Sadly the US main product these days is financial fraud.
The equity, futures, commodities and bond markets are also completely manipulated with high speed computerised trading. Ordinary investors have no chance, those ‘markets’ are in reality now casinos where the house always wins and where the punter always loses.
Their bank is the biggest fraud of all. The American public, and most of the World, largely believe it is a Federal Agency because they stuck the word in the title. When you get through the haze and actually make an American understand the Federal Reserve is an 100% private Institution that is not accountable to any of their Administration’s frameworks, the slow drawn horror that creeps over their faces becomes strangely exhilarating as you see how much potential there is for change. When you witness the moment that they understand every single dollar that has entered their economy since 1911 has been in the form of a loan, wow, step back and lock up the carving knives because baby is out for blood. Then if you throw the Tax issues on top and explain how there is no actual law requiring Americans to pay Income Tax, or that the entire take of Income Tax only services the interest on the debt and the principal loans still exist, it is a heartless person that won’t offer a hug.
Key can hardly deny he doesn’t know how speculators make money.
Yet as riots infect Britian partly due to the austerity measures, what is Key doing?
Pushing austerity on benefitaries.
Its like he worships Satan, that’s the only think I’ve got to explain it, he must just
love sticking it into the poorest, most marginalized, push them into destitution.
So here’s a question for the left, why have they yet found anyone who has lost the
benefit and is now starving?
And where did all the 7,000 go? australia? Why isn’t Labour making clear that’s
what happened to them? Or were they claiming the benefit illegally?
I can tell you’ve never lived in another country or probably done any serious travel – comparing our situation to London is surely taking the piss. Its so different you couldn’t get much further apart unless you went to Africa.
and something tells me with your $125k a year (prev comment by you on this site) you have very little experience of what the vast majority of New Zealanders are actually facing on a day to day basis
Financial scams, like Bernie Madoff’s multi-billion-dollar investment fraud, operate according to a similar pyramid structure.
The whole of capitalism operates according to the the same structure and the same lie – work hard enough and you’ll become rich. The majority don’t become rich or even well off – the rich just get richer from everyone else’s hard work.
Wifi all fixed !! Appologies for incoherent comments đ has anyone got s good read regarding the fed I have a few hours on s plane to fill. The little I have found out the more unbelievable it is !!!
It appears to me that a few (w)bankers are running the world yet no-one is aware of this
Amazing what fate has in store the riots have changed travel plans especially when they are in the same area you are staying in. I was amazed or out of touch not to be informed of this. Just like the U.S it appears that no political party cares about the people this should be aired for all who view this site to open many one eyed contributors
Too true. I have been watching and reading from all sides of the old left – right divide…one thing the ascerbic commentators all agree upon is that “finance” (Wall St, the City etc) are all out of control and an increasing danger and menace to our freedom, let alone our economies.
Why is it that when the bankers make comment regarding govt policy we have to listen and obey, yet when banks fail we must do everything possable to protect and save them?
Europe is being told to follow British austerity measures and on the U.k we will see these same austerity measures hopefully bring “relaxed” I only hope it is not only to reverse the planned reduction of frontline police by 20% or 16,000 on number. The current events make the U.S freedom to fascism more relevant.
Ps how do you delete a comment by phone?
It must be something in the air because reality doesn’t come into it. While the world is collapsing New Zealanders have the highest economic confidence in seven months. Unbelievable!
but it is yet another poll, published in a newspaper that neglects to mention how the information was gathered, a practice that is starting to piss me off. Isn’t there some regulation or a law somewhere that deals with this jejune propoganda, if not , why not? * shakes fist in indignation *
Does that not send a real message that our education sector has created a bunch of sponges who absorb rather than question the information in front of them?
yup, dey are edukated in gud skools and no wun kan say dey are stoopid kos Mr Keys says we are all brite asperatunol citycins with promis and opotoonites
like a PM’s daughter who ‘won’ a scholarship year in France to study Fashion Design.
Still gets my ire up that the trip was awarded to her and not a kid who actually needs the opportunity. Like most of the games that are played today, it just oooozes bullshit
Not saying she was not qualified for the trip ( fashion images released notwithstanding)
but children of the PM should not be eligible as it can never be seen as impartial. And before anyone plays the pollies kids are off limits card, John has dealt his kids in a dozen times.
“Of the 1,048 people surveyed, a net 21 per cent said they were worse off than a year ago, a deterioration from last month’s 14 per cent who felt worse off. Still, a net 27 per cent expect to be better off in a year’s time, compared to 24 per cent seeing better times ahead in last month’s survey. A net 2 per cent of respondents said they think economic conditions will deteriorate over the coming 12 months, an improvement from a net 8 per cent who were gloomy on the general outlook in July”
More people now feel that they are worse off than they were a year ago yet fewer think they will be worse off a year’s hence (than in the last month’s survey). It seems that people are hanging onto the claims (from commentators?) that things are/will be getting better, even though they have personally experienced things getting harder up till now.Â
More people now feel that they are worse off than they were a year ago yet fewer think they will be worse off a yearâs hence (than in the last monthâs survey). It seems that people are hanging onto the claims (from commentators?) that things are/will be getting better, even though they have personally experienced things getting harder up till now.
I am reminded of the (incompetent) couple who ran the serviced offices where I worked – until the collapse of the company I worked for coincided more or less exactly with the election of NACT – and who said, zombie-like, in reponse to my question as to why they’d voted for NACT “Time for a change!” (with high-rising terminal, and dead eyes… đ ) Ron’n’Del I call them, middle-aged to elderly conservatives. I often wonder how they like the ‘change’ they voted for?
And it simply reflects the fact that the high kiwi dollar makes it a good time to consider making a major home purchase. Note the ‘consider’, it doesn’t actually mean people will purchase anything, just that they recognise the opportunity.
LOL Heard one gent interviewed after he as bailed for rioting comment “I was just getting my own bankers bonus”…says it all about the top down state of lawlessness in the UK..
