The mission:
To fly Edward Snowden from Moscow to Caracas without passing over any country that takes orders from Washington.
The plan:
Edward Snowden, carrying documents proving diplomatic immunity and letters of safe passage provided by the government of Venezuela. Will board a Gulfstream G550, the only long range private jet capable of making such an epic journey. Especially commissioned, the G550 will be rechristened the “Paul Revere”.
Accompanying Snowden on this journey will be prominent journalists, celebrities, film makers and spokespersons for civil liberties groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The Paul Revere will be fully internet capable and the journey will be broadcast live for its entire duration. A number of internationally known film makers including Mike Moor and Oliver Stone have put their hand up to accompany Edward Snowden and document his journey and carry out in flight interviews of the passengers which will be webcast live.
The flight of the Paul Revere:
The flight plan filed by the Paul Revere with the Sheremetyevo airport authorities, will be to depart from the Moscow area heading due North, leaving Russian airspace over the Arctic Ocean.
On reaching international airspace over the Arctic Ocean, the Paul Revere will then head, due West, towards the North Atlantic.
On reaching the North Atlantic the Paul Revere will change direction again, heading due South, picking a zig zag flight path down the centre of the Atlantic Ocean.
If the US government does decide to break all international norms and engages in an extremely risky aerial maneuver using US fighters to try and force the Paul Revere down, which remember will be flying at the edge of its operational limits, above international waters far from land. Then this would mark the US out for the rest of history as a rogue state. The same way Israel was marked out as a rogue state by their attack on the Mavi Marmara in International Waters in May 2010.
Fly bonny plane like a bird on the wing
Over the Arctic sky
If Edward Snowden’s supporters can pull this off. The networked global commons will become a new player in global politics. No longer will the world’s affairs be solely decided by the superpowers.
The pool of aircraft available for lease, capable of flying Snowden to Venezuela has been increased greatly by a decision of the Irish Courts.
In a move that pits the diplomatic weight of the new global commons against the diplomatic power of the US.
The Irish state has rejected US demands to detain Snowden if the plane carrying him lands in Ireland on its way to Venezuela. This opens the way for the Paul Revere to land and refuel unmolested.
The 30-year-old’s earlier decision to apply to 21 countries for political asylum prompted fears that he could pass through Ireland’s Shannon Airport en route to safe haven in South America.
This led to the US applying for a provisional arrest warrant through its embassy in Dublin, according to Irish media reports.
In a High Court ruling in Dublin last week, Judge Colm Mac Eochaidh refused the application because US authorities had failed to detail where the alleged offences of espionage had taken place.
He also found that the US had not provided information on the theft charges, such as where the offence took place or exactly what government property Snowden had stolen.
Though the rejection of the arrest warrant was on legal technicalities, this is a major blow to US efforts to apprehend Snowden. And leaves the US authorities with two uncomfortable options. The first, to engage in a high profile and very likely long drawn out legal appeal in the full glare of the world’s media spot light. Or engage in some behind the scenes naked arm twisting to try and get the Irish government to overrule the High Court. Neither uncomfortable option is likely to give the State Department much comfort, both options risking huge negative fallout. And even then, may not deliver the result they want.
The decision, based on technical aspects, mirrors similar action taken by the Hong Kong government when it allowed Snowden to leave Hong Kong on June 23 because the US had failed to provide Snowden’s full name and passport number.
Snowden told the South China Morning Post in an interview on June 12 that he decided to come to Hong Kong to make his initial revelations because he trusted the city’s rule of law.
A stopover at Shannon Airport is also likely to be a media bonus for the journalists on board the Paul Revere commenting through their live web feed.
Providing a further humbling lesson for the impotent US superpower as to the limits of their diminishing global power.
FRANCE 14 July 2013 – 226th anniversary of the STORMING OF THE BASTILLE. Celebration !
NEW ZEALAND 15 July 2013 – King ShonKey Louis Python XVI and gluttonous wife Paula Bennettoinette ramp up the WAR ON THE POOR. Already deployed measures of cynical societal division, demonisation of the poor, and systematic disentitlement of the poor have proved ineffective to create 170,000 new jobs.
“Mon Friggin’ Dieu !!!”
“Paula………the peasants have shafted our Brighter Future”.
“I see that Lou’……….shall I make them REALLY pay for their ugliness ?”
BASTILLE DAY + 1………”Work and Income chief Debbie Power said 85,000 people – mainly the sick, long-term unemployed, and sole parents and widows with no children under 14 – would move today into intensive “work-focused case management” with 760 personal case managers to help them find jobs and overcome barriers such as transport and childcare costs, addictions, debts and workplace attitudes to mental illness and other conditions. A further 1000 sole parents and 1000 people with mental health problems will be handed over to contractors who will be paid from $2250 to $16,500 for each person they place in employment for at least a year.”
Of course it was a total and utter defeat for the union movement.
Well, no it was not. The Waterside Workers’ Union was defeated, but the union movement in this country, as in Australia, Britain, the United States, Japan and all of Western Europe except for the dictatorships in Portugal and Spain, went from strength to strength, and the standard of living in all those places—except Portugal and Spain—increased for all citizens.
You either know that, of course, and are simply trying to stir up trouble, or you are unfeasibly ignorant.
The real agenda of the right is to ban unions and lock up union members. This is where the freedom and liberty stops for ACT supporters like BB. Freedom to join anything as long as it isn’t a union.
Not at all. Anybody should be free to choose to join a union if they are stupid enough. The difference between us is that you want to make it compulsory to belong to a union.
What the government should do is stop the deduction of union dues from workers wages, only then when the morons who do belong to a union see just how little they get for their money will they wake up to the fact that they are being ripped off by what is undoubtedly a corrupt union.
speaking of stupid – care to explain how fees incurred from a voluntary contract are forcibly extracted, and how when youve forcibly stopped payment from a voluntary contract that two separate parties have entered into, one of those parties will see the “error of their ways”?
The murder of Trayvon Martin goes unpunished and the twisted wannabee policeman, the racist Zimmerman walks free, completely free.
