Some headlines make you wonder how crazy we are when we allow this scenario….
“Systems in history are defined above all by who controls the wealth,” Alperovitz says. “The top 400 people own more wealth now than the bottom 185 million Americans taken together. That is a medieval structure.”
Makes me wonder how it looks here in NZ and how much that tiny group control our politics?
Fits nicely with George Monbiot’s articleAfter 800 years, the barons in control in Britain
About young people trying to opt out of the corporate structure.
But the alternatives have also been shut down: you are excluded yet you cannot opt out. The land – even disused land – is guarded as fiercely as the rest of the economy. Its ownership is scarcely less concentrated than it was when the Magna Carta was written.
These things are related. The thing for me is that if you have no rights to collect or gather food or to create a shelter then the ‘barons’ have an obligation to ensure you have a means of exchange for those things. This is being seriously eroded in the UK and US and NZ is on the same path albeit closer to the beginning.
The whole access to (and poor can’t create) shelter issue is at crisis point in NZ. There is a seriously lack of sufficient affordable housing, especially in Auckland. And all NAct can do is to set Bennett on to blaming (alleged) slum landlords.
The Waitakere MP yesterday singled out a caravan park in her electorate – Western Park Village – as “very expensive for what I’m sure most New Zealanders would see as quite substandard living”.
But the park owner, Darryll Heaven, said they did everything they could for many tenants that were forced upon them by Work and Income.
“That is absolute bulls . . . That really annoys me because she won’t get off her fat arse – she’s only 500 metres away – to come down and see us. We’ve got a dozen staff and we’re working 24 hours a day to control the place. She doesn’t understand that and if she thinks we’re ripping her off, come and have a look at our bottom line any time she likes.”
My long-time experience of landlords, is that most of them are OK, and not out to rort me. But when there’s a shortage of affordable housing, the rents go up. Some prospective tenants are offering over the advertised rent, in order to secure accommodation. So what happens to those at the bottom of the income hierarchy?
I remember being shocked a few decades back when I first heard of Americans living in trailer parks. I didn’t realise WINZ was recommending caravan parks for the unemployed here.
But Mr Heaven said Western Park had a challenging task with its tenants.
“Yes, there is a lot of sub-standard [housing] here. But we try to put the right people into the right accommodation and Winz will turn around and say, no, we’re not paying it, put them in a caravan.”
The park supported tenants with a range of services “like medication and running a bus service”.
“My long-time experience of landlords, is that most of them are OK, and not out to rort me.”
I think you’ll find that’s changed a lot Carol. There’s a different breed entered the landlord market over the last decade or so, only need look at how many took up the opportunity to raise their rents in ChCh and Auck. A lot of them are venal parasites sucking the blood out of the working class. People in business at least pay workers for their labours, these leeches want to get rich off the toil of others and give nothing in return.
To me one of the most offensive & contemptible acts of the last Labour Govt was giving property speculators more tax breaks via LAQCs etc. We pay a fortune in tax to support the underprivileged and the group who contribute the most to causing poverty in this country got to pay even less tax.
DH, I do think that under certain circumstances the amount of exploitative and parasitic landlords increase: e.g. when there is a shortage of houses and little regulation of property speculation.
To me this means housing can’t be left to the “market”, but government should create the conditions for there to be sufficient, safe and affordable housing.
My experience of renting over the last decade or so in NZ as been good. I do think most landlords are not of the unfair and exploitative kind.
I remember being shocked a few decades back when I first heard of Americans living in trailer parks. I didn’t realise WINZ was recommending caravan parks for the unemployed here.
I completely agree that there is a housing crisis in NZ. I do want to point out though that there are people in NZ living in caravans and quite happy with it. Some people even choose this over living in a house. There are also long standing communities existing in camp grounds that are completely legitimate ways for people to live together. Please do not automatically assume that living in a caravan or camp ground is a bad thing.
I also think that as we get into energy descent we need to rethink what housing means. At this point in time it makes sense to try and build as many durable, well insulated, and easy to heat houses as we can, and obviously the govt should be prioritising resources to the most vulnerable people in the community. But a time will come when we don’t have the resources to build the way we do now, and we need to be thinking about that now.
Agreed, weka. When I recently moved I considered getting a caravan. I would be happy living in one or in a camp. But I’m single and don’t have children.
For a start, members of Parliament should set the standard: non-Wellington based electorate MPs should live in caravans on the few nights of the week when Parliament is sitting.
Times are tough and NZ has had to weather the Chch earthquake, etc etc and savings need to be made.