Within hours of his statement, David Cameron insisted the government had no plans to reverse its decision to cut the police budget by ÂŁ2bn over the next four years, dismissing Johnson’s remarks as the usual pleading by a mayor.
It seems to me that if politicians who create these conditions of powerlessness and hopelessness in the population while simultaneously handing over trillions to the bankers can’t be charged with inciting riots, then the charge might as well be removed from the statutes.
…if politicians who create these conditions … canât be charged with inciting riots, then the charge might as well be removed from the statutes.
Good luck with that! However, I do think there is a chance that some of these politicians (from David Cameron on down) will be in serious trouble soon, when the inquiry into the Newscorpse phone hacking and bribery scandal really gets under weigh.
I believe that Cameron has perjured himself, and I’m sure they’ll go after Blair as well. That’s assuming they’re serious, of course.
Statutes are there to keep the commoners in check, not the elite.
e.g. as far as I know despite a probable >1M fraudulent subprime loans in the US, where most of the frauds have been perpetrated by the lenders, there has not been a single imprisonment.
Neither have there been any imprisonments of credit rating agency executives who were shown to have given toxic subprime mortgage backed securities “AAA” ratings when they had never even looked at the paperwork backing the actual mortgages.
The US financial system is a corrupt joke; the MSM is feeding us stories about a pretend fair and free market that does not exist.
In paragraph six they reference an older article discussing the sources of image used in Facial Recognition Software. In the very next paragraph there is the most incredulous statement suggesting the only people to be identified by the technology are already criminals.
A few paragraphs later they say how they are using the technology sparingly and releasing images to the public is the preferred option. They then say they have released a few dozen images. Ok, so how is it that as of last night over 750 arrests had been made?
To finish your snack there is a small cherry on top when the representative from the Olympic Planning Committee is spoken to. This person says they are considering using Facial Recognition in the Olympics. Five years ago they made a documentary on the planning of the Olympics and the technology was to be one of the foundations of the security measures.
you just gotta love their fundamental belif that the public are as thick as they are
Assuming that the police have a number of people who they regularily ‘keep an eye on’ as it were. And given the CCTV coverage, then by backtracking individuals from their home address to a riot situation via CCTV footage might not be that difficult in somme cases.
As for police cuts. Cameron has said the army would be considered in future. Meanwhile the establishment left are calling for the police cuts to be reversed. And they will be.
Finally. Is there any focus on the oppressive police culture/ actions? Any questioning of the endless searches etc, etc, etc and the effect that has on people? Na. Course not.
Them kids is criminals is all. Them kids is sick. Them kids need more discipline.
on BBC radio they were hammering the ‘blame the parents who didn’t teach right from wrong’ as the one and only reason for the criminality. There was a certain volatility to their delivery that for a moment i thought O’Reilly and Hannity were guest hosting
p.s. still no CCTV footage of the Mark Duggan shooting though. Amazing how these cameras only capture criminal acts
What do they think is going to happen we we’ve seen these riots with these police doing the direct job of controlling them? In a few month, these thousands of police may not have a job any more…
Every other public sector has been hammered, now it is their turn; should have stuck to proper policing rather than flying around in choppers chasing minor car thief’s, etc. How about nailing some of the fraudulent bankers?
Cullen Fund. Nats want to invest in SOE’s. Great. Build the publicly owned business up further with public money and then eventually sell it off completely …
Notice the nats are making out like the great protectors with this PR about getting tough on loan sharks…….a private member bill they voted down with ACT last year from memory. Great to have the MSM in your pocket when you turn another parties idea into your own after destroying it in parliament.
Next, watch how a befuddled Fox News host cuts off an American girl and her aunt who contradict official lies about the South Ossetia conflict in 2008… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fBGtXS66VM
You may occasionally wonder why our right wing friends like Pete (“Garth”) George are so unbalanced and unhinged. Well, consider what they watch every day…
Today is a good day for thousands of families in America as this scum is finally jailed. He still has an appeals process but at least that will be occuring whilst he is behind bars. Sure it will most likely be one of the white collar country clubs and he will not be in general population as law enforcement personnel and officers of the court rarely are, but at least he will get a small taste of the horror and hardship he has caused so many.
If you want a really harrowing weekend look into this guy’s history and consider what the ramifications are if we continue to privatise our prisons and youth assistance programmes.
Today is a good day for thousands of families in America as this scum is finally jailed
Bizarrely, this guy was fictionalised in the TV series ‘Cold Case’ in an episode from (I think) 2009, where he was made out to be innocent – the real villain being his sister who had tricked him! (In American cop shows, the villain is almost always a foreigner or a woman…)Â
I assume that many if not most Americans (and probably NZers) who’ve seen that episode will assume the story’s wholly fictional..,
“and we understand how popular it is with parents”
Mr Key is an idiot, it is not a nice to have, it is a cornerstone of this Nation’s relationship to our childrens’ education. Perhaps if he had raised his children in NZ and not America, Europe or whatever other Bankers’enclave he cowered in, his attitude to people in general would be more compassionate.
All you need is kindergarten – ECE is a load of bollocks – it does not get any better results, and is simply an expensive childcare program.
I grew up in the 80s without ECE and I’m extremely successful in my career – ECE wouldn’t have made a grain of sand’s worth of difference to how I turned out.
and every child has the exact same circumstances as every other child right sean? and your life is the eact same life every other person wants to live? ECE allows an option. Are you aware of that word, it resembles another word we apply when promoting independant thought, choice. These are not words that just fill space in a dictionary.
p.s. sean, if they hack at ECE, they will be cutting kindergarten funding also. hell they already removed almost all support for Plunkett’s phone lines and services. there is a trend here, apparently your narrow view of what a society should aspire to probably missed it.
Sean, Kindergartens have had their funding slashed and have been accused by the government of having lots of money in the bank they should spend fixing their premises and investing in early childhood education (because then the Govt. could get out of doing that for them).