Why ? That “greatest nation in the world” the US of A…… Florida…….Florida’s “stand your ground” lethal force statute…….”Hoodied black kids gotta be dealt to……”…….a racist rogue jury…….unartful prosecution……..brilliant defence lawyers ? Who can really know ?
New Zealand position – s.48 Crimes Act 1961 – self defence, even to a lethal conclusion, carries no criminal liability if there is belief (subjective) that one is under attack or is about to be …….AND the response to the belief is reasonable in the circumstances (objective). Sledgehammer cannot meet ant in other words.
Many remain troubled that the knifing which ended the life of young Pihema in Manurewa did not result in criminal liability greater than that actually suffered by the perpetrator.
That said I suspect that if a New Zealand court were to hear the Florida case, the circumstances of which included Zimmerman being warned by the police not to continue tracking the non-offending, walking home with some lollies, Trayvon Martin, then Zimmerman would be awaiting sentence for murder.
Karma may yet do the job the legal system in Florida failed to do. Wouldn’t be comfortable to live the rest of one’s life looking over one’s shoulder for a second hollow-nosed bullet, would it ?
Maybe that’s Zimmerman’s (inadequate?) karma……..a second bullet engraved with his name……never fired or felt.
RIP the young Trayvon Martin, walking home, lollied-up and innocently hoodied, nervously telling girlfriend on the phone that he was being stalked (poor guy got it wrong……he was being hunted by a man “standing his ground”).
RIP Trayvon. And arohanui to those who loved you, rather than anonymously hated you, during your short life.
Without having read the article, I am very suspiscious of anything from breitbart.
As the following search on AlterNet shows, breitbart is an ultra-consertive site and is far from unbiased and even-handed in it’s aproach: http://www.alternet.org/search/site/breitbart
Not that Winston Smith @ 4.1.1.1 might be mischievously selective at all – apologists for racial profiling and the lethalism it encourages…….well they do that.
A Google search – “What injuries did Zimmerman and Martin get ?” – brings up not less than 10 pages of links ranging from “Zimmerman injuries insignificant….” to “Prosecution cannot succeed…..”. The whole range of partisan expression.
Zimmerman’s best friend, a Mr Osterman, was with Zimmerman within hours of the killing, uplifted him from police headquarters the night of the killing, and thereafter hid him away for weeks. Osterman wrote and published a 175 page “book” recording Zimmerman’s account as related to him by Zimmerman.
Lo, Zimmerman’s account in the book differs quantumly from that given by way of defence in the trial ??? Read it.
Breitfart trumps even Fux News for heresy to the truth.
Wasn’t there footage from immediately after the assassination which showed Zimmerman arriving at police headquarters in police custody………exhibiting no injury whatsoever ?
In May 2012, Corey prosecuted 31-year-old Marissa Alexander and obtained a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. Alexander had a restraining order issued against her ex husband at the time and, during the day of the incident, had returned to their old home to collect clothes and some possessions thinking he was not there. Her ex husband was there, with their children, and they began to argue. After the argument became heated, Marissa Alexander returned to her car, picked up her firearm, and returned inside the house where she threatened him with the handgun before firing a warning shot into the wall. She was charged with reckless endangerment of children and threatening with a deadly weapon. Despite being offered a 3 year sentence and later a probational sentence with time served, Alexander chose to attempt a SYG defence at trial[30]. She was found guilty and according to Floridas gun laws (where 10 years can be added for committing a crime while carrying a firearm, with an added 10 years for discharging a firearm during a crime) was sentenced to 20 years
Warning to all subscribers to a television service which includes Fux News:
Clip after clip of coiffed silver hair atop botoxed white Republican congressmen, celebrating Zimmerman’s acquittal as a vindication of the magnificence of the US justice system – the most despicable being one such racist gargoyle from Iowa, intoning majestically that there were no grounds to prosecute the hunter killer of the black kid in the first place !
I paraphrase the thinking – “Dead black kid ?………well……..yeah……..and your point is…….?
Hope my screen doesn’t get hacked with that aging pornstar look-alike Fux News’ Geraldo Rivera. He who within hours of the boy’s assassination peppered his deepest sympathies to Trayvon’s family with recommendation to black kids that they not get about with hoodies tent-like.
I paraphrase in advance – “Well folks……..hate to say ‘I told ya so’………”
Jesus Christ……..the hacking’s started already.
Rupert Murdoch’s Fux News disporting Karl Rove !
Aging pornstar Geraldo to Rupert – “Damn ! Boss……you knew all along that black boy was carryin’ a cellphone. Boss……ya coulda told me !” Boss !
According to some little git actor ,from hobbits I think, on tv last night peter Jackson is the “King of New Zealand” I wonder if our little despot knows that.
Oooerrr!! Ever so sorry, but anyone who say’s peter Jackson is King of NZ is IMO a little git, actor or not. And he was in the hobbit movies. Makes him a double git. Just my opinion.
chrissy
People seem to have some strong opinions about Sir Peter Jackson – either love or hate him.
I love someone who makes business in New Zealand. Then I hate the way that the government has opened up the entry quota, or wiped it, for bringing in technicians etc.. instead of ensuring that NZs got trained first.
If NZs get the chance to get big films here, it may be best that they don’t go all bolshie and march up the road threatening to withdraw their labour while trying to boost their payments. When they should be jawing up better conditions in meetings nose to nose. I think people got hoist with their own petard (not Peter).
Speaking of hobbits, I saw that movie on Sky’s pay-per-view service over the weekend.
Nothing to write home about really. The digital matte paintings and the background shots are the only decent thing about it (could have made a travelogue in IMAX format for a fraction of the price).
Perhaps I am just used to the more rigorious storylines of Game of Thrones?
London School of Economics Professor Robert Wade said Mr English made a stabbing motion with his finger towards his chest and berated him in between their separate appearances on TVNZ’s Q + A programme at the weekend. There was no physical contact.
Mr English disagreed with his remarks on inequality and capital gains tax and warned him “Don’t you say that again”, Prof Wade said
Heh. I’d say English was pissed off that he has been constrained by the reality’s of MMP in what he has been able to do for the 1%. MOMs instead of full asset sales, not mining our National parks, it’s bloody outrageous what.
