Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike …
This is the way the world should be, according to the hypocrites and/or criminals who run the Sensible Sentencing Trust, ACT, some branches of the National Party and the ninnies and numbskulls who support them….
Most crime is caused by a very small group of people, spend a bit of money at the beginning so they stay on the correct path and the country will save millions in the long run.
Wow so if we locked up Trader John when he arrived back in New Zealand he would not have been able to sell our assets and similar crimes against the people of New Zealand
I see an issue with forcefully combining teens who are on welfare due to their parents having issues, and teens on welfare because they themselves became too problematic for their parents to deal with.
Lots of opportunities for sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation and not to mention that some of these teens just don’t cope well with authority.
And where is the research that shows teens living independently go “off the rails” to the extent that the state can justify such a scheme? Seems to me that this is another shift to profit driven welfare delivery.
Bennett in parliament was asked about why those with intractable conditions were being asked to provide a medical certificate every three months when the Doctor has indicated nothing was going to change for 2 or even five years. Bennett of course lied, and said that didn’t happen, and well she might since its not WINZ who picks up the doctors fees.
Its likely those on a benefit will get other illnesses and need to attend the Doctor, have prescription costs etc, and so the likelihood that such an illness happens just after they have been re-certified by their Doctor is very real. But that of course is inefficient, but its not inefficient for WINZ who unnecessarily force people to see there Doctor even if this in itself harmful and onerous.
Now I seem to remember there being a reciprocal respect clause in WINZ manuals, that if WINZ wants efficiency gains why would they impose inefficiency rules on others. Its hypocritical, its wrong, and Bennett is lying to parliament. Bennett has never believe a sickness (or ?congenitical? condition) can last more that a year, you’d think she would have a medical professional alongside of her when she gave such statements regarding health care.
Going to the Doctor can be hazardous to ones health! People who are ill go there! Its therefore something that should not be forced into unnecessarily. Forcing citizens to see Doctors, hasn’t happened since, what the last miltrary regime….?? Its just a bad precedent to set.
Every time the government feels under pressure or wants to hide something, Paula wheels out another reform that may or may not happen and it deflects the conversation.
Yeah. It was a problem with some site coming in and battering it.
I’ve been slowly working towards making it more resilient when I have time (still working on releases).
Since it went down last night anyway just before 10pm due to bots (looked like a new spambot network went online this week) and failed to survive the restart twice (and I finally have a Gold release done), I took the opportunity of it being offline to put the next phase in. Finished up uncompleted at about 6am, grabbed a few hours sleep and went to work to finish the Mac version of the client software…
Sometime this weekend or next week, I should have the last server reconfiguration to put into place. Then we will be ready for an election and capable of surviving the occasional bot storms (and do it on several hundred dollars per month).
“..ed:..we are really spoilt for choice..in bad breakfast television..
..and currently – the simpering of the compere on tv3 when interviewing key caused a serious case of gastric-reflux in me..so i am avoiding their offerings..
@ P Ure:
Morning Report on Natrad is a better option than both, though also pretty lame. The thing is though, that at least (unless you have a TV in the bathroom) you can take a dump/take the kids to the beach whilst listening and feel better about it.
Whereas the TV1 and TV3 equivalent audiences have a problem. (Whilst 3 for a half hour is OKish, there’s still the problems of having to clean up afterwards).
Silence, or noise free/technology free time though is not a bad option. I’m sure you could probably handle the loss of seeing those gorgeous celebs masquerading as journalists for a couple of hours.
Of course, I don’t have these problems. I’m a bit like those John Key, Simon Bridges, Paula Bennett, “The Standard trollers: BM, KK et al’ Natty types. I don’t shit, and I don’t sweat – plus I know what’s best for you.
I’m born to rule dontcha know. I studied Chris Finlayson, and I’m in awe! (AND I smell like a white rose – simply adorable)
Idiot/Savant over at NRT gave Chris Trotter a big fat raspberry yesterday over his take on Jerry Mateparae’s speech to the parliamentary press gallery. Well, lo, the Herald editorial writers today has done exactly what Trotter predicted – that is, used Mateparae’s speech as part of it’s pre-emptive campaign to delegitimise a Labour/Green coalition if National is the largest party after the next election.
Make no mistake. If given a chance, the political/business axis of the right will do everything in it’s power – up to and including trying to annull an election result with the flimiest of legal excuses – to prevent a government coming to power that threatens the neo-liberal consensus and capitalist power.
“The continuous circulation of water in the ocean, the atmosphere , and on the land is fundamental to the availability of water on the planet”.
– The Hydrologic Cycle and the Wisdom of God
“ From this I conclude that Humanistic Geography is neglected because it is too hard. Nevertheless, it should attract the tough-minded and the idealistic…”
@ Ad…..Yi-Fu Tuan …the American geographer?..i would say he would be a Greenie and a good friend of the environmentalists who wish to protect the rivers and aquifers
I remember both Whitlam AND Bainimarama both – in GREAT fucking detail. The former slightly better than the latter – in fact the latter is responsible for my various comments under a p p er sudo err psy, err alias.
I also remember my cousin ( a former spook’s warning)
Cherr bro, snot beart race or creed or changes of gubbamint amongst perceived colonial masters, or Muff McGillicuddy’s wank, wank wankering – who hardly ever heard of the Fiji-ease/EAR NUZULL trevull destnayshun before coming to pear – but are now absolute experts, pulling strings whilst their challengers wear manufektered buzzy suits looking like sommit that came outta a British-designed ark.
For FUCK’s bloody SAKE.
Fiji is probably the BIGGEST reason I (personally) have lost faith in the abilities of ear S oi S, en Goi.Soi.Ess.Boi.
Christ Almightly! No one – other than perhaps the of Michael Field (having to work under a corporate Fearfex) saw it all coming!!!! (He ekshly wrote about it in the early 00’s). And these (MFAT – snr megmint sperts) are the cnuts we’re now expected to entrust our ‘best interests’ and ‘welfare’ and ‘we-know-best’ hope to.
Fuck me with a feather duster.
Pardon me if I don’t have that much confdince.
FFS!
Smart sanctions that never ever were ….. (like political travel sanctions whilst failing to delve deeper – ANZ bank accounts filled with ill-gotten gains, Frankie boy’s history – known to NZDF/OZDF and reported to pollies, training ships where is ‘skills’ were learned;
embouldened (after BOTH Okker and NewZill changes) by a gubba gubbs desperately trying to rub together a couple of ideas to salvage a situation, PRIMARILY of their own fucking making.
Whilst Helen (and of course her advisors and spin doctors) might have been slightly naiive; theres’s a Key and a Muff that have ABSOLUTELY NO fucking ides (other than treats & trinkets-driven tuneties for nego-shay-shun)
” trying to annull an election result with the flimiest of legal excuses”
as far as i know theres no law requiring the biggest party to have first crack at, or demand the right to form a coalition – so that could be quite entertaining
It could be more about “manufacturing consent” regardless of electoral procedures, and GG Mateparae would be well used to both taking orders and doing the ruling class bidding.
this great danish tv series shows how mmp is supposed to work, & its very good drama too. many similar parallels to nz govt too. & also the right are wrong, if they think the biggest party ‘deserves’ to form govt, in borgen the biggest party is the opposition!
Not our precious Hobbitses movies? Yess… cuts them too!
The film/TV/commercial/animation industry in workers organisational terms is basically more of a rabble now than ever before with the exception of Northern Actors and some principled individuals. Tech guilds and all the rest mean little in what has been legislated into an official dependent contracting industry.
Some otherwise sensible people I know that support all sorts of Green and left causes have serious problems viewing their own film industry with some perspective, it is every dog for its self. This is the legacy of the Hobbit Enabling Act. And now the government that removed workers rights to organise won’t assist with macro settings that it could try. If anyone in the industry (apart from John Barnett of course) votes National next time they have rocks in their heads.
When you compare the two its quite clear from his responses that the hobbit deal was ONLY about doing something for warners. If it wasnt about that, and at the time joyce really did see it as being about helping the industry then he would have a better line than a flat out reversal this time, on the same issue wouldnt he
Im talking about how his actions and words on these two situations expose his actual motivation – not whether the film industry should get rebates or subsidies or whatever
” Hudes is trying very hard to expose the corrupt financial system that the global elite are using to control the wealth of the world.”
“A former insider at the World Bank, ex-Senior Counsel Karen Hudes, says the global financial system is dominated by a small group of corrupt, power-hungry figures centered around the privately owned U.S. Federal Reserve. The network has seized control of the media to cover up its crimes, too, she explained. In an interview with The New American, Hudes said that when she tried to blow the whistle on multiple problems at the World Bank, she was fired for her efforts. Now, along with a network of fellow whistleblowers, Hudes is determined to expose and end the corruption. And she is confident of success.
Citing an explosive 2011 Swiss study published in the PLOS ONE journal on the “network of global corporate control,” Hudes pointed out that a small group of entities — mostly financial institutions and especially central banks — exert a massive amount of influence over the international economy from behind the scenes. “What is really going on is that the world’s resources are being dominated by this group,” she explained, adding that the “corrupt power grabbers” have managed to dominate the media as well. “They’re being allowed to do it.”
Relevant to all of our interests, don’t you think?
So, the super-entity may not result from conspiracy. The real question, says the Zurich team, is whether it can exert concerted political power. Perhaps there is too many to sustain collusion. More likely they will compete in the market but act together on common interests. Resisting changes to the network structure may be one such common interest.
Remember the networks of individuals Bruce Jesson put together in “Only Their Purpose is Mad” and works prior to that? Well it’s also true on a global scale. It’s not as intentional as a hive-mind, but it’s still conscious and reflextive like an organism.
Just reminds me to get rid of the mortgage so fast.
I reread the article again. There are so many things wrong with what he has written it is hard to know where to start. I did make a rather restrained comment, will see if he replies.
You would say that would’nt you Weka. To Trotter charge ” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”, how do you plead?
Ennui, WJ and JT’s actions were out there in public for all to see. They harassed (2 onto one) and victim blamed a woman telling her story. JT and WJ had the power in that situation. To not act pretty quickly against them would send a message in support of victim blaming, and silencing of victims.
JT especially is a serial offender when it comes to misogyny. How much more are people supposed to put up with?
If it had been Laws I do wonder if they would have stood him down.