The other day I heard a radio story about Point Chevallier Kindy, it is being evicted off the primary school grounds because the school needs to expand; the Ministry of Education refused to make the school two storey (too expensive), and because of the new classes the planning laws state they need more car parks, so the kindy must move.
The kindy in question should be accepting kids at their third birthday, but in reality the average age of entry is 3 yrs 11 months, they are at capacity (190) and have 260 on a waiting list. Auckland City are unable to provide any land for relocating the kindy, so it will close.
BTW, in the 80’s when you grew up many mothers didn’t go back to work; mothers are now being told to find work or lose benefits. You cannot work unless you have adequate child care. many families are now spread across the country, so the traditional auntie, grandma, etc support is long gone.
The other day I heard a radio story about Point Chevallier Kindy, it is being evicted off the primary school grounds because the school needs to expand; the Ministry of Education refused to make the school two storey (too expensive), and because of the new classes the planning laws state they need more car parks, so the kindy must move.
In the best example of clustering I’ve ever known in my life, Clive just had a promo for their story on exactly that this very moment…
Because I didn’t want leave a fatherless child with Aspergers in day care which I would have had to do if I was working, I was on a DPB and I took my son to a parent co-operative pre-school, and then kindy when he was 3 – for his socialisation, and I am very glad I was able to do so! If all else had been equal, I would have been glad to have ECE for him (if I had worked – which I would have done, if I wasn’t a solo parent.)
A veritable library has been written about what possible causes could have led to the British riots, so what I’m blogging about shouldn’t be new to those keeping their finger on the pulse. There’s no doubt that various ingredients have amalgamated to form a disastrous recipe of violence, and in my opinion there’s two main factors involved; poverty and racism…
Remember Cherie Kurarangi Sweeney? She talked to police about the death of a Ngaruawahia baby and was called a nark. She stood up to that abuse and has continued campaigning for kids and against abuse.
She is organising âThis memorial for our children who have died at the hands of someone who was supposed to be caring for them is simple, it does not cost BUT it will have huge impact.â
So you are strongly supportive of her cause Pete, great to see.
Apart from enjoying the powerful symbolism offered by a soft toy at a war memorial, you and others will naturally be calling for increases in funding for Women’s Refuge, or at least demanding the recent cuts get reversed? You will no doubt be asking the Government increases DPB to stay in line with inflation and put all Housing NZ tenancies back into a rent controlled environment. You will of course be marching on Parliament showing that the Government must restrict the sale of Alcohol and ask that all existing licencees be put on a probationary caution leading to loss of licence and or property in compensation, if any of their product is found in possession of an intoxicated person who is later convicted for violence against children? You will naturally be asking for massive increases in Education spending and most importantly you will be wanting an immediate and comprehensive programme for those accused and/or convicted of violence to undergo Literacy and Anger mangement courses.
Or will you just be pressing like on a FaceBook page?
Are you doing all that? I agree with most of what you’ve listed, to a degree at least. The standout that I wouldn’t support as you state is “You will naturally be asking for massive increases in Education spending “. There’s obvious limits to money and I prefer smarter targeting anyway.
I won’t just be “pressing like on a FaceBook page”. On this I have been spreading the word, as I did on here. And I have volunteered to help coordinate with Cherie’s memorial down here.
I get more involved in things – for example a couple of years ago I wrote an anti abuse song and performed with a band playing it in a White Ribbon concert.
i do all i can when i can Pete, and as resources improve i will be doing a lot more.
But you considered and defended your efforts, on this topic and raised others that you have had concern on. For me that is all the build up to the election is about. Getting people to think and react. Right , Left, Fascist or Friendly. I am hungry to have people honest and if that means the occassional prodding with a sharp stick on a sensitive issue , i will prod. I think you get where i am coming from Pete and i would not be at all surprised that we would share some interesting dialogues over a couple of brews if the opportunity ever arose. Have a good weekend and let’s hope the kids do too.
i have replied Pete but it is moderation? i am guessing for use of the F word that labels certain political views of right leaning individuals, computers are not very good at defining context yet
[lprent: Yes it was. Not sure why it got put there. But it is better have auto-moderation than not. The alternatives would be to hold all comments for human scans (ie for a couple of hours). Or to let all messages through – which in the light of this statement on the dashboard
Akismet has protected your site from 101,167 spam comments already.
There’s nothing in your spam queue at the moment.
5,800 spam comments have been automatically discarded by Conditional CAPTCHA.
mmmmmmmm auto-moderation,
has such a calming ring to it, wonder if it could be applied to that long room over by the Beehive
thanks for the note lprent đ
âThe reason our childrenâs lives are the worst among economically advanced countries is because we are a poor version of the USA,â he said. âSo the USA comes second from bottom and we follow behind. The age of neo-liberalism, even with the human face that New Labour has given it, cannot stem the tide of the social recession capitalism creates.â
Survey proves that the more free-market a society is the worse off it’s children are.
But Draco, no point in telling the right, they don’t believe it, they would rather do a green paper and listen to the views of Bob McCroskie, because he knows better!
From increased greenhouse gas emissions to water contamination, hydraulic fracturing to free natural gas poses a range of environmental challenges.
The federal government should begin a major effort to measure greenhouse gas emissions tied to the nation’s booming natural gas industry, a Department of Energy advisory panel said today in a series of proposals on air and water quality issues.
The seven-member advisory panel under Energy Secretary Steven Chu released its first report outlining steps that regulators and companies drilling in vast U.S. shale gas reservoirs should take to avoid significant environmental damage and assuage public concern.
“There are serious environmental impacts underlying these concerns and these adverse environmental impacts need to be prevented, reduced and, where possible, eliminated as soon as possible,” says the report. “Absent effective control, public opposition will grow, thus putting continued production at risk.”.
In their 2004 film Team America, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, mercilessly mocked the political aspirations of the liberal Hollywood establishment by inventing a fake organisation for bleeding-heart actors called FAG (the Film Actors Guild), which counted the likes of Alec Baldwin, Michael Moore and Matt Damonin its number.
