It seems National’s response to falling decisively behind in the polls is to launch an all out attack on David Shearer, presumably in the hope of somehow destabilizing Labour. The attack was signalled by an unusually active Mathew Hooten desperately trying to re-frame debate this way on every blog he thought might be read by a journalist and is being vigorously pushed by the right’s liars, repeaters and shills (Slater, Farrar and O’Sullivan) today. It is truly desperate stuff, but cunning in a shit house rat, Steven Joyce kind of way. Ot won’t work, but i would suggest we all start using the frantic mud slinging at Shearer as a reliable indicator of just how ugly the internal polling results are getting for forgetful John and his shambolic government.
In the last week, it looks like Shearer has started to lead the news agenda, rather than just respond to it: bringing up the issue of key talking at the GCSB staff cafe; announcing a joint parliamentary inquiry into manufacturing. National have been put in the position of having to respond to these stories.
On policy, I think Shearer is till too far to the right for me. But on leadership, I think Shearer is starting to show some.
In the last week, it looks like Shearer has started to lead the news agenda, rather than just respond to it:
Hi Karol –
What the above statement really indicates is that the media are seeking to shift control the debate – Shearer is not leading anything, and is no leader, never was, never will be which is why he was selected in the first place.
The aim of the media, as you will be aware is to control the context of the narrative, to shift and subvert, missdirect and deceive, thats what it exists for.
While it is too soon to say the writing is on the wall for NACT next election, the media are hedging their bets by attempting to make Shearer look like potentential (he is also their man), thats all the game is about…We know this because of the way the same media talks unfavourably, for the most part about DC. That said I do not see DC as any saviour of this country, he knows how the system is designed, and what its designed for, its the way a manufactured theatre must function, to mimic democracy
… its the way a manufactured theatre must function, to mimic democracy
From what I can make out, the present system is designed to keep democracy at bay. If we had democracy we certainly wouldn’t have capitalism or the “free-markets” which only benefit the owners.
Sorry Karol Shearer is not leading he is being led by the nose. And until the ‘leaders’ are dug out and gone, then Labour will just be a bunch of wanna be’s, and worst of all HAS BEENS!
down in wellington at work ( on wakefield st) and have posted from here numerous times over the last few years. This last week I am having a ridiculously impossible time posting from computers or phone, at work at home or on public machines.
past 24 hours I have been checking on downforeveryoneorjustme.com and usually get a yes it is down for everyone
On Phone: Most times site doesn’t load, or tells me the comment was not published, then i go to page and it was published, or does the super frustrating jump away from the text entry box when trying to add text etc which has been going on for ages now. Basically entering from the phone is impossible without a lot of patience.
I do nothing to my phone. I use ‘approved supplier aps’ i use it more a s acamera and memo book than i do a phone. It gets turned on. It gets turned off. Any issues with anything relating to software are not coming from me. Every other site i visit is fine, same as for the pc access. They load fine, run fine, text entry is fine. Every other site is fine. Something very screwy going on and i strongly suspect thestandard site is getting messed with.
Anyways, this is not a complaint just trying to understand what is going on
For the apologists and spinners the drive of the last few days has been to slide over the nub of matters, Key’s palpable dishonesty, into a story about the story.
However, as numerous commenters have said, the smell of shit is all over Key. Peoples’ nostrils are already, irreversibly, on alert.
Too late Johnny Boy. You’re in this business up to your neck and in a more or less way everyone knows it including your dissembling soldiers. That’s why we have the story about the story, the shrill attacks on Shearer, and pleas/directions towards indulgence.
Clay feet…….no clothes………fibbing little boy……..rabbit in the headlights.
The increasingly idiotic Fran O’S is advocating for Key to get the GCSB to investigate David Shearer, she obviously wrote the manual for Putin and before that Ol’Joe Stalin himself. She certainly looks and sounds old enough to have been in the shadows in the 40’s!
What these ‘journalists’ like franet, JA and their blog buddies don’t seem to realise because their heads are so far up NACTs butt that this shows just how biased and in the pocket of the hollowmen they are.
Readers of this site and other informed sources already know that but in terms of swaying any swingers it’s probably going to do the opposite and undermine what little credibility, if any, they had.
This is interesting though. It seems Mold’s partner wasn’t at the GCSB at the time of Key’s cafe talk to staff:
The Weekend Herald has been told Dr Rogers was not at the GCSB on the critical dates in the scandal. The Weekend Herald understands he was seconded to another government agency at the time of the Dotcom spying and during Mr Key’s visit….
[Shearer said] “Whether (the video) still exists now as a result of the searches that GCSB has made, I can’t tell you.”
He also gave more detail of Mr Key’s comments. “He mentioned the good work they had done with the Kim Dotcom case. There were a large number of people at that meeting who heard John Key speak.”
Seems increasingly probable there was GCSB surveillance of Dotcom, maybe right from the time he arrived in NZ. The NZ agencies would not have been ‘confused’ or ‘mistaken’ over Dotcom’s residency, they just treated it as irrelevant to their US instructions.
Key had had numerous GCSB briefings from the time he took office, and would surely have known about this before February 2012. A few words then to praise the troops would have been appropriate, given the Dotcom raid circus just weeks before.
If this jolly gathering happened as surmised, and was taped, it would be interesting to watch and maybe highly damaging to the PM. But it is only a small part of the big picture, which it seems stretched back a long time before.
As the minister in charge of GCSB, the real question is whether the admitted crime of illegal surveillance can be laid at the feet of John Key himself. But who watches the watchers?
Be interesting to see if the MSM do some serious follow ups in what Bennett says and does after the meeting, shades of the key visit to the aspirational family in goffs electorate, opportunistic and hollow like their backers.
Mmmm…Bennett (who let’s face it really avoided committing to a meeting with Sam as much as she could without conclusively proving she was a heartless bitch) is likely to meet with him just for show. Need to keep up the pressure on her or it will be shuffled to the back of the media pile quickly.
Sam for office sounds excellent. You can change the world from a wheelchair : )
Sam could take this in a number of directions. I’d like him to contact the Office of Disabilities (run by MSD) and see if he could work to influence MSD by using his experience to help other people on Sickness and IB’s. If Bennett suggests it to him, even better.