However, standing up to their behaviour has sent a strong message. One question is whether the result will be to send the rape culture back under cover as it was before the roastbusters story or if society will front up to change. Sadly, not led by the Government in this regard.
“If it had been Laws I do wonder if they would have stood him down.”
Yes, but that’s about Mediaworks not the left blogosphere. Here is what I commented on Bowalley Rd, the last bit was my response to Trotter’s ideas about racism.
Chris, I take it from your use of quotation marks that you don’t think Tamihere and Jackson were misogynistic in that interview? Fortunately many people disagree with you, and they used their freedom of expression in, well, expressing that. I think the left blogosphere’s responses were perfectly appropriate: they saw behaviour that was unacceptable and they stepped up and did something. Kind of ironic to have you now arguing that was wrong, given the context of the rape club.
Because there can be little doubt that the decision by so many businesses to withdraw their advertising from Radio Live was prompted by the implicit threat of a consumer boycott of their products if they didn’t. Bluntly, the proposition put to Radio Live amounted to: “Take these guys off the air, or, first off, we’ll hurt your advertisers; and then we’ll hurt you.”
Has it occured to you that as part of that decision they looked at what Tamihere and Jackson actually did and decided they didn’t want their businesses associated with that in any way? It was interesting to read the initial responses from companies that pulled their advertising, compared to Countdown, who initially said it was nothing to do with them. When you read the first lot of responses from companies, they read like the people who wrote them were literate about rape culture. These weren’t responses from people merely concerned about profit lines, they were also concerned about ethics.
As for the ‘this is really racism’ angle…
What did Willie and JT see when 3 News broke the Roastbusters story? Two young brown faces. What did they hear? Middle-class Pakeha liberals baying for their blood. To what did their first thoughts turn? Rape Culture or Lynch Law?
That might be worth looking at if it weren’t for the fact that Tamihere and Jackson are both well known for their misogynistic views and attitudes, and their support of rape culture. I’m also less inclined to take notice of your view on this, given your cultural background, than I am to listen to the voices of Mana Wahine, where Maori women have spoken out about their concern over what Tamihere and Jackson did. Did you do any research on what Maori women have said on this in the last week before you wrote your article?
Weka, Karol et al, you have answered my question admirably. QED.
Nothing pleases me less than the prospect of having the bloggers of the “Left” having any influence over long established principles.To quote a well known story, “A little more caution from you; that is no trinket you carry.”
Your principle appears to be that people are entitled to use hate speech. But what I suspect what you really mean is that people are entitled to support misogyny/rape culture but not other kinds of hatred.
If I’ve misunderstood, that’s up to you, because your comments aren’t particularly clear.
Weka, you have definitely misunderstood. Clarity comes from reading, listening, understanding, applying principles, engaging, understanding. And then formulating a response.
Trotters charge was ” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”. I think the answer very self evident in the columns here over the last week. Conclusions are made quickly, charges laid, guilt assumed….an example is that you say to me Your principle appears to be that people are entitled to use hate speech. But what I suspect what you really mean is that people are entitled to support misogyny/rape culture but not other kinds of hatred. That is an example of a complete leap of faith, a non informed presumption, and to me quite wrong and slanderous. What right have you to tell me what I am thinking? It backs up Trotters contention on korero.
I have a very real fear that the ‘instincts” shown on this column will not lead to a positive result, so I blew the whistle. Rings of power should not be used, if the Left does not want to go down the same coercive authoritarian path of the Right they should not mirror their “instincts”.
Rings of power should not be used, if the Left does not want to go down the same coercive authoritarian path of the Right they should not mirror their “instincts”.
If it is for a good end, and we find that too many NZers are being regressive (whether they are male or female), why not identify them as part of the problem to be fixed, with firmer measures and sanctions if and when needed.
Particularly after the release of the Roy Morgan results, it can be safely concluded that a large segment of NZ men have a serious attitude problem. Let’s simply push through clear, solid measures which show that progressive attitude and languaging is the only correct and acceptable type to have in this country.
CV, you say, Let’s simply push through clear, solid measures which show that progressive attitude and languaging is the only correct and acceptable type to have in this country.. Let me paraphrase it…let us force people to accept our standards and language, as defined by us, other wise they are heretics….
“let us force people to accept our standards and language, as defined by us, other wise they are heretics….”
In your world there would still be slaves and women wouldn’t vote. We can leave things as they are and continue a rape-type culture. Too bad that 1-3 females will be sexually abused we can’t send any message to a large part of society that they are part of the problem. We’ll just wait for them to come to it in their own time… meanwhile, another hour another sexual abused citizen.
Ennui, you may very well be right, but I have no idea because instead of clarifying what you actually meant you’ve just given me a little lecture on something.
btw, if you reread what I wrote, I intentionally used the words ‘appear’ and ‘suspect’ which clearly indicate that I am expressing what I heard rather than defining what you think. That left an opening for you to correct or clarify. That you failed to do so is all down to you.
You come into a conversation about rape culture, and cherry pick out one sentence from a much longer piece by Trotter. Then you make vague accusations towards myself and others here, but you don’t actually tell us what YOU think. I know a set up when I see one, so either clarify what the fuck you are on abotu or stop wasting my time.
Weka, when I came into the conversation it was in response to you accusing Trotter making apologies for Tamihere and Jackson.
I read the article, was left unconvinced either way by Trotter, and probably more in line with yourself (which is why you leap of faith on what I was thinking was somewhat illustrative). The only part I agree with Trotter on precisely is his contention on the Lefts instincts. Hence my original question.
And that, is the crux of it. If your mind is subtle enough to understand, on that point bloggers of the Left confirm Trotters contention in bucket loads.
The implication is about means justifying ends: Trotters words condemn/threaten/punish are all coercive and authoritarian. If that is where you think the Left should be, all good. Count me out.
I will waste no more of my time on this, yours appears precious to you.
Still no idea what you are on about Ennui. If you look at every comment you have made in this sub-thread, there are examples of implication without saying what you actually mean.
I’m out of patience with this kind of communicating after vto ran us all round in circles yesterday. I don’t know you well enough to know why you communicate like this, but let me just say, if you do want to have a genuine conversation with me, assume I need things spelled out.
” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”
is complete bullshit. Numerous offers were made by people to appear on JT&W’s show. the offers were rejected or ignored. On the second day, after they had given a pro forma and weak apology, they decided the conversation was over and proceeded to hit the dump button on anyone who started to talk about it.
It was at that point the Tiso started emailing advertisers.
And aside from that, there have been dozens of posts all over the place from people talking about rape culture, and what it is. They have been happening for a long time, and you can read the comment threads to see how the conversations go.
And beyond even that, this is simply not a slide into totalitarianism as Trotter makes out. that’s just fucking laughable. especially coming from him. this is a guy who thinks that the Crown should have used even more extra-legal means to secure convictions in the alleged terrorism case a few years back. A civil libertarian, he just plain isn’t. So for him to climb up on his high horse and start issuing grave warnings, well. It all just smacks of being part of his long running and well documented animosity to those younger, and more liberal, than he.
weka, I commend you on expressing well, why Trotter has got it so wrong, here and on Bowalley Road. Trotter not listening, though…
… because it’s all about JT & WJ. And when are JT, WJ, and Trotter going to step up for women on low incomes, beneficiaries, low paid, etc, especially Maori and Pasifika women? These women are multiply oppressed by an economic system geared for the privileged, plus (as with women across all demographics) by misogyny, domestic violence, rape culture etc.
But for Trotter, it’s just about working class men.
Thanks karol. I may be banging my head on a brick wall there. Just waiting to see if he can stretch his mind a bit and apply his political analysis to gender. Kind of weird he’s brought ethnicity and completely ignored the reality for Maori women.
Are you white, were you born before the First World War, do you wear a cheesecutter and braces, do you have a moustache? If you can answer “yes” to all of these, then Chris Trotter will passionately defend you. If not, then you’re a distraction.
3. Trotter is disingenuous to to claim the campaign to take them off air is unprecedented. Consumer boycotts for political and social purposes have a long history
You would say that would’nt you Weka. To Trotter charge ” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”, how do you plead?
Firstly, I think the whole ‘on trial’ thing is both spurious, and, in this context, highly offensive to all the women who have been raped who have been denied justice legally. Think about that for a moment.
Secondly, if it were two white men preaching race hatred on radio and harassing a Maori woman who had phoned in, would the left still be expected to engage meaningfully with the two white men, and allow them to have their say? What about if it were two men who were harassing a disabled person about their disability? Should the left korero with them on an even footing, allow them to defend their actions?
Honestly, on what planet would you want to give more air to misogyny? The only rationale I can see is if you think that Tamihere and Jackson’s actions weren’t that bad.
Trotter is disingenuous when he says that Tamihere and Jackson were silenced by the left blogosphere. They were silenced by their employers for bringing their employers’ business into disrepute. And good on Mediaworks for doing that.
i really only have a few points to raise on the trotter article
1) theres more than one way to say something – if experienced people like JT and WJ cant figure out a way to say what they want that wont land them in hot water then thats not anyones fault but theirs
2) no-ones free speech has been reduced, has there been anyone kicking in their doors and hauling them off to speech court?- No. The people who pay them either directly or indirectly have decided to take quite normal measures to express the fact that they didnt really like it – either personally or because of the general reaction. Its a money thing, not a rights thing
3) free speech isnt a one way street – say whatever you want – but dont then demand no one challenges you or that no ones tries to win others to their side of the argument
4) theres a vast difference between pub talk and paid talk – if people really cant see that then theres really not much hope for this thing we call free speech.
I say all sorts of things that probably wouldnt go down that well in a client meeting – but when im at work im an agent of my employer. If i did say what im thinking sometimes, there would be consequences. But privately – well thats a different story
the difference being that Willie and JT are paid to talk the way they do. As are Paul Henry, the crews on The Rock etc. They aint being paid to read the news on the BBC World Service.
No, they are only allowed to read the weather….but there’s some RNZ woman who are allowed to contribute. I can’t stand the commercial radio stations these dayz…
Do as many women get an equivalent platform to express their views?
It’s commercial radio. You want on you have to get ratings and you have to get advertisers. Starting with an outspoken profile helps. And the current style seems to be to stir the pot with trash talk and anti-PC drivel.