The accommodation allowance for our value-for-money MPs, including Cabinet Ministers, can be capped at the level suitable for a basic caravan at a nearby caravan park. Shower and toilet can be accessed via Beehive & Bowen House.
In the last month or two Turia attended a world indigenous housing summit. There was an audible gasp from the audience when she said that 3 million was alocated for housing. I assume it was for indigenous housing from the NZ government.
I’d love to email your comment to Turia, Morning Report (source of info) and the recent world indigenous housing summit in Vancouver. A National disgrace.
The Diggers 2012 movement that Monbiot writes about, is an interesting one. And this from one of the present day diggers, is relevant to NZ, Waitangi Tribunal issues, etc:
As Simon Moore, an articulate, well-read 27-year-old, explained, “those who control the land have enjoyed massive economic and political privileges. The relationship between land and democracy is a strong one, which is not widely understood.”
And Monbiot nails it here:
The young men and women camping at Runnymede are trying to revive a different tradition, largely forgotten in the new age of robber barons. They are seeking, in the words of the Diggers of 1649, to make “the Earth a common treasury for all … not one lording over another, but all looking upon each other as equals in the creation”. The tradition of resistance, the assertion of independence from the laws devised to protect the landlords’ ill-gotten property, long pre-date and long post-date the Magna Carta. But today they scarcely feature in national consciousness.
If you look at some of the rural areas, and the pressure on housing in the cities, we are further down that path than we like to imagine. And would be even further along still if Australia wasn’t absorbing our work force.
Thanks for the link Bored. There is always fascinating reading and listening on http://www.democracy.org. Amy Goodman shines a light in America’s murkiest places and it requires courage on her part often, to do so. If you haven’t read it already “Exception to the Rulers” which is co authored by her and among other things discusses the functions and social effects of the power elite.
And yes, it does make you wonder how much of that influence makes it to our shores. Definitely we already have some really dodgy multi nationals operating here, that is known, but what about the hidden connections and agenda’s? They have their fingers in pies everywhere. Its quite chilling.
I was recently told by a Scots new immigrant that one of the reasons he was drawn to NZ was because we are 20 years behind the rest of the world, in every respect. I felt he thought we were quite naive and quaint (I’m sure he’s not the only one!)So if things are bad enough here in regards to the weakening of our collective influence as a people, our access to common areas etc, and the people of USA and Britain are being to returned to a new feudalism under corporate rule, how long before we are totally absorbed by it too?
Kelvin Smythe is always a good read on educational matters, especially concerning the current situation. Here’s his take on a John Roughan editorial from last week.
Thanks for the link Tony. The practice of unattributed Editorials must stop – the only reason a name was not attached in the past was because everyone knew who the Editor was – now it could be any one of a number of different people. Given the often nauseating opinions expressed within there is no excuse for these so called journalists to be hiding behind the paper skirt of the institution. Sign the petition:
“… the only reason a name was not attached in the past was because everyone knew who the Editor was…”
That is not the case at all. The leaders are attributed to the Editor because they are responsible for what is printed in the newspaper. It has been a journalistic tradition for quite literally centuries for deputy eds and other senior staff to share the editorial responsibilities. The editorials represent the views of the paper, not those of the hack writing them.
I stand corrected TRP – However tradition or no I can see no valid reason for readers to not be informed of who is responsible for the article. An editorial coveys an impression of authority – however there can be no authority without accountability. If ‘senior staff’ wish to say something then they should own it.
Cheers, Campbell. I note that the tradition is changing though and I think most regional newspapers now have an editorial that is openly written by the editor. Probably because there is no one else to do it, what with there being little need for real journalists these days!
With a lot of journo’s encouraged to blog as well as publish articles, it is easier to see what individuals think. But, at heart, this is a philosophical question. That is, does the editorial line reflect the paper’s views or does it represent the views of individual writers? And does the paper’s views, as represented in editorials, nowadays more accurately reflect what the owners think, rather than the editor?
A paper cannot hold a ‘view’ or an ‘opinion’ these are person specific attributes. The words belong unequivocally to the author, the decision to publish is attributable to those whom have the authority to make the decision.
My assertion is that the public have a right to know who writes the Editorials and who approves them. Only with this disclosure can we assess the context of the opinion on display, and hold the correct people accountable when this process appears to be corrupt.
Well, as I pointed earlier, papers do hold views. They promote an editorial line. That is why the Gaurdian is different from the Times, the NBR from the Kapiti Shopper. Not becaue of the individual reporters, but becaue this is a projection of how the title sees itself. All sorts of organisations have values that they seek to project publicly. That’s not a refelction of the individuals that work for them, but of how the organisations see themselves and how they want to be seen.