Below is the original article before it was edited a couple of days ago. Had to save as text, otherwise the html wanted to link itself to the update version.
Does that make Danya Levy more senior? as her name does not appear on the article below, but does on the 834am update
Rescuing vulnerable kids: Bennett’s master plan
KATE CHAPMAN
Last updated 05:00 11/10/2012
Share
The Government is encouraging people to dob
in suspected child abusers under a raft of changes aimed at reining in our
horrific child abuse rate.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett will today launch the White Paper for
Vulnerable Children – the culmination of four years’ work and consultation with
thousands of community groups and concerned parents.
The cornerstone of the Government’s plan is raising awareness of the signs of
child abuse and neglect, and urging people to report it.
Recent high-profile cases have shown vulnerable children were often known to
multiple agencies but a failure to put the pieces together saw them horribly
reabused and even killed.
Mrs Bennett said the plight of vulnerable children had been her driving force
and the policy changes unveiled today simply had to work. “I feel like this is
what I came into Parliament for.”
The White Paper and accompanying Children’s Action Plan were the best that could
have been produced in the current environment, she said.
A Child Protect telephone line is planned for concerned neighbours, family,
friends and professionals to ring when they suspect a child is being badly
treated.
Comments made to the phone line, and information gathered by government and
community organisations, would be entered into a Vulnerable Kids Information
System to track those deemed at risk.
The system would also hold information on high-risk adults who had abused or
neglected children, regardless of whether they were convicted.
Such information sharing was crucial, Mrs Bennett said.
The system would be password-protected, users would be monitored, and
professionals would have restricted access to different levels of information.
Only children considered vulnerable – at risk of, or already experiencing,
maltreatment – would be entered into the system. While accounts could be made
inactive, it was unlikely they would ever be deleted. An expert panel would be
established to nut out details of the system. “The security and the checks to be
put on this information system is vital to its integrity. More than anything
we’re going to work to get that right.”
There would be children wrongly identified as being vulnerable, Mrs Bennett
said.
“If they’re not becoming a child of concern then, as such, they will effectively
drop out of the system.”
The Child Protect line would have a role in ensuring information in the system
was correct and updated. The contact service did not have to be run by the
Social Development Ministry; it could be contracted out to a non-government
organisation.
Ad Feedback The Government also wants those working with children to take
greater responsibility in reporting suspected neglect or abuse. Teachers and
medical professionals would be among those given training to recognise the
signs, and legislation would be introduced “requiring all agencies working with
children to have policies and reporting systems in place to recognise and report
child abuse and neglect”, the White Paper says.
Mrs Bennett said that was not mandatory reporting. “We’re going to really set
some clear rules around it . . . making sure that they follow through and they
do report; we’re also not making it mandatory so they use their professional
judgment better.”
There were concerns that mandatory reporting would mean at-risk children dropped
out of the system and services would be over-run with notifications.
Under the Children’s Action Plan, there would also be controls on who could have
contact with children. People who posed a continuing and serious threat to their
children could have their parental rights removed by a judge.
Mrs Bennett said it was an extreme step and not one that would be taken lightly.
Look at the opening paragraph of the updated article
DANYA LEVY AND KATE CHAPMAN
Last updated 08:34 11/10/2012
New measures to reduce New Zealand’s appalling rate of child abuse are being welcomed by child advocates but Opposition parties say the Government has failed to address poverty which can exacerbate the risk.
Look at the deliberate framing to pit so called child adovate groups (no mention of who), against the “opposition parties”, this is faux support for the NACT government, being created out of total thin air by the MSM!
The opening of the new article below – So between 5am and the 834am update, the “child advocate groups” gave their support did they – This sort of garbage neds to be called out, and in the original article, only a couple of hours earlier, no mention of suport at all, only mention of critics lower down the article…So the article was updated, sanitized and deliberate lies inserted by the looks of it.
KATE CHAPMAN
Last updated 05:00 11/10/2012
The Government is encouraging people to dob
in suspected child abusers under a raft of changes aimed at reining in our
horrific child abuse rate.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett will today launch the White Paper for
Vulnerable Children – the culmination of four years’ work and consultation with
thousands of community groups and concerned parents.
psychiatry professor says the drugs are being over-prescribed.
Yup what there is , is deliberate misuse of “drugs” used to placate the sheep from wondering why they are feeling so fcked up in the first place…
There you go, have some fluoride, eat some nice lithium, prozac, fluoxetene, have a shed load of mental stress created by all these nice fake systems we are trapping you into, then when you feel bad, go see the nice Dr who will ensure that you stay docile, and if you really feel something is wrong we will send you to the quack who will certify you.
Welfare Justice Dunedin says humiliation of beneficiaries widespread and challenges Work and Income to drop their appeal and use those resources to follow Human Rights Tribunal’s ruling: http://community.scoop.co.nz/2012/10/beneficiary-battles-on/
Quote: ‘We challenge the Ministry to stop using bully tactics and taxpayer money to drag Mr Holmes through the High Court, and to take on board the tribunal’s recommendations. This isn’t an isolated incident. WJD has been inundated with appalling stories of breaches of privacy, humiliation, loss of dignity and a widespread disconnect from professional conduct among WINZ staff.’
I can’t believe I just heard that fool of a Housing Minister, Heatley whining on Radio NZ that Hone should quit bitching about the GI evictions and just be grateful his people up north are going to get hand-me-down houses.
Poor sam wasn’t given a lousy $40 for food,which he travelled miles for in a wheelchair,
but $600.000 of tax payers money can be given for the ‘elite’ to have a weekend of golf
in Queenstown,the Micheal Hill tournament.
My love and support go out to sam and hope that he is ok now and qudos to Hone
for supporting him.
lanth this is only a comparison between the major trading blocks .
They are all reducing the value of their currency at the same time which is not having an effect on their economic performance!
If these trading blocks had not all reduced their currency value at the same time their would be a different story!
Like New Zealand not doing any thing the Aussies have done it for us to a degree.
I dont condone violence but bennett was just on the nation,i actually felt she needed a
slap.