<blockquoteHe was interviewed on the current affairs show ahead of Mr English, and asserted that "over the past two decades or so, economic policy in the US, the UK and New Zealand has increasingly been set by the top 1 per cent or so for the top 1 per cent".
t was this comment to which Mr English took exception – and Prof Wade says he was later told the Clutha-Southland MP "just sort of exploded like a volcano out in the anteroom".
As if there was any further requirement to illustrate, who the NZ government actually represents!
He was interviewed on the current affairs show ahead of Mr English, and asserted that “over the past two decades or so, economic policy in the US, the UK and New Zealand has increasingly been set by the top 1 per cent or so for the top 1 per cent”.
t was this comment to which Mr English took exception – and Prof Wade says he was later told the Clutha-Southland MP “just sort of exploded like a volcano out in the anteroom”.
As if there was any further requirement to illustrate, who the NZ government actually represents!
Mods – Please feel free to delete the 7.1.1.3 comment, its a double
Interesting news mix this morning.
In Ireland there was a riot over the march of the Orangemen who wanted to stride past the Catholics in the usual provocative and traditional way.
In Spain there was the running of the bulls in Pamplona with the odd goring one of which, who is an Australian woman, has serious injuries.
There was an affronted and angry response from Germany to the news that the USA has been bugging them – supposedly their allies and both being countries adopting high standards of respect for each other and their peoples.
đĄ What about making a tradition of having an entertaining ‘Running of the Politicians’ through Wellington! That would bring in the crowds and give our representatives a chance to show they’re the Right Stuff in front of thousands. One could make jokes about them being bull-headed, bovine etc. It would be such fun and a therapeutic release for so many of us. And we could be especially scathing of some of the fatter ones, some of whom deserve our scorn for other reasons, and some who would benefit from physical training and better diet enabling them to be even better.
And another thought – what if we somehow could change our method of government and bring in a provision that each new government had to carry on with a previous government’s policy unless given clear direction about change from the electorate. That would be their mandate, (not a manban though) and change would come about from bills decided after select committees thorough discussion, which would be overseen by a carefully picked observer group with each member having a different status.
The new laws and regulations would be monitored for deletorious effects and useful effectiveness to the public and be reviewed after the first, and third years to see if satisfactory or requiring change. No measures could be agreed by the government without consulting the people widely, and no secret agreements made of a binding nature.
No emergency parliamentary sessions could be held without agreement from a widely diverse watchdog citizen group. Such people would be on an on-call basis and be devoted to the country’s wider interests so would attend with the alacrity of firemen when called on. There would be problems but we cannot have important parts of our country’s system of government overthrown ‘by mandate’ every time there is a change in government. I’m more afraid of having nothing left of our political culture under our present ‘system’ than the problems that might arise from my suggestions.
Smalley interviews Colin James about the Labour Leadership
Excellent piece form TV3. Summary:
Shearer has gone to ground, refusing interviews and stopped releasing copies of his public schedule to the media.
There is disgruntlement with Shearer and Shearer’s political management, but he could still cling on if he lifts his game, particularly as there does not appear to be any organised effort to move him on. However many are wanting a new Leader in place by Conference.
A Robertson/Cunliffe ticket is the obvious option but can they work out an agreement. Cunliffe remains a divisive figure to some and Robertson would probably say he is not yet ready to be Leader. Little also seen as divisive and Ardern talented but still 5 years out from being ready.
Key had the same lack of understanding of NZ and NZ politics that Shearer demonstrates, but proved to be a smooth talker and fast learner.
Strange or laughable that the segment pins all the disquiet on Shearer’s visit to the corporate box?
Was a good interview, but I’m thinking James is a wee bit off the mark in his analysis of possible future configurations. Fact is (I think), that Cunliffe has the membership vote. So any one who can get the numbers in caucus probably needs his endorsement – or he theirs. And I’m reckoning (with relief) that that wipes out ‘log jam’ Robertson.
As I said yesterday
How Convenient is this shit? No problems since the year dot, and now we have ‘white powder’ popping up all over the place, over the weekend. What the fuck? does Shonkey and co think we are all that dumb as to believe this stunt?
Emergency services prepared decontamination equipment after a white powder scare at the Treasury building in central Wellington just after midday.
Police and fire crews cordoned off parts of the building after the envelope containing the white powder was received.
Completely missed that wee scare story. Can’t quite figure the article though as it states the powder as being both ‘innocuous’ and…’unidentified’. Oh well….
Trouble is, as soon as someone makes the call, they have to take it seriously. There’s been more than one responder infected or killed by a suspicious package they treated less than cautiously. Low likelihood, but serious consequence in the event.
Besides, it’s good training for when the hazard is real.
And don’t forget, the release of calicivirus 20 years ago demonstrates there have been illicit biological agents smuggled into the country, beyond our bio security measures. Do people really think we’d be able to detect anthrax, or foot-and-mouth?
Explosive devices aside, how many packages of ‘suspicious powder’ – white or otherwise – treated ‘less than cautiously’, has resulted in how many deaths globally in the past 10 – 15 years? I mean, any ball park figure will do. I’m guessing single digits. There or thereabouts. And how many in NZ over the same period? Like you say, good training for imaginery threats and hazards – or a complete bloody waste of time and only ever good for ratcheting up levels of groundless fear in gullible portions of the populace.
But those skillsets are largely the same regardless if it’s asbestos from a burning warehouse, a legitimate biohazard or just someone with baking soda.
lol
Wasn’t there a kid who wanted to shoot the Queen when she made a visit to Dunedin years back? Ended up getting confused and setting a rifle up on the wrong street or something. Probably needed Google Earth đ
Wouldn’t have helped in Samoa. Google maps was way way way out of date. Many of the unpaved roads were in fact paved. Many of the streets didn’t exist on their maps. Never looked at the sat images though.
I was just surprised after how accurate it has been in NZ. But it does make me aware of the limits to how far you can trust net info
They spent a couple of years running round in cars taking photos and generally getting into shit for grabbing wifi data illegally or something was about privacy. Was all done by about 5 years ago
That kid would be Christopher Lewis, one of NZ’s most fascinating criminals of all time.