Whereas you post with an attempted air of non-judgment yet judgment oozes from every word. Your and Trotter’s liberal use of “left” this and “left” that is misplaced and unnecessary.
“condemn, threaten, punish and shut down” could also be examine, question, challenge and seek change through action.
It’s not about JT and WJ and their rehabilitation or realisation it’s about sending message to women and men alike that behaviours need to change and now.
I agree that someone like Paul Henry was far from suspended but supported and praised across the nation. Michael Laws?
I also agree that there may be some racism in this decision, both from the station and the advertisers. easier to let them go because the board and advertisers dont support their politics anyway… whereas to lose a Henry or Laws was to lose free advertising/mouthpiece for their ideological preferences?
Freedom of speech, like any freedom, ought to be exercised prudently, especially by those with power (like radio hosts). It is not a license to inflict harm out of ignorance or ingrained social/cultural ignorance. This is not the first time JT has been misogynistic or homophobic.
he got to speak far more freely on this topic than most victims ever will, and it had consequences. IF he had been a devil’s advocate it might have been different, but they weren’t, they were allowing perpetrators and enablers and the woefully ignorant to nod in agreement and further ingrain their appalling attitudes toward women and abuse.
Me too. The kea is/was unique in its intelligence character and charm.
Keas have been seen pecking at downed high country sheep so:
“They keas must have killed the sheep. We farmers must kill the keas. Bang!”
I wonder why the latest Roy Morgan poll is not trumpeted on high here like the last few Roy Morgan polls. Perhaps because it shows that National have again risen and now rank more then Labour+ Greens. The Roy Morgan poll is the one most beloved by the Left. Sadly The Cunliffe’s honeymoon is already over.
Lolz, i am sure Fisani and the rest of the Tory cheerleaders are overjoyed with the result of the latest Roy Morgan,
After weeks of dissing Winston Peters, NZFirst and talking up Colin Craig’s Conservatives and burning up the goodwill and favors from editors and news programers across the media spectrum Slippery the Prime Minister has to sit there and watch as National rips all the support from Craig’s pot-pourri of assorted fruits and nuts,
Craig contrary to His assertion appears to be only capable of soaking up the remnants of the ACT Party and has failed abysmally to make a dent in the support of NZFirst who in the past few months have taken a definite step to the left into State provision and ownership of a number of areas that have been taboo during the Neo-Liberal reign,
This only leaves one question, can the opposition parties form a stable Government together, my opinion is Yes, on the major issues surrounding economy and the direction and actions of the Government within that economy there is among the three, Labour,Green,NZFirst more agreement than there is disagreement…
Basically, lab have gotten over the leadership change bump and will now probably get get back to solid incremental improvement in the next couple of cycles. The representation issue will fizzle away (except on the sewer), and the government will still be demonstrating incompetence (or, in a new twist, actively claiming incometence like Colman did).
Anne
I would say it was an ironic comment on the regular meme and theme that is heard about Auckland. Don’t let’s start over-sensitising to ordinary words – it leads to anaphylactic outcomes disastrous to discussion. I admit I get fired up about mother-fuc.er, two fairly ordinary words, but I find the combination unacceptable.
Racist? In that Pakeha ignorant of what racism really is kind of way, yes. As someone says in the article, coming from someone with no ties to the Polynesian community it’s still about perceptions of Polynesians as ‘other’. I thought the Herald did relatively well in finding a good person to comment.
Grey, it’s not about the word. It’s about who used it and the context it was used in.
weka
Don’t be always looking for something to grizzle about. Why is there on every site one, apparently female, waiting to jump up, censor things and take others to task?
Perhaps you might have noticed how often there is a one-person ambush waiting to tell everyone what to do, how its done correctly, and passing critical comments of others opinions. I do some of it myself but try to limit it. It is one of those aids in life that, overdone, becomes stifling.
If it was South Africans mentioned, thinking that there are a lot on the North Shore, or whatever, it would be acknowledging a fact.
Good news for young women in 16 and 17 year group. I think it may be only those with babies. Those who have had to live separately from their family will now get the security and support that a good family should provide.
They are to have shared housing provided with up to three of them living together. Older people, or slightly older young ones will be nearby and mentor them and their money will be channelled into providing the necessities first and then presumably an amount for discretionary spending. They are going to be supported, helped and be in training that will prepare them for their future employment and managing their own lives. If done sympathetically and a friendly organised way it will be great.
This should be done widely, meeting whatever need there is, not just a pilot scheme to wave in front of the voters in election year as an example of the wonderful capacity building that this government is doing. But don’t know what will happen when the women turn 18, hope it won’t be ‘throw them in the pool to see if they can swim’ time. And what about working with boys, the young men who apparently do not mature until they are 25, and what a tortuous path they may follow in their younger years?
One swallow does not win an election. But some would swallow it. Let’s have more and show up Labour, try and fight them and the Greens, with the observable facts and evidence on the ground of NACTs good ‘social development’.
The irony there is that if this were being offered under a L/G govt, it might actually work. Under a NACT govt, it’s likely to be hit and miss at best, and that will largely depend on the people in the agencies involved. Some will do good, some will do bad.
I saw something yesterday that said that 16 and 17 yr olds are no longer allowed welfare payments directly. The payments instead go through an agency. Wouldn’t it be better to have a system whereby if the young person can demonstrate they are capable of managing their finances they are allowed to do so? Isn’t it both patronising and disabling to treat all young people as the same?
“and then presumably an amount for discretionary spending.”
What are you basing that one?
“I think it may be only those with babies.”
I didn’t pick that up, I thought it was all 16/17 yr olds who had had to leave home.
Yes weka, I am not sure about the exact details. But because of the vulnerability of that age and the fact they have already got to the baby stage, it doesn’t hurt to treat them all with over care and some rules. And doing their own household budgeting and so on, they would get advice on good diets and what different foods are good for for health and gardening of simple vegetables etc.
The group should be led to the self-managing state. Planning their budgets which they check out together to see how well they are managing etc. And they definitely should not have all their money taken by the agency. But it’s not meant to be just a short-term course where these young ones are left on their own after just learning stuff. Capacity building I said and that’s what I understood is the intention.
You have a lot more faith in the system than I do, and 100% more faith in the intentions of NACT. Mostly I see them as being controlling and manipulative. If the scheme were done with aroha I would agree with some of what you say. But I’ve never seen aroha coming from the Minister, and I know from experience that the state is mostly operating under a punitive welfare regime during NACT govts. I guess the damage they do with this one will just be added to the pile.
My mother-in-law had her first child at 17. Apparently not a completely unheard of occurrence in those days – 70 years approx.
Perhaps instead of talking (endlessly) about the vulnerability and lack of discipline of contemporary women in the same situation, we look for the capability and success of those that manage – and manage well.
They will have more insight into how to achieve success than someone with a completely different idea of “the right time to have a baby” and “poor offspring”. I am sometimes appalled by the lack of insight of those who are trained to help, and like weka think that usually the “help” that is offered by programmes like these from the National party are often applied in conjunction with a big stick.
If this was voluntary, done properly, with good support and access to ongoing education / training you might have a starter.
But given that this is the party that has consistantly cut access to education and training it doesnt seem likely.
Looks more like a way to hand off money to unaccountable private sector organisations.
Also, as can be seen in the legislation they have passed over the last 5 years, they don’t appear to understand the concepts of good governance, accountability or any sort of fiscal competance.
Expect opportunities for rorts, abuse of the system, and potentially abuse of the young women.
“Currently, there are around eight potential sites around the country including in Christchurch, Tokoroa, Whakatane, Auckland, Hamilton and Invercargill.”
At least it’ll only be a pilot. If Labour / Greens get in next year, it might provide a starting point for a decent program.
I believe that there’s a difference between providing support and ensuring that they get it and standing over their shoulder. This new policy from National is obviously the latter.
nz has no legal answer to ponzi schemes. we open ourselves up to the diseases of the world of all types yet don’t take sensible precautionary protective measures or have remedial procedures.
(I suggest while you read listen to youtube of Taco singing Putting on the Ritz, very appropriate.)
And clever experienced keys has been in politics for almost a decade, and came with full knowledge of the dangers to a country and its investors of shonkey schemes. He knew. and he didn’t pass on his knowledge for the benefit of the country. Birds of a feather fly together, the old saying. So he has a bunch that like his style, his money, his panache, his casual cheeriness, his concise answers to difficult or ethical problems with a falling emphasis in his voice.)
Now follow up Taco with Robin Williams on being an alcoholic.
New Bacon for an egg?
Another acquisition by some super-rich prick who probably doesn’t really like the work all that much, just wants to impress visitors to the mansion.
Can only hope it gets donated to a public collection when the golden one passes on..
Die on the job? You can’t picket parliament, corporate headquarters, for a fair redundancy. So Mr Key its not the same.
Are we really that backwards that secured investors get paid out before the bereaved (who get nothing)? That a government that removed protection is not liable for the results?
That owners of undeveloped land get 50% in ChCh from the govt! Yet miners get nowt?
Okay, get the argument that the miners were not unionized, and were paid more so they could take out life insurance etc. But there was one kid who died, on his first day down the mine, who would likely have not gotten any insurance as he might not have taken to the job.
Why can’t boring parrot Chris come up with some original drivel instead this rote-learned crap? No wonder research shows that right wingers have lower IQs when this is the best they can manage: make up a lie, then repeat it to one another like a cultist mantra.
Why don’t they just become Scientologists? At least they’d have more exciting drivel.
It wasn’t the teachers plotting against the children, Thetan Chris, it was Xenu.
The misinformation given is that somehow the PPTA instructs its members to do this or that. The PPTA is run by teachers for teachers. A decision to boycott will be a local majority decision not an instruction from on high.
Is a boycott a good idea? It might just mean that if you want to go it alone, then do so without our help or support. That would be unsurprising wouldn’t it?
Society values money more than sexual assault victims??
“The man behind what is thought to be New Zealand’s largest Ponzi scheme has been sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison.”
“Daniel Taylor, 34, a former foster parent for Child Youth and Family, was sentenced to five years and seven months behind bars when he appeared for sentencing in the High Court at Whangarei this morning.
Justice Peter Woodhouse ordered that Taylor serve at least two years and 10 months before he was eligible for parole and expressed doubt at the convicted paedophile’s remorse after it emerged he had penned a single line apology letter to his victims – signed “regards, Daniel Taylor”.”