The ignoramace can’t even admit that ‘poverty’ is the problem.
Having hundreds of thousands of NZ go cold and hungry in this land of hydropower and milk is a direct attack on their daily wellbeing and therefore violence on a massive scale.
This illustrates the difference between the left and right when it comes to using humour in a political setting. Basically the right try to be amusing while making a point whereas the left are about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
Its a pleasent way to pass the time. Its interesting though the amount of times I’ve said something on here and got flack for it then a post is written later which is very similar to what I’ve written.
Any time I’ve written about the problems within Labour especially why they lost the last couple of elections theres been a post in similar content. Not saying I influence the posts (more likely that myself and the person writing it have similar ideas) but it seems its not what you say so much as who says it.
“but it seems its not what you say so much as who says it.”
Yep. The Standard (breaking the inconsistently applied policy of referring to The Standard as a singular entity) enjoys frothing and pointing fingers at those who break from the party line. The group think is weird and unwieldy.
“So no examples, then.”
I think you mean to say ‘So, no examples then?’ Grammar matters.
chris73
Humour with excess for the left? Just reminding everyone of the cleverness of Spitting Image in their British satirical forays on Youtube. Bit of fun for everyone – those not being lampooned felt left out.
Oh I’d agree it was juvenile humour. But no subtlety? Remember when you first looked at it – you had to look at it at least twice to figure out if it was real or not
A lot of thought is taken before the sledgehammer is used efficiently by the left,with the
right it is thrown around and aimed at those who just need a hug and some love.
To chris73
Why is this site soooo slow, it’s like stepping back to the days of dial up?
Great looking site but the usability is crap.
The Standard would have to be one of the slowest sites on the web, I don’t get it,the site is 99% text it should load in an instant.
BM
I have been finding that the site is extremely slow often. I haven’t noticed this before. It seems to take ages to get comments up often. Also I click on a recent comment from the right hand box and get sent to some other page or it takes ages to find though I have noticed that there is a difficulty with that when there are over say 100 comments.
I thought it was from my setup. It has been suggested that I use Firefox instead of Opera so I could possibly help from my side, but I haven’t had such problems in the past. I don’t know whether the constant upgrades I get with Opera may introduce some new routine.
Sites going OK for me, but if LPrent or someone can tell me how to stop the new post notifications from being emailed to me it would be really awesome. My smartphone dings non-stop..
The comment on Radionz this morning about the huge annual payments to heads of government agencies in money terms (rather than in percentage terms) sparked a memory of the right wing business interests talking about achieving lower wages for all by using tendering or an auction system to set the rates.
Review of pay for public sector heads wanted
The Green Party wants an urgent review of salaries of public sector chief executives after a report by the State Services Commission showed some are paid more than $600,000.
Now when top salaries are getting into the money gouging level for these executives working supposedly to deliver government efficiency and service to the people (often not achieved) in a non-profit situation, I think that tendering would be an excellent idea as part of the survey of candidates available to human resources. At present setting salaries seems very inflationary and similar to the model that used to be followed prior to 1984 by workers and their unions which the government has stamped out. I think we should be aiming for ability and track record rather than rabbiting on about getting ‘the best’. Let’s get away from high-flown language that builds images and go practical through tendering with the usual careful proviso which I think is – (lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted).
And economically it is counter-productive to combine departments and then multiply the salary of the top executive on that basis, instead of looking at economies of scale with a chance to get more productivity from the top banana. This is a slippery slope that the salary-setting body has started on and it’s time that our responsible? economic entities levelled this yellow brick road presently paved with gold bars.
You can always tell where the power lies in a society by the pay rates, but more easily by the buildings…
When the church has power they build great cathedrals.
When the military has power they build great garrisons and fortresses.
When business has power they build great glass towers.
When governments have power they build great offices etc. Currently the power in society rests with government. That is why pre-earthquake Christchurch’s most expensive building was the IRD building.
Similarly, the new Chch City Council building.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal building in Wellington.
I think a simple cap of $250k for a public servant, including the PM, would be fine. If the CEOs didn’t want to work for that they can wander off to the private sector. There is, after all, plenty of more people below them with the capability of doing the job just as well, if not better, than them.
What about tendering for the top pay? Has this been done anywhere in the world? Are we doing our usual and playing just part of a game that others have already left behind in our devotion to our free market version?
why is the standard so slow?
ask the GCSB
larfffs.
as for public service salaries.
this national party government does not believe in government but it believes in patronage, pelf, peculation and paying off its supporters.
figure it out for yourself.
captain hook
Like your alliteration. And pelf – didn’t know that – good word I see it comes right down from 14th century Old French pelfre meaning booty. The desire for which connects us down the centuries ay!
The crisis has with one stroke not only discredited the particular decisions by those responsible for the crisis—central bankers, financial regulators, and bankers—but it has disproved the entire mainstream “neo-classical” paradigm of thinking about economics and economic policy. The Washington Consensus, the basis for recent government and central bank policies all over the world, has been proven wrong.
But the current crisis is not the only piece of evidence that there has been something seriously amiss with the mainstream economic theories and the policies based on them. Other evidence includes the increasingly visible environmental destruction, or the many previous financial and economic crises the world has seen. Indeed, banking and financial crises have recurred with such frequency over the past centuries that their occurrence must be considered one of the few constants in economic life. Each time, much surprise is exhibited by the experts. Over the past three decades, the number of banking and financial crises has increased (to over 100 countries) and the swings of the business cycle have become more pronounced. (It is noteworthy that this happened, as central bank independence and power over economic policy has increased significantly during this time period).
Unfortunately Draco, the usual method of dealing with major issues will play out.
The conservatives will deny and ignore and do nothing about it. It will take the liberals to make the necessary changes, which will then be embraced by the conservatives.
Gawd I wish that Shane Jones would learn to STFU. Abusing the Greens over their perfectly appropriate suggestion that we should allow satirists to make fun of commercial ads is ridiculous.
If this sort of satire is not allowed the next thing the commercial interests will do is try and ban any sort of adverse comments about them, even when they do things like use slave labour or plunder depleted fish stocks or kill Maui’s dolphin.