When I do media interviews, I do not speak for myself, I speak for my employer. And a good thing too, because I don’t think my employer wants to hear my personal views on the Randian Superheroes and other assorted incompetents I have to deal with every other day broadcast to the nation at 6pm. I put the view of the organisation I represent, which is what they expect of me and what newspapers expect of their leader writers.
.
I see where you are coming from, and I agree that the owner/ paper/ writer relationships do raise questions regarding journalistic Epistemology/ Ontology which are not easily settled.
With the transfer of more and more of the fourth estate into the hands of corporations who have few qualms about furthering their own interests the individual integrity of journalists is fast becoming the only separation between news and PR – that and the increasing ability of the public to challenge their authority and hold them to account.
Andrew Geddis has this to say in the comments when discussing a piece by John Roughan in the Herald:
the editor probably doesn’t regulate what the opinionators in his stable write, and all-in-all it probably is a good thing that he doesn’t (otherwise the paper would be a single voice on everything, which is not desirable).
Which suggests that in his opinion the diversity of views in editorials comes about from having a range of different views expressed, and that the choice on what to publish rests solely in the hands of The Editor (singular).
However how are we to be assured of a representative pool of contributors if this information is not publicly available and routinely displayed? In any case I’m not convinced that this results in a truly representative Editorial and can see no valid reason why this practice persists. Perhaps someone from a paper would like to defend the need for Editorial anonymity?
I understand the need for anonymity here on the Standard, having had one of my employers threatened over one of my comments here, but the Herald writers are professional journalists and routinely display their names in conjunction with their opinions, so why the discrepancy when it comes to the Editorial?
Edit: Which suggests that in his opinion the diversity of views in editorials comes about from having a range of different authors, and that the choice of which author to publish rests solely in the hands of The Editor (singular).
Insufficient proof reading before button pressing.
The Public’s perception is that Oxford defines what we are getting when what we are actually being given is the newWiki – and that my friend is the problem.
This was on the 13th july
So much for the openess touted by Parata
A secret meeting of some members of the ministerial cross sector education forum is being held today, without the knowledge of many of the group’s members.
The group – called the G30 – was formed in the wake of the government’s class size backdown and has been touted by education minister Hekia Parata as a way of ensuring such a disconnect with the sector did not happen again.
However, PPTA has discovered a meeting is being is being held today of hand-picked members of the G-30 group, general secretary Kevin Bunker said.
The media reports today (Herald) that ACC Minister ‘Crushless’ Collins has secured a High court date in Feb 2013 in the matter of the long whinged about (by her) alleged defamation by Andrew Little and Trev Mallard re brain injured Bronwyn Pullar’s ACC whistleblowing and surrounding events.
Now that may seem a long wait for ‘Crushless’, (kicking for touch actually as there is apparently going to be a last chance pre court conference in November ’12), but how about Paula Bennett’s drawn out privacy case resulting from when she publically outed several dirthy filthy DPB bennies personal details in July 2009… still waiting on the outcome of that one.
When it comes to Collins I find her to be pathetic when it comes to defending her reputation because when it comes to being a minister she has to DECIDE why she is there and that she is there to be effective. Collins needs to walk in the shoes of sensitive claimants (in particular historical cases) and she will get an education.
1. Some historical sensitive claimants cases go back to before the 1961 Crimes Act.
2. Often a claimant is not being treated individually e.g. their case is complicated, they have a mental health condition or an addiction.
3. The small pool of ACC assessors are being managed by ACC and ACC have reinterpreted legislation.
4. 3.6 % of sensitive claims have been accepted (think in the past year). 60 % of sensitive claims were accepted in 2008.
5. 40 % less sensitive claim applications (think in the past year) probably because of how hard it is to access the 16 counselling sessions and how disengaged ACC assessors/non medical staff are towards sensitive claimants.
In 18 months ACC is to go back to Dr Disley who is on a panel which looked at 14 recommendations for sensitive claimants when Smith was the ACC minister. In the meantime I do not think anything will change because Collins doesn’t get it what being sexually violated and raped in childhood can do/does.
My message to Collins is that cover determination has been reinterpreted for sensitive claimants and every one who puts in a claim to ACC for ANY injury has the right to have their entitlement under the Act and some past Acts.
I am no fan of Bennett, but I have to give it to her that she has some focus on her portfolio when it comes to children being abused while in CYF care. From July 2010 – June 2011 71 children were abused while in CYF care. It took 7 weeks to collate this information. Bennett knows there needs to be a centralised data base to collate the abuse of children while in CYF care. Currently information is kept at local sites and for there to be a centralised site important information is more likely to be seen. Bennett has also had a focus on compensating historical cases of children being abused while in the care of social welfare.