Yep, it’s a great focus. Better than focusing on, say, funding rape prevention programmes in all high schools. Better to spend time and money chasing the fines…
“You’ve got about four months from the time you’ve been stopped and given a ticket to pay. That’s not bad, and that’s interest-free credit.” says Chester beater Borrows
Don’t know how he can call it “interest-free credit” when the government don’t borrow money to cover it….do they?
He said the measure would apply only to people who ignored repeated 28-day deadlines for fines.
“You’ve got about four months from the time you’ve been stopped and given a ticket to pay. That’s not bad, and that’s interest-free credit.”
/facepalm
Last time I got stopped for speeding I got a fine that I had to pay, not an interest free loan that I could spend anyway I liked.
And, yes, I do think it’s a good move. Loss of license, loss of car (while keeping the debt of course) should make people think. I would be interested in the demographics of it as well.
“A report by the army’s social policy analyst Alan Johnson shows rents for the cheapest quarter of rented homes in the former Auckland City have risen faster than average since 2008 – by 21.6 per cent for three bedrooms and 25 per cent for two bedrooms in the lower quartile, in a period when median rents across Auckland rose by 17 per cent and consumer prices by only 12.5 per cent.
But benefits have been adjusted only in line with consumer prices, and the maximum rates of accommodation supplement have not changed since 2005.
The result is that five out of six low-income groups examined in the report are now worse off in real terms than they were five years ago by amounts ranging from $1.33 a week for a single sickness beneficiary renting a one-bedroom flat to $33.64 a week for an unemployed couple with three children renting a three-bedroom house, both at lower-quartile rents.”
The site was getting pretty damn slow because I managed to comment out the provision of swap space in fstab when I was fiddling last night. It was getting pretty memory constrained..
Just turned the swap on and cleared the outstanding backlog.
For the service provider to comply with the proposed rules it must know how each and every user of its system accessed the allegedly copyright material. One way to ensure this capability is to prevent the use of proxy surfing. I don’t know how they would do it, though.
I was looking for the santa fe institute and got santa fe news, usa instead.
This was one of their articles. Sounds pretty jaw dropping. Like something from bootleg liquor days.
Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger sentenced to life
BOSTON — Former Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for his murderous reign in the 1970s and ’80s, bringing to a close a case that exposed FBI corruption so deep that many people across the city thought he would never be brought to justice. http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/
As someone actually living in Tokyo, I sometimes find myself offside with people more alarmed about the Fukushima situation. I thought this was a timely update about what is currently going on, since Bill posted about this a couple of weeks ago (as I understand it the commencement of the fuel removal operation was delayed for more testing to occur).
Anyway, the Japan Times is a pretty good source of thoroughly-researched news and is frequently critical of the Japanese government and TEPCO on a number of issues, so hopefully the article is informative. Also, the diagram is kinda neat.
Buzz from the Beehive Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – New Zealanders recently learned about a new feature film. It will be about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – and taxpayers will subsidise it to the tune of NZ$800,000. Ardern had nothing personally to do with either the film or the subsidy. But her government’s ...
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 we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. 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 ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
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 “moisture-laden” 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 ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
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 government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ 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 – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
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 → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
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 ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
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 year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, 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 – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s 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 – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s 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 Zealand’s 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 – 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 – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. 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 Peters’ 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 — 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 Newshub’s 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 ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ 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 she’s 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 Government’s 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 America’s 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 won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s 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 Labour’s 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 First’s 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 ‘co-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 Pāti Māori 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. “I’m 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 ‘take back our country’ 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 Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s 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 publicservice 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 publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s 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 doesn’t 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. “It 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. “The 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. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” 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. “Road 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. “Our 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 Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam 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. “I 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. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, 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 government’s 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 Government’s Budget objectives. “The 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. “The 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. “These changes are long overdue – 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 Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The 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 Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There 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. “Today 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 People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” 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. “We’re 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 Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I 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. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” 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. “Comprising 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. “I 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. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s 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 Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s 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 I’m sorry I can’t 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 Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 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 ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
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 – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – 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 Books’ 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 pick’n’mix 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 you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s 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 let’s 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 – 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 ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 29 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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 haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re 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 Parliament’s 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 “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s 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 It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s 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? – 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 there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – 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 Education’s 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 Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
The unidentified foreign intelligence operation discussed in a scathing report by New Zealand’s Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) last week appears to be a controversial United States intelligence system. The IGIS report said the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) decision to host a foreign system from 2012-2020 was “improper” ...
How that “Three Strikes” law works in practice
This is the way the world should be, according to the hypocrites and/or criminals who run the Sensible Sentencing Trust, ACT, some branches of the National Party and the ninnies and numbskulls who support them….
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2013/what-life-is-like-if-you-make-one-wrong-move-but-dont-have-connections/
Nanny state at its finest:
Govt eyes live-in mentors to help welfare teens
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11157400
Even people on home dentention aren’t under such surveillance. Great hunting ground for perverts of all kinds.
Good Idea.
Most crime is caused by a very small group of people, spend a bit of money at the beginning so they stay on the correct path and the country will save millions in the long run.
Oh, so it will be a prison house for teens. Thanks for the heads up Bland Man.
Wow so if we locked up Trader John when he arrived back in New Zealand he would not have been able to sell our assets and similar crimes against the people of New Zealand
If only we had thought of it then…
I see an issue with forcefully combining teens who are on welfare due to their parents having issues, and teens on welfare because they themselves became too problematic for their parents to deal with.
Lots of opportunities for sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation and not to mention that some of these teens just don’t cope well with authority.
And where is the research that shows teens living independently go “off the rails” to the extent that the state can justify such a scheme? Seems to me that this is another shift to profit driven welfare delivery.
“another shift to profit driven welfare delivery.”
bingo – its got nothing to do with fixing anything except a private contractors balance sheet
Bennett in parliament was asked about why those with intractable conditions were being asked to provide a medical certificate every three months when the Doctor has indicated nothing was going to change for 2 or even five years. Bennett of course lied, and said that didn’t happen, and well she might since its not WINZ who picks up the doctors fees.
Its likely those on a benefit will get other illnesses and need to attend the Doctor, have prescription costs etc, and so the likelihood that such an illness happens just after they have been re-certified by their Doctor is very real. But that of course is inefficient, but its not inefficient for WINZ who unnecessarily force people to see there Doctor even if this in itself harmful and onerous.
Now I seem to remember there being a reciprocal respect clause in WINZ manuals, that if WINZ wants efficiency gains why would they impose inefficiency rules on others. Its hypocritical, its wrong, and Bennett is lying to parliament. Bennett has never believe a sickness (or ?congenitical? condition) can last more that a year, you’d think she would have a medical professional alongside of her when she gave such statements regarding health care.
Going to the Doctor can be hazardous to ones health! People who are ill go there! Its therefore something that should not be forced into unnecessarily. Forcing citizens to see Doctors, hasn’t happened since, what the last miltrary regime….?? Its just a bad precedent to set.
Every time the government feels under pressure or wants to hide something, Paula wheels out another reform that may or may not happen and it deflects the conversation.
The search function is playing up again (returning small numbers of hits from 1970)
Had that yesterday – it was rather confusing.
Also had the entire site disappear last night. All I got was a blank screen when I tried the address.
“Also had the entire site disappear last night. All I got was a blank screen when I tried the address.”
+1, couldn’t reach the site all evening 🙁
Yeah. It was a problem with some site coming in and battering it.
I’ve been slowly working towards making it more resilient when I have time (still working on releases).
Since it went down last night anyway just before 10pm due to bots (looked like a new spambot network went online this week) and failed to survive the restart twice (and I finally have a Gold release done), I took the opportunity of it being offline to put the next phase in. Finished up uncompleted at about 6am, grabbed a few hours sleep and went to work to finish the Mac version of the client software…
Sometime this weekend or next week, I should have the last server reconfiguration to put into place. Then we will be ready for an election and capable of surviving the occasional bot storms (and do it on several hundred dollars per month).
Many thanks for everything, including my TS addiction!
y’all culda’ been watching Owen get dumped for being an arse on Coro. (oooh, and he wasn’t a happy builder at all).
No tv. Coro is about the only thing I miss. I don’t even know who Owen is, it’s been too long.
(i gob all over tvnz-breakfast-show..and the various entities involved..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/ed-wow-excruciating-moments-in-breakfast-television-the-london-connection/
(excerpt..)
“..ed:..we are really spoilt for choice..in bad breakfast television..
..and currently – the simpering of the compere on tv3 when interviewing key caused a serious case of gastric-reflux in me..so i am avoiding their offerings..
..but tvnz never disappoints..”
(cont..)
phillip ure..
@ P Ure:
Morning Report on Natrad is a better option than both, though also pretty lame. The thing is though, that at least (unless you have a TV in the bathroom) you can take a dump/take the kids to the beach whilst listening and feel better about it.
Whereas the TV1 and TV3 equivalent audiences have a problem. (Whilst 3 for a half hour is OKish, there’s still the problems of having to clean up afterwards).
Silence, or noise free/technology free time though is not a bad option. I’m sure you could probably handle the loss of seeing those gorgeous celebs masquerading as journalists for a couple of hours.
Of course, I don’t have these problems. I’m a bit like those John Key, Simon Bridges, Paula Bennett, “The Standard trollers: BM, KK et al’ Natty types. I don’t shit, and I don’t sweat – plus I know what’s best for you.
I’m born to rule dontcha know. I studied Chris Finlayson, and I’m in awe! (AND I smell like a white rose – simply adorable)
@ tim..both of the presenters on morning report annoy me intensely..
..so that isn’t an option..
..and i watch/flick around brekky-telly as part of the news-gathering thing i do each morn…
..i then dive to nat-rad to see what is happening @ nine..
..and then usually retreat into the music-collection..
..(random choice of favourites…6.8 days worth..mmm!!!..warm and tasty..!..)
..phillip ure..
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1311/S00184/lets-be-cleverer-than-sexual-predators.htm
The state continues to have an abysmal track record when it comes to vetting caregivers (mentors will have the same issues)
Idiot/Savant over at NRT gave Chris Trotter a big fat raspberry yesterday over his take on Jerry Mateparae’s speech to the parliamentary press gallery. Well, lo, the Herald editorial writers today has done exactly what Trotter predicted – that is, used Mateparae’s speech as part of it’s pre-emptive campaign to delegitimise a Labour/Green coalition if National is the largest party after the next election.