Seven years later it seems as though they picked their targets well. This week, Baldwin announced that he wanted to become mayor of New York and Moore said that he would like to see Damon become president of the US.
Amidst today’s court lists, is yet another grindingly poor, socially deprived rioter, lashing out in rage and despair, ground down by powerlessness and hopelessness:
Among the accused was Laura JohnÂson, 19, daughÂter of a sucÂcessÂful comÂpany direcÂtor. She lives in a detached conÂverted farmÂhouse in Kent, with extenÂsive grounds and a tenÂnis court. She is an EngÂlish and ItalÂian underÂgradÂuÂate at Exeter.
Before that, she attended St Olaveâs GramÂmar, the fourth-best state school in the counÂtry, where she studÂied A-levels in French, EngÂlish litÂerÂaÂture, geogÂraÂphy and clasÂsiÂcal civilÂiÂsaÂtion. On WednesÂday, at HighÂbury, she was accused of lootÂing the CurÂrys superÂstore, in CharlÂton, of elecÂtriÂcal goods worth ÂŁ5000 ($7800).
NZ high society kids end up trashed, killing themselves, and dealing drugs. Your point? Bad parenting and other shit happens at every strata of society. But those coming from well to do families have a far better chance of picking themselves up.
For starters, I bet you that “Laura” got highly paid legal representation and a lighter sentence/no conviction as a result, then most of the other kids left to rot in the same circumstance.
Yesterday Kate Wilkinson failed to answer a question as Minister of Labour, which also related to her roll as Associate Minister of Immigration, because the question was directed to her as Minister of Labour. Wilkinson declined to answer the question concerning relevant and required information to do with her portfolios because of a technicality. What a complete mind fuck!
Is that not the type of situation that we need a player in the house to provide allowance for a question to be re-tasked to the appropriate hat the particular big head was not wearing at the time of their purposeful obfuscation? You know someone who keeps things on track and makes sure the intent of the parliamentary debate is just and accurate. We could call them, ahh and remember this is just off the top off my head, we could call them The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.
That little penis Patrick Gower is creaming his jeans about Key’s up-coming attack on solo mothers – he calls it “helping them”… (He was given what he calls a ‘sneak preview)…
Also, Petulant Bean whining that she’s a good feminist… WTF? I notice she shows the same flat vowels as Key… has she always spoken like her beloved leader?
“Is it surprising that after decades of selfishness, meanness, unpunished theft and blatant tax dodging from the top, that those at the bottom follow the example.
You ruin, destroy and steal everything from people, including any hope for a better future. Then you are surprised they turn as mean and self centred as you”.
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund â When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayersâ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund â and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 âredesign of the welfare stateâ â which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty â various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being âWorking for Familiesâ, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing âon why Melissa is muteâ. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Leeâs ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from âserious populist discontentâ. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring âhard-working peopleâ. ...
Chris Trotter writes –Â MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling â or non-handling â of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealandâs two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from âserious populist discontentâ. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring âhard-working peopleâ. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to âdefend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.â To achieve this, they have pledged they âwill not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes –Â The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workersâ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
Itâs a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand mediaâs failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes –Â Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people â the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cassâs review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the âholiday highwayâ into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes –Â Thereâs a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere â mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand mediaâs failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting MÄori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
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 Zealandâs good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National governmentâs lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for TÄmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Governmentâs democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Governmentâs 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 thatâs great for the planet and great for consumers after her memberâs 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 countryâs books after Teanau Tuionoâs membersâ 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 memberâs bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Todayâs advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Governmentâs newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealandâs urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
MÄori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, MÄori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Governmentâs refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
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. âRecently 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 Teachersâ 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.  âThe 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. âScience, 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 todayâs 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. âThe Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in TaupĆ as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the TaupĆ International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. âAnticipation for the ITM TaupĆ 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. âThe 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. âThis project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sectorâs productivity,â Mr Jones says. âThe project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Governmentâs plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. âBenefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Governmentâs commitment to doubling New Zealandâs 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 Zealandâs 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. âOur 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. âNew 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 Governmentâs intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. âThe introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Todayâs 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 Governmentâs plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. âInflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sectorâs role in the export-led recovery of the economy. âI am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Governmentâs support for the revitalisation the sector.  "New Zealandâs wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. âThe inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. âMy meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singaporeâs outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.  Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpartâs almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During todayâs meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. âI am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. âPets are important members of many Kiwi families. Itâs estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iranâs shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.  âThese attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.  "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand â Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.  âDame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,â says Dr Reti. âI have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Governmentâs 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âBoosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Governmentâs plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âOur country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,â Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.  âWe cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. âThis is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âThe strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin itârule ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term âbulk billedâ refers to a GP visit they donât have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss whatâs in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to whatâs been on my mind for a while. Itâs very important. You see weâve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so weâve destroyed valuable coastal habitat â in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he canât stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
MÄori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of MÄori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao MÄori (the MÄori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, âWeâre here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment thatâs thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didnât find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. âI thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, hereâs our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
ZoĂ« Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new âFast-track Approvals Billâ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister â the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory â gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australiaâs flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But thatâs changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum âre-imaginedâ itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-oldâs seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so itâs wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhardâs rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock Youâd be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesnât require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project Youâre not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesnât fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Booksâ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingwayâs Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans peopleâs self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelonaâs city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoffâs Wellington editor Joel MacManus: âYou can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups âClimate Action VUWâ, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Governmentâs âWar on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs popularity has grown exponentially â and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, theyâre better for the environment. No, thatâs not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
âIt will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealandersâ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether youâre watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, itâs not the done thing to know â let alone ask â what our colleagues are paid. Yet, itâs easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The governmentâs plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoffâs morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up â and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. Itâs consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Hineaupounamu âMissyâ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
The thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. âIn 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/America:_Freedom_to_Fascism
An interesting piece on tv I found channel surfing
For a fatalist it is not great news, as those running The Fed Res
Nice article, US appears to be one giant fraud. Have a gink at this
http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2011-08-11/con-game
Sadly the US main product these days is financial fraud.