If I recall correctly he wasn’t actually that far off shooting the queen either. Fired one at the footpath I think.
He was only 16 or 17 at the time and had already held up the post office at gunpoint for $10k cash. With bicycles for getaway vehicles it was all done during his school lunch break and he was back in class for the afternoon.
Yay, another Fletcher, another Devoy, another Hot Chick C-Rankin on the Families Commission. I’m so looking forward to mine Potty,Gower being appointed to the BSA, David Garret boss of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Morrissey honoured with ambassador to Tel Aviv.
A fabulously incendiary Brighter Future lies ahead !
KRudd (on Skoi News) has just announced that he’s interested in a policy whereby citizens of PNG could subscribe to the same border control mechanism that exists between OZ and NZill.
Now watch the Natzis come out with all their Yea…. but Nah …. but Yea …. but Maybe crap.
(after all, they are fuzzy wuzzies aye – next thing you know, there’ll be P.I’s asking for the same thing – you know – those ‘in-betweens’ Just as soon as we can ensure they’re ‘Noble Savages’ rather than the ignoble. “We’ll get back to you”)
KEY’s (KEYS) (or Stoivie Jooooooice’s) attitude on US citizens:
Walk right in ….. sit right down, baby let your mind roll on.
P.I. neighbours and any with a shared culture; those without money money moneeeeey – ooooh let’s take a while shall we?.
Oh….. hey!!!! Dunk: reliable sauces in the Beehive tell me it’s ALL ON. If John Key doesn’t ditch the discriminatory pollsee against PoiEyes when the Okkers go for this open border thing with PNG, then the Nats will be toast. KRudd’s proposal is circulating around kebnit. Check with Paddy (and while you’re at it – give him some guidance on the hand and arm movements for tonight).
MORE on Nightline tonight!!!!
and NO – sauces is not misspelt.
Pik ya flavour – just as long as you can produce enough for Progressive Enterprises or it’s “competitor” to dictate how much you have to produce before they’ll stock it.
Normally when a select committee hears submissions on a bill, they post them online on the Parliamentary website to inform the public. Except, apparently, for the Intelligence and Security Committee – they’ve refused to post submissions on John Key’s spy bill. Meaning that the public can’t see just how few people supported it.
Fortunately, Stuff’s Andrea Vance has got hold of them, and posted them here [PDF]. I wonder if they’ll try and prosecute her for it?
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As weâve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a âmoisture-ladenâ long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
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Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own governmentâs fiscal policies raised issues of substance. âToday in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media â sure enough â have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willisâ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra â that the Budget âwill deliver ...
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News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
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Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing.  Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
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This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this yearâs Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran OâSullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm â a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon â note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinsonâs analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana â or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. Itâs a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealandâs highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes –Â Â Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – âIt is often said that behind every great man is a great womanâ. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their âLadies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxonâ. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Petersâ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes â If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshubâs closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague â whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak â has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
The Coalition Governmentâs plan to âget Auckland movingâ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities sheâs meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Governmentâs archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the Americaâs Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it wonât stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Memberâs Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labourâs change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand Firstâs State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared âco-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te PÄti MÄori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. âIâm calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to âtake back our countryâ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jonesâ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Governmentâs fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Governmentâs miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesnât act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. âIt was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. âThe Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.  âThis travel will focus on a range of New Zealandâs traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,â Mr Peters says.  Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. âRoad safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. âOur relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliamentâs order paper. âThe Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,â Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams wonât be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. âThe coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. âDam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. âI have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. âThe Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023â24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the governmentâs finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Governmentâs Budget objectives. âThe coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                        âThe Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.  âThese changes are long overdue â the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealandâs growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Ministerâs Prizes for Space today. âNew Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealandâs concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. Â Â âThe Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Educationâs School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. âThere is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âToday I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of Peopleâs Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. âThe use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,â Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. âWeâre sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealandâs ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. Â Â âI am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. âI have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commissionâs online consultation portal.â Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. âComprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. âI would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. âThis is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women donât ...
Good morning, itâs great to be here.  First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Governmentâs ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Governmentâs commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools MÄori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. âThe Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, Iâm proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of todayâs address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and Iâm sorry I canât be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the WhangÄrei site where the facility will be constructed. âNorthland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata MÄori 20 years ago, says MÄori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisationâs 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article â Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? â looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Booksâ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pickânâmix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If youâre at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, donât panic: The Spinoffâs got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but letâs be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time â but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who havenât accessed support to come forward and engage with the councilâs recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “Itâs official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “weâre in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliamentâs forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the âdisappearanceâ of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people âsequesteredâ in this weekâs raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Itâs Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether youâre a boomer, or an â80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fijiâs Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? â Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems thereâs one luxury most Australians wonât sacrifice â their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Educationâs claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxonâs fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
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Working title:
Operation FOLLOW
“Flight Of Liberation, on Line, Over the World”
The mission:
To fly Edward Snowden from Moscow to Caracas without passing over any country that takes orders from Washington.
The plan:
Edward Snowden, carrying documents proving diplomatic immunity and letters of safe passage provided by the government of Venezuela. Will board a Gulfstream G550, the only long range private jet capable of making such an epic journey. Especially commissioned, the G550 will be rechristened the “Paul Revere”.
Accompanying Snowden on this journey will be prominent journalists, celebrities, film makers and spokespersons for civil liberties groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The Paul Revere will be fully internet capable and the journey will be broadcast live for its entire duration. A number of internationally known film makers including Mike Moor and Oliver Stone have put their hand up to accompany Edward Snowden and document his journey and carry out in flight interviews of the passengers which will be webcast live.
The flight of the Paul Revere:
The flight plan filed by the Paul Revere with the Sheremetyevo airport authorities, will be to depart from the Moscow area heading due North, leaving Russian airspace over the Arctic Ocean.
On reaching international airspace over the Arctic Ocean, the Paul Revere will then head, due West, towards the North Atlantic.
On reaching the North Atlantic the Paul Revere will change direction again, heading due South, picking a zig zag flight path down the centre of the Atlantic Ocean.