Perhaps Shearer should be thinking about Jones when he does his next reshuffle.
How can Jones demoted when he has no portfolio areas in the first place? I don’t like rewarding poor performance, but perhaps he should be given something to keep him occupied. Sport or racing, for example.
A mistake by Helen long overdue for correction, he did well in the 2011 polls but up against Sharples a more credible candidate would have taken that Maori seat. They just needed a plausible alternative to PIta and didn’t get one from Labour, less of the duck more of the deserving is required.
ha ha that spoof is absolutely brilliant and absolutely spot on.
Shane Jones – fuck off and grow up you useless chook. If you can’t handle the heat then get out of the kitchen. Fancy trying to stop people doing this sort of thing …. You belong in the USA Shane Jones – see ya later.
Sealord, Meridian, all the oil companies, they all spout bullshit. Is Shane Jones seriously defending the image and perception they try to convey? What a fucking muppet.
“This is a bill which will definitely lead to the destruction of jobs, which makes it a crackpot idea. Jobs are not going to be maintained if brands are destroyed.”
If the brand can’t stand up to a little satire highlighting the truth behind the brand then it doesn’t deserve to continue. In fact, it probably should have been shut down by government.
exactly Draco, but rather than shut them down someone would certainly be able to take a case against Sealord under the Fair Trading Act – misleading and deceptive conduct in trade. The FTA is one of the easiest pieces of legislation to take court action under. Come on greenie activists, give it a go………
ms
The beef barons in USA actually got nasty when Ophra made some remark about why she wouldn’t eat hamburgers because of the beef not being healthy. Forgotten what happened.
By the look of it, that stats tab was what was causing the recent periodic slowdowns on the site.
It looks like it was locking up on the comment count query when a comment was being stored and queries were stacking up waiting for it. It effectively stalled the page display for many. I set up a graph to look for the numbers of threads active on the database at any one time – was getting these strange spikes.
I’ll have to recode that to do it on a periodic basis or to keep a running total. In the meantime it can go off. Enough playing about. Time to head back to work.
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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 — 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 taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — 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 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency. It is the opening move in the political chess match to form the country’s next government. Returning officer Christopher Makoni made the declaration late last night after ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
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 “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s 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 what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve 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 we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t 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, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
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, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s 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 didn’t 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. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s 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 ...
Zoë 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 ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
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Syria: who’s backing who?
http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/syria-whos-backing-who/
Syria rebels sponsor Bahrain abuses and kills unarmed protestors
Pays CNN to cover up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFDC7zmJgQg&feature=plcp
It seems National’s response to falling decisively behind in the polls is to launch an all out attack on David Shearer, presumably in the hope of somehow destabilizing Labour. The attack was signalled by an unusually active Mathew Hooten desperately trying to re-frame debate this way on every blog he thought might be read by a journalist and is being vigorously pushed by the right’s liars, repeaters and shills (Slater, Farrar and O’Sullivan) today. It is truly desperate stuff, but cunning in a shit house rat, Steven Joyce kind of way. Ot won’t work, but i would suggest we all start using the frantic mud slinging at Shearer as a reliable indicator of just how ugly the internal polling results are getting for forgetful John and his shambolic government.
In the last week, it looks like Shearer has started to lead the news agenda, rather than just respond to it: bringing up the issue of key talking at the GCSB staff cafe; announcing a joint parliamentary inquiry into manufacturing. National have been put in the position of having to respond to these stories.
On policy, I think Shearer is till too far to the right for me. But on leadership, I think Shearer is starting to show some.
Hi Karol –
What the above statement really indicates is that the media are seeking to shift control the debate – Shearer is not leading anything, and is no leader, never was, never will be which is why he was selected in the first place.
The aim of the media, as you will be aware is to control the context of the narrative, to shift and subvert, missdirect and deceive, thats what it exists for.
While it is too soon to say the writing is on the wall for NACT next election, the media are hedging their bets by attempting to make Shearer look like potentential (he is also their man), thats all the game is about…We know this because of the way the same media talks unfavourably, for the most part about DC. That said I do not see DC as any saviour of this country, he knows how the system is designed, and what its designed for, its the way a manufactured theatre must function, to mimic democracy
From what I can make out, the present system is designed to keep democracy at bay. If we had democracy we certainly wouldn’t have capitalism or the “free-markets” which only benefit the owners.
Remember
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/548320_456194924419791_351635435_n.jpg
Thats right JM.
Which is why when people from any spectrum say “but its legal” – I wonder how little they understand that its coming to them some day too…
Legal doesn’t always equal right and that is the truth that people who always cry but it’s legal don’t seem to grok.
Sorry Karol Shearer is not leading he is being led by the nose. And until the ‘leaders’ are dug out and gone, then Labour will just be a bunch of wanna be’s, and worst of all HAS BEENS!
Could you clarify what you mean, please? Afaik, he’s not right wing at all, except in slurs from others.
Fran O’Sullivan, tempted with the baubles of back room banterings, does seem to have drifted to the opposing shore from that which she first patrolled
please help me to understand why this comment was put into moderation?
[Sorry – no idea – if it happens frequently then you share an IP range with a known spammer or troll – let us know if that is the case. r0b]
down in wellington at work ( on wakefield st) and have posted from here numerous times over the last few years. This last week I am having a ridiculously impossible time posting from computers or phone, at work at home or on public machines.
past 24 hours I have been checking on downforeveryoneorjustme.com and usually get a yes it is down for everyone
On Phone: Most times site doesn’t load, or tells me the comment was not published, then i go to page and it was published, or does the super frustrating jump away from the text entry box when trying to add text etc which has been going on for ages now. Basically entering from the phone is impossible without a lot of patience.
I do nothing to my phone. I use ‘approved supplier aps’ i use it more a s acamera and memo book than i do a phone. It gets turned on. It gets turned off. Any issues with anything relating to software are not coming from me. Every other site i visit is fine, same as for the pc access. They load fine, run fine, text entry is fine. Every other site is fine. Something very screwy going on and i strongly suspect thestandard site is getting messed with.