The equity, futures, commodities and bond markets are also completely manipulated with high speed computerised trading. Ordinary investors have no chance, those ‘markets’ are in reality now casinos where the house always wins and where the punter always loses.
Their bank is the biggest fraud of all. The American public, and most of the World, largely believe it is a Federal Agency because they stuck the word in the title. When you get through the haze and actually make an American understand the Federal Reserve is an 100% private Institution that is not accountable to any of their Administration’s frameworks, the slow drawn horror that creeps over their faces becomes strangely exhilarating as you see how much potential there is for change. When you witness the moment that they understand every single dollar that has entered their economy since 1911 has been in the form of a loan, wow, step back and lock up the carving knives because baby is out for blood. Then if you throw the Tax issues on top and explain how there is no actual law requiring Americans to pay Income Tax, or that the entire take of Income Tax only services the interest on the debt and the principal loans still exist, it is a heartless person that won’t offer a hug.
Key can hardly deny he doesn’t know how speculators make money.
Yet as riots infect Britian partly due to the austerity measures, what is Key doing?
Pushing austerity on benefitaries.
Its like he worships Satan, that’s the only think I’ve got to explain it, he must just
love sticking it into the poorest, most marginalized, push them into destitution.
So here’s a question for the left, why have they yet found anyone who has lost the
benefit and is now starving?
And where did all the 7,000 go? australia? Why isn’t Labour making clear that’s
what happened to them? Or were they claiming the benefit illegally?
I can tell you’ve never lived in another country or probably done any serious travel – comparing our situation to London is surely taking the piss. Its so different you couldn’t get much further apart unless you went to Africa.
and something tells me with your $125k a year (prev comment by you on this site) you have very little experience of what the vast majority of New Zealanders are actually facing on a day to day basis
The whole of capitalism operates according to the the same structure and the same lie – work hard enough and you’ll become rich. The majority don’t become rich or even well off – the rich just get richer from everyone else’s hard work.
Wifi all fixed !! Appologies for incoherent comments đ has anyone got s good read regarding the fed I have a few hours on s plane to fill. The little I have found out the more unbelievable it is !!!
It appears to me that a few (w)bankers are running the world yet no-one is aware of this
Amazing what fate has in store the riots have changed travel plans especially when they are in the same area you are staying in. I was amazed or out of touch not to be informed of this. Just like the U.S it appears that no political party cares about the people this should be aired for all who view this site to open many one eyed contributors
Too true. I have been watching and reading from all sides of the old left – right divide…one thing the ascerbic commentators all agree upon is that “finance” (Wall St, the City etc) are all out of control and an increasing danger and menace to our freedom, let alone our economies.
Why is it that when the bankers make comment regarding govt policy we have to listen and obey, yet when banks fail we must do everything possable to protect and save them?
Europe is being told to follow British austerity measures and on the U.k we will see these same austerity measures hopefully bring “relaxed” I only hope it is not only to reverse the planned reduction of frontline police by 20% or 16,000 on number. The current events make the U.S freedom to fascism more relevant.
Ps how do you delete a comment by phone?
Now if you could put that in English Herodotus… have you been taking lessons from Joky Hen? He has a wonderful command of the mother tongue as well.
The wireless keeps dropping out and I was under the impression that the comment was deleted so please ignore my response !!!! đ
Kiwi’s in Lala land,
It must be something in the air because reality doesn’t come into it. While the world is collapsing New Zealanders have the highest economic confidence in seven months. Unbelievable!
That just means they think things can’t possibly get worse than they already are. It’s not actually a ringing endorsement.
but it is yet another poll, published in a newspaper that neglects to mention how the information was gathered, a practice that is starting to piss me off. Isn’t there some regulation or a law somewhere that deals with this jejune propoganda, if not , why not? * shakes fist in indignation *
Does that not send a real message that our education sector has created a bunch of sponges who absorb rather than question the information in front of them?
yup, dey are edukated in gud skools and no wun kan say dey are stoopid kos Mr Keys says we are all brite asperatunol citycins with promis and opotoonites
All except those at Kings College, etc. because they are guaranteed good jobs by virtue of being at a posh school.
like a PM’s daughter who ‘won’ a scholarship year in France to study Fashion Design.
Still gets my ire up that the trip was awarded to her and not a kid who actually needs the opportunity. Like most of the games that are played today, it just oooozes bullshit
Not saying she was not qualified for the trip ( fashion images released notwithstanding)
but children of the PM should not be eligible as it can never be seen as impartial. And before anyone plays the pollies kids are off limits card, John has dealt his kids in a dozen times.
Yes, that could explain the rest of the results:
“Of the 1,048 people surveyed, a net 21 per cent said they were worse off than a year ago, a deterioration from last month’s 14 per cent who felt worse off. Still, a net 27 per cent expect to be better off in a year’s time, compared to 24 per cent seeing better times ahead in last month’s survey.
A net 2 per cent of respondents said they think economic conditions will deteriorate over the coming 12 months, an improvement from a net 8 per cent who were gloomy on the general outlook in July”
More people now feel that they are worse off than they were a year ago yet fewer think they will be worse off a year’s hence (than in the last month’s survey). It seems that people are hanging onto the claims (from commentators?) that things are/will be getting better, even though they have personally experienced things getting harder up till now.Â
I am reminded of the (incompetent) couple who ran the serviced offices where I worked – until the collapse of the company I worked for coincided more or less exactly with the election of NACT – and who said, zombie-like, in reponse to my question as to why they’d voted for NACT “Time for a change!” (with high-rising terminal, and dead eyes… đ ) Ron’n’Del I call them, middle-aged to elderly conservatives. I often wonder how they like the ‘change’ they voted for?
And it simply reflects the fact that the high kiwi dollar makes it a good time to consider making a major home purchase. Note the ‘consider’, it doesn’t actually mean people will purchase anything, just that they recognise the opportunity.