From Common Dreams
If the US government does decide to break all international norms and engages in an extremely risky aerial maneuver using US fighters to try and force the Paul Revere down, which remember will be flying at the edge of its operational limits, above international waters far from land. Then this would mark the US out for the rest of history as a rogue state. The same way Israel was marked out as a rogue state by their attack on the Mavi Marmara in International Waters in May 2010.
they are a rogue empire methinks
Hope the plane is kept under lock and key until take off. And checked over properly.
The US has been a rogue state for a long, long time. The problem is that people have refused to see this.
People refuse to see it, because they fight to retain their ignorance!
Which nationality/ideology/regime were the, intelligence services primarily formed from….
Fly bonny plane like a bird on the wing
Over the Arctic sky
If Edward Snowden’s supporters can pull this off. The networked global commons will become a new player in global politics. No longer will the world’s affairs be solely decided by the superpowers.
Working title:
Operation FOLLOW
Flight Of Liberty Live Online over the World
Update:
The pool of aircraft available for lease, capable of flying Snowden to Venezuela has been increased greatly by a decision of the Irish Courts.
In a move that pits the diplomatic weight of the new global commons against the diplomatic power of the US.
The Irish state has rejected US demands to detain Snowden if the plane carrying him lands in Ireland on its way to Venezuela. This opens the way for the Paul Revere to land and refuel unmolested.
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1282146/ireland-becomes-second-state-reject-us-request-arrest-edward-snowden
Though the rejection of the arrest warrant was on legal technicalities, this is a major blow to US efforts to apprehend Snowden. And leaves the US authorities with two uncomfortable options. The first, to engage in a high profile and very likely long drawn out legal appeal in the full glare of the world’s media spot light. Or engage in some behind the scenes naked arm twisting to try and get the Irish government to overrule the High Court. Neither uncomfortable option is likely to give the State Department much comfort, both options risking huge negative fallout. And even then, may not deliver the result they want.
A stopover at Shannon Airport is also likely to be a media bonus for the journalists on board the Paul Revere commenting through their live web feed.
Providing a further humbling lesson for the impotent US superpower as to the limits of their diminishing global power.
FRANCE 14 July 2013 – 226th anniversary of the STORMING OF THE BASTILLE. Celebration !
NEW ZEALAND 15 July 2013 – King ShonKey Louis Python XVI and gluttonous wife Paula Bennettoinette ramp up the WAR ON THE POOR. Already deployed measures of cynical societal division, demonisation of the poor, and systematic disentitlement of the poor have proved ineffective to create 170,000 new jobs.
“Mon Friggin’ Dieu !!!”
“Paula………the peasants have shafted our Brighter Future”.
“I see that Lou’……….shall I make them REALLY pay for their ugliness ?”
BASTILLE DAY + 1………”Work and Income chief Debbie Power said 85,000 people – mainly the sick, long-term unemployed, and sole parents and widows with no children under 14 – would move today into intensive “work-focused case management” with 760 personal case managers to help them find jobs and overcome barriers such as transport and childcare costs, addictions, debts and workplace attitudes to mental illness and other conditions. A further 1000 sole parents and 1000 people with mental health problems will be handed over to contractors who will be paid from $2250 to $16,500 for each person they place in employment for at least a year.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10898243
BASTILLE DAY + 1. Celebration !
Mon Friggin’ Dieu !!! The lessons of history………?
do we know any further details about these ‘contractors’ who will receive such Bennettoinette bounty ?
loved yr post đ
North.
Did you know that today is also the anniversary of the ending of the 1951 waterfront strike?
Of course it was a total and utter defeat for the union movement.
It is a day that should be celebrated by all free thinking kiwis, a great day in the nations history.
troll
Of course it was a total and utter defeat for the union movement.
Well, no it was not. The Waterside Workers’ Union was defeated, but the union movement in this country, as in Australia, Britain, the United States, Japan and all of Western Europe except for the dictatorships in Portugal and Spain, went from strength to strength, and the standard of living in all those places—except Portugal and Spain—increased for all citizens.
You either know that, of course, and are simply trying to stir up trouble, or you are unfeasibly ignorant.
“You either know that, of course, and are simply trying to stir up trouble, or you are unfeasibly ignorant.”
… or both.
To the aptly named Big Bruv –
Mon Friggin’ Dieu !!! I did not know that !
Celebrate away Big Bruv but as you intoxicate do remember that history did not end on that day.
Cheers Morrissey – I suspected but did not know that.
The real agenda of the right is to ban unions and lock up union members. This is where the freedom and liberty stops for ACT supporters like BB. Freedom to join anything as long as it isn’t a union.
Millsy
Not at all. Anybody should be free to choose to join a union if they are stupid enough. The difference between us is that you want to make it compulsory to belong to a union.
What the government should do is stop the deduction of union dues from workers wages, only then when the morons who do belong to a union see just how little they get for their money will they wake up to the fact that they are being ripped off by what is undoubtedly a corrupt union.
5% increases in wages against 0% for non-union workers for a couple of hundred dollars per year. Yeah, just so friggen little.
Wtf are you on about? There is no compulsory union membership you nonce.
You’re saying the govt should have the power to interfere in a contract that two parties have freely entered into.
Some libertarian you turned out to be.
did BB ever pay that bet?
so hes still a bludger, right?
Nah, course he didn’t pay.
I don’t begrudge him though, it’s not easy living on a benefit.
You’re really a bit stupid Felix.
Demonstrate.
expecting BB to understand his own comment đ
Long shot, I know…
speaking of stupid – care to explain how fees incurred from a voluntary contract are forcibly extracted, and how when youve forcibly stopped payment from a voluntary contract that two separate parties have entered into, one of those parties will see the “error of their ways”?
go on – knock yourself out
also – that thing about that debt.
Yep pay up big bruv. A contract is a contract …
The murder of Trayvon Martin goes unpunished and the twisted wannabee policeman, the racist Zimmerman walks free, completely free.
Why ? That “greatest nation in the world” the US of A…… Florida…….Florida’s “stand your ground” lethal force statute…….”Hoodied black kids gotta be dealt to……”…….a racist rogue jury…….unartful prosecution……..brilliant defence lawyers ? Who can really know ?