When it comes to Collins she is also the justice minister and no doubt some of the historical social welfare cases are because of decisions made by the courts.
ACC now has to solve the many problems thay have caused due to their stingy penny pinching.
CYF have to put children at the top of the pyramid and provide the neccessary resources.
You know, I must say I find it quite sad to see The Olympics, which should be a pinnacle for human sports achievement and something all us can be proud of, turned into a fucking branding exercise.
according to JK Galbraith in ‘American Capitalism’ the landlords rent price is adventitious and a result of the other imbalanced forces in the economy.
The real problem and it is going to get worse as the days go on is jobs and income but while this government is busy screwing everything as far down as possible there is not much hope of the labourer being worth his hire and receiving his/her due.
“All the time the guard was looking at her,
first through a telescope,
then through a microscope,
and then through an opera glass.
At last he said, ‘You’re travelling the wrong way,’
and shut up the window…..
Now watch this cunning Key. He has opened up debate on water rights,
The red necks are back in force.Will he call an early election then fight it on ownership of water for Maori.I would not be surprised . Unfortunatly race issues gets the red neck Tories out in force. I hope im wrong ,but Key is trying o back out of the asset sales at this moment.
Did anyone see Bryan Bruce last night re investigating the mid June 1970 Crewe murders?
Throughout the programme it dawned on me how much transparency the police lack toward Rochelle Crewe because she may never be able to even read the police file. I feel that if this is what Rochelle wants, Rochelle should have it, and if she choses to have it independently scrutinised this should also be allowed. Possibly there are people out there who will not talk to the cops (because of their track record with the Crewe case) but they would talk to someone like Bruce and were he to see the entire police file, you never know what oxygen could turn up.
Bruce is so right when it comes to every police commissioner in the last 40 years not being transparent. What Meurant had to say about Walton, my ears pricked up. I also have something to say about Walton re a 1979 CIB police inquisition. Cover up, after cover up, after cover up …
I wonder where all the police files are/go which the police do not want interested parties to see?
Just clicked onto Parliament TV to see what was happening there and caught Asenati Lole-Taylor, NZF’s Pacifica woman MP, speaking against the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill which is in its Committee stages in the House. And – wow; I was pretty impressed as IMO opinion she is someone to watch in terms of her slugging it to them and representing the Pacifica situation here in NZ.
So the Key-Maori Party meeting has begun, at 9 pm.
All smiles by midnight? Anyone want to pick the language for ‘Statement Bingo’?
Something like …
Key to acknowledge “need for improved communication between partners”, pledges “respect for mana of Turia and Sharples”, pays tribute to “their valued contribution”, yada yadda.
Turia and Sharples reaffirm support for “the judicial process”, and “stable government”. More yadda.
They’re worse. They’ve travelled a greater distance from the wairua of Maoridom than has the same self-seeking Pakeha from his relatively more individualistic society.
All for self indulgence and vanity. “My people…..” indeed. Peter’s and Toryana’s “people” are so far behind in the BMW exhaust fumes that they’ve been lost sight of altogether.
Wonder when we’ll have our first Maori High Commissioner in London and our first Maori ambassador in Washington ?
Last night’s meeting between The Ponce, Peter, and Toryana will have addressed those questions I guess.
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TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
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 Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
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 ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
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Some headlines make you wonder how crazy we are when we allow this scenario….
“Systems in history are defined above all by who controls the wealth,” Alperovitz says. “The top 400 people own more wealth now than the bottom 185 million Americans taken together. That is a medieval structure.”
Makes me wonder how it looks here in NZ and how much that tiny group control our politics?
http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-07-17/gar-alperovitz%E2%80%99s-green-party-keynote-we-are-laying-groundwork-next-great-revoluti
Fits nicely with George Monbiot’s article After 800 years, the barons in control in Britain
About young people trying to opt out of the corporate structure.
These things are related. The thing for me is that if you have no rights to collect or gather food or to create a shelter then the ‘barons’ have an obligation to ensure you have a means of exchange for those things. This is being seriously eroded in the UK and US and NZ is on the same path albeit closer to the beginning.
The whole access to (and poor can’t create) shelter issue is at crisis point in NZ. There is a seriously lack of sufficient affordable housing, especially in Auckland. And all NAct can do is to set Bennett on to blaming (alleged) slum landlords.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7296777/Bennett-challenged-to-visit-caravan-park
My long-time experience of landlords, is that most of them are OK, and not out to rort me. But when there’s a shortage of affordable housing, the rents go up. Some prospective tenants are offering over the advertised rent, in order to secure accommodation. So what happens to those at the bottom of the income hierarchy?
