On top or alongside that perhaps everyone at work or out engaging today could make sure that the trivialising of abuse that is behind the politicking in the past week is challenged. The whole basic issue of anyone who is demeaned in anyway at the hands of others has taken second place to a lot of self-interest, and self-interest is why most of the abuse and intimidation happens in the first place. Please try not to be afraid to step up and speak out even if it is just to call out people minimalising abusive behaviour or treating it as a "joke".
I know you have had more than your fair share of police bullying and harassment in the past Treetop. It doesn't matter how long ago it may have happened the effects never fully leave you.
I expect this past week as brought back unpleasant memories for a lot of people – most of whom will be women.
It has been rife within the Public Service for years and it's always the same: management just deny, deny, deny as if all these hordes of victims are liars.
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Police management of harassment and denigrating behaviour from managers – inadequate and not well thought through. But it reflects two things – one, the whole attitude to ordinary people and citizens from the powerful and their fellow travellers in society, and, two, the way that the police live in a world of their own 'untouched by human hands' because they are to be free of political interference, like Treasury.
It isn't working policy-wonks! The police coming forward to Radionz anonymously say that the managers end up judging their own behaviour, the complainant can’t get improvement and things might get worse after airing problems. Further up management don’t want to know, human resources don’t know how to deal with people, only CVs and assessments like passing a wof for the job. There needs to be respect for what is involved in being a good human. I bet a lot of those with power to change things have not started on the beat and worked up. They are either dainty things from uni or power and position hungry types from generic management.
The citizens in a democracy, should be having a say in what police and army do and are run. We citizens are supposed to have a voice and should be able to be involved in guiding performance. And it is a black mark against representative democracy that has turned out to be a method where those who manage to get wealthy and comfortable treat government as a personal service agency. The poor do not have agency in this type of agency – we need participatory democracy where people get out of their comfy chairs, and the park benches, go and discuss with politicians what is going wrong, and what can be done, and what difficulties politicians and leaders face in advancing better systems, and the unintended consequences there will be and the faults that can arise. We have all been too lazy to be bothered to take care of our nation's political system and ensure that it is fair and fit for purpose. I don't know if it's too late to make the changes needed at this late stage in our slide down, but I am thinking, trying, and supporting groups working for good.
And police, men and women, need to be within the community fold, helping us and we helping them to be better, but also working with them so they are happier, safer and we all will become good at preventing the vulnerable poor from being crime-bound. The wealthy and complacent who commit crime are a different problem.
Most of the inept ones I had the misfortune to encounter are now gone. It is the ones who still do not get it, that need to be weeded out and held to account.
My comment was about the affect it is having within the police service on staff.
Who do you think would be effective to address the damage which is occurring and what is required to prevent it occurring within the police service?
Someone who wants to have a good system suitable for a properly functioning government service that respects the citizens and their own people, and wants to bring out the best in both. So would that be the State Services Commission? I have no idea. Is there anyone out there who has authority, principles and a vision for better?
Police need looking after with consideration, I don't think they are being respected themselves, and no doubt losing many of good character who get worn down with the task and the treatment. It wouldn't be good that only the gnarly ones are left, who are hard and twisted enough to last in the system and then grasp their way to the top jobs and perpetuate the problem.
And while we are at it we need a better overview system too – the police complaints authority should not be complacent and submissive to however police choose to interpret their instructions and meet their targets.
Strong union is necessary. yes, but more than that as this isn't a simple matter of pay and conditions for a worker. These people are at the heart of our nation, and if they are not treated well, and don't treat us well and fairly, then we end up having little or no heart; essentially they reflect back to us the sort of society we are. Dishevelled figures at present I feel.
I will put links to what comments re police that i heard this morning. They were people who spoke about what they knew.
7.10 am. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018713400/police-staff-say-complaints-system-fuels-bullyingMore Police officers and non sworn staff have come forward saying their Speak Up complaints system isn't working and its fueling widespread bullying in the organisation.Last week, RNZ reported the concerns of 21 police officers and non-sworn staff members who said bullying was rife within the police.Since then more have come forward, including current and former HR employees who say the department is failing to properly deal with issue of bullying.
8.10am https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018713413/police-confused-about-how-to-deal-with-bullying-complaints Senior managers have been confused by the police's Speak Up complaints system, which it says could be leading to bad experiences for complainants.RNZ has talked to more than 50 current or former staff who have experienced bullying in the police. The police's deputy chief executive in charge or people and capability, Kaye Ryan, told our reporter Ben Strang the Speak Up process is being reviewed.
A two way street, public need to have the confidence in the police to do their job. Police need to have confidence in the work place so they are not distracted from doing their job.
"It has been rife within the Public Service for years and it's always the same"
It has that @ Anne!!!!.
However, I'd suggest that since the age of managerialism, the CEO as el supremo running little feifdoms based on business buzz and ideology, and everything running along those lines, the "deny deny deny" has become normalised and industrialised.
The age of the Master and Mistress of the Universe where protection of egos becomes the norm; where even when the new age of measurements (such as the KPI) actually mean fuck all, and even when they're not met – there is no consequence, other than perhaps a sideways shuffle.
We could start picking various Munsteries and Departments as examples of where things have turned to total shite, but I suspect there are word limits and "TLDR"'s to think of.
But just as an example, KPI's not met: abnormally HUGE staff turnover; admissions that the "restructure didn't go as well as intended"; racists and homophobes that have to be "managed" out of the place; and very much more, never affect the God – who often has not only created the organisational kulcha, but who will use any and all means to protect it.
I could of course be talking about any number of Ministries/Departments/SOE's/COE's/Qango's before we even start on local gummint.
In some ways, when I reference the black humour department in my mind, and recall some of the specific encounters I've witnessed or been a part of, I find a lot of this quite amusing – funny as a fart in a lift in fact. A lot of it is the ultimate in muppetry – especially when many of them seem to see the solution lays in carrying on doing the same old shit (equipped with a new set of buzzwords and management theory), and expecting a different outcome. (Ain't gunna happin goan forwid – not even if we start recycling some of the buzz from the early years of the new-found neoliberal religion – such as……maybe 'kaizen' – that's due for a comeback surely!).
With the Federal election in Canada underway the polls are coming thick and fast (and compared to us they do lots and lots of polling).