New Zealand position – s.48 Crimes Act 1961 – self defence, even to a lethal conclusion, carries no criminal liability if there is belief (subjective) that one is under attack or is about to be …….AND the response to the belief is reasonable in the circumstances (objective). Sledgehammer cannot meet ant in other words.
Many remain troubled that the knifing which ended the life of young Pihema in Manurewa did not result in criminal liability greater than that actually suffered by the perpetrator.
That said I suspect that if a New Zealand court were to hear the Florida case, the circumstances of which included Zimmerman being warned by the police not to continue tracking the non-offending, walking home with some lollies, Trayvon Martin, then Zimmerman would be awaiting sentence for murder.
Karma may yet do the job the legal system in Florida failed to do. Wouldn’t be comfortable to live the rest of one’s life looking over one’s shoulder for a second hollow-nosed bullet, would it ?
Maybe that’s Zimmerman’s (inadequate?) karma……..a second bullet engraved with his name……never fired or felt.
RIP the young Trayvon Martin, walking home, lollied-up and innocently hoodied, nervously telling girlfriend on the phone that he was being stalked (poor guy got it wrong……he was being hunted by a man “standing his ground”).
RIP Trayvon. And arohanui to those who loved you, rather than anonymously hated you, during your short life.
Theres more to the case then whats being fed by the media, don’t jump to conclusions. Hard for this guy to get a fair trial:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/07/13/Media-Zimmerman-Coverage-Rap-Sheet
Without having read the article, I am very suspiscious of anything from breitbart.
As the following search on AlterNet shows, breitbart is an ultra-consertive site and is far from unbiased and even-handed in it’s aproach:
http://www.alternet.org/search/site/breitbart
That maybe however he/she/they provide links for what they’re saying and there were serious issues with the information the media was presenting
Not that the media would make things up though…
Not that Winston Smith @ 4.1.1.1 might be mischievously selective at all – apologists for racial profiling and the lethalism it encourages…….well they do that.
A Google search – “What injuries did Zimmerman and Martin get ?” – brings up not less than 10 pages of links ranging from “Zimmerman injuries insignificant….” to “Prosecution cannot succeed…..”. The whole range of partisan expression.
This link however is germane:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/09/21/169233/george-zimmermans-friends-book.html
Zimmerman’s best friend, a Mr Osterman, was with Zimmerman within hours of the killing, uplifted him from police headquarters the night of the killing, and thereafter hid him away for weeks. Osterman wrote and published a 175 page “book” recording Zimmerman’s account as related to him by Zimmerman.
Lo, Zimmerman’s account in the book differs quantumly from that given by way of defence in the trial ??? Read it.
Wow ! Winston Smith. True to form. Reflexive “Don’t wanna believe…….won’t believe !”
Breitfart trumps even Fux News for heresy to the truth.
Wasn’t there footage from immediately after the assassination which showed Zimmerman arriving at police headquarters in police custody………exhibiting no injury whatsoever ?
Oh well, never mind…….sympathy to the family.
Magnificent American Obscenity !
Read the links its interesting especially the editing that went on of the recordings and images
Breitbart – Stormfront… same thing.
I just love how you think it is OK for a white man to gun down a black man and get away with it.
In my opinion Zimmerman is no better than the lynch mobs that infested the US south until the 1950’s.
Do you support lynching Smith?
Sanford, Florida, has always been a dangerous place – if you’re black.
http://www.afro.com/sections/news/national/story.htm?storyid=74529
Black Woman Gets 20 Years for Firing Shot at Wall; White Man Gets 0 Years for Shooting Man in the Back 3 Times, Killing Him
Why? Because the USA is massively racist.
Marissa Alexander case
In May 2012, Corey prosecuted 31-year-old Marissa Alexander and obtained a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. Alexander had a restraining order issued against her ex husband at the time and, during the day of the incident, had returned to their old home to collect clothes and some possessions thinking he was not there. Her ex husband was there, with their children, and they began to argue. After the argument became heated, Marissa Alexander returned to her car, picked up her firearm, and returned inside the house where she threatened him with the handgun before firing a warning shot into the wall. She was charged with reckless endangerment of children and threatening with a deadly weapon. Despite being offered a 3 year sentence and later a probational sentence with time served, Alexander chose to attempt a SYG defence at trial[30]. She was found guilty and according to Floridas gun laws (where 10 years can be added for committing a crime while carrying a firearm, with an added 10 years for discharging a firearm during a crime) was sentenced to 20 years
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Corey#Marissa_Alexander_case
I agree Draco that the US is massively racist. It irks to see cases misrepresented though.
Warning to all subscribers to a television service which includes Fux News:
Clip after clip of coiffed silver hair atop botoxed white Republican congressmen, celebrating Zimmerman’s acquittal as a vindication of the magnificence of the US justice system – the most despicable being one such racist gargoyle from Iowa, intoning majestically that there were no grounds to prosecute the hunter killer of the black kid in the first place !
I paraphrase the thinking – “Dead black kid ?………well……..yeah……..and your point is…….?
Hope my screen doesn’t get hacked with that aging pornstar look-alike Fux News’ Geraldo Rivera. He who within hours of the boy’s assassination peppered his deepest sympathies to Trayvon’s family with recommendation to black kids that they not get about with hoodies tent-like.
I paraphrase in advance – “Well folks……..hate to say ‘I told ya so’………”
Jesus Christ……..the hacking’s started already.
Rupert Murdoch’s Fux News disporting Karl Rove !
Aging pornstar Geraldo to Rupert – “Damn ! Boss……you knew all along that black boy was carryin’ a cellphone. Boss……ya coulda told me !” Boss !
I hope the US burns because of this. I really do.
The Black President says that it’s time for “calm reflection”.
According to some little git actor ,from hobbits I think, on tv last night peter Jackson is the “King of New Zealand” I wonder if our little despot knows that.
chrissy Hey I protest on behalf of all hobbits and little git actors. Watch your language you bigot.