Anyways, this is not a complaint just trying to understand what is going on
For the apologists and spinners the drive of the last few days has been to slide over the nub of matters, Key’s palpable dishonesty, into a story about the story.
However, as numerous commenters have said, the smell of shit is all over Key. Peoples’ nostrils are already, irreversibly, on alert.
Too late Johnny Boy. You’re in this business up to your neck and in a more or less way everyone knows it including your dissembling soldiers. That’s why we have the story about the story, the shrill attacks on Shearer, and pleas/directions towards indulgence.
Clay feet…….no clothes………fibbing little boy……..rabbit in the headlights.
It’s hilarious.
The increasingly idiotic Fran O’S is advocating for Key to get the GCSB to investigate David Shearer, she obviously wrote the manual for Putin and before that Ol’Joe Stalin himself. She certainly looks and sounds old enough to have been in the shadows in the 40’s!
What these ‘journalists’ like franet, JA and their blog buddies don’t seem to realise because their heads are so far up NACTs butt that this shows just how biased and in the pocket of the hollowmen they are.
Readers of this site and other informed sources already know that but in terms of swaying any swingers it’s probably going to do the opposite and undermine what little credibility, if any, they had.
This is interesting though. It seems Mold’s partner wasn’t at the GCSB at the time of Key’s cafe talk to staff:
Just as I thought, Karol, a large number present – is one of them, at least, prepared to testify to what they heard? (Or have I missed something?)
That’s the million dollar question – will any more of these people who were there come forward?
And this sounds on the mark.
http://www.kiwipolitico.com/
Seems increasingly probable there was GCSB surveillance of Dotcom, maybe right from the time he arrived in NZ. The NZ agencies would not have been ‘confused’ or ‘mistaken’ over Dotcom’s residency, they just treated it as irrelevant to their US instructions.
Key had had numerous GCSB briefings from the time he took office, and would surely have known about this before February 2012. A few words then to praise the troops would have been appropriate, given the Dotcom raid circus just weeks before.
If this jolly gathering happened as surmised, and was taped, it would be interesting to watch and maybe highly damaging to the PM. But it is only a small part of the big picture, which it seems stretched back a long time before.
As the minister in charge of GCSB, the real question is whether the admitted crime of illegal surveillance can be laid at the feet of John Key himself. But who watches the watchers?
Which post at Kiwipolitico are you talking about?
Sorry..,,
http://www.kiwipolitico.com/2012/10/more-questions-about-the-dotcom-spying-case/#comment-248793
Gets right to the bone.
The only explanation I’ve seen that makes sense..so far….
Sam lives to fight another day!
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/sam-ends-30-day-hunger-strike/1580887/
Governments all over the world are making Sam Kuha, and thousands like him, bear the brunt of this crisis. Saddening really.
I hope this isnt the last we hear from him…sound opportunistic, but he should have a crack at running for office.
Be interesting to see if the MSM do some serious follow ups in what Bennett says and does after the meeting, shades of the key visit to the aspirational family in goffs electorate, opportunistic and hollow like their backers.
Mmmm…Bennett (who let’s face it really avoided committing to a meeting with Sam as much as she could without conclusively proving she was a heartless bitch) is likely to meet with him just for show. Need to keep up the pressure on her or it will be shuffled to the back of the media pile quickly.
Sam for office sounds excellent. You can change the world from a wheelchair : )
Sam could take this in a number of directions. I’d like him to contact the Office of Disabilities (run by MSD) and see if he could work to influence MSD by using his experience to help other people on Sickness and IB’s. If Bennett suggests it to him, even better.
Below is the original article before it was edited a couple of days ago. Had to save as text, otherwise the html wanted to link itself to the update version.
Does that make Danya Levy more senior? as her name does not appear on the article below, but does on the 834am update
Rescuing vulnerable kids: Bennett’s master plan
KATE CHAPMAN
Last updated 05:00 11/10/2012
Share
The Government is encouraging people to dob
in suspected child abusers under a raft of changes aimed at reining in our
horrific child abuse rate.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett will today launch the White Paper for
Vulnerable Children – the culmination of four years’ work and consultation with
thousands of community groups and concerned parents.
The cornerstone of the Government’s plan is raising awareness of the signs of
child abuse and neglect, and urging people to report it.
Recent high-profile cases have shown vulnerable children were often known to
multiple agencies but a failure to put the pieces together saw them horribly
reabused and even killed.
Mrs Bennett said the plight of vulnerable children had been her driving force
and the policy changes unveiled today simply had to work. “I feel like this is
what I came into Parliament for.”
The White Paper and accompanying Children’s Action Plan were the best that could
have been produced in the current environment, she said.
A Child Protect telephone line is planned for concerned neighbours, family,
friends and professionals to ring when they suspect a child is being badly
treated.
Comments made to the phone line, and information gathered by government and
community organisations, would be entered into a Vulnerable Kids Information
System to track those deemed at risk.
The system would also hold information on high-risk adults who had abused or
neglected children, regardless of whether they were convicted.
Such information sharing was crucial, Mrs Bennett said.
The system would be password-protected, users would be monitored, and
professionals would have restricted access to different levels of information.
Only children considered vulnerable – at risk of, or already experiencing,
maltreatment – would be entered into the system. While accounts could be made
inactive, it was unlikely they would ever be deleted. An expert panel would be
established to nut out details of the system. “The security and the checks to be
put on this information system is vital to its integrity. More than anything
we’re going to work to get that right.”
There would be children wrongly identified as being vulnerable, Mrs Bennett
said.
“If they’re not becoming a child of concern then, as such, they will effectively
drop out of the system.”
The Child Protect line would have a role in ensuring information in the system
was correct and updated. The contact service did not have to be run by the
Social Development Ministry; it could be contracted out to a non-government
organisation.
Ad Feedback The Government also wants those working with children to take
greater responsibility in reporting suspected neglect or abuse. Teachers and
medical professionals would be among those given training to recognise the
signs, and legislation would be introduced “requiring all agencies working with
children to have policies and reporting systems in place to recognise and report
child abuse and neglect”, the White Paper says.