Make no mistake. If given a chance, the political/business axis of the right will do everything in it’s power – up to and including trying to annull an election result with the flimiest of legal excuses – to prevent a government coming to power that threatens the neo-liberal consensus and capitalist power.
And they’ve been playing war games in the South to remove a government.
Plutocracy, not democracy is now NZ’s governing system.
Remember Whitlam.
Remember Bainimarama
Remember the frequency Kenneth when the River runs dry. What we need is some Capability for the brown-off.
Would Yi-Fu Tuan support Canterbury irrigation?
“The continuous circulation of water in the ocean, the atmosphere , and on the land is fundamental to the availability of water on the planet”.
– The Hydrologic Cycle and the Wisdom of God
“ From this I conclude that Humanistic Geography is neglected because it is too hard. Nevertheless, it should attract the tough-minded and the idealistic…”
@ Ad…..Yi-Fu Tuan …the American geographer?..i would say he would be a Greenie and a good friend of the environmentalists who wish to protect the rivers and aquifers
I remember both Whitlam AND Bainimarama both – in GREAT fucking detail. The former slightly better than the latter – in fact the latter is responsible for my various comments under a p p er sudo err psy, err alias.
I also remember my cousin ( a former spook’s warning)
Cherr bro, snot beart race or creed or changes of gubbamint amongst perceived colonial masters, or Muff McGillicuddy’s wank, wank wankering – who hardly ever heard of the Fiji-ease/EAR NUZULL trevull destnayshun before coming to pear – but are now absolute experts, pulling strings whilst their challengers wear manufektered buzzy suits looking like sommit that came outta a British-designed ark.
For FUCK’s bloody SAKE.
Fiji is probably the BIGGEST reason I (personally) have lost faith in the abilities of ear S oi S, en Goi.Soi.Ess.Boi.
Christ Almightly! No one – other than perhaps the of Michael Field (having to work under a corporate Fearfex) saw it all coming!!!! (He ekshly wrote about it in the early 00’s). And these (MFAT – snr megmint sperts) are the cnuts we’re now expected to entrust our ‘best interests’ and ‘welfare’ and ‘we-know-best’ hope to.
Fuck me with a feather duster.
Pardon me if I don’t have that much confdince.
FFS!
Smart sanctions that never ever were ….. (like political travel sanctions whilst failing to delve deeper – ANZ bank accounts filled with ill-gotten gains, Frankie boy’s history – known to NZDF/OZDF and reported to pollies, training ships where is ‘skills’ were learned;
embouldened (after BOTH Okker and NewZill changes) by a gubba gubbs desperately trying to rub together a couple of ideas to salvage a situation, PRIMARILY of their own fucking making.
Whilst Helen (and of course her advisors and spin doctors) might have been slightly naiive; theres’s a Key and a Muff that have ABSOLUTELY NO fucking ides (other than treats & trinkets-driven tuneties for nego-shay-shun)
” trying to annull an election result with the flimiest of legal excuses”
as far as i know theres no law requiring the biggest party to have first crack at, or demand the right to form a coalition – so that could be quite entertaining
It could be more about “manufacturing consent” regardless of electoral procedures, and GG Mateparae would be well used to both taking orders and doing the ruling class bidding.
Oh im sure thats the game plan – im more thinking that in a court it would get funny watching lawyers arguing something that there is no law for
this great danish tv series shows how mmp is supposed to work, & its very good drama too. many similar parallels to nz govt too. & also the right are wrong, if they think the biggest party ‘deserves’ to form govt, in borgen the biggest party is the opposition!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgen_%28TV_series%29
Sorry, but that’s pretty much the fevered imagination of a conspiracy theorist at work.
So now Stephen Joyce is opposed to increasing film industry rebates because…
1) they are actually now subsidies
2) the govt doesnt want to support a race to the bottom
yet during the hobbit saga
1) it was a rebate
2) it was needed to keep the industry going and people employed
WTF!?
Time to cut the apron strings?
If so then its time to cut it to the Hobbit films which are still in production?
Not our precious Hobbitses movies? Yess… cuts them too!
The film/TV/commercial/animation industry in workers organisational terms is basically more of a rabble now than ever before with the exception of Northern Actors and some principled individuals. Tech guilds and all the rest mean little in what has been legislated into an official dependent contracting industry.
Some otherwise sensible people I know that support all sorts of Green and left causes have serious problems viewing their own film industry with some perspective, it is every dog for its self. This is the legacy of the Hobbit Enabling Act. And now the government that removed workers rights to organise won’t assist with macro settings that it could try. If anyone in the industry (apart from John Barnett of course) votes National next time they have rocks in their heads.
time to stop being a hypocrite actually.
When you compare the two its quite clear from his responses that the hobbit deal was ONLY about doing something for warners. If it wasnt about that, and at the time joyce really did see it as being about helping the industry then he would have a better line than a flat out reversal this time, on the same issue wouldnt he
Im talking about how his actions and words on these two situations expose his actual motivation – not whether the film industry should get rebates or subsidies or whatever
“Time to cut the apron strings?”
Stephen Joyce wears a pinny?
Zero hedge puts together some good summaries and analyses of the TPPA leak.
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-11-13/leaked-treaty-worse-sopa-and-acta
This absolutely blew me away this morning.
Ex-World Bank employee whistleblower reveals how the global elite rule the world.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/world-bank-whistleblower-reveals-how-the-global-elite-rule-the-world/5353130
” Hudes is trying very hard to expose the corrupt financial system that the global elite are using to control the wealth of the world.”
“A former insider at the World Bank, ex-Senior Counsel Karen Hudes, says the global financial system is dominated by a small group of corrupt, power-hungry figures centered around the privately owned U.S. Federal Reserve. The network has seized control of the media to cover up its crimes, too, she explained. In an interview with The New American, Hudes said that when she tried to blow the whistle on multiple problems at the World Bank, she was fired for her efforts. Now, along with a network of fellow whistleblowers, Hudes is determined to expose and end the corruption. And she is confident of success.
Citing an explosive 2011 Swiss study published in the PLOS ONE journal on the “network of global corporate control,” Hudes pointed out that a small group of entities — mostly financial institutions and especially central banks — exert a massive amount of influence over the international economy from behind the scenes. “What is really going on is that the world’s resources are being dominated by this group,” she explained, adding that the “corrupt power grabbers” have managed to dominate the media as well. “They’re being allowed to do it.”
Relevant to all of our interests, don’t you think?
How long before her mental health is questioned and similar n the media??? And she is scorned because she was sacked for doing a bad job????
Really interesting set of links within that Crunchtime, cheers
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228354.500-revealed–the-capitalist-network-that-runs-the-world.html#.Ud5_NvmL3nj
So, the super-entity may not result from conspiracy. The real question, says the Zurich team, is whether it can exert concerted political power. Perhaps there is too many to sustain collusion. More likely they will compete in the market but act together on common interests. Resisting changes to the network structure may be one such common interest.
Remember the networks of individuals Bruce Jesson put together in “Only Their Purpose is Mad” and works prior to that? Well it’s also true on a global scale. It’s not as intentional as a hive-mind, but it’s still conscious and reflextive like an organism.
Just reminds me to get rid of the mortgage so fast.
Chris Trotter making all sorts of apologies for Tamihere and Jackson
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/a-disturbing-precedent.html
My opinion of Chris Trotter sinks ever lower.
As if “intent” is ever going to make it ok to question the dress standards and drinking habits of rape victims. Ugh.
I reread the article again. There are so many things wrong with what he has written it is hard to know where to start. I did make a rather restrained comment, will see if he replies.
it appears JT and WJ are victims of the ingrained misogynism of society………….
Damn you, you stole my words.
You would say that would’nt you Weka. To Trotter charge ” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”, how do you plead?
Ennui, WJ and JT’s actions were out there in public for all to see. They harassed (2 onto one) and victim blamed a woman telling her story. JT and WJ had the power in that situation. To not act pretty quickly against them would send a message in support of victim blaming, and silencing of victims.
JT especially is a serial offender when it comes to misogyny. How much more are people supposed to put up with?
If it had been Laws I do wonder if they would have stood him down.
However, standing up to their behaviour has sent a strong message. One question is whether the result will be to send the rape culture back under cover as it was before the roastbusters story or if society will front up to change. Sadly, not led by the Government in this regard.
“If it had been Laws I do wonder if they would have stood him down.”
Yes, but that’s about Mediaworks not the left blogosphere. Here is what I commented on Bowalley Rd, the last bit was my response to Trotter’s ideas about racism.
Chris, I take it from your use of quotation marks that you don’t think Tamihere and Jackson were misogynistic in that interview? Fortunately many people disagree with you, and they used their freedom of expression in, well, expressing that. I think the left blogosphere’s responses were perfectly appropriate: they saw behaviour that was unacceptable and they stepped up and did something. Kind of ironic to have you now arguing that was wrong, given the context of the rape club.
Because there can be little doubt that the decision by so many businesses to withdraw their advertising from Radio Live was prompted by the implicit threat of a consumer boycott of their products if they didn’t. Bluntly, the proposition put to Radio Live amounted to: “Take these guys off the air, or, first off, we’ll hurt your advertisers; and then we’ll hurt you.”
Has it occured to you that as part of that decision they looked at what Tamihere and Jackson actually did and decided they didn’t want their businesses associated with that in any way? It was interesting to read the initial responses from companies that pulled their advertising, compared to Countdown, who initially said it was nothing to do with them. When you read the first lot of responses from companies, they read like the people who wrote them were literate about rape culture. These weren’t responses from people merely concerned about profit lines, they were also concerned about ethics.
As for the ‘this is really racism’ angle…
What did Willie and JT see when 3 News broke the Roastbusters story? Two young brown faces. What did they hear? Middle-class Pakeha liberals baying for their blood. To what did their first thoughts turn? Rape Culture or Lynch Law?
That might be worth looking at if it weren’t for the fact that Tamihere and Jackson are both well known for their misogynistic views and attitudes, and their support of rape culture. I’m also less inclined to take notice of your view on this, given your cultural background, than I am to listen to the voices of Mana Wahine, where Maori women have spoken out about their concern over what Tamihere and Jackson did. Did you do any research on what Maori women have said on this in the last week before you wrote your article?