Rosetinted
Oooerrr!! Ever so sorry, but anyone who say’s peter Jackson is King of NZ is IMO a little git, actor or not. And he was in the hobbit movies. Makes him a double git. Just my opinion.
chrissy
People seem to have some strong opinions about Sir Peter Jackson – either love or hate him.
I love someone who makes business in New Zealand. Then I hate the way that the government has opened up the entry quota, or wiped it, for bringing in technicians etc.. instead of ensuring that NZs got trained first.
If NZs get the chance to get big films here, it may be best that they don’t go all bolshie and march up the road threatening to withdraw their labour while trying to boost their payments. When they should be jawing up better conditions in meetings nose to nose. I think people got hoist with their own petard (not Peter).
” it may be best that they donât go all bolshie and march up the road”
that could be levelled at both sides – no?
It was Nick Frost who said that-Simon Pegg’s offsider in the cornetto trilogy (Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s end)
Speaking of hobbits, I saw that movie on Sky’s pay-per-view service over the weekend.
Nothing to write home about really. The digital matte paintings and the background shots are the only decent thing about it (could have made a travelogue in IMAX format for a fraction of the price).
Perhaps I am just used to the more rigorious storylines of Game of Thrones?
It’s simply not correct to say that New Zealand has a rapidly opening gap between the rich and the poor – Bill English
New Zealand’s income gap has grown faster than any other developed country over the past 20 years – OECD
Who’s right?
Certainly NOT Blinglish…
London School of Economics Professor Robert Wade said Mr English made a stabbing motion with his finger towards his chest and berated him in between their separate appearances on TVNZ’s Q + A programme at the weekend. There was no physical contact.
Mr English disagreed with his remarks on inequality and capital gains tax and warned him “Don’t you say that again”, Prof Wade said
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8922076/English-rebukes-visiting-academic
Thoughts?
Heh. I’d say English was pissed off that he has been constrained by the reality’s of MMP in what he has been able to do for the 1%. MOMs instead of full asset sales, not mining our National parks, it’s bloody outrageous what.
Hehe a perfect example of something I tell my kids – don’t point, it shows you’ve lost control of thoughts and lost the argument.
<blockquoteHe was interviewed on the current affairs show ahead of Mr English, and asserted that "over the past two decades or so, economic policy in the US, the UK and New Zealand has increasingly been set by the top 1 per cent or so for the top 1 per cent".
t was this comment to which Mr English took exception – and Prof Wade says he was later told the Clutha-Southland MP "just sort of exploded like a volcano out in the anteroom".
As if there was any further requirement to illustrate, who the NZ government actually represents!
As if there was any further requirement to illustrate, who the NZ government actually represents!
Mods – Please feel free to delete the 7.1.1.3 comment, its a double
Interesting news mix this morning.
In Ireland there was a riot over the march of the Orangemen who wanted to stride past the Catholics in the usual provocative and traditional way.
In Spain there was the running of the bulls in Pamplona with the odd goring one of which, who is an Australian woman, has serious injuries.
There was an affronted and angry response from Germany to the news that the USA has been bugging them – supposedly their allies and both being countries adopting high standards of respect for each other and their peoples.
đĄ What about making a tradition of having an entertaining ‘Running of the Politicians’ through Wellington! That would bring in the crowds and give our representatives a chance to show they’re the Right Stuff in front of thousands. One could make jokes about them being bull-headed, bovine etc. It would be such fun and a therapeutic release for so many of us. And we could be especially scathing of some of the fatter ones, some of whom deserve our scorn for other reasons, and some who would benefit from physical training and better diet enabling them to be even better.
And another thought – what if we somehow could change our method of government and bring in a provision that each new government had to carry on with a previous government’s policy unless given clear direction about change from the electorate. That would be their mandate, (not a manban though) and change would come about from bills decided after select committees thorough discussion, which would be overseen by a carefully picked observer group with each member having a different status.
The new laws and regulations would be monitored for deletorious effects and useful effectiveness to the public and be reviewed after the first, and third years to see if satisfactory or requiring change. No measures could be agreed by the government without consulting the people widely, and no secret agreements made of a binding nature.
No emergency parliamentary sessions could be held without agreement from a widely diverse watchdog citizen group. Such people would be on an on-call basis and be devoted to the country’s wider interests so would attend with the alacrity of firemen when called on. There would be problems but we cannot have important parts of our country’s system of government overthrown ‘by mandate’ every time there is a change in government. I’m more afraid of having nothing left of our political culture under our present ‘system’ than the problems that might arise from my suggestions.
Smalley interviews Colin James about the Labour Leadership
Excellent piece form TV3. Summary:
Shearer has gone to ground, refusing interviews and stopped releasing copies of his public schedule to the media.
There is disgruntlement with Shearer and Shearer’s political management, but he could still cling on if he lifts his game, particularly as there does not appear to be any organised effort to move him on. However many are wanting a new Leader in place by Conference.
A Robertson/Cunliffe ticket is the obvious option but can they work out an agreement. Cunliffe remains a divisive figure to some and Robertson would probably say he is not yet ready to be Leader. Little also seen as divisive and Ardern talented but still 5 years out from being ready.
Key had the same lack of understanding of NZ and NZ politics that Shearer demonstrates, but proved to be a smooth talker and fast learner.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Shearer-may-be-challenged-for-Labour-leadership/tabid/370/articleID/304822/Default.aspx
Strange or laughable that the segment pins all the disquiet on Shearer’s visit to the corporate box?
Was a good interview, but I’m thinking James is a wee bit off the mark in his analysis of possible future configurations. Fact is (I think), that Cunliffe has the membership vote. So any one who can get the numbers in caucus probably needs his endorsement – or he theirs. And I’m reckoning (with relief) that that wipes out ‘log jam’ Robertson.
As I said yesterday
How Convenient is this shit? No problems since the year dot, and now we have ‘white powder’ popping up all over the place, over the weekend. What the fuck? does Shonkey and co think we are all that dumb as to believe this stunt?
Emergency services prepared decontamination equipment after a white powder scare at the Treasury building in central Wellington just after midday.