The two contenders for government are now in a dead heat in CBC’s Poll of Polls. The Liberal Party however has an advantage over the Conservative Party insofar as it’s garnering greater support in Ontario and Quebec, the two most populous (and therefore most vote rich) provinces.
In Ontario they are benefiting from growing voter distaste for the provincial Conservative administration under Premier Doug Ford and in Quebec (as in the rest of the country) the third main party the New Democrats are seeing their centre left support collapsing mostly to the Liberals but also somewhat to the Greens.
Thanks to Trudeau’s broken promise on electoral reform Canada still has FPTP so which ever party can win either Ontario or Quebec is well on the way to claiming an election win. If a party can win both then victory is all but certain.
Interesting. Trudeaumania evaporated: his approval rating is half that of three years ago. Good to see the Greens have climbed back to the 10% they were getting a decade back – wonder why they sank into that trough for so long.
Prior to 2015 the main motivating force for centre left voters in Canada was getting rid of Stephen Harper and the Conservative government in Ottawa. Accordingly Green voters lent their vote to whichever of the two main opposition parties at the time looked most likely to achieve that.
Greens have only ever had one seat in the House of Commons, though recently they added another in a federal by election in BC. If they get the 4 seats in the upcoming election that this CBC poll is suggesting they will have achieved a real breakthrough
I wonder if the new school history curriculum will include other NZ wars alongside the land wars… about 2,500 people were killed in the land wars, about 20,000 killed in the musket wars just a generation prior, and around 1800 were wiped out over a decade or so during the nazi mutunga genocide of moriori. And these were all in the 1800's only…
If the broad history can be taught, at least it gets the ideas in, they become aware of our history being more than a Disney story.
Also they would be given links telling the background stories, and books in the library? or available at the public library, or there should be an educational mobile library for those establishments that have decided that they can't afford books. Each student should be given a choice of one to summarise in say three paragraphs, also to be accompanied by one story that caught their interest, and then these be read out to the class.
Then they would all learn different stories and perspective compounding with pupil numbers. And this without the teacher having to personally present any 'sensitive' material. Just exposing the pupils to the knowledge, and bringing them all to different parts of it would be 100% more awareness than they would have otherwise.
5G information meetings are rolling out. It is indeed something for future thinking citizens to take note of and think about. I hope it does not come to a Tianneman Square situation.
If you mean will people get run over by tanks for attending 5g meetings, I'd doubt it to 99.99%
If you mean something else, you're going to have to write the post again, but much more comprehensible this time as that's just too wtf to attempt to interpret.
Its a meaningless, unintelligent rambling for sure, which was sort of my point, and if you can't explain it anymore than 'gotcha' I'm happy for you to let it die without it drawing further attention.
Since the matter of ‘climate change’ is featuring high in today’s/weekly long climate change informational day all over the NZ media here is our contribution.
CEAC support James Renwick
Monday, 16 September 2019, 9:20 am
Press Release: Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre
James Renwick claim that NZ is failing on climate change is valid, and since James has been receiving widespread media coverage that we outline most of it again here now as we gear up for the ‘Global climate change conference’ beginning next week.
…..
Just seeing the statistics Professor Renwick released today (quote) “Carbon dioxide emissions from transport have nearly doubled since 1990” coupled with more use of rail is a no-brainer for all of us to engage in using more rail and less road freight.
[lprent: I am mostly concerned about the length of unquoted copyrighted material you dumped here.
I did a coarse trim it down for you. If you think the haircut is an insult, then
You should have cut it yourself to get rid of the dishevelled Boris look. Don’t be lazy – frame the reasons for looking at the link.
Quote the pasted material because it is hard to distinguish between what you dribble and what the press release said.
Consider whose server you dropped liable material on – and consider me insulted.
Controls on building firms hooray! So that their eyes aren't bigger than their stomachs, the plate-clearing greedies. Goodbye Mr Cresote – I hope (Monty Python).
Bill McKay says the Kiwibuild reset is nothing to get excited about, describing it as more of an apology than a vision of what's next. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.
Oh dear will the brave and comfortably off young things of today be able to pursue their every whim in future? Will the cost-benefit to the planet have to vaguely register? Will saving the planet and a kindly, warm and inclusive society be regarded as a challenge worthy of their youthful insouciance? Can they develop an interest in helping people, their own community, and doing a little local rock climbing or whatever for when they want to do something that makes their feet tingle? Questions with an answer I think I already know.
After a chance meeting in a DOC hut, four young Cantabrians are flying to Tanzania today to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and paraglide off the summit. It's one of the world's most difficult paragliding missions, starting with an eight day hike to what's called the 'roof of Africa'. And it's the first time New Zealanders have attempted the flight. RNZ reporter Katie Todd went to one of their final training sessions.
Spoiler – you are not going to like this. So it would be better not to read it, and if you do, don't write and vent your anger on me at length, or short.
A Dutch critic of euthanasia laws says the practice is putting increasing pressure on doctors and it's changing the way we perceive dying and suffering.From 2005 to 2014 Dr Theo Boer was an ethicist on a regional Euthanasia Review Committee in the Netherlands, examining 4,000 euthanasia cases, and was initially supportive of the legislation. 3m.
It is interesting how people who say they want to protect the rights of others and good behaviour between and to people as I think ethics does, can fall into authoritarian limitation of people's personal right to life and death choices. They go beyond protecting people by not wanting euthanasia to telling them what to think, and ordering them to stay alive when they want to die, and stopping them making a dignified, even serene and happy demise. No you must live as long as we order you to, it lets down the side by wanting to leave early before you wear out. As you came into the world randomly, without request or rights about it, so you must wait to leave randomly.
We cannot conceive ourselves say the men but we have a stake in your body, and the women say you must stick to the rules as women always do, and together they combine to upbraid you; for 'Not enjoying your nice life that we have made for you – eat it all up – and don't leave the table until you do'. And then if you still insist, they would maliciously like to punish you by allowing you to die in the saddest, painful and lingering way so as not to encourage the others to have ideas beyond those who hold the power, and the rigid conditions sacrosanct.
OTOH, there was this interesting Dutch fella on the wireless the other day who used to be all for the 'right to die in your own terms' team but after a while he has had to think again.
Palliative care has advanced so greatly in the past decade that the 'die writhing in agony' scenario no longer universally applies. Dutch fella has seen a shift from the understandable desire to avoid aforesaid agonising end to a person wanting to…well…timetable their death. Like, plan it. Like, they simply have to be in charge literally right up to the bitter end.
