I am fairly unexceptional was intrinsic to the point I recall making.
So how about you link to it, just so everyone can see how fucking deluded you are? Is your ego so fragile that you are incapable of even that?
If you are anything other than a liar or delusional blow-hard, linking to a conversation where I explicitly or implicitly stated that I was “exceptional” should be pretty simple.
“But given that I’m an exception to your “qualified, licensed“……
You are exceptional McFlock
You’re really going with that, are you?
Me saying that I’m “an exception” to a bullshit delusion you have does not mean I’m “exceptional“. Indeed, if my abilities were unusually good as well as contradicting your general[ly stupid] rule, then that would have defeated my own point. The fact that I am unexceptional means that pretty much anyone can do it once they know where the important switches are.
Now I’m glad that Ure is unintelligible for the most part – he’s easy to skip over without reading, where as your comments are just as facile and egotistical as his, but initially tend towards the vaguely possible. And then we drill down to what you’re actually saying, and you turn out to be a fucking idiot with more ego than braincells.
I notice he doesn’t give the percentage of dairy farmers who do not think GE swedes are safe, after last year’s cases of mass cattle fatalities.
Rawshark…
I looked at those fatalities. And there are more factors to consider than GE. How much of the deaths were connected with GE? Could you give a link? I would have to look back through my stuff to find what I put up.
Definitely worth checking other possible causes, but much of what I’ve read on the subject indicates that the stock losses are closely linked to GE swedes – “a strong link” as quoted in this article.
Genoreinhart propaganda site.
Ulgy truth.
Cherry picking spurious facts.
You should not stop watching Fox news.
Otherwise you might have to live up to your name!
Where did our time go to?
There was a time when capitalism was able to substantially reduce the working week, albeit not without workers having to struggle to achieve the 40-hour week.
Nevertheless there was a very substantial reduction. Whereas in the decades following the Industrial revolution, workers in Britain were working 60 or 70 hours a week, this was progressively reduced. In NZ, the 40-hour week was won without massive battles.
A century on, then, shouldn’t we be down to a 20-hour week?
Keynes in 1930 suggested that before the end of the twentieth century this would be the case. Instead there was the Great Depression and WW2. However, after WW2 came the long postwar economic boom, from late 1940s to early 1970s.
Since the end of that boom there has been nothing comparable. Capitalist economies have returned to a shorter boom and bust cycle, with the booms increasingly being short and centred in the artificial economy (or around individual sectors) and the busts have been deeper and more protracted, eg the fallout from the GFC.
Far from shortening, and us now enjoying the benefits of living in a leisure society, as capitalist ideologues promised in the 1960s at the height of the boom, we are living in a period of the extension of work hours – more working hours a week and, in some countries, more working years as the retirement age has been extended – an example being in the south of Ireland, courtesy of the Fine Gael-Labour government (one of the reasons that Labour was decimated by Sinn Fein in the local and Euro elections there last May).
Here’s a really interesting article we reprinted on Redline from Socialist Alternative in Australia about capitalism and the tyranny of time: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/capitalism-and-the-tyranny-of-time/
And here’s some reflections/analysis on whatever happened to the leisure society: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/whatever-happened-to-the-leisure-society/
Phil
I’d be happy to agree that the poorest workers are the most surveilled for time.
Also happy to agree that digital surveillance now enables this more finely.
But I’m not so sure of the proposed clean break between industrial and pre-industrial step change in time-oppression.
Those who are at the lowest rungs of society have always been at the whim of the master, day or night, rational or irrational, reasonable or unreasonable. Granted there are minor and brief historical exceptions. But that’s what they are.
Also, we are in the era of headphones, digital games, and other time-suspensory maenads that resist the force of analogue time with both time and space independent of hard reality. At minimum, they can have eight hours of my meat-time oppression, but now I can form new times and spaces until my next shift. Time becomes my game.