Mrs Bennett said that was not mandatory reporting. “We’re going to really set
some clear rules around it . . . making sure that they follow through and they
do report; we’re also not making it mandatory so they use their professional
judgment better.”
There were concerns that mandatory reporting would mean at-risk children dropped
out of the system and services would be over-run with notifications.
Under the Children’s Action Plan, there would also be controls on who could have
contact with children. People who posed a continuing and serious threat to their
children could have their parental rights removed by a judge.
Mrs Bennett said it was an extreme step and not one that would be taken lightly.
New civil child abuse prevention orders would give judges the power to place
restrictions on people who posed a high risk to a child or future children.
Critics may claim Mrs Bennett has ignored the real threat for a number of Kiwi
children – poverty.
“I was always blatantly targeting these most vulnerable, abused and neglected
children in this country and that’s what this piece of work was always about,”
Mrs Bennett said.
‘WE CAN DO MUCH BETTER FOR FAILED KIDS’
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett puts her mouth where her heart is:
that too many Kiwi kids are failed, but that we can do much better.
“The day I got offered the job of Minister of Social Development the first thing
I said to the prime minister on the phone, at 9pm on a Sunday, was ‘does it
include Child, Youth and Family?’
The former solo mum has a clear idea of what she wants and how to get it. She’ll
listen, but once a plan is set in motion there’s no stopping the determined
Waitakere MP.
New Zealand’s child abuse record is an embarrassment to everyone; none more so
than the woman charged with overseeing child welfare.
Ms Bennett said that was her driving force since entering Parliament.
“It is my key driver, without a doubt.
“I feel like [the White Paper] is one of the biggest and certainly most
significant changes that will be in my time as minister.”
Early in her first term as minister, Ms Bennett was in the United Kingdom when
she decided we needed a White Paper on vulnerable children.
First came the Green Paper – a discussion document launched amongst much
fanfare.
Almost 10,000 submissions later, the Government has released its reaction to the
suggestions: The White Paper and Children’s Action Plan, which Ms Bennett says
will make a difference in the life of the most vulnerable kids in our society.
“I’m unapologetic in my saying we can do a better job for them and that’s where
my focus is.”
– © Fairfax NZ News
Wonder if those “failed kids” she talks about are the same ones who are in the so-called “long tail of failure at school?”
muzza
Thanks for giving us the info.
Look at the opening paragraph of the updated article
DANYA LEVY AND KATE CHAPMAN
Last updated 08:34 11/10/2012
Look at the deliberate framing to pit so called child adovate groups (no mention of who), against the “opposition parties”, this is faux support for the NACT government, being created out of total thin air by the MSM!
The opening of the new article below – So between 5am and the 834am update, the “child advocate groups” gave their support did they – This sort of garbage neds to be called out, and in the original article, only a couple of hours earlier, no mention of suport at all, only mention of critics lower down the article…So the article was updated, sanitized and deliberate lies inserted by the looks of it.
KATE CHAPMAN
Last updated 05:00 11/10/2012
Well spotted muzza, Bennet is obviously looking for cheap/no cost things to promote.
Hang on …. weren’t the police just recently saying those numbers are because of increased reporting because of advertising, community participation?
4 years investigation, culminating in “Tell people to report it” ??
The womans a leech M8!
Thanks for the awhi muzza
There is no depression in new zealand
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10839802
blam blam blam
Yup what there is , is deliberate misuse of “drugs” used to placate the sheep from wondering why they are feeling so fcked up in the first place…
There you go, have some fluoride, eat some nice lithium, prozac, fluoxetene, have a shed load of mental stress created by all these nice fake systems we are trapping you into, then when you feel bad, go see the nice Dr who will ensure that you stay docile, and if you really feel something is wrong we will send you to the quack who will certify you.
wishy washy!!!!
Welfare Justice Dunedin says humiliation of beneficiaries widespread and challenges Work and Income to drop their appeal and use those resources to follow Human Rights Tribunal’s ruling: http://community.scoop.co.nz/2012/10/beneficiary-battles-on/
Quote: ‘We challenge the Ministry to stop using bully tactics and taxpayer money to drag Mr Holmes through the High Court, and to take on board the tribunal’s recommendations. This isn’t an isolated incident. WJD has been inundated with appalling stories of breaches of privacy, humiliation, loss of dignity and a widespread disconnect from professional conduct among WINZ staff.’
Standard Bullying
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10840262
Thanks, was wondering what was happening with that. Anyone know much about the Welfare Justice group? Apparently they’re operating nationally.
I can’t believe I just heard that fool of a Housing Minister, Heatley whining on Radio NZ that Hone should quit bitching about the GI evictions and just be grateful his people up north are going to get hand-me-down houses.
National needs donations to pay for media training for their Ministers. It’s a Ministerial car crash.
Poor sam wasn’t given a lousy $40 for food,which he travelled miles for in a wheelchair,
but $600.000 of tax payers money can be given for the ‘elite’ to have a weekend of golf
in Queenstown,the Micheal Hill tournament.
My love and support go out to sam and hope that he is ok now and qudos to Hone
for supporting him.
Couldn’t agree more.
Lordy knows how they can play golf with those heavy blinkers on.
We are a society of haves and have nots and it is taking too long for most to realise we are no longer an equal and egalitarian society.
The economist, on why printing money is the new normal:
http://www.economist.com/node/21564210
From the article. “Currency trading is, by its nature, a zero-sum game. For some to fall, others must rise.” Russell Norman?
http://www.interest.co.nz/news/56861/double-shot-interview-bernard-hickey-talks-green-party-co-leader-russel-norman-about-inte
Surely it’s been the new normal for quite a while 🙂
lanth this is only a comparison between the major trading blocks .
They are all reducing the value of their currency at the same time which is not having an effect on their economic performance!
If these trading blocks had not all reduced their currency value at the same time their would be a different story!
Like New Zealand not doing any thing the Aussies have done it for us to a degree.
I dont condone violence but bennett was just on the nation,i actually felt she needed a
slap.
The ignoramace can’t even admit that ‘poverty’ is the problem.
Having hundreds of thousands of NZ go cold and hungry in this land of hydropower and milk is a direct attack on their daily wellbeing and therefore violence on a massive scale.