Pom pollies in Lala land….
Apparently there are plans to cut the Met Police force by 16000, the same number on the streets during the riots. This from the BBC….
Senior government sources say the Treasury will not reopen negotiations on the spending review.
And Home Secretary Theresa May has repeated her belief that police budgets can be reduced without damaging their ability to do their jobs.
But the Home Office said the reductions in the police budget were manageable.
Which all goes to show how out of touch our political leadership really is. And the money men are wagging the dog again.
But it’s ok Bored, ‘cos they’re going to ban the wearing of masks and give themselves the power to shut down facebook and twitter whenever they like.
So don’t worry about the cuts, they’re still building an effective police state.
LOL Heard one gent interviewed after he as bailed for rioting comment “I was just getting my own bankers bonus”…says it all about the top down state of lawlessness in the UK..
A link to that please. pretty please with a cherry on top
i have wafers,
please Bored, where did you hear that one, it’s platinum dipped in gold with rhodium sprinkles
Al Jazheera last night, get it on cable TV.
possibly still retrievable here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/15/theresa-may-cut-police-budget-without-violent-unrest
Boris has his say but:
Within hours of his statement, David Cameron insisted the government had no plans to reverse its decision to cut the police budget by ÂŁ2bn over the next four years, dismissing Johnson’s remarks as the usual pleading by a mayor.
Indeed.
It seems to me that if politicians who create these conditions of powerlessness and hopelessness in the population while simultaneously handing over trillions to the bankers can’t be charged with inciting riots, then the charge might as well be removed from the statutes.
…if politicians who create these conditions … canât be charged with inciting riots, then the charge might as well be removed from the statutes.
Good luck with that! However, I do think there is a chance that some of these politicians (from David Cameron on down) will be in serious trouble soon, when the inquiry into the Newscorpse phone hacking and bribery scandal really gets under weigh.
I believe that Cameron has perjured himself, and I’m sure they’ll go after Blair as well. That’s assuming they’re serious, of course.
Statutes are there to keep the commoners in check, not the elite.
e.g. as far as I know despite a probable >1M fraudulent subprime loans in the US, where most of the frauds have been perpetrated by the lenders, there has not been a single imprisonment.
Neither have there been any imprisonments of credit rating agency executives who were shown to have given toxic subprime mortgage backed securities “AAA” ratings when they had never even looked at the paperwork backing the actual mortgages.
The US financial system is a corrupt joke; the MSM is feeding us stories about a pretend fair and free market that does not exist.
Putting the burgeoning Police State aside for a moment. Do these people even listen to what they say, or read what is written about what they said?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/5434148/Facial-recognition-in-use-after-British-riots
In paragraph six they reference an older article discussing the sources of image used in Facial Recognition Software. In the very next paragraph there is the most incredulous statement suggesting the only people to be identified by the technology are already criminals.
A few paragraphs later they say how they are using the technology sparingly and releasing images to the public is the preferred option. They then say they have released a few dozen images. Ok, so how is it that as of last night over 750 arrests had been made?
To finish your snack there is a small cherry on top when the representative from the Olympic Planning Committee is spoken to. This person says they are considering using Facial Recognition in the Olympics. Five years ago they made a documentary on the planning of the Olympics and the technology was to be one of the foundations of the security measures.
you just gotta love their fundamental belif that the public are as thick as they are
Assuming that the police have a number of people who they regularily ‘keep an eye on’ as it were. And given the CCTV coverage, then by backtracking individuals from their home address to a riot situation via CCTV footage might not be that difficult in somme cases.
As for police cuts. Cameron has said the army would be considered in future. Meanwhile the establishment left are calling for the police cuts to be reversed. And they will be.
Finally. Is there any focus on the oppressive police culture/ actions? Any questioning of the endless searches etc, etc, etc and the effect that has on people? Na. Course not.
Them kids is criminals is all. Them kids is sick. Them kids need more discipline.
on BBC radio they were hammering the ‘blame the parents who didn’t teach right from wrong’ as the one and only reason for the criminality. There was a certain volatility to their delivery that for a moment i thought O’Reilly and Hannity were guest hosting
p.s. still no CCTV footage of the Mark Duggan shooting though. Amazing how these cameras only capture criminal acts
Oh…ru saying that the police may not have been performing a criminal act in that shootoing? đ
Police are effectively a legalised gang of thugs.
What do they think is going to happen we we’ve seen these riots with these police doing the direct job of controlling them? In a few month, these thousands of police may not have a job any more…
Every other public sector has been hammered, now it is their turn; should have stuck to proper policing rather than flying around in choppers chasing minor car thief’s, etc. How about nailing some of the fraudulent bankers?
Cullen Fund. Nats want to invest in SOE’s. Great. Build the publicly owned business up further with public money and then eventually sell it off completely …
Notice the nats are making out like the great protectors with this PR about getting tough on loan sharks…….a private member bill they voted down with ACT last year from memory. Great to have the MSM in your pocket when you turn another parties idea into your own after destroying it in parliament.
Support Adidas! Adidas supports European Sporting Performance
http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2011/08/T082211.jpg
Look at the matching outfit. Beautiful in so many ways.
lol poetic
This is so appropriate in so many ways …
I notice that ANZ are advertising home loans for holidays, renovations, kids etc.
So back to the future!!!
Silencing dissent on the BBC and Fox News
First, the impatient handling of Darcus Howe, a West Indian writer and broadcaster. Note how belittling and condescending the BBC host is…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biJgILxGK0o&feature=topvideos_news
Next, watch how a befuddled Fox News host cuts off an American girl and her aunt who contradict official lies about the South Ossetia conflict in 2008…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fBGtXS66VM
Charlie Brooker on the American News Media. Funny
You may occasionally wonder why our right wing friends like Pete (“Garth”) George are so unbalanced and unhinged. Well, consider what they watch every day…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aEk864YrKw&feature=related
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/5434635/Kids-for-cash-judge-gets-28-years-jail
Today is a good day for thousands of families in America as this scum is finally jailed. He still has an appeals process but at least that will be occuring whilst he is behind bars. Sure it will most likely be one of the white collar country clubs and he will not be in general population as law enforcement personnel and officers of the court rarely are, but at least he will get a small taste of the horror and hardship he has caused so many.