Workers are getting too little a share of national income and shareholders/corporates too much. And the unemployed sweet FA.
If workers were all getting a fair share of national income everybody would be on a living wage and not having to work more than 4 days a week if they didn’t want to.
Oops
Eminem taking National Party to court next week
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11400109
I wonder how much that could cost them?
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/John-Oliver-mocks-NZ–Steven-Joyce-over-Eminem-National-Party-copyright-dispute/tabid/504/articleID/55348/Default.aspx
“pretty legal” 🙂
might affect their campaign expenditure a touch.
If they have to pay a ‘fine’ does that go on the election expenditure?
no idea, but even their legal fees might be an interesting topic to raise after the case is over and done with. 🙂
Noam Chompsky Solution to ISIS…..
And to solve the mess, the US again decided to act against the international law, building an anti-ISIS coalition that is “meaningless, apart from being illegal.”
“A law-abiding state would go to the Security Council, ask for a declaration by the Security Council of a threat to peace, and request the Security Council to organize direct response to it. And that could be done. The US could then participate in it, but so could Iran,” which is a major military force and would probably wipe out ISIS in no time, if it was allowed to join the fight on the ground, Chomsky believes.
http://rt.com/news/203055-us-russia-war-chomsky/
+100…thanks for that….makes a lot of sense…a political solution through the UN is the only way to go
(I doubt however that the Israelis and the Saudis would agree….because they both have their own agendas in the Middle East and want to cripple Iran and Assad/Syria )
Wouldn’t it be good if even just one of the media outfits in NZ took our parliament seriously and livestreamed Question Time like they routinely do in Australia, Canada and the UK?
Good idea.
Already happening …you can get it live and free on TV or via your computer or phone from live parliament tv … or do you mean something else ??
I kind of meant the way SMH/The Age, CBC in Canada and The Guardian often have the livestream of QT from their respective parliament tv channels on their online sites. It would help, I imagine to generate a larger audience for the undertakings of parliament. At any rate it turns out that TVNZ (whose interest in politics is usually zilch) ran the live feed of today’s QT on their site. Good on them.
It is right there on the homepage
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/about-parliament/see-hear/ptv
Key looking tired, disinterested at Question time today. Not to mention distinctly uncomfortable when questioned about the Sky City fiasco. Both he and Joyce (confidence man extraordinaire) appeared to be backtracking when they weren’t downright evasive.
Agree entirely Wyndham about Key at question time. Just seem it on Prime News.
Key trying to crack jokes and not looking funny. And although I don’t approve as such of Peter’s mentioning Key dyes his hair, I think it is making him look ridiculous and pathetic (sometimes means justifies the ends????) And although two wrongs don’t make a right, Key has been a B…….doing this to others.
If you’re referring to Question time today ankerawshark, it was Key who brought it up not Peters. All Peters did was ask the perennial question “Does he have confidence in all his ministers”. He was planning to attack Steven Joyce and the Sky City shambles. Key anticipated as much so he diverted the question to his hair. The exchange that followed was actually very funny on both sides, so much so even the Speaker was laughing too much to intervene.
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of levity from time to time… and then it was back to serious business so nobody got off the hook.
Thanks Anne, Only saw the snippert on Prime. Sounds like I got the wrong end of the stick.
Still think it makes Key look a bit of a dick that he (clearly does) dye his hair.
I have never understood how he gets away with starting every question time trying to be the funny guy. You would think his own Party would mention it at least once. A quiet hand on the shoulder as they turn into the chamber ‘John, stop trying to be the funniest guy in the room, you’re good but no-one can be George Burns everyday. Look what that did to George Burns.
But seriously folks, when did you last see the Prime Minister, especially when answering a sombre question, simply stand and show respect for the House of Representatives, the central institution of our nation’s governance.
yeah but that’s part of his vibe – avoid responsibility
Don’t bring up George Burns as an example. He lasted well into very old age. We don’t want to have yek around that long.