Well, that would explain John Roughan’s column that tries to tell us that poverty doesn’t exist in NZ.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/GCSB-SPY.jpg
This illustrates the difference between the left and right when it comes to using humour in a political setting. Basically the right try to be amusing while making a point whereas the left are about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
I would have said that the right, or at least whaleoil are just juvenile. What is subtle about that jpg?
Oh well kiddie humour – I guess there must be a market for it, otherwise the wiggles would never have had a career.
Its subtle in comparison to the attempts at humour here.
Just in, a picture from last night’s Al Gore event. The audience was asked to vote on the priciples of NZ leadership after Al’s big speech.
http://www.jokeoverflow.com/picture-jokes/news-politics/an-inconvenient-truth
Yet you still feel the need to come here and try to “sock it to those dirty lefties”, and poorly at that.
Are you related to Gosman?…
Its a pleasent way to pass the time. Its interesting though the amount of times I’ve said something on here and got flack for it then a post is written later which is very similar to what I’ve written.
Examples please Chris.
Any time I’ve written about the problems within Labour especially why they lost the last couple of elections theres been a post in similar content. Not saying I influence the posts (more likely that myself and the person writing it have similar ideas) but it seems its not what you say so much as who says it.
So no examples, then.
“but it seems its not what you say so much as who says it.”
Yep. The Standard (breaking the inconsistently applied policy of referring to The Standard as a singular entity) enjoys frothing and pointing fingers at those who break from the party line. The group think is weird and unwieldy.
“So no examples, then.”
I think you mean to say ‘So, no examples then?’ Grammar matters.
The grammar was fine.
He wasn’t asking if there were examples to give, he was saying that there were no examples given, then.
Fair cop but nonetheless the syntax is odd.
A comma is a pause so if you say it out loud:
“So (pause) no examples then”
“So no examples (pause) then”
The latter is unwieldy, but admittedly grammatically correct.
Well, if we’re thinking of contexts, the functionary filling in the report and wanting to close the folder says “so, no examples then.”
Darth Vader goes “So no examples, then”.
Emphasises the lack of examples, rather than the conclusion implied by “so”.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp
Look at that face. That face knows all there is to know about the comma.
From your link, Felix, I thought Rule 3 was pretty apt.
lolz yes I liked that too.
“lolz yes I liked that too.”
That reads as”Law’s yes!” like it is being spoken by some Midwestern US farmer.
As in:
“Law’s yes! I liked that too! M-O-O-N, that spells ‘liked that'”
Grammar
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/156541_444714838927927_945638756_n.jpg
the net is deceptive
Yeah, Grammar matters, as do Kings, and Scots College, and Collegiate……..they all matter to the aspirational wannabee John Keez and other snob-dicks.
The real people are lashing back. That excites and warms me.
To hell with the clay feet of greedy bullshitters .
Oh, might that be Rodney Hyde and wee Stephen Joyce on the left of the picture?
chris73
Humour with excess for the left? Just reminding everyone of the cleverness of Spitting Image in their British satirical forays on Youtube. Bit of fun for everyone – those not being lampooned felt left out.
It certainly does illustrate the difference between left and right approaches to humour. It’s juvenile rubbish, with no subtlety involved at all.
Yeah, the left would never do anything juvenile like that…oh wait
http://bit.ly/PsW6NY
But I am sure this is totally different and you’ll find excuses as to why this is cutting edge and in know way comparable to the other pic from Whale.
errrr I mean ‘In no way…’
shit
So who did that one? They didn’t get the head right.
I was from Bomber.
I mean “it”. Dafuck is going on with my spelling?
Muphry’s law.
If you’re looking for juvenile rubbish with no subtlety involved how about this ?
http://thestandard.org.nz/caption-contest-40/
Oh I’d agree it was juvenile humour. But no subtlety? Remember when you first looked at it – you had to look at it at least twice to figure out if it was real or not
“Remember when you first looked at it – you had to look at it at least twice to figure out if it was real or not”
Really? Seemed pretty fucking obvious and not subtle in the slightest..
Yes, it is amusing. The totally stupid and dimwitted “hero” against a mastermind.
A lot of thought is taken before the sledgehammer is used efficiently by the left,with the
right it is thrown around and aimed at those who just need a hug and some love.
To chris73
John Campbell on media3,he is a great nz’er for what is right and what is wrong in nz,
he is a champion.
Why is this site soooo slow, it’s like stepping back to the days of dial up?
Great looking site but the usability is crap.
The Standard would have to be one of the slowest sites on the web, I don’t get it,the site is 99% text it should load in an instant.
BM
I have been finding that the site is extremely slow often. I haven’t noticed this before. It seems to take ages to get comments up often. Also I click on a recent comment from the right hand box and get sent to some other page or it takes ages to find though I have noticed that there is a difficulty with that when there are over say 100 comments.
I thought it was from my setup. It has been suggested that I use Firefox instead of Opera so I could possibly help from my side, but I haven’t had such problems in the past. I don’t know whether the constant upgrades I get with Opera may introduce some new routine.
It’s the page breaking mechanism they use, all the old links break.
(LPRent is aware of it, but the fix is bigger than a one liner unfortunately)
Sites going OK for me, but if LPrent or someone can tell me how to stop the new post notifications from being emailed to me it would be really awesome. My smartphone dings non-stop..
I’d expect you need to unsubscribe, and just surf to the rss, I don’t use a mobile so not sure bud.
BM for once I agree with you this site is always having problems maybe its popularity!
The comment on Radionz this morning about the huge annual payments to heads of government agencies in money terms (rather than in percentage terms) sparked a memory of the right wing business interests talking about achieving lower wages for all by using tendering or an auction system to set the rates.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political
Now when top salaries are getting into the money gouging level for these executives working supposedly to deliver government efficiency and service to the people (often not achieved) in a non-profit situation, I think that tendering would be an excellent idea as part of the survey of candidates available to human resources. At present setting salaries seems very inflationary and similar to the model that used to be followed prior to 1984 by workers and their unions which the government has stamped out. I think we should be aiming for ability and track record rather than rabbiting on about getting ‘the best’. Let’s get away from high-flown language that builds images and go practical through tendering with the usual careful proviso which I think is – (lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted).