If you want a really harrowing weekend look into this guy’s history and consider what the ramifications are if we continue to privatise our prisons and youth assistance programmes.
Bizarrely, this guy was fictionalised in the TV series ‘Cold Case’ in an episode from (I think) 2009, where he was made out to be innocent – the real villain being his sister who had tricked him! (In American cop shows, the villain is almost always a foreigner or a woman…)Â
I assume that many if not most Americans (and probably NZers) who’ve seen that episode will assume the story’s wholly fictional..,
I see Mr. Key hasn’t quite got round to understanding the need for quality early childhood education
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10744548
Maybe it is going to be an election carrot?
“and we understand how popular it is with parents”
Mr Key is an idiot, it is not a nice to have, it is a cornerstone of this Nation’s relationship to our childrens’ education. Perhaps if he had raised his children in NZ and not America, Europe or whatever other Bankers’enclave he cowered in, his attitude to people in general would be more compassionate.
All you need is kindergarten – ECE is a load of bollocks – it does not get any better results, and is simply an expensive childcare program.
I grew up in the 80s without ECE and I’m extremely successful in my career – ECE wouldn’t have made a grain of sand’s worth of difference to how I turned out.
and every child has the exact same circumstances as every other child right sean? and your life is the eact same life every other person wants to live? ECE allows an option. Are you aware of that word, it resembles another word we apply when promoting independant thought, choice. These are not words that just fill space in a dictionary.
p.s. sean, if they hack at ECE, they will be cutting kindergarten funding also. hell they already removed almost all support for Plunkett’s phone lines and services. there is a trend here, apparently your narrow view of what a society should aspire to probably missed it.
Sean, Kindergartens have had their funding slashed and have been accused by the government of having lots of money in the bank they should spend fixing their premises and investing in early childhood education (because then the Govt. could get out of doing that for them).
The other day I heard a radio story about Point Chevallier Kindy, it is being evicted off the primary school grounds because the school needs to expand; the Ministry of Education refused to make the school two storey (too expensive), and because of the new classes the planning laws state they need more car parks, so the kindy must move.
The kindy in question should be accepting kids at their third birthday, but in reality the average age of entry is 3 yrs 11 months, they are at capacity (190) and have 260 on a waiting list. Auckland City are unable to provide any land for relocating the kindy, so it will close.
BTW, in the 80’s when you grew up many mothers didn’t go back to work; mothers are now being told to find work or lose benefits. You cannot work unless you have adequate child care. many families are now spread across the country, so the traditional auntie, grandma, etc support is long gone.
In the best example of clustering I’ve ever known in my life, Clive just had a promo for their story on exactly that this very moment…
Because I didn’t want leave a fatherless child with Aspergers in day care which I would have had to do if I was working, I was on a DPB and I took my son to a parent co-operative pre-school, and then kindy when he was 3 – for his socialisation, and I am very glad I was able to do so! If all else had been equal, I would have been glad to have ECE for him (if I had worked – which I would have done, if I wasn’t a solo parent.)
You can’t seriously expect Sean Maitland to think beyond the two dimensions of his narrow-ass own precious life can you?
“I grew up in the 80s without ECE and Iâm extremely successful in my career”
Your success appears only to be exceeded by your narcissism – blowhard (mind you we only have your word for that)
ECE wouldnât have made a grain of sandâs worth of difference to how I turned out.
It may have made you more empathetic toward others and less of a bragger.
more reationary ignorance from a National MP
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10463579
you gotta laugh, it got all the way to her writing a letter to the associate health minister ffs
or were they hoping to catch out Mr Anderton?
What an utter moron! (I love the way she spelled touchĂ©, as well! đ ) That email was first seen by me back in the 90s, forwarded by a Libertarian, as a dig against Greens – and it’s glaringly obvious to anyone with an intermediate school education what di-hydrogen monoxide is!
Sorry I’m Black
A veritable library has been written about what possible causes could have led to the British riots, so what I’m blogging about shouldn’t be new to those keeping their finger on the pulse. There’s no doubt that various ingredients have amalgamated to form a disastrous recipe of violence, and in my opinion there’s two main factors involved; poverty and racism…
We have problems of our own.
Remember Cherie Kurarangi Sweeney? She talked to police about the death of a Ngaruawahia baby and was called a nark. She stood up to that abuse and has continued campaigning for kids and against abuse.
She is organising âThis memorial for our children who have died at the hands of someone who was supposed to be caring for them is simple, it does not cost BUT it will have huge impact.â
âSTOP the Deaths from Child Abuse! NOW!â (Cherie’s Facebook event page).
Good to see people who are prepared to step up and do something about problems. Cherie deserves a heap of praise and support.
So you are strongly supportive of her cause Pete, great to see.
Apart from enjoying the powerful symbolism offered by a soft toy at a war memorial, you and others will naturally be calling for increases in funding for Women’s Refuge, or at least demanding the recent cuts get reversed? You will no doubt be asking the Government increases DPB to stay in line with inflation and put all Housing NZ tenancies back into a rent controlled environment. You will of course be marching on Parliament showing that the Government must restrict the sale of Alcohol and ask that all existing licencees be put on a probationary caution leading to loss of licence and or property in compensation, if any of their product is found in possession of an intoxicated person who is later convicted for violence against children? You will naturally be asking for massive increases in Education spending and most importantly you will be wanting an immediate and comprehensive programme for those accused and/or convicted of violence to undergo Literacy and Anger mangement courses.
Or will you just be pressing like on a FaceBook page?
Are you doing all that? I agree with most of what you’ve listed, to a degree at least. The standout that I wouldn’t support as you state is “You will naturally be asking for massive increases in Education spending “. There’s obvious limits to money and I prefer smarter targeting anyway.