Not wishing to sound all new age and crystal wearing…could it be that we have an allotted lifespan? Does our corporeal self have a time to be born and a time to die? Will this desperate bid to be in charge…to eliminate the natural and the random from our beginnings and endings…see the permanent disconnection of humans from the spiritual?
I don't necessarily disagree with that, but doesn't life saving and life prolonging medical intervention mean we no longer have natural and random endings to our lives?
I don't think anyone has a problem with an emergency Caesarian to save the life of mum and babe…but a planned and timetabled major intervention like this for 'social reasons'? From the 'too posh to push' brigade or from those for whom a particular birthdate is auspicious in some way? As for medical interventions, extreme lifesaving measures…there used to be talk in medical fields around the phenomenon of he some respond and live…yet others getting the same treatment die. Why?
I'd put 'being allowed to exercise a personal choice about when/how to die' in the 'nice to have' category. If I was compos mentis, and it was my choice, then I'd prefer to be allowed to choose.
I might never make such a choice – might not need to, or be able to. But the idea of being allowed to make this personal choice appeals to me, a bit like being allowed, nay encouraged, to be responsible when it comes to putting a do (or do not) resuscitate instruction in place.
If I had to tease out the reasons why, I think fear (and so cowardice?) would be somewhere up there. Maybe needing to be in control also has something to do with it. I’m about as opposite to an ‘adrenalin junkie’ as you could get, so minimising (as opposed to eliminating) risk seems common sense IMHO.
Tracy Watkins performs a typical sleight of hand, contrasting John Key's handling of Richard Worth, a caucus member, with Ardern's handling of issues around party and parliamentary employees. She also lumps Helen Clark in with John Key on that score, despite having contrasting examples in Taito Philip Field, David Benson-Pope and Winston Peters (different from the Worth situation, but she would still need to address that). It's fine if she wants to compare and contrast, but Watkins doesn't do that, she just conflates separate issues. Watkins has been NZ's very worst political journalist for some time, and I've never been able to work out whether she's devious, gullible, thick or a combination of some or all of those.
A run-through of what is to come and a timeline of the various happenings. There is usually a five day debate after the Queen's Address I think called 'The Humble Address'.
A risible Frankenstein's argument from National about the proposed gun register, bolting on a reference to mental health as a wedge for Labour voters, and a reference to criminal to appeal to National's constituency. Interviewers should always ask if politicians have any evidence for what they are suggesting, and if they don't produce any, explicitly describe it as speculation/musings/guesswork (and never refer to it in the headline). After all, that would then be factual reporting, rather than opinion.
Labour abuse allegations investigator brings in computer expert
"One of the people who investigated complaints about a Labour staffer has hired a forensic computer expert to prove he was never told about sexual assault allegations".
Edit
I feel utterly frustrated at the way this sexual assault case continues on. There needs to be a special panel set up to hear this case with detailed records and overseen by a QC or such. The accusations and denials flow back and forth, and it feels too much like an out of control Standard post.
I want something better to settle this matter that is affecting the whole country, and the Coalition government that I support. So get something set up whoever is in charge, and stop this travesty. It is either an inflated story, or it is a very nasty matter, and if so it must be dealt with in a more effective and fairer way that brings everything together in a judicial way so that if there is a prosecution, the evidence is there. Let the discussion be continued in private, though not secret, and then it can be explained when the hearing is finished and everyone involved has given their report. Till then let there be an injunction on speaking to the media or public.
The article doesn't mention any refutation that there was a complainant, just the fact that the mention of a sexual assault was not made in any document provided by the main complainant ("Sarah") to the Labour Party's investigation panel of 3.
Mickey I am sure that the people exist. I meant that Sarah claimed documents were sent to the Council but they don't exist. My guess is that Sarah has increased her complaint to sexual assault in order to get greater response. It is supremely unlikely that the Council members would flat out lie.
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MickeyB has quoted Ardern is to meet with complainants. End of first chapter.
I hope this is a short story, not a continuing series. Let’s do what is right, and what our PM wants. The old men in the background,grooming the public, are not adding to their lustre as this trails on in such a disgraceful way.
The waters are certainly getting muddier by the day. I agree with you there's little to be gained by the Labour Council members lying and they’re not lying – of that I am sure. But on the other hand something untoward was occurring. You don't get 7 people laying formal complaints and another 3 or 4 who are said to have unofficially complained.
Maybe Anne, there is a group of individuals who were concerned about bad behaviour such as they believed that each had been bullied, perhaps including Sarah. The group thinking can reinforce the strength of the claims but Sarah didn't think to claim sexual assault which, had she brought that to the Council, would have tripped the "We are not equipped to deal with such events." The later recent increase of Sarah's serious complaint tripped the shambles which now exist.
But someone is not being truthful. Will we ever find out? Paula will muddy the water as she did tonight on the News TV1
Might be a bit of murky, even Dirty Politics in all this – something about Paula "Zip it, sweetie" Bennett as a victims' champion just doesn't ring true.
Maybe the Nats have learned something from Key, English, Joyce, Coleman, Barclay, Ross et al., and moved on from their Dirty Politics escapades. If they can refrain from their usual vomitous do-nothing (self-enrichment excepted) behaviour when they regain control of parliament then we'll know for sure, but I wouldn't put another flag referendum past them – leopards and spots!
It's never been a consciousness of her outer looks which I found troubling, but rather a lack of self-awareness of her effect on others and a deficiency of empathy.
In own words, "I've grabbed opportunities and I've made the most of them, and that has been the key to the many successes I've had."
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has returned to the Beehive and described a sexual assault allegation saga engulfing the Labour Party as a "disgraceful orgy of speculation and innuendo".
Is he currently living in a camper van? Ooh, don't tell the tabloid journos. They'll have a collective heart-attack and all drop dead with coronaries. On second thoughts do tell them.
I am certain that Winston Peters would have demanded to be told "what was going on" and would have refrained from saying anything unless he was certain he was basing his reaction on fact. Why would he do otherwise? The National Party will be even further from his considerations than they already were.
Aotearoa economy is doing great sailing into the headwinds created by larger economy's.
Greta is a incredibly intelligent individual Rangatahi who is educating the Papatuanuku about the REAL threat climate change is to our Papatuanuku future society Kia kaha Greta keep up the excellent mahi.