Weka, Karol et al, you have answered my question admirably. QED.
Nothing pleases me less than the prospect of having the bloggers of the “Left” having any influence over long established principles.To quote a well known story, “A little more caution from you; that is no trinket you carry.”
Your principle appears to be that people are entitled to use hate speech. But what I suspect what you really mean is that people are entitled to support misogyny/rape culture but not other kinds of hatred.
If I’ve misunderstood, that’s up to you, because your comments aren’t particularly clear.
Weka, you have definitely misunderstood. Clarity comes from reading, listening, understanding, applying principles, engaging, understanding. And then formulating a response.
Trotters charge was ” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”. I think the answer very self evident in the columns here over the last week. Conclusions are made quickly, charges laid, guilt assumed….an example is that you say to me Your principle appears to be that people are entitled to use hate speech. But what I suspect what you really mean is that people are entitled to support misogyny/rape culture but not other kinds of hatred. That is an example of a complete leap of faith, a non informed presumption, and to me quite wrong and slanderous. What right have you to tell me what I am thinking? It backs up Trotters contention on korero.
I have a very real fear that the ‘instincts” shown on this column will not lead to a positive result, so I blew the whistle. Rings of power should not be used, if the Left does not want to go down the same coercive authoritarian path of the Right they should not mirror their “instincts”.
If it is for a good end, and we find that too many NZers are being regressive (whether they are male or female), why not identify them as part of the problem to be fixed, with firmer measures and sanctions if and when needed.
Particularly after the release of the Roy Morgan results, it can be safely concluded that a large segment of NZ men have a serious attitude problem. Let’s simply push through clear, solid measures which show that progressive attitude and languaging is the only correct and acceptable type to have in this country.
CV, you say, Let’s simply push through clear, solid measures which show that progressive attitude and languaging is the only correct and acceptable type to have in this country.. Let me paraphrase it…let us force people to accept our standards and language, as defined by us, other wise they are heretics….
Rings of power?
emf (some iron filings).
ennui
“let us force people to accept our standards and language, as defined by us, other wise they are heretics….”
In your world there would still be slaves and women wouldn’t vote. We can leave things as they are and continue a rape-type culture. Too bad that 1-3 females will be sexually abused we can’t send any message to a large part of society that they are part of the problem. We’ll just wait for them to come to it in their own time… meanwhile, another hour another sexual abused citizen.
Ennui: btw I know it would never work, and would generate a backlash from both men and women across the country.
Ennui, you may very well be right, but I have no idea because instead of clarifying what you actually meant you’ve just given me a little lecture on something.
btw, if you reread what I wrote, I intentionally used the words ‘appear’ and ‘suspect’ which clearly indicate that I am expressing what I heard rather than defining what you think. That left an opening for you to correct or clarify. That you failed to do so is all down to you.
You come into a conversation about rape culture, and cherry pick out one sentence from a much longer piece by Trotter. Then you make vague accusations towards myself and others here, but you don’t actually tell us what YOU think. I know a set up when I see one, so either clarify what the fuck you are on abotu or stop wasting my time.
Weka, when I came into the conversation it was in response to you accusing Trotter making apologies for Tamihere and Jackson.
I read the article, was left unconvinced either way by Trotter, and probably more in line with yourself (which is why you leap of faith on what I was thinking was somewhat illustrative). The only part I agree with Trotter on precisely is his contention on the Lefts instincts. Hence my original question.
And that, is the crux of it. If your mind is subtle enough to understand, on that point bloggers of the Left confirm Trotters contention in bucket loads.
The implication is about means justifying ends: Trotters words condemn/threaten/punish are all coercive and authoritarian. If that is where you think the Left should be, all good. Count me out.
I will waste no more of my time on this, yours appears precious to you.
Still no idea what you are on about Ennui. If you look at every comment you have made in this sub-thread, there are examples of implication without saying what you actually mean.
I’m out of patience with this kind of communicating after vto ran us all round in circles yesterday. I don’t know you well enough to know why you communicate like this, but let me just say, if you do want to have a genuine conversation with me, assume I need things spelled out.
The problem of course, is that this:
” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”
is complete bullshit. Numerous offers were made by people to appear on JT&W’s show. the offers were rejected or ignored. On the second day, after they had given a pro forma and weak apology, they decided the conversation was over and proceeded to hit the dump button on anyone who started to talk about it.
It was at that point the Tiso started emailing advertisers.
And aside from that, there have been dozens of posts all over the place from people talking about rape culture, and what it is. They have been happening for a long time, and you can read the comment threads to see how the conversations go.
And beyond even that, this is simply not a slide into totalitarianism as Trotter makes out. that’s just fucking laughable. especially coming from him. this is a guy who thinks that the Crown should have used even more extra-legal means to secure convictions in the alleged terrorism case a few years back. A civil libertarian, he just plain isn’t. So for him to climb up on his high horse and start issuing grave warnings, well. It all just smacks of being part of his long running and well documented animosity to those younger, and more liberal, than he.
There is also this thing of him sticking up for his friends JT and WJ, the way he is doing that makes me uncomfortable.
weka, I commend you on expressing well, why Trotter has got it so wrong, here and on Bowalley Road. Trotter not listening, though…
… because it’s all about JT & WJ. And when are JT, WJ, and Trotter going to step up for women on low incomes, beneficiaries, low paid, etc, especially Maori and Pasifika women? These women are multiply oppressed by an economic system geared for the privileged, plus (as with women across all demographics) by misogyny, domestic violence, rape culture etc.
But for Trotter, it’s just about working class men.
Thanks karol. I may be banging my head on a brick wall there. Just waiting to see if he can stretch his mind a bit and apply his political analysis to gender. Kind of weird he’s brought ethnicity and completely ignored the reality for Maori women.
Well done one for trying, but nah. He has Decided.
Are you white, were you born before the First World War, do you wear a cheesecutter and braces, do you have a moustache? If you can answer “yes” to all of these, then Chris Trotter will passionately defend you. If not, then you’re a distraction.
“Let him go, or I’ll have you Longshanks”.
1. He’s not the first or the only one to be concern – he has Josie Pagani onside
2. I think Andrew Geddis, for one, would plead ‘not guilty’ – a decent argument for both keeping them on air or not, imo, is here…
http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/of-speech-and-its-consequences
3. Trotter is disingenuous to to claim the campaign to take them off air is unprecedented. Consumer boycotts for political and social purposes have a long history
You would say that would’nt you Weka. To Trotter charge ” Rather than korero, the left-wing social media’s first instinct was to condemn, threaten, punish and shut down”, how do you plead?
Firstly, I think the whole ‘on trial’ thing is both spurious, and, in this context, highly offensive to all the women who have been raped who have been denied justice legally. Think about that for a moment.
Secondly, if it were two white men preaching race hatred on radio and harassing a Maori woman who had phoned in, would the left still be expected to engage meaningfully with the two white men, and allow them to have their say? What about if it were two men who were harassing a disabled person about their disability? Should the left korero with them on an even footing, allow them to defend their actions?
Honestly, on what planet would you want to give more air to misogyny? The only rationale I can see is if you think that Tamihere and Jackson’s actions weren’t that bad.
Trotter is disingenuous when he says that Tamihere and Jackson were silenced by the left blogosphere. They were silenced by their employers for bringing their employers’ business into disrepute. And good on Mediaworks for doing that.
i really only have a few points to raise on the trotter article
1) theres more than one way to say something – if experienced people like JT and WJ cant figure out a way to say what they want that wont land them in hot water then thats not anyones fault but theirs
2) no-ones free speech has been reduced, has there been anyone kicking in their doors and hauling them off to speech court?- No. The people who pay them either directly or indirectly have decided to take quite normal measures to express the fact that they didnt really like it – either personally or because of the general reaction. Its a money thing, not a rights thing
3) free speech isnt a one way street – say whatever you want – but dont then demand no one challenges you or that no ones tries to win others to their side of the argument
4) theres a vast difference between pub talk and paid talk – if people really cant see that then theres really not much hope for this thing we call free speech.
I say all sorts of things that probably wouldnt go down that well in a client meeting – but when im at work im an agent of my employer. If i did say what im thinking sometimes, there would be consequences. But privately – well thats a different story
the difference being that Willie and JT are paid to talk the way they do. As are Paul Henry, the crews on The Rock etc. They aint being paid to read the news on the BBC World Service.
Do as many women get an equivalent platform to express their views?
No, they are only allowed to read the weather….but there’s some RNZ woman who are allowed to contribute. I can’t stand the commercial radio stations these dayz…
It’s commercial radio. You want on you have to get ratings and you have to get advertisers. Starting with an outspoken profile helps. And the current style seems to be to stir the pot with trash talk and anti-PC drivel.
Whereas you post with an attempted air of non-judgment yet judgment oozes from every word. Your and Trotter’s liberal use of “left” this and “left” that is misplaced and unnecessary.
“condemn, threaten, punish and shut down” could also be examine, question, challenge and seek change through action.
It’s not about JT and WJ and their rehabilitation or realisation it’s about sending message to women and men alike that behaviours need to change and now.
I agree that someone like Paul Henry was far from suspended but supported and praised across the nation. Michael Laws?
I also agree that there may be some racism in this decision, both from the station and the advertisers. easier to let them go because the board and advertisers dont support their politics anyway… whereas to lose a Henry or Laws was to lose free advertising/mouthpiece for their ideological preferences?
Freedom of speech, like any freedom, ought to be exercised prudently, especially by those with power (like radio hosts). It is not a license to inflict harm out of ignorance or ingrained social/cultural ignorance. This is not the first time JT has been misogynistic or homophobic.
he got to speak far more freely on this topic than most victims ever will, and it had consequences. IF he had been a devil’s advocate it might have been different, but they weren’t, they were allowing perpetrators and enablers and the woefully ignorant to nod in agreement and further ingrain their appalling attitudes toward women and abuse.
Almost unnoticed, a duck has gone
RIP another species. When will we realise we are they, and without them we are nothing, probably as extinct?
Some of us do but for those who chase money as the measure of success the disconnect is too big…
DOC cuts, thanks NACT.
And the prospects for a whole lot of other birds has deteriorated.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=11157277
Appalled that the Kea has gone onto the endangered list!
Me too. The kea is/was unique in its intelligence character and charm.