I remember being shocked a few decades back when I first heard of Americans living in trailer parks. I didn’t realise WINZ was recommending caravan parks for the unemployed here.
if we had real subs instead of walk-ins, the headline could have read:
” Heaven challenges Bennett to visit ”
🙂
‘Minister won’t go to Heaven’?
‘Fat Arse won’t fit through Pearly Gates’?
‘Bennett won’t go to Heaven; Devil denies entry to Hades: ‘We have standards too, you know’.’
“My long-time experience of landlords, is that most of them are OK, and not out to rort me.”
I think you’ll find that’s changed a lot Carol. There’s a different breed entered the landlord market over the last decade or so, only need look at how many took up the opportunity to raise their rents in ChCh and Auck. A lot of them are venal parasites sucking the blood out of the working class. People in business at least pay workers for their labours, these leeches want to get rich off the toil of others and give nothing in return.
To me one of the most offensive & contemptible acts of the last Labour Govt was giving property speculators more tax breaks via LAQCs etc. We pay a fortune in tax to support the underprivileged and the group who contribute the most to causing poverty in this country got to pay even less tax.
DH, I do think that under certain circumstances the amount of exploitative and parasitic landlords increase: e.g. when there is a shortage of houses and little regulation of property speculation.
To me this means housing can’t be left to the “market”, but government should create the conditions for there to be sufficient, safe and affordable housing.
My experience of renting over the last decade or so in NZ as been good. I do think most landlords are not of the unfair and exploitative kind.
I completely agree that there is a housing crisis in NZ. I do want to point out though that there are people in NZ living in caravans and quite happy with it. Some people even choose this over living in a house. There are also long standing communities existing in camp grounds that are completely legitimate ways for people to live together. Please do not automatically assume that living in a caravan or camp ground is a bad thing.
I also think that as we get into energy descent we need to rethink what housing means. At this point in time it makes sense to try and build as many durable, well insulated, and easy to heat houses as we can, and obviously the govt should be prioritising resources to the most vulnerable people in the community. But a time will come when we don’t have the resources to build the way we do now, and we need to be thinking about that now.
Agreed, weka. When I recently moved I considered getting a caravan. I would be happy living in one or in a camp. But I’m single and don’t have children.
For a start, members of Parliament should set the standard: non-Wellington based electorate MPs should live in caravans on the few nights of the week when Parliament is sitting.
Times are tough and NZ has had to weather the Chch earthquake, etc etc and savings need to be made.
The accommodation allowance for our value-for-money MPs, including Cabinet Ministers, can be capped at the level suitable for a basic caravan at a nearby caravan park. Shower and toilet can be accessed via Beehive & Bowen House.
In the last month or two Turia attended a world indigenous housing summit. There was an audible gasp from the audience when she said that 3 million was alocated for housing. I assume it was for indigenous housing from the NZ government.
How much housing does 3 million buy?
It would not even buy one in Key – Land treetop.
I’d love to email your comment to Turia, Morning Report (source of info) and the recent world indigenous housing summit in Vancouver. A National disgrace.
The Diggers 2012 movement that Monbiot writes about, is an interesting one. And this from one of the present day diggers, is relevant to NZ, Waitangi Tribunal issues, etc:
And Monbiot nails it here:
If you look at some of the rural areas, and the pressure on housing in the cities, we are further down that path than we like to imagine. And would be even further along still if Australia wasn’t absorbing our work force.
Thanks for the link Bored. There is always fascinating reading and listening on http://www.democracy.org. Amy Goodman shines a light in America’s murkiest places and it requires courage on her part often, to do so. If you haven’t read it already “Exception to the Rulers” which is co authored by her and among other things discusses the functions and social effects of the power elite.
And yes, it does make you wonder how much of that influence makes it to our shores. Definitely we already have some really dodgy multi nationals operating here, that is known, but what about the hidden connections and agenda’s? They have their fingers in pies everywhere. Its quite chilling.
I was recently told by a Scots new immigrant that one of the reasons he was drawn to NZ was because we are 20 years behind the rest of the world, in every respect. I felt he thought we were quite naive and quaint (I’m sure he’s not the only one!)So if things are bad enough here in regards to the weakening of our collective influence as a people, our access to common areas etc, and the people of USA and Britain are being to returned to a new feudalism under corporate rule, how long before we are totally absorbed by it too?