Bees play a very important role in our society we have to stop using agricultural chemicals on our farms we need to become the Organic farmers all over the Papatuanuku.
Tyrone Great to see Massey students winning a competition to New York to show their building low cost air quality sensors kia kaha.
Lloyd the black peet saga gives me a in sight on their society's view that can be found throughout Western society.
Kate Shepherd house being brought by Heritage NZ is cool she made a great contribution to the good changes Aotearoa
16000 electric cars is a heck of a lot of carbon emissions not being blown into our environment.
The tide is changing fast to A Papatuanuku that puts our the wellbeing of other into our plans like our future decendints. Humans have changed our environment for centuries build a whare we are changing the environment inside the whare to a warmer dryer environment so we can slow global warming we just have to do it for the future.
That's the way dumping your gas gussling car for electric scooter.
Eco Maori got this a few years ago I tau toko all people who champion mitigating human cause climate change. It makes me proud to see all the tamariki stepping up to the challenge letting everyone know that inaction on climate change is not good enough. Words are cheap action is not. It will give me a sore face when I see the MASSIVE CROWDs protesting to the Papatuanuku leaders to change the way of the Papatuanuku to become carbon neutral ASAP on Friday 20 of September 2019 KIA KAHA.
Scientists set out how to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
Strong civil society movements are needed to ramp up pace of change, says study
Greenhouse gas emissions could be halved in the next decade if a small number of current technologies and behavioural trends are ramped up and adopted more widely, researchers have found, saying strong civil society movements are needed to drive such change.
Solar and wind power, now cheaper than fossil fuels in many regions, must be scaled up rapidly to replace coal-fired generation, and this alone could halve emissions from electricity generation by 2030, according to the Exponential Roadmap report from an international group of countries
If the rapid uptake of electric vehicles in some parts of the world could be sustained, the vehicles could make up 90% of the market by 2030, vastly reducing emissions from transport, it said.
Avoiding deforestation and improving land management could reduce emissions by the equivalent of about 9bn tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2030, according to the report, but contradictory subsidies, poor planning and vested interests could stop this from happening.
The way to any transition will be the growing social movements that are pressing for urgent action on climate breakdown. By driving behavioural change, such as moving away from the overconsumption of meat and putting pressure on governments and companies, civil movements have the power to drive the transformation needed in the next decade, say the report’s authors.
Christiana Figueres, a former top climate official at the UN, said: “I see all evidence that social and economic tipping points are aligning. We can now say the next decade has the potential to see the fastest economic transition in history. Ka kite Ano link below.
I agree that our youth should get the OK to vote as its there future we are making a mess of at the minute.
The Tongan Prime Minister tangi today he will be missed by Te tangata.
I think it's good that South Africa government going to protect their Wahine from being disrespect by men Mana Wahine that's the way stand up for your rights to a happy health life.
Ngāti Hinerangi wanting to captilize on the Hobbit phenomenon that's the way tangata whenua have to chase all opertunaties to build a moanga for Te mokopuna.
Wai New Zealand conference it awesome that more thought research and respect is being given to the way we interact with our Taonga Wai.
The deaf have a taki with the services they get from the tellco company's because they don't use their talking minutes that's the way if they don't no there is a problem with some tangata then they can not fix it kia kaha.
350 climate change Rangatahi that is the way let every one know you are not happy with the mess being made of your future
Kupe scholarships Ka pai to Wahine for getting the scholarship and chasing a higher education Mana Wahine
Stay native looks like a winner to Eco Maori we have to look after each other in our Tangata Whenua O Aotearoa Papatuanuku AWSOME. NO one else is going to look after Maori but Maori.
Pu Rakau is great getting Te tamariki to be invative industrial and learning math and sciences kia kaha tamariki.
Ka kite Ano
Its great the government's retirement fund is performing well I hope they are moving their investment away from high carbon footprint industry.
Cool that money is being invested into research on why tabco is so addictive Hope they find something to help smokers Quit.
I remember just before a election national had a huge civil construction company hiring heaps of people with false jobs. I know I went for the jobs got to Wellington and it turned out to be a micky mouse club no real mahi being transferred from different jobs sights WHAT A JOKE it was just a skeem to get people off the dole just before the 2014 elections.
The reason there are more people on unemployment system is because national made it so HARD to get social security that many people could not jump through all the HOOPs to get on their social security system that's a fact. Hence all the people living under the BRIDGE. Our economy is not tanking you are just talking it down
Our Coalition Government is a legitimate government they got the seats and popularity to prove it.
Most business people are national supporters so when national jumps up and down putting down our economy they listen to their views or deliberately put out data to show they have low confidence.
Te tangata Te tangata Te tangata William is correct its about Te tangata no just putea.
Those idiots who started those fires in Australia need to be jailed we can't have fools causing so much damage just for their own wellbeing how selfish.
The Rugby Papatuanuku Cup will be A awesome event we will be watching the games using solar power for our device.
Not just dog need aroha all creatures need Tangata aroha .
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Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
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 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
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The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
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Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,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 3 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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56 police staff who cannot be their best selves when it comes to serving the public because of how managers handle a personal grievance complaint.
No one goes to work to be bullied or harassed and then be dismissed or blamed for the sick behaviour of work staff.
Senior managers appear to be confused about the process.
On top or alongside that perhaps everyone at work or out engaging today could make sure that the trivialising of abuse that is behind the politicking in the past week is challenged. The whole basic issue of anyone who is demeaned in anyway at the hands of others has taken second place to a lot of self-interest, and self-interest is why most of the abuse and intimidation happens in the first place. Please try not to be afraid to step up and speak out even if it is just to call out people minimalising abusive behaviour or treating it as a "joke".
I know you have had more than your fair share of police bullying and harassment in the past Treetop. It doesn't matter how long ago it may have happened the effects never fully leave you.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/398841/bullying-in-the-police-victims-say-speak-up-complaints-system-lets-them-down
I expect this past week as brought back unpleasant memories for a lot of people – most of whom will be women.
It has been rife within the Public Service for years and it's always the same:
management just deny, deny, deny as if all these hordes of victims are liars.
Edit
Police management of harassment and denigrating behaviour from managers – inadequate and not well thought through. But it reflects two things – one, the whole attitude to ordinary people and citizens from the powerful and their fellow travellers in society, and, two, the way that the police live in a world of their own 'untouched by human hands' because they are to be free of political interference, like Treasury.