Police and fire crews cordoned off parts of the building after the envelope containing the white powder was received.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8920238/Treasury-building-cordoned-off-after-white-powder-scare
and it disappeared off the front page pretty quickly too
Completely missed that wee scare story. Can’t quite figure the article though as it states the powder as being both ‘innocuous’ and…’unidentified’. Oh well….
Guess that means even the journos don’t buy it, not even for a moment.
I’m quite impressed that no-one has mentioned anthrax yet.
Wasn’t the incident at Dunne’s offices baking powder?
baking soda.
Not sure about the west coast one or today’s envelope.
CV, that’s sure to get a rise out of someone.
I groaned đ
Baking soda. Auntie says it’s good for cleaning – up Dunne’s act, might stretch to ACT!
But the uniformed gas masked people just tell their own story really and that’s the problem some people only look at the pics.
Trouble is, as soon as someone makes the call, they have to take it seriously. There’s been more than one responder infected or killed by a suspicious package they treated less than cautiously. Low likelihood, but serious consequence in the event.
Besides, it’s good training for when the hazard is real.
And don’t forget, the release of calicivirus 20 years ago demonstrates there have been illicit biological agents smuggled into the country, beyond our bio security measures. Do people really think we’d be able to detect anthrax, or foot-and-mouth?
Explosive devices aside, how many packages of ‘suspicious powder’ – white or otherwise – treated ‘less than cautiously’, has resulted in how many deaths globally in the past 10 – 15 years? I mean, any ball park figure will do. I’m guessing single digits. There or thereabouts. And how many in NZ over the same period? Like you say, good training for imaginery threats and hazards – or a complete bloody waste of time and only ever good for ratcheting up levels of groundless fear in gullible portions of the populace.
But those skillsets are largely the same regardless if it’s asbestos from a burning warehouse, a legitimate biohazard or just someone with baking soda.
Public fear-wise, this isn’t exactly our 9/11.
Heh – and those skillsets around asbestos when NZ’s second city collapsed? They were where?
But yeah. No likely repeat of 12/9 here or elsewhere…not even though we got an Octagon to tempt any would be radical algebrian nutters.
lol
Wasn’t there a kid who wanted to shoot the Queen when she made a visit to Dunedin years back? Ended up getting confused and setting a rifle up on the wrong street or something. Probably needed Google Earth đ
Wouldn’t have helped in Samoa. Google maps was way way way out of date. Many of the unpaved roads were in fact paved. Many of the streets didn’t exist on their maps. Never looked at the sat images though.
I was just surprised after how accurate it has been in NZ. But it does make me aware of the limits to how far you can trust net info
They spent a couple of years running round in cars taking photos and generally getting into shit for grabbing wifi data illegally or something was about privacy. Was all done by about 5 years ago
That kid would be Christopher Lewis, one of NZ’s most fascinating criminals of all time.
If I recall correctly he wasn’t actually that far off shooting the queen either. Fired one at the footpath I think.
He was only 16 or 17 at the time and had already held up the post office at gunpoint for $10k cash. With bicycles for getaway vehicles it was all done during his school lunch break and he was back in class for the afternoon.
Live protest stream from NY here.
http://www.ustream.tv/occupyeye
LA.
https://twitter.com/jasmyne/status/356585477240938496/photo/1
https://twitter.com/jasmyne/status/356595024814809088/photo/1
https://twitter.com/jasmyne/status/356590889461768193/photo/1
https://twitter.com/jasmyne/status/356587442565939200/photo/1
https://twitter.com/jasmyne/status/356584159612903426/photo/1
https://twitter.com/TheeBeePee/status/356595732754620416/photo/1
More on one of John Key’s mates and helpers…and how he is a big problem when it comes to improving the health of a nation.
So, has he lobbied for tobacco companies in NZ?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/14/lynton-crosby-tobacco-meeting-labour
You missed the appointment of a former tobacco industry bigwig to head the ‘Smokefree 2025’ thing?
Bill @ 12.1.
Yay, another Fletcher, another Devoy, another Hot Chick C-Rankin on the Families Commission. I’m so looking forward to mine Potty,Gower being appointed to the BSA, David Garret boss of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Morrissey honoured with ambassador to Tel Aviv.
A fabulously incendiary Brighter Future lies ahead !
North
đ
KRudd (on Skoi News) has just announced that he’s interested in a policy whereby citizens of PNG could subscribe to the same border control mechanism that exists between OZ and NZill.
Now watch the Natzis come out with all their Yea…. but Nah …. but Yea …. but Maybe crap.
(after all, they are fuzzy wuzzies aye – next thing you know, there’ll be P.I’s asking for the same thing – you know – those ‘in-betweens’ Just as soon as we can ensure they’re ‘Noble Savages’ rather than the ignoble. “We’ll get back to you”)
KEY’s (KEYS) (or Stoivie Jooooooice’s) attitude on US citizens:
Walk right in ….. sit right down, baby let your mind roll on.
P.I. neighbours and any with a shared culture; those without money money moneeeeey – ooooh let’s take a while shall we?.
Oh….. hey!!!! Dunk: reliable sauces in the Beehive tell me it’s ALL ON. If John Key doesn’t ditch the discriminatory pollsee against PoiEyes when the Okkers go for this open border thing with PNG, then the Nats will be toast. KRudd’s proposal is circulating around kebnit. Check with Paddy (and while you’re at it – give him some guidance on the hand and arm movements for tonight).
MORE on Nightline tonight!!!!
and NO – sauces is not misspelt.
Pik ya flavour – just as long as you can produce enough for Progressive Enterprises or it’s “competitor” to dictate how much you have to produce before they’ll stock it.
Settle down there boy!
đ Yessiree kimosabe
Excellent effort by Andrea Vance, as reported by NRT:
That’s some nice balance and contrast to the pap pieces on the excellence of the mood and the fare at ShonKey Python’s BBQs.
Note how the Fart Estate goes just a little bit feral when it’s them who’re the victims………?
Thanks Karol, some interesting reading.
This was from sat and probably already been linked to but too bad:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10897497
As the day draws on – questionable sugar levels have this old fulla increasingly cynical about it all…….
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10898476
Roped in early, feted, glorified, little talkie from ShonKey Python. Cargo cult by Power Point ?
Troughing scab pupae ?