I won’t just be “pressing like on a FaceBook page”. On this I have been spreading the word, as I did on here. And I have volunteered to help coordinate with Cherie’s memorial down here.
I get more involved in things – for example a couple of years ago I wrote an anti abuse song and performed with a band playing it in a White Ribbon concert.
What point were you trying to make?
i do all i can when i can Pete, and as resources improve i will be doing a lot more.
But you considered and defended your efforts, on this topic and raised others that you have had concern on. For me that is all the build up to the election is about. Getting people to think and react. Right , Left, Fascist or Friendly. I am hungry to have people honest and if that means the occassional prodding with a sharp stick on a sensitive issue , i will prod. I think you get where i am coming from Pete and i would not be at all surprised that we would share some interesting dialogues over a couple of brews if the opportunity ever arose. Have a good weekend and let’s hope the kids do too.
i have replied Pete but it is moderation? i am guessing for use of the F word that labels certain political views of right leaning individuals, computers are not very good at defining context yet
[lprent: Yes it was. Not sure why it got put there. But it is better have auto-moderation than not. The alternatives would be to hold all comments for human scans (ie for a couple of hours). Or to let all messages through – which in the light of this statement on the dashboard
Akismet has protected your site from 101,167 spam comments already.
There’s nothing in your spam queue at the moment.
5,800 spam comments have been automatically discarded by Conditional CAPTCHA.
I’m not going to do… ]
mmmmmmmm auto-moderation,
has such a calming ring to it, wonder if it could be applied to that long room over by the Beehive
thanks for the note lprent đ
What point were you trying to make?
I think it was clear to everyone but you what point he was trying to make: you are a hypocrite, and (even worse) a confused hypocrite.
Any want a laugh; the grossly deluded Mr. Brash in full effect!
Â
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10744607
Generation F*cked
How Britain is Eating Its Young
Survey proves that the more free-market a society is the worse off it’s children are.
But Draco, no point in telling the right, they don’t believe it, they would rather do a green paper and listen to the views of Bob McCroskie, because he knows better!
Scientific American: Government Fracking Panel Calls for Environmental Impact Study
From increased greenhouse gas emissions to water contamination, hydraulic fracturing to free natural gas poses a range of environmental challenges.
The federal government should begin a major effort to measure greenhouse gas emissions tied to the nation’s booming natural gas industry, a Department of Energy advisory panel said today in a series of proposals on air and water quality issues.
The seven-member advisory panel under Energy Secretary Steven Chu released its first report outlining steps that regulators and companies drilling in vast U.S. shale gas reservoirs should take to avoid significant environmental damage and assuage public concern.
“There are serious environmental impacts underlying these concerns and these adverse environmental impacts need to be prevented, reduced and, where possible, eliminated as soon as possible,” says the report. “Absent effective control, public opposition will grow, thus putting continued production at risk.”.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get weirder…
http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/82963,people,news,team-america-fags-alec-baldwin-and-matt-damon-have-designs-on-us-politics-michael-moore
Â
Amidst today’s court lists, is yet another grindingly poor, socially deprived rioter, lashing out in rage and despair, ground down by powerlessness and hopelessness:
Among the accused was Laura JohnÂson, 19, daughÂter of a sucÂcessÂful comÂpany direcÂtor. She lives in a detached conÂverted farmÂhouse in Kent, with extenÂsive grounds and a tenÂnis court. She is an EngÂlish and ItalÂian underÂgradÂuÂate at Exeter.
Before that, she attended St Olaveâs GramÂmar, the fourth-best state school in the counÂtry, where she studÂied A-levels in French, EngÂlish litÂerÂaÂture, geogÂraÂphy and clasÂsiÂcal civilÂiÂsaÂtion. On WednesÂday, at HighÂbury, she was accused of lootÂing the CurÂrys superÂstore, in CharlÂton, of elecÂtriÂcal goods worth ÂŁ5000 ($7800).
Wish I were that deprived…
NZ high society kids end up trashed, killing themselves, and dealing drugs. Your point? Bad parenting and other shit happens at every strata of society. But those coming from well to do families have a far better chance of picking themselves up.
For starters, I bet you that “Laura” got highly paid legal representation and a lighter sentence/no conviction as a result, then most of the other kids left to rot in the same circumstance.
Asshole of the Week Award – Kate Wilkinson
Yesterday Kate Wilkinson failed to answer a question as Minister of Labour, which also related to her roll as Associate Minister of Immigration, because the question was directed to her as Minister of Labour. Wilkinson declined to answer the question concerning relevant and required information to do with her portfolios because of a technicality. What a complete mind fuck!
Is that not the type of situation that we need a player in the house to provide allowance for a question to be re-tasked to the appropriate hat the particular big head was not wearing at the time of their purposeful obfuscation? You know someone who keeps things on track and makes sure the intent of the parliamentary debate is just and accurate. We could call them, ahh and remember this is just off the top off my head, we could call them The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.
Friday Fun with Photos #12
United Future leader and Associate Minister for Health Peter Dunne said he had smoked cannabis “a couple of times” as a student in the 1970s…
Dont believe a word of it, he was born a wowser.
That little penis Patrick Gower is creaming his jeans about Key’s up-coming attack on solo mothers – he calls it “helping them”… (He was given what he calls a ‘sneak preview)…
Also, Petulant Bean whining that she’s a good feminist… WTF? I notice she shows the same flat vowels as Key… has she always spoken like her beloved leader?
oh great plan, when all else fails attack their diction
The Left are allowed to be just as mean and petty as some DPB Minister intent on pulling the ladder up after her.
Lolwut? It was an observation! It’s the sort of thing that I notice…
Â
“Is it surprising that after decades of selfishness, meanness, unpunished theft and blatant tax dodging from the top, that those at the bottom follow the example.
You ruin, destroy and steal everything from people, including any hope for a better future. Then you are surprised they turn as mean and self centred as you”.
http://kjt-kt.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-riots.html
“Where England goes, we will follow”..