Keas have been seen pecking at downed high country sheep so:
“They keas must have killed the sheep. We farmers must kill the keas. Bang!”
They do harass sheep, and will peck live sheep to get at the fat deposits on the lower back.
So it is understandable that farmers hate them.
Maybe DOC can get one of the corporate farmers to fund the revival of the Kea. Seems to be all the rage these days – corporate sponsors.
I’m sure they’d love to help… no?
Pity the Herald didn’t go into the reasons for continuing native species extinctions.
(this one also applies here..especially to the apostates in this govt..)
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/news/russell-brand-calls-david-cameron-a-filthy-dirty-posh-wer-8939040.html
“..Russell Brand has called David Cameron and George Osborne “filthy – dirty – posh wankers” –
– on fellow comedian Alan Carr’s talk show.
Following on from the Newsnight interview in which he encouraged viewers to spark a political “revolution” and not vote –
– the 38-year-old star has now criticised the government for being “mean and tight”.
“If you’re always cutting benefits and being horrible –
– it’s because you don’t know how to fuck properly” he told Carr on Chatty Man – which airs this Friday.
“I think if your job is to look after the country – and you don’t care about the people who need it most –
– you’re out of order –
– and you’re a filthy – dirt – posh wanker” he argued.
Days after the prime minister gave a speech in favour of austerity –
– surrounded by gold-embellished furniture –
– Brand insists that his privileged background means Cameron is unable to relate to the society he governs.
“It’s alright if you go to Eton – and then you’re in the House of Parliament.
It’s alright for them to say ‘oh don’t worry about gay rights – don’t worry about poor people’ –
– because it’s not part of their lives –
– but it’s part of our lives” said the actor and comedian..”
phillip ure..
I wonder why the latest Roy Morgan poll is not trumpeted on high here like the last few Roy Morgan polls. Perhaps because it shows that National have again risen and now rank more then Labour+ Greens. The Roy Morgan poll is the one most beloved by the Left. Sadly The Cunliffe’s honeymoon is already over.
It was discussed last night on open mike.
“Perhaps because it shows that National have again risen and now rank more then Labour+ Greens.”
Actually when you crunch the numbers in how a govt could acutally be formed under MMP, they come out at left 61, right 61.
And as I’m sure you well know, it’s the poll trends that count, not a single poll.
Lolz, i am sure Fisani and the rest of the Tory cheerleaders are overjoyed with the result of the latest Roy Morgan,
After weeks of dissing Winston Peters, NZFirst and talking up Colin Craig’s Conservatives and burning up the goodwill and favors from editors and news programers across the media spectrum Slippery the Prime Minister has to sit there and watch as National rips all the support from Craig’s pot-pourri of assorted fruits and nuts,
Craig contrary to His assertion appears to be only capable of soaking up the remnants of the ACT Party and has failed abysmally to make a dent in the support of NZFirst who in the past few months have taken a definite step to the left into State provision and ownership of a number of areas that have been taboo during the Neo-Liberal reign,
This only leaves one question, can the opposition parties form a stable Government together, my opinion is Yes, on the major issues surrounding economy and the direction and actions of the Government within that economy there is among the three, Labour,Green,NZFirst more agreement than there is disagreement…
Pretty much, b12.
Basically, lab have gotten over the leadership change bump and will now probably get get back to solid incremental improvement in the next couple of cycles. The representation issue will fizzle away (except on the sewer), and the government will still be demonstrating incompetence (or, in a new twist, actively claiming incometence like Colman did).
It is clearly out of line with all other polls and the indisputable trend that National is on its way out.
One good poll does not make a winning elction Fis.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just shows Labour cannabilising the Green vote and National maintaining its overall position.
A simple linear forecast shows the “left” and “right” blocks holding their respective positions.
Cunliffle doesn’t walk on water and, indeed, the party faithful are drinking urine not wine.
Aaaaah Derrrr, did you actually read the poll, it shows this time round Labour is down a bit and the Green Party is up…
TVNZ defends executive after crack at Auckland hit a nerve.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11157404
This bit got a laugh from the audience – talking about Wellington and Christchurch:
Racist?
Anne
I would say it was an ironic comment on the regular meme and theme that is heard about Auckland. Don’t let’s start over-sensitising to ordinary words – it leads to anaphylactic outcomes disastrous to discussion. I admit I get fired up about mother-fuc.er, two fairly ordinary words, but I find the combination unacceptable.
Not too sure the Polynesian communities will see it that way.
Racist? In that Pakeha ignorant of what racism really is kind of way, yes. As someone says in the article, coming from someone with no ties to the Polynesian community it’s still about perceptions of Polynesians as ‘other’. I thought the Herald did relatively well in finding a good person to comment.
Grey, it’s not about the word. It’s about who used it and the context it was used in.
What’s the Auckland meme? Too many Polynesians?
weka
Don’t be always looking for something to grizzle about. Why is there on every site one, apparently female, waiting to jump up, censor things and take others to task?
Perhaps you might have noticed how often there is a one-person ambush waiting to tell everyone what to do, how its done correctly, and passing critical comments of others opinions. I do some of it myself but try to limit it. It is one of those aids in life that, overdone, becomes stifling.
If it was South Africans mentioned, thinking that there are a lot on the North Shore, or whatever, it would be acknowledging a fact.
nup, racist. why make the joke at all? its an assumption that everyone thinks like him.
Perhaps it was a positive observation about Polynesian rugby talent?
Grey, are you wanting me to shut up?
This is a political blog, racism is political. Why would it not be ok to express an opinion about it, esp in response to a question someone raised?
“apparent female”…
is an apparent female a man?
Should have stuck to earlier promise to self, tends to get rather clumsy when discussing this sacred woman thing and embroidery…
Good news for young women in 16 and 17 year group. I think it may be only those with babies. Those who have had to live separately from their family will now get the security and support that a good family should provide.
They are to have shared housing provided with up to three of them living together. Older people, or slightly older young ones will be nearby and mentor them and their money will be channelled into providing the necessities first and then presumably an amount for discretionary spending. They are going to be supported, helped and be in training that will prepare them for their future employment and managing their own lives. If done sympathetically and a friendly organised way it will be great.
This should be done widely, meeting whatever need there is, not just a pilot scheme to wave in front of the voters in election year as an example of the wonderful capacity building that this government is doing. But don’t know what will happen when the women turn 18, hope it won’t be ‘throw them in the pool to see if they can swim’ time. And what about working with boys, the young men who apparently do not mature until they are 25, and what a tortuous path they may follow in their younger years?
One swallow does not win an election. But some would swallow it. Let’s have more and show up Labour, try and fight them and the Greens, with the observable facts and evidence on the ground of NACTs good ‘social development’.
The irony there is that if this were being offered under a L/G govt, it might actually work. Under a NACT govt, it’s likely to be hit and miss at best, and that will largely depend on the people in the agencies involved. Some will do good, some will do bad.
I saw something yesterday that said that 16 and 17 yr olds are no longer allowed welfare payments directly. The payments instead go through an agency. Wouldn’t it be better to have a system whereby if the young person can demonstrate they are capable of managing their finances they are allowed to do so? Isn’t it both patronising and disabling to treat all young people as the same?
“and then presumably an amount for discretionary spending.”
What are you basing that one?
“I think it may be only those with babies.”
I didn’t pick that up, I thought it was all 16/17 yr olds who had had to leave home.
Yes weka, I am not sure about the exact details. But because of the vulnerability of that age and the fact they have already got to the baby stage, it doesn’t hurt to treat them all with over care and some rules. And doing their own household budgeting and so on, they would get advice on good diets and what different foods are good for for health and gardening of simple vegetables etc.
The group should be led to the self-managing state. Planning their budgets which they check out together to see how well they are managing etc. And they definitely should not have all their money taken by the agency. But it’s not meant to be just a short-term course where these young ones are left on their own after just learning stuff. Capacity building I said and that’s what I understood is the intention.
You have a lot more faith in the system than I do, and 100% more faith in the intentions of NACT. Mostly I see them as being controlling and manipulative. If the scheme were done with aroha I would agree with some of what you say. But I’ve never seen aroha coming from the Minister, and I know from experience that the state is mostly operating under a punitive welfare regime during NACT govts. I guess the damage they do with this one will just be added to the pile.
Mr Deeds Goes to Town 😉
My mother-in-law had her first child at 17. Apparently not a completely unheard of occurrence in those days – 70 years approx.
Perhaps instead of talking (endlessly) about the vulnerability and lack of discipline of contemporary women in the same situation, we look for the capability and success of those that manage – and manage well.
They will have more insight into how to achieve success than someone with a completely different idea of “the right time to have a baby” and “poor offspring”. I am sometimes appalled by the lack of insight of those who are trained to help, and like weka think that usually the “help” that is offered by programmes like these from the National party are often applied in conjunction with a big stick.
If this was voluntary, done properly, with good support and access to ongoing education / training you might have a starter.
But given that this is the party that has consistantly cut access to education and training it doesnt seem likely.
Looks more like a way to hand off money to unaccountable private sector organisations.
Also, as can be seen in the legislation they have passed over the last 5 years, they don’t appear to understand the concepts of good governance, accountability or any sort of fiscal competance.
Expect opportunities for rorts, abuse of the system, and potentially abuse of the young women.
“Currently, there are around eight potential sites around the country including in Christchurch, Tokoroa, Whakatane, Auckland, Hamilton and Invercargill.”
At least it’ll only be a pilot. If Labour / Greens get in next year, it might provide a starting point for a decent program.
I believe that there’s a difference between providing support and ensuring that they get it and standing over their shoulder. This new policy from National is obviously the latter.
Any significance in this?
“Meridian Energy’s sliding share price must be making some investors and the Government feel a little nervous.
Shares in the power company hit $1.11 on November 6 but have trended downwards since then.
On Wednesday they touched a low point of $1.01 – just 1c above the first instalment issue price.
There may be a touch of groundhog day feeling coming through.” -Tamsyn Parker
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11157369
So a clear loss once brokerage fees etc are taken into account.
nz has no legal answer to ponzi schemes. we open ourselves up to the diseases of the world of all types yet don’t take sensible precautionary protective measures or have remedial procedures.
(I suggest while you read listen to youtube of Taco singing Putting on the Ritz, very appropriate.)