It isn't working policy-wonks! The police coming forward to Radionz anonymously say that the managers end up judging their own behaviour, the complainant can’t get improvement and things might get worse after airing problems. Further up management don’t want to know, human resources don’t know how to deal with people, only CVs and assessments like passing a wof for the job. There needs to be respect for what is involved in being a good human. I bet a lot of those with power to change things have not started on the beat and worked up. They are either dainty things from uni or power and position hungry types from generic management.
The citizens in a democracy, should be having a say in what police and army do and are run. We citizens are supposed to have a voice and should be able to be involved in guiding performance. And it is a black mark against representative democracy that has turned out to be a method where those who manage to get wealthy and comfortable treat government as a personal service agency. The poor do not have agency in this type of agency – we need participatory democracy where people get out of their comfy chairs, and the park benches, go and discuss with politicians what is going wrong, and what can be done, and what difficulties politicians and leaders face in advancing better systems, and the unintended consequences there will be and the faults that can arise. We have all been too lazy to be bothered to take care of our nation's political system and ensure that it is fair and fit for purpose. I don't know if it's too late to make the changes needed at this late stage in our slide down, but I am thinking, trying, and supporting groups working for good.
And police, men and women, need to be within the community fold, helping us and we helping them to be better, but also working with them so they are happier, safer and we all will become good at preventing the vulnerable poor from being crime-bound. The wealthy and complacent who commit crime are a different problem.
What sort of budget is required for the complainants of intimidation and all forms of harassment within the police?
People who know what they are suppose to do and a proper budget is required in any work place.
Most of the inept ones I had the misfortune to encounter are now gone. It is the ones who still do not get it, that need to be weeded out and held to account.
My comment was about the affect it is having within the police service on staff.
Who do you think would be effective to address the damage which is occurring and what is required to prevent it occurring within the police service?
Someone who wants to have a good system suitable for a properly functioning government service that respects the citizens and their own people, and wants to bring out the best in both. So would that be the State Services Commission? I have no idea. Is there anyone out there who has authority, principles and a vision for better?
Police need looking after with consideration, I don't think they are being respected themselves, and no doubt losing many of good character who get worn down with the task and the treatment. It wouldn't be good that only the gnarly ones are left, who are hard and twisted enough to last in the system and then grasp their way to the top jobs and perpetuate the problem.
And while we are at it we need a better overview system too – the police complaints authority should not be complacent and submissive to however police choose to interpret their instructions and meet their targets.
I'd like to hear from Greg O Connor how many have been in contact with him?
Same as the current police president.
Maybe a strong union delegate with the right skills is the answer.
Strong union is necessary. yes, but more than that as this isn't a simple matter of pay and conditions for a worker. These people are at the heart of our nation, and if they are not treated well, and don't treat us well and fairly, then we end up having little or no heart; essentially they reflect back to us the sort of society we are. Dishevelled figures at present I feel.
I will put links to what comments re police that i heard this morning. They were people who spoke about what they knew.
7.10 am. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018713400/police-staff-say-complaints-system-fuels-bullying More Police officers and non sworn staff have come forward saying their Speak Up complaints system isn't working and its fueling widespread bullying in the organisation.Last week, RNZ reported the concerns of 21 police officers and non-sworn staff members who said bullying was rife within the police.Since then more have come forward, including current and former HR employees who say the department is failing to properly deal with issue of bullying.
8.10am https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018713413/police-confused-about-how-to-deal-with-bullying-complaints Senior managers have been confused by the police's Speak Up complaints system, which it says could be leading to bad experiences for complainants.RNZ has talked to more than 50 current or former staff who have experienced bullying in the police. The police's deputy chief executive in charge or people and capability, Kaye Ryan, told our reporter Ben Strang the Speak Up process is being reviewed.
A two way street, public need to have the confidence in the police to do their job. Police need to have confidence in the work place so they are not distracted from doing their job.
"It has been rife within the Public Service for years and it's always the same"
It has that @ Anne!!!!.
However, I'd suggest that since the age of managerialism, the CEO as el supremo running little feifdoms based on business buzz and ideology, and everything running along those lines, the "deny deny deny" has become normalised and industrialised.
The age of the Master and Mistress of the Universe where protection of egos becomes the norm; where even when the new age of measurements (such as the KPI) actually mean fuck all, and even when they're not met – there is no consequence, other than perhaps a sideways shuffle.
We could start picking various Munsteries and Departments as examples of where things have turned to total shite, but I suspect there are word limits and "TLDR"'s to think of.
But just as an example, KPI's not met: abnormally HUGE staff turnover; admissions that the "restructure didn't go as well as intended"; racists and homophobes that have to be "managed" out of the place; and very much more, never affect the God – who often has not only created the organisational kulcha, but who will use any and all means to protect it.
I could of course be talking about any number of Ministries/Departments/SOE's/COE's/Qango's before we even start on local gummint.
In some ways, when I reference the black humour department in my mind, and recall some of the specific encounters I've witnessed or been a part of, I find a lot of this quite amusing – funny as a fart in a lift in fact. A lot of it is the ultimate in muppetry – especially when many of them seem to see the solution lays in carrying on doing the same old shit (equipped with a new set of buzzwords and management theory), and expecting a different outcome. (Ain't gunna happin goan forwid – not even if we start recycling some of the buzz from the early years of the new-found neoliberal religion – such as……maybe 'kaizen' – that's due for a comeback surely!).
With the Federal election in Canada underway the polls are coming thick and fast (and compared to us they do lots and lots of polling).
The two contenders for government are now in a dead heat in CBC’s Poll of Polls. The Liberal Party however has an advantage over the Conservative Party insofar as it’s garnering greater support in Ontario and Quebec, the two most populous (and therefore most vote rich) provinces.
In Ontario they are benefiting from growing voter distaste for the provincial Conservative administration under Premier Doug Ford and in Quebec (as in the rest of the country) the third main party the New Democrats are seeing their centre left support collapsing mostly to the Liberals but also somewhat to the Greens.