Er, that would be http://www.democracynow.org
Kelvin Smythe is always a good read on educational matters, especially concerning the current situation. Here’s his take on a John Roughan editorial from last week.
http://www.networkonnet.co.nz/index.php?section=latest&id=431
Thanks for the link Tony. The practice of unattributed Editorials must stop – the only reason a name was not attached in the past was because everyone knew who the Editor was – now it could be any one of a number of different people. Given the often nauseating opinions expressed within there is no excuse for these so called journalists to be hiding behind the paper skirt of the institution. Sign the petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/An_end_to_unattributed_anonymous_Editorials_in_New_Zealands_Newspapers/
“… the only reason a name was not attached in the past was because everyone knew who the Editor was…”
That is not the case at all. The leaders are attributed to the Editor because they are responsible for what is printed in the newspaper. It has been a journalistic tradition for quite literally centuries for deputy eds and other senior staff to share the editorial responsibilities. The editorials represent the views of the paper, not those of the hack writing them.
I stand corrected TRP – However tradition or no I can see no valid reason for readers to not be informed of who is responsible for the article. An editorial coveys an impression of authority – however there can be no authority without accountability. If ‘senior staff’ wish to say something then they should own it.
Cheers, Campbell. I note that the tradition is changing though and I think most regional newspapers now have an editorial that is openly written by the editor. Probably because there is no one else to do it, what with there being little need for real journalists these days!
With a lot of journo’s encouraged to blog as well as publish articles, it is easier to see what individuals think. But, at heart, this is a philosophical question. That is, does the editorial line reflect the paper’s views or does it represent the views of individual writers? And does the paper’s views, as represented in editorials, nowadays more accurately reflect what the owners think, rather than the editor?
A paper cannot hold a ‘view’ or an ‘opinion’ these are person specific attributes. The words belong unequivocally to the author, the decision to publish is attributable to those whom have the authority to make the decision.
My assertion is that the public have a right to know who writes the Editorials and who approves them. Only with this disclosure can we assess the context of the opinion on display, and hold the correct people accountable when this process appears to be corrupt.
Well, as I pointed earlier, papers do hold views. They promote an editorial line. That is why the Gaurdian is different from the Times, the NBR from the Kapiti Shopper. Not becaue of the individual reporters, but becaue this is a projection of how the title sees itself. All sorts of organisations have values that they seek to project publicly. That’s not a refelction of the individuals that work for them, but of how the organisations see themselves and how they want to be seen.
When I do media interviews, I do not speak for myself, I speak for my employer. And a good thing too, because I don’t think my employer wants to hear my personal views on the Randian Superheroes and other assorted incompetents I have to deal with every other day broadcast to the nation at 6pm. I put the view of the organisation I represent, which is what they expect of me and what newspapers expect of their leader writers.
.
I see where you are coming from, and I agree that the owner/ paper/ writer relationships do raise questions regarding journalistic Epistemology/ Ontology which are not easily settled.
With the transfer of more and more of the fourth estate into the hands of corporations who have few qualms about furthering their own interests the individual integrity of journalists is fast becoming the only separation between news and PR – that and the increasing ability of the public to challenge their authority and hold them to account.
Andrew Geddis has this to say in the comments when discussing a piece by John Roughan in the Herald:
Which suggests that in his opinion the diversity of views in editorials comes about from having a range of different views expressed, and that the choice on what to publish rests solely in the hands of The Editor (singular).
However how are we to be assured of a representative pool of contributors if this information is not publicly available and routinely displayed? In any case I’m not convinced that this results in a truly representative Editorial and can see no valid reason why this practice persists. Perhaps someone from a paper would like to defend the need for Editorial anonymity?
I understand the need for anonymity here on the Standard, having had one of my employers threatened over one of my comments here, but the Herald writers are professional journalists and routinely display their names in conjunction with their opinions, so why the discrepancy when it comes to the Editorial?
Edit: Which suggests that in his opinion the diversity of views in editorials comes about from having a range of different authors, and that the choice of which author to publish rests solely in the hands of The Editor (singular).
Insufficient proof reading before button pressing.
Oh the shifting sands of meaning TRP – until 2010 the editorial was wiki this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Opinion_piece&oldid=349195101
The Oxford however is quite clear:
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/editorial
The Public’s perception is that Oxford defines what we are getting when what we are actually being given is the newWiki – and that my friend is the problem.
This was on the 13th july
So much for the openess touted by Parata
A secret meeting of some members of the ministerial cross sector education forum is being held today, without the knowledge of many of the group’s members.
The group – called the G30 – was formed in the wake of the government’s class size backdown and has been touted by education minister Hekia Parata as a way of ensuring such a disconnect with the sector did not happen again.