And clever experienced keys has been in politics for almost a decade, and came with full knowledge of the dangers to a country and its investors of shonkey schemes. He knew. and he didn’t pass on his knowledge for the benefit of the country. Birds of a feather fly together, the old saying. So he has a bunch that like his style, his money, his panache, his casual cheeriness, his concise answers to difficult or ethical problems with a falling emphasis in his voice.)
Now follow up Taco with Robin Williams on being an alcoholic.
Menu”
“All the hunger, all the yearning
With the life-line that you’re burning
Poison lessons that you’re learning
The Road ahead is turning”.
The Living End Wake Up
UNICEF [spokesman ] “By 2020, (not far away now) we will be responding increasingly to the frequency of [ climate disaster ] events.
Alan Johnson, Salvation Army Housing Research- “what we are seeing is publicly funded gentrification” (GI, Pomare)
Bacon on Freud
New Bacon for an egg?
Another acquisition by some super-rich prick who probably doesn’t really like the work all that much, just wants to impress visitors to the mansion.
Can only hope it gets donated to a public collection when the golden one passes on..
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/9404405/State-asset-sales-costly
Your MOM’s expensive.
9m is just morning-after sickness.
Die on the job? You can’t picket parliament, corporate headquarters, for a fair redundancy. So Mr Key its not the same.
Are we really that backwards that secured investors get paid out before the bereaved (who get nothing)? That a government that removed protection is not liable for the results?
Apparently.
Where’s that corporate shill photonz advocating for this. Probably studying up his next load of CT lies.
That owners of undeveloped land get 50% in ChCh from the govt! Yet miners get nowt?
Okay, get the argument that the miners were not unionized, and were paid more so they could take out life insurance etc. But there was one kid who died, on his first day down the mine, who would likely have not gotten any insurance as he might not have taken to the job.
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/11/ppta_introduces_apartheid-era_type_bans.html
– Good article from kiwiblog, not quite sure its comparable to apartheid but its poor form from the ppta (not surprising of course)
this appears unattractive.
Schoolkids as pawns always are but from the ppta point of view they’re just protecting their patch I guess
happens across many of the professions I have observed; that’s competition.
well, if the CEO of a charter school says they are bullies they must be…
Notice the charter school has a Chief Executive Officer, state schools have Principals.
Teachers usually want the best for their students, even when misguided their intention is pupil centred. NOT all of course.
quite a bit of research revealing the effect teacher expectations have on the outcomes achieved. Not always egalitarian.
can you explain how the PPTA is making teachers not mix with charter school teachers? Please include evidence.
Why can’t boring parrot Chris come up with some original drivel instead this rote-learned crap? No wonder research shows that right wingers have lower IQs when this is the best they can manage: make up a lie, then repeat it to one another like a cultist mantra.
Why don’t they just become Scientologists? At least they’d have more exciting drivel.
It wasn’t the teachers plotting against the children, Thetan Chris, it was Xenu.
I love you to bro 😉
The misinformation given is that somehow the PPTA instructs its members to do this or that. The PPTA is run by teachers for teachers. A decision to boycott will be a local majority decision not an instruction from on high.
Is a boycott a good idea? It might just mean that if you want to go it alone, then do so without our help or support. That would be unsurprising wouldn’t it?
The CEO is having a moan about not being able to send the pupils to the local school for some specialist subjects.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11156955
If the boys and their whanau choose to enroll in the kura hourua, the kura has plans for some senior students to take certain classes, such as economics or trade studies at external schools such as Whangarei Boys’ High School and NorthTec.
A cut and paste of some quotes with a slanted opinion superimposed. Nobel prize anyone?
It’s Kiwiblog thus it’s probably spinning. As the saying goes:
Best way to sell a lie is to mix in a bit of truth
Society values money more than sexual assault victims??
“The man behind what is thought to be New Zealand’s largest Ponzi scheme has been sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison.”
“Daniel Taylor, 34, a former foster parent for Child Youth and Family, was sentenced to five years and seven months behind bars when he appeared for sentencing in the High Court at Whangarei this morning.
Justice Peter Woodhouse ordered that Taylor serve at least two years and 10 months before he was eligible for parole and expressed doubt at the convicted paedophile’s remorse after it emerged he had penned a single line apology letter to his victims – signed “regards, Daniel Taylor”.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11157408
– This is a good move
Yep, it’s a great focus. Better than focusing on, say, funding rape prevention programmes in all high schools. Better to spend time and money chasing the fines…
So every positive action by the govt will be prefaced by ” Better than focusing on, say, funding rape prevention programmes in all high schools”?
Nope, just this one and any time the right and its supporters focus on imagined heinous crime that must be stopped while ignoring real heinous crime.
Oh well when you put it like that…(yeah thats sarcasm)
If I had not retired the machines I’d be eternally outlawed. ” The Road goes on, and on and on…”
whereas cycling, that’s real freedom.
“You’ve got about four months from the time you’ve been stopped and given a ticket to pay. That’s not bad, and that’s interest-free credit.” says Chester beater Borrows
Don’t know how he can call it “interest-free credit” when the government don’t borrow money to cover it….do they?
Futures Trades Pledged (hedged).
One new sling the same old rock
/facepalm
Last time I got stopped for speeding I got a fine that I had to pay, not an interest free loan that I could spend anyway I liked.
And, yes, I do think it’s a good move. Loss of license, loss of car (while keeping the debt of course) should make people think. I would be interested in the demographics of it as well.
Is the car impounded or confiscated permanently?
Just impounded unfortunately, I would sell it to cover costs and let them keep the debt that’s attached to the car.
Is it just speeding fines, or are they applying it to other fines (wof etc)? Am thinking of the whole boy racer thing from a few years back.
In light of this do the political right still view speed cameras as revenue gathering devices?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10830429
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/tag/revenue-gathering/#axzz2kgH3Uil0
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2010/06/naked_revenue_gathering-2.html
Or have they moved on and realised that breaking the law is actually a crime?
it’s only a crime if you can’t afford to pay the fine – the tory dream
“A report by the army’s social policy analyst Alan Johnson shows rents for the cheapest quarter of rented homes in the former Auckland City have risen faster than average since 2008 – by 21.6 per cent for three bedrooms and 25 per cent for two bedrooms in the lower quartile, in a period when median rents across Auckland rose by 17 per cent and consumer prices by only 12.5 per cent.
But benefits have been adjusted only in line with consumer prices, and the maximum rates of accommodation supplement have not changed since 2005.
The result is that five out of six low-income groups examined in the report are now worse off in real terms than they were five years ago by amounts ranging from $1.33 a week for a single sickness beneficiary renting a one-bedroom flat to $33.64 a week for an unemployed couple with three children renting a three-bedroom house, both at lower-quartile rents.”
That’s the SALVATION army, just before the chemtrailers start another theory 🙂
http://www.ijreview.com/2013/11/93968-thanks-obamacare-tapping-beer-fund/
– Got to pitch the ads at the level of the people you’re trying to sell to I guess
Yup, they should have gone with single payer.
That’s what happens when corporate money infects a democracy.
Opps….
The site was getting pretty damn slow because I managed to comment out the provision of swap space in fstab when I was fiddling last night. It was getting pretty memory constrained..
Just turned the swap on and cleared the outstanding backlog.
Should be faster now.
Well, hopefully now I won’t be getting blank screens.
hey lprent were you involved in setting up CyberPlace ?? They have a similar logo …
Nope. If it involves aesthetics then I am not responsible for it
How’s the War on Drugs going these days?
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/11/us-drug-afgahnistan-opium.html
Patroling and protecting Afghan poppy fields seems to be the latest approach.
Happy opium farmers are Afghans who are less likely to shelter and help anti-US insurgents.
‘
Proxy surfing to be made illegal. Sad to say, there consensus between National Ltd™ and Labour on this aspect of the TPP.
Would you care to explain how?
‘
For the service provider to comply with the proposed rules it must know how each and every user of its system accessed the allegedly copyright material. One way to ensure this capability is to prevent the use of proxy surfing. I don’t know how they would do it, though.
I was looking for the santa fe institute and got santa fe news, usa instead.
This was one of their articles. Sounds pretty jaw dropping. Like something from bootleg liquor days.
Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger sentenced to life
BOSTON — Former Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for his murderous reign in the 1970s and ’80s, bringing to a close a case that exposed FBI corruption so deep that many people across the city thought he would never be brought to justice.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/
Typhoon Haiyan May Devastate Philippine Economy
http://www.ksdk.com/story/weather/2013/11/11/typhoon-haiyan-hurting-philippines-economy/3497053/
– “This is only the beginning…”
http://www.ibtimes.com/philippines-super-typhoon-only-beginning-far-worse-natural-catastrophes-1468806?
and maybe throw in a Cholera pandemic …
Has something changed between 2011 and today? Cos I haven’t heard a peep about asset sales from Colon Cray. Ready to sell his principles for a ministerial seat? How very un-Christian.
http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/conservative-party-asset-sales-lose-money-4560364
National isn’t the only party dining on dead rats in this marriage.
The Japan Times Online: “Risky Fuel Removal about to Start”:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/11/14/national/risky-fuel-removal-about-to-start/#.UoXecXCMlTI
As someone actually living in Tokyo, I sometimes find myself offside with people more alarmed about the Fukushima situation. I thought this was a timely update about what is currently going on, since Bill posted about this a couple of weeks ago (as I understand it the commencement of the fuel removal operation was delayed for more testing to occur).
Anyway, the Japan Times is a pretty good source of thoroughly-researched news and is frequently critical of the Japanese government and TEPCO on a number of issues, so hopefully the article is informative. Also, the diagram is kinda neat.
Something different from Chile: ‘Los Prisoneros’ at Vina del Mar in 2003, perhaps some may be interested in this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyl0o8XqBzk
‘Soda Stereo’ de Argentina, one of the best groups ever from Latin America, worth watching and listening to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoJEw7jBOLo
That is stuff few here know, and it is a great performance at Vina Del Mar, Chile, that they did in 1987.
Never ending to repeat myself, some of the best of Latin American music comes from the group Illapu:
http://www.illapu.cl/
Their song Vuelvo is popular:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8y_0y-cT5g
Being a HUMAN BEING, best spoken out by Victor Jara, one of the most hounoured souls that there ever was on this planet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Rvas3PBjQ