Thanks to Trudeau’s broken promise on electoral reform Canada still has FPTP so which ever party can win either Ontario or Quebec is well on the way to claiming an election win. If a party can win both then victory is all but certain.
https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/poll-tracker/canada/
Interesting. Trudeaumania evaporated: his approval rating is half that of three years ago. Good to see the Greens have climbed back to the 10% they were getting a decade back – wonder why they sank into that trough for so long.
https://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/leadermeter/index.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/historical-federal-polling-data-1.4171977
Prior to 2015 the main motivating force for centre left voters in Canada was getting rid of Stephen Harper and the Conservative government in Ottawa. Accordingly Green voters lent their vote to whichever of the two main opposition parties at the time looked most likely to achieve that.
Greens have only ever had one seat in the House of Commons, though recently they added another in a federal by election in BC. If they get the 4 seats in the upcoming election that this CBC poll is suggesting they will have achieved a real breakthrough
Greens never got "10% of the Canadian vote a decade back" it was more 4-7%
The New Democrats get well over 2 mill and they are to the left of the centre left Liberals
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Canadian_federal_general_elections.svg/800px-Canadian_federal_general_elections.svg.png
On thse sort of graphs of of party votes – bright green is Social Credit and they peaked in the late 50s/
Good news about reefs and clever and committed people doing work for them and the planet and us.
https://billingsgazette.com/ap/international/rescue-of-coral-reefs-shows-nature-can-heal/article_af0b1e8e-14c1-56af-8d52-30cab5479376.html
Thanks for that. An excellent example of how to integrate environmentalism with resilience design of a local economy!
OOh thanks DF. I thought so too, and put a link-heavy comment in Sunday's How to Get There for those who like to chew on the hard caramels in the box!
I wonder if the new school history curriculum will include other NZ wars alongside the land wars… about 2,500 people were killed in the land wars, about 20,000 killed in the musket wars just a generation prior, and around 1800 were wiped out over a decade or so during the nazi mutunga genocide of moriori. And these were all in the 1800's only…
I suspect not
If the broad history can be taught, at least it gets the ideas in, they become aware of our history being more than a Disney story.
Also they would be given links telling the background stories, and books in the library? or available at the public library, or there should be an educational mobile library for those establishments that have decided that they can't afford books. Each student should be given a choice of one to summarise in say three paragraphs, also to be accompanied by one story that caught their interest, and then these be read out to the class.
Then they would all learn different stories and perspective compounding with pupil numbers. And this without the teacher having to personally present any 'sensitive' material. Just exposing the pupils to the knowledge, and bringing them all to different parts of it would be 100% more awareness than they would have otherwise.
5G information meetings are rolling out. It is indeed something for future thinking citizens to take note of and think about. I hope it does not come to a Tianneman Square situation.
If you mean will people get run over by tanks for attending 5g meetings, I'd doubt it to 99.99%
If you mean something else, you're going to have to write the post again, but much more comprehensible this time as that's just too wtf to attempt to interpret.
It's a stray thought that I put out there to pull you in; like an angler fish. Gotcha!
Its a meaningless, unintelligent rambling for sure, which was sort of my point, and if you can't explain it anymore than 'gotcha' I'm happy for you to let it die without it drawing further attention.
Since the matter of ‘climate change’ is featuring high in today’s/weekly long climate change informational day all over the NZ media here is our contribution.
Enjoy but leave insults out please.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1909/S00208/ceac-support-james-renwick.htm
Just seeing the statistics Professor Renwick released today (quote) “Carbon dioxide emissions from transport have nearly doubled since 1990” coupled with more use of rail is a no-brainer for all of us to engage in using more rail and less road freight.
[lprent: I am mostly concerned about the length of unquoted copyrighted material you dumped here.
I did a coarse trim it down for you. If you think the haircut is an insult, then
]
Controls on building firms hooray! So that their eyes aren't bigger than their stomachs, the plate-clearing greedies. Goodbye Mr Cresote – I hope (Monty Python).
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018713405/new-self-imposed-minimums-for-builders-could-limit-collapses
But Kiwibuild? A little better now thanks, not coughing so much. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018713441/bill-mckay-kiwibuild-reset-and-what-s-next
Bill McKay says the Kiwibuild reset is nothing to get excited about, describing it as more of an apology than a vision of what's next. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.
Oh dear will the brave and comfortably off young things of today be able to pursue their every whim in future? Will the cost-benefit to the planet have to vaguely register? Will saving the planet and a kindly, warm and inclusive society be regarded as a challenge worthy of their youthful insouciance? Can they develop an interest in helping people, their own community, and doing a little local rock climbing or whatever for when they want to do something that makes their feet tingle? Questions with an answer I think I already know.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018713426/four-young-cantabrians-to-paraglide-off-mt-kilimanjaro-summit
After a chance meeting in a DOC hut, four young Cantabrians are flying to Tanzania today to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and paraglide off the summit. It's one of the world's most difficult paragliding missions, starting with an eight day hike to what's called the 'roof of Africa'. And it's the first time New Zealanders have attempted the flight. RNZ reporter Katie Todd went to one of their final training sessions.
Spoiler – you are not going to like this. So it would be better not to read it, and if you do, don't write and vent your anger on me at length, or short.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018713420/euthanasia-critic-says-the-practice-puts-strain-on-doctors
A Dutch critic of euthanasia laws says the practice is putting increasing pressure on doctors and it's changing the way we perceive dying and suffering.From 2005 to 2014 Dr Theo Boer was an ethicist on a regional Euthanasia Review Committee in the Netherlands, examining 4,000 euthanasia cases, and was initially supportive of the legislation. 3m.
It is interesting how people who say they want to protect the rights of others and good behaviour between and to people as I think ethics does, can fall into authoritarian limitation of people's personal right to life and death choices. They go beyond protecting people by not wanting euthanasia to telling them what to think, and ordering them to stay alive when they want to die, and stopping them making a dignified, even serene and happy demise. No you must live as long as we order you to, it lets down the side by wanting to leave early before you wear out. As you came into the world randomly, without request or rights about it, so you must wait to leave randomly.
We cannot conceive ourselves say the men but we have a stake in your body, and the women say you must stick to the rules as women always do, and together they combine to upbraid you; for 'Not enjoying your nice life that we have made for you – eat it all up – and don't leave the table until you do'. And then if you still insist, they would maliciously like to punish you by allowing you to die in the saddest, painful and lingering way so as not to encourage the others to have ideas beyond those who hold the power, and the rigid conditions sacrosanct.
OTOH, there was this interesting Dutch fella on the wireless the other day who used to be all for the 'right to die in your own terms' team but after a while he has had to think again.