However, PPTA has discovered a meeting is being is being held today of hand-picked members of the G-30 group, general secretary Kevin Bunker said.
The media reports today (Herald) that ACC Minister ‘Crushless’ Collins has secured a High court date in Feb 2013 in the matter of the long whinged about (by her) alleged defamation by Andrew Little and Trev Mallard re brain injured Bronwyn Pullar’s ACC whistleblowing and surrounding events.
Now that may seem a long wait for ‘Crushless’, (kicking for touch actually as there is apparently going to be a last chance pre court conference in November ’12), but how about Paula Bennett’s drawn out privacy case resulting from when she publically outed several dirthy filthy DPB bennies personal details in July 2009… still waiting on the outcome of that one.
When it comes to Collins I find her to be pathetic when it comes to defending her reputation because when it comes to being a minister she has to DECIDE why she is there and that she is there to be effective. Collins needs to walk in the shoes of sensitive claimants (in particular historical cases) and she will get an education.
1. Some historical sensitive claimants cases go back to before the 1961 Crimes Act.
2. Often a claimant is not being treated individually e.g. their case is complicated, they have a mental health condition or an addiction.
3. The small pool of ACC assessors are being managed by ACC and ACC have reinterpreted legislation.
4. 3.6 % of sensitive claims have been accepted (think in the past year). 60 % of sensitive claims were accepted in 2008.
5. 40 % less sensitive claim applications (think in the past year) probably because of how hard it is to access the 16 counselling sessions and how disengaged ACC assessors/non medical staff are towards sensitive claimants.
In 18 months ACC is to go back to Dr Disley who is on a panel which looked at 14 recommendations for sensitive claimants when Smith was the ACC minister. In the meantime I do not think anything will change because Collins doesn’t get it what being sexually violated and raped in childhood can do/does.
My message to Collins is that cover determination has been reinterpreted for sensitive claimants and every one who puts in a claim to ACC for ANY injury has the right to have their entitlement under the Act and some past Acts.
I am no fan of Bennett, but I have to give it to her that she has some focus on her portfolio when it comes to children being abused while in CYF care. From July 2010 – June 2011 71 children were abused while in CYF care. It took 7 weeks to collate this information. Bennett knows there needs to be a centralised data base to collate the abuse of children while in CYF care. Currently information is kept at local sites and for there to be a centralised site important information is more likely to be seen. Bennett has also had a focus on compensating historical cases of children being abused while in the care of social welfare.
When it comes to Collins she is also the justice minister and no doubt some of the historical social welfare cases are because of decisions made by the courts.
ACC now has to solve the many problems thay have caused due to their stingy penny pinching.
CYF have to put children at the top of the pyramid and provide the neccessary resources.
You know, I must say I find it quite sad to see The Olympics, which should be a pinnacle for human sports achievement and something all us can be proud of, turned into a fucking branding exercise.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-flooded-with-brand-police-to-protect-sponsors-7945436.html
I’m just woefully disappointed that none of the truly British events are going to be included in the games.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmyz_f8Sx14
How about a bit of “Urban Sprinting”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8CEzILvtg8
Or “Knock and Don’t Run”? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoxcZiWK79c
😀
according to JK Galbraith in ‘American Capitalism’ the landlords rent price is adventitious and a result of the other imbalanced forces in the economy.
The real problem and it is going to get worse as the days go on is jobs and income but while this government is busy screwing everything as far down as possible there is not much hope of the labourer being worth his hire and receiving his/her due.
Yes: master use-more and use-less ness.
DEMOTIC
hmmmm. much to learn master!
rarely look back. did today.
versiform another interesting word
more?
We’re told that the brown acid is not specifically too good. NO RAIN, NO RAIN!
not “mushies”. sensitive regretably
-adrenaline
-serotonin
-dopamine etc
mastering self
In-valid
reparenting self. urrgh!
self-doubt
eclectic thinking comes,goes
“John”-watches
then
Elijah
apprentice
not
Master
in “past” TS like other papers folded away and rarely caught up with
mastering Time
happy to share
RIGHT cannot adopt (pun). strategies mutually exclusive, hence game playing down
only just came to “blogosphere” ; some people TOLD me i was “not real”
hmmm
if fearfull comments intended to be “helpful”
long way from my reich analogy beginnings.hee
Master died,teachings live on
understanding
Master/puppet
master Puppet
light
ahh
man/Muppet? though not a concordes follower
Parley-a-ment Live
Live to parleyment
hmmm
hammer the tories
“tall peg hammered down”
Global pathos superceded by Individual pathos then weak bathos
clowns
“All the time the guard was looking at her,
first through a telescope,
then through a microscope,
and then through an opera glass.