I was thinking of buildings that the UNACT government have taken an interest in, besides casinos, and one they didn’t like was Broadcasting House in Wellington and there was one they ‘lost’, referred to in the finance committee report, in Auckland.
And then there is the matter of what went on in the buildings, public broadcasting.
Some quotes and links:
Comment on public concern at last attack on public broadcasting:
The difference this time is the public support for New Zealand’s last public service broadcaster – back in the 1990s, when there was a move to remove public broadcasting – massive campaigning by the station itself was needed to raise awareness.
NewsRoom business website founder and editor Peter Fowler led the 1996/1997 campaign against the demolition of Radio NZ’s home in Wellington.
“The destruction of Broadcasting House next to Parliament was scandalous and needless, but a good example of the regard Radio New Zealand has been held in by past National Governments,” he says.
When Broadcasting House was demolished in 1997 – after it mysteriously caught fire – Radio NZ not only lost its base, but also a symbol for public broadcasting.
“One major effect was the loss of some of the best studios in the Southern Hemisphere. I regard the attack on Broadcasting House as just another example of the attack on public broadcasting itself. What better way to demoralise someone than to evict them and demolish their home.”
Radio New Zealand lost the building, but saved broadcasting.
http://www.newswire.co.nz/2010/03/can-a-mouse/
This is an interesting report from 2003-4 from the government committee looking at the finances and running of Radionz. Murray McCully and Kathryn Rich gave them a thorough hammering.
http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/47DBSCH_SCR2960_1/e48b239ad71f1887e13c3425cc7b0b72b3c2dabb
2003/04 FINANCIAL REVIEW – RADIO NEW ZEALAND
Political coverage, balance and fairness
Some of us are concerned that Radio NZ is not maintaining an appropriate balance and fairness in its politi cal coverage, and believe that particular programmes with
substantial political content, such as Checkpoint have consistently under
represented some political parties in recent years. Radio NZ assured us that balance and fairness is maintained, if not on an individual programme basis, across programming as a whole….
Then on why Radionzs audience research should cost $145,000 yet not be able to be compared to those of commercial broadcasters. McCully was not happy with the explanation because as a stakeholder he thought he should be able to measure them (though completely different) together.
McCully
Let’s get a couple of things straight here. You accept that Radio New
Zealand’s actually owned by the taxpayers of New Zealand – the citizens of
New Zealand – that we are stakeholders, and you’ve got some basic
obligation to report to us. You do agree with that?
Cavanagh
I do.
McCully
And you spend $145,000 of our money, if you like, collecting ratings
information. Right? That ratings information, in addition to the cume figures,
which I regard as meaningless but which you regard as meaningful, in
addition you collect the audience figures on a basis that is roughly
comparable to the commercial sector
lprent
Thanks for all your work. But I just noticed that this post is dated 11/1/2015 – January instead of February
Nobel Peace Laureates Slam Human Rights Watch’s Refusal to Cut Ties to U.S. Government
Human Rights Watch’s affiliation with ex-CIA and NATO officials generates perverse incentives and undermine its reputation for independence.
Read more….
http://www.alternet.org/world/nobel-peace-laureates-slam-human-rights-watchs-refusal-cut-ties-us-government
Ken Roth Confronted on HRW’s Revolving Door to U.S. Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7AJAQrpqPk
Jon gone!
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/11/jon-stewart-to-leave-daily-show
which led me to this question
John Roughan’s hagiography of John Key is going to be made into a movie “Fifty Fades of Key”. Some scenes involve holding people of a barrel while shafting and screwing them. The main character has a speech impediment, voluntary bouts of amnesia, and appears to be “relaxed and comfortable” with the suffering of others. In the movie several henchmen write blogs that are a worse insult to the human intellect than Vogon poetry. Casting has already started but many wannabies had to be hospitalised after reading the script. OSH is investigating but Steven Joyce thinks it is pretty legal.
😆 😆 😆