And economically it is counter-productive to combine departments and then multiply the salary of the top executive on that basis, instead of looking at economies of scale with a chance to get more productivity from the top banana. This is a slippery slope that the salary-setting body has started on and it’s time that our responsible? economic entities levelled this yellow brick road presently paved with gold bars.
You can always tell where the power lies in a society by the pay rates, but more easily by the buildings…
When the church has power they build great cathedrals.
When the military has power they build great garrisons and fortresses.
When business has power they build great glass towers.
When governments have power they build great offices etc. Currently the power in society rests with government. That is why pre-earthquake Christchurch’s most expensive building was the IRD building.
Similarly, the new Chch City Council building.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal building in Wellington.
I have no problems with governments having power – just so long as they’re democratic.
Yep – and not just operating units of corporate business interests, like those you see in the US.
I think a simple cap of $250k for a public servant, including the PM, would be fine. If the CEOs didn’t want to work for that they can wander off to the private sector. There is, after all, plenty of more people below them with the capability of doing the job just as well, if not better, than them.
What about tendering for the top pay? Has this been done anywhere in the world? Are we doing our usual and playing just part of a game that others have already left behind in our devotion to our free market version?
why is the standard so slow?
ask the GCSB
larfffs.
as for public service salaries.
this national party government does not believe in government but it believes in patronage, pelf, peculation and paying off its supporters.
figure it out for yourself.
captain hook
Got another p word – persiflage – light frivolous approach. Suits Jokey Hen I think.
captain hook
Like your alliteration. And pelf – didn’t know that – good word I see it comes right down from 14th century Old French pelfre meaning booty. The desire for which connects us down the centuries ay!
Think
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/406325_434378686601415_1471360958_n.jpg
Roughan’s willful ignorance
There are none so blind as those who choose not to see…
Great article Jackal.
National promote the “wringing of hands” and “it’s too hard” when the science has been proven for hundreds of years.
Education is the only real answer.
PO
I would say expand that to – Applied education is the only real answer. That is an essential
addition.
Civics education too.
+1 Well said PlanetOrphan… We also need to re-educate the government about its function.
So true, quantified results, not excuses, failure to reach the “Standard” results in dismissal! 🙂
They should sit an exam before entering office, give democracy a chance M8!
Quantative easing, for politicians 🙂
To the jackyll
Good stuff you should run for parliament jackal.
Thanks tinfoilhat, although I’m not sure saying I’ve got the makings of a politician is strictly a complement.
Understanding and Forecasting the Credit Cycle—Why the Mainstream Paradigm in Economics and Finance Collapsed
Unfortunately Draco, the usual method of dealing with major issues will play out.
The conservatives will deny and ignore and do nothing about it. It will take the liberals to make the necessary changes, which will then be embraced by the conservatives.
‘Tis the way the moon passes ……
Remember
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/60760_456607024378581_1434002361_n.jpg
DtB …
That’s a very good article and written by someone with all the credentials. Well worth the read.
Gawd I wish that Shane Jones would learn to STFU. Abusing the Greens over their perfectly appropriate suggestion that we should allow satirists to make fun of commercial ads is ridiculous.
If this sort of satire is not allowed the next thing the commercial interests will do is try and ban any sort of adverse comments about them, even when they do things like use slave labour or plunder depleted fish stocks or kill Maui’s dolphin.
Perhaps Shearer should be thinking about Jones when he does his next reshuffle.
How can Jones demoted when he has no portfolio areas in the first place? I don’t like rewarding poor performance, but perhaps he should be given something to keep him occupied. Sport or racing, for example.
How about “Spokesperson For Fucking The Fuck Off”?
Chief in charge of getting the fuck out and fucking off with his fucking fuck cunt in charge of sweet fuck all.
tsk tsk. language
anyhoo, this is for the right-wing Godless fasci
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasidic_Judaism
hey, thats what sharing is all about!
A mistake by Helen long overdue for correction, he did well in the 2011 polls but up against Sharples a more credible candidate would have taken that Maori seat. They just needed a plausible alternative to PIta and didn’t get one from Labour, less of the duck more of the deserving is required.
Jones = verbose potato.
Less puke inducing than that parliamentary bennie bludger Tau Henare (aka Ray Henry of “the union”) but a verbose potato nevertheless.
ha ha that spoof is absolutely brilliant and absolutely spot on.
Shane Jones – fuck off and grow up you useless chook. If you can’t handle the heat then get out of the kitchen. Fancy trying to stop people doing this sort of thing …. You belong in the USA Shane Jones – see ya later.
Sealord, Meridian, all the oil companies, they all spout bullshit. Is Shane Jones seriously defending the image and perception they try to convey? What a fucking muppet.
FFS, quoting Jones:
If the brand can’t stand up to a little satire highlighting the truth behind the brand then it doesn’t deserve to continue. In fact, it probably should have been shut down by government.
exactly Draco, but rather than shut them down someone would certainly be able to take a case against Sealord under the Fair Trading Act – misleading and deceptive conduct in trade. The FTA is one of the easiest pieces of legislation to take court action under. Come on greenie activists, give it a go………
Keeping up with the Jones’s
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/545879_425545010844910_685665170_n.jpg
ms
The beef barons in USA actually got nasty when Ophra made some remark about why she wouldn’t eat hamburgers because of the beef not being healthy. Forgotten what happened.
It was over mad cow disease.
They sued her, and she won!
Hate Speech
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech
By the look of it, that stats tab was what was causing the recent periodic slowdowns on the site.
It looks like it was locking up on the comment count query when a comment was being stored and queries were stacking up waiting for it. It effectively stalled the page display for many. I set up a graph to look for the numbers of threads active on the database at any one time – was getting these strange spikes.
I’ll have to recode that to do it on a periodic basis or to keep a running total. In the meantime it can go off. Enough playing about. Time to head back to work.
RT: “the return of the Caliphate around the Pyramids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit_(Islam)
it’s an ill wind that blows no good…