Palliative care has advanced so greatly in the past decade that the 'die writhing in agony' scenario no longer universally applies. Dutch fella has seen a shift from the understandable desire to avoid aforesaid agonising end to a person wanting to…well…timetable their death. Like, plan it. Like, they simply have to be in charge literally right up to the bitter end.
Not wishing to sound all new age and crystal wearing…could it be that we have an allotted lifespan? Does our corporeal self have a time to be born and a time to die? Will this desperate bid to be in charge…to eliminate the natural and the random from our beginnings and endings…see the permanent disconnection of humans from the spiritual?
I don't necessarily disagree with that, but doesn't life saving and life prolonging medical intervention mean we no longer have natural and random endings to our lives?
I don't think anyone has a problem with an emergency Caesarian to save the life of mum and babe…but a planned and timetabled major intervention like this for 'social reasons'? From the 'too posh to push' brigade or from those for whom a particular birthdate is auspicious in some way? As for medical interventions, extreme lifesaving measures…there used to be talk in medical fields around the phenomenon of he some respond and live…yet others getting the same treatment die. Why?
I'd put 'being allowed to exercise a personal choice about when/how to die' in the 'nice to have' category. If I was compos mentis, and it was my choice, then I'd prefer to be allowed to choose.
I might never make such a choice – might not need to, or be able to. But the idea of being allowed to make this personal choice appeals to me, a bit like being allowed, nay encouraged, to be responsible when it comes to putting a do (or do not) resuscitate instruction in place.
If I had to tease out the reasons why, I think fear (and so cowardice?) would be somewhere up there. Maybe needing to be in control also has something to do with it. I’m about as opposite to an ‘adrenalin junkie’ as you could get, so minimising (as opposed to eliminating) risk seems common sense IMHO.
Tracy Watkins performs a typical sleight of hand, contrasting John Key's handling of Richard Worth, a caucus member, with Ardern's handling of issues around party and parliamentary employees. She also lumps Helen Clark in with John Key on that score, despite having contrasting examples in Taito Philip Field, David Benson-Pope and Winston Peters (different from the Worth situation, but she would still need to address that). It's fine if she wants to compare and contrast, but Watkins doesn't do that, she just conflates separate issues. Watkins has been NZ's very worst political journalist for some time, and I've never been able to work out whether she's devious, gullible, thick or a combination of some or all of those.
Tracy Watkins is a National Party Puppet. Fixed it for you.
No, my peripheral question concerned whether she's a puppet or a conscious shill.
Listen to the beginning of the bulletin. Interesting!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018713479
Come on give us a clue what it's about? First guess – Toss up for either Simon or Paula – or is it Judith?
Brexit. Queen's Speech: What is it and why is it important?
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32816450
A run-through of what is to come and a timeline of the various happenings. There is usually a five day debate after the Queen's Address I think called 'The Humble Address'.
A risible Frankenstein's argument from National about the proposed gun register, bolting on a reference to mental health as a wedge for Labour voters, and a reference to criminal to appeal to National's constituency. Interviewers should always ask if politicians have any evidence for what they are suggesting, and if they don't produce any, explicitly describe it as speculation/musings/guesswork (and never refer to it in the headline). After all, that would then be factual reporting, rather than opinion.
Stop Press National Radio at 5pm.
Credibility of main complainant at stake.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint
Labour abuse allegations investigator brings in computer expert
"One of the people who investigated complaints about a Labour staffer has hired a forensic computer expert to prove he was never told about sexual assault allegations".
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/398894/labour-abuse-allegations-investigator-brings-in-computer-expert
Edit
I feel utterly frustrated at the way this sexual assault case continues on. There needs to be a special panel set up to hear this case with detailed records and overseen by a QC or such. The accusations and denials flow back and forth, and it feels too much like an out of control Standard post.
I want something better to settle this matter that is affecting the whole country, and the Coalition government that I support. So get something set up whoever is in charge, and stop this travesty. It is either an inflated story, or it is a very nasty matter, and if so it must be dealt with in a more effective and fairer way that brings everything together in a judicial way so that if there is a prosecution, the evidence is there. Let the discussion be continued in private, though not secret, and then it can be explained when the hearing is finished and everyone involved has given their report. Till then let there be an injunction on speaking to the media or public.
If Sarah laid a complaint the issue could be explored by experts but so far…
So Three members of the Committee have now refuted the Complainant's story. As has the defendant of the alleged sexual offender.
And documents "sent" by the complainant Sarah appear to not exist. Therefore the Spinoff story is in serious doubt.
Paula will call cover-up whitewash, denial etc ad nauseum.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/115833369/labour-scandal-party-to-conduct-two-separate-inquiries-into-sexual-assault-allegations-response
"Ardern announced that she would meet with the complainant's in the ongoing scandal"
"The PM said the terms of reference for the Dew inquiry were now finalized but the complainant's did not wish for them to be released to the public"
These people clearly exist Ian.
The article doesn't mention any refutation that there was a complainant, just the fact that the mention of a sexual assault was not made in any document provided by the main complainant ("Sarah") to the Labour Party's investigation panel of 3.
Mickey I am sure that the people exist. I meant that Sarah claimed documents were sent to the Council but they don't exist. My guess is that Sarah has increased her complaint to sexual assault in order to get greater response. It is supremely unlikely that the Council members would flat out lie.
Edit
MickeyB has quoted Ardern is to meet with complainants. End of first chapter.
I hope this is a short story, not a continuing series. Let’s do what is right, and what our PM wants. The old men in the background,grooming the public, are not adding to their lustre as this trails on in such a disgraceful way.
But what will you say Grey, if the sexual assault complaint does not exist? The saga largely depends on it doesn't it?
The waters are certainly getting muddier by the day. I agree with you there's little to be gained by the Labour Council members lying and they’re not lying – of that I am sure. But on the other hand something untoward was occurring. You don't get 7 people laying formal complaints and another 3 or 4 who are said to have unofficially complained.
What a strange tale it's becoming.
Maybe Anne, there is a group of individuals who were concerned about bad behaviour such as they believed that each had been bullied, perhaps including Sarah. The group thinking can reinforce the strength of the claims but Sarah didn't think to claim sexual assault which, had she brought that to the Council, would have tripped the "We are not equipped to deal with such events." The later recent increase of Sarah's serious complaint tripped the shambles which now exist.
But someone is not being truthful. Will we ever find out? Paula will muddy the water as she did tonight on the News TV1
Might be a bit of murky, even Dirty Politics in all this – something about Paula "Zip it, sweetie" Bennett as a victims' champion just doesn't ring true.
Maybe the Nats have learned something from Key, English, Joyce, Coleman, Barclay, Ross et al., and moved on from their Dirty Politics escapades. If they can refrain from their usual vomitous do-nothing (self-enrichment excepted) behaviour when they regain control of parliament then we'll know for sure, but I wouldn't put another flag referendum past them – leopards and spots!
Hear Hear!
https://www.traillite.co.nz/motorhomes-for-sale/benimar/benimar-mileo/
Is he currently living in a camper van? Ooh, don't tell the tabloid journos. They'll have a collective heart-attack and all drop dead with coronaries. On second thoughts do tell them.
I am certain that Winston Peters would have demanded to be told "what was going on" and would have refrained from saying anything unless he was certain he was basing his reaction on fact. Why would he do otherwise? The National Party will be even further from his considerations than they already were.
OOps!
I meant:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12268181
Kia Ora The Am Show
Aotearoa economy is doing great sailing into the headwinds created by larger economy's.
Greta is a incredibly intelligent individual Rangatahi who is educating the Papatuanuku about the REAL threat climate change is to our Papatuanuku future society Kia kaha Greta keep up the excellent mahi.
Bees play a very important role in our society we have to stop using agricultural chemicals on our farms we need to become the Organic farmers all over the Papatuanuku.
Tyrone Great to see Massey students winning a competition to New York to show their building low cost air quality sensors kia kaha.
Lloyd the black peet saga gives me a in sight on their society's view that can be found throughout Western society.
Kate Shepherd house being brought by Heritage NZ is cool she made a great contribution to the good changes Aotearoa
16000 electric cars is a heck of a lot of carbon emissions not being blown into our environment.
The tide is changing fast to A Papatuanuku that puts our the wellbeing of other into our plans like our future decendints. Humans have changed our environment for centuries build a whare we are changing the environment inside the whare to a warmer dryer environment so we can slow global warming we just have to do it for the future.
That's the way dumping your gas gussling car for electric scooter.
Ka kite Ano
Eco Maori got this a few years ago I tau toko all people who champion mitigating human cause climate change. It makes me proud to see all the tamariki stepping up to the challenge letting everyone know that inaction on climate change is not good enough. Words are cheap action is not. It will give me a sore face when I see the MASSIVE CROWDs protesting to the Papatuanuku leaders to change the way of the Papatuanuku to become carbon neutral ASAP on Friday 20 of September 2019 KIA KAHA.
Scientists set out how to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
Strong civil society movements are needed to ramp up pace of change, says study
Greenhouse gas emissions could be halved in the next decade if a small number of current technologies and behavioural trends are ramped up and adopted more widely, researchers have found, saying strong civil society movements are needed to drive such change.
Solar and wind power, now cheaper than fossil fuels in many regions, must be scaled up rapidly to replace coal-fired generation, and this alone could halve emissions from electricity generation by 2030, according to the Exponential Roadmap report from an international group of countries
If the rapid uptake of electric vehicles in some parts of the world could be sustained, the vehicles could make up 90% of the market by 2030, vastly reducing emissions from transport, it said.
Avoiding deforestation and improving land management could reduce emissions by the equivalent of about 9bn tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2030, according to the report, but contradictory subsidies, poor planning and vested interests could stop this from happening.
The way to any transition will be the growing social movements that are pressing for urgent action on climate breakdown. By driving behavioural change, such as moving away from the overconsumption of meat and putting pressure on governments and companies, civil movements have the power to drive the transformation needed in the next decade, say the report’s authors.
Christiana Figueres, a former top climate official at the UN, said: “I see all evidence that social and economic tipping points are aligning. We can now say the next decade has the potential to see the fastest economic transition in history. Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/19/power-halve-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2030-climate-scientists
Kia Ora Newshub.
I agree that our youth should get the OK to vote as its there future we are making a mess of at the minute.
The Tongan Prime Minister tangi today he will be missed by Te tangata.
I think it's good that South Africa government going to protect their Wahine from being disrespect by men Mana Wahine that's the way stand up for your rights to a happy health life.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Ngāti Hinerangi wanting to captilize on the Hobbit phenomenon that's the way tangata whenua have to chase all opertunaties to build a moanga for Te mokopuna.
Wai New Zealand conference it awesome that more thought research and respect is being given to the way we interact with our Taonga Wai.
The deaf have a taki with the services they get from the tellco company's because they don't use their talking minutes that's the way if they don't no there is a problem with some tangata then they can not fix it kia kaha.
350 climate change Rangatahi that is the way let every one know you are not happy with the mess being made of your future
Kupe scholarships Ka pai to Wahine for getting the scholarship and chasing a higher education Mana Wahine
Stay native looks like a winner to Eco Maori we have to look after each other in our Tangata Whenua O Aotearoa Papatuanuku AWSOME. NO one else is going to look after Maori but Maori.
Pu Rakau is great getting Te tamariki to be invative industrial and learning math and sciences kia kaha tamariki.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Its great the government's retirement fund is performing well I hope they are moving their investment away from high carbon footprint industry.
Cool that money is being invested into research on why tabco is so addictive Hope they find something to help smokers Quit.
I remember just before a election national had a huge civil construction company hiring heaps of people with false jobs. I know I went for the jobs got to Wellington and it turned out to be a micky mouse club no real mahi being transferred from different jobs sights WHAT A JOKE it was just a skeem to get people off the dole just before the 2014 elections.
The reason there are more people on unemployment system is because national made it so HARD to get social security that many people could not jump through all the HOOPs to get on their social security system that's a fact. Hence all the people living under the BRIDGE. Our economy is not tanking you are just talking it down
Our Coalition Government is a legitimate government they got the seats and popularity to prove it.
Most business people are national supporters so when national jumps up and down putting down our economy they listen to their views or deliberately put out data to show they have low confidence.
Te tangata Te tangata Te tangata William is correct its about Te tangata no just putea.
Those idiots who started those fires in Australia need to be jailed we can't have fools causing so much damage just for their own wellbeing how selfish.
The Rugby Papatuanuku Cup will be A awesome event we will be watching the games using solar power for our device.
Not just dog need aroha all creatures need Tangata aroha .
Ka kite Ano