At last he said, ‘You’re travelling the wrong way,’
and shut up the window…..
-Carroll
supporting (N)ational in “droves”:sheep
Hot! very hot
(very ‘eavy, very ‘umble)
(J-A.G)
brownlee; Fred
dinosaur plodding around swamp….(quarry)
will be master/slave
in or out
people “outside box”
look over wall
Now watch this cunning Key. He has opened up debate on water rights,
The red necks are back in force.Will he call an early election then fight it on ownership of water for Maori.I would not be surprised . Unfortunatly race issues gets the red neck Tories out in force. I hope im wrong ,but Key is trying o back out of the asset sales at this moment.
Did anyone see Bryan Bruce last night re investigating the mid June 1970 Crewe murders?
Throughout the programme it dawned on me how much transparency the police lack toward Rochelle Crewe because she may never be able to even read the police file. I feel that if this is what Rochelle wants, Rochelle should have it, and if she choses to have it independently scrutinised this should also be allowed. Possibly there are people out there who will not talk to the cops (because of their track record with the Crewe case) but they would talk to someone like Bruce and were he to see the entire police file, you never know what oxygen could turn up.
Bruce is so right when it comes to every police commissioner in the last 40 years not being transparent. What Meurant had to say about Walton, my ears pricked up. I also have something to say about Walton re a 1979 CIB police inquisition. Cover up, after cover up, after cover up …
I wonder where all the police files are/go which the police do not want interested parties to see?
Prasad effective (revolutionary name)
when TORY individualist found maggie barry familiar
now
see camera seeking
TAF?
50/50% numerically-cooperative
66% by solids weight production ie large and fat
(it is a human number)
Look at child abuse, emotional and psychological, personally used canadian RED CROSS
lists sequelae etc
mastering self but not master parent
yet…
id (want) to be mean about DoC minister but
who knows…
DEFLATION?DEFLATION?DEFLATION?deFLATION?deflation?
English acknow. further drops in CPI to come….
Frank and earnest; importance of being earnest
(insert platitude)
Master enquiry/slave data
measure men t
sadness not pain
sadness-sadness
weep
water
washes
objective not objective
perspective
telegram float
on water
pilgrimage-way
prodigal-way
master planning/slave manager
(not harm:many managers)lol
repair or rebuild
win-win
machine not mind
pen sword
heres a word
INSANITIZATION
Aspire?
specialization mediocre shard
ala Lacan
Look
not agenda
mana
give
way
build a way, people will come
a-muse@qualityoflife.hawkesbay.nz
taught to BUY stuff from machine slot machine at time/s
be wary “little victorians”-self-seeking bias
prophet necessary
SOCIAL ARCHAEOLOGIST
social archaeologist
Master of tomb
machine look in
Being look out
Debt being paid forward F.
BIG FAT LIES; plenty of literature to consider on FRUCTOSE and some VEGETABLE FATS
Vygotsky
research and development; Look a-round be-fore a-long (alon(e)g Time
be-haviour Way in to values
behaviour-emotion-memory
loop
harley-davidson moment;get not get?
(out from under willie now)lol
homage
age
dying(regret)
opinion;
“we relied on books for centuries, no one seemed to mind that”.
-education consultant (R) perspective
opinion; rely on small books for centuries more
centuries long enough? not e-nough read yet
yet…
machine transmits Dominant culture
“boom box” ending
wind beginning
Behind Great man-great women
attachment (ala Bowlby thru life)
people
UNDERSTAND
People
“put aside”
shelter-warmth-food
All Roads Lead to China
Alter-bot Teaching
Pssst John i have stopped reading them, having to fast forward through multiples of them though is becoming a little annoying…
Phill U by another name? Or hot air rushing to fill a vacuum
He’s broken the dot key on his keyboard
What’s this all about I wonder:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Auckland-homes-raided-over-Fiji-plot/tabid/423/articleID/261783/Default.aspx
Well then, you tell them to fuck off and don’t let them into the house.
Agreed, but Mr Singh and his Fijian colleagues were probably too polite and frightened to do that. Wonder who they really were?
And this:
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/alleged-bainimarama-assassination-plot-revealed-4975686
Just clicked onto Parliament TV to see what was happening there and caught Asenati Lole-Taylor, NZF’s Pacifica woman MP, speaking against the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill which is in its Committee stages in the House. And – wow; I was pretty impressed as IMO opinion she is someone to watch in terms of her slugging it to them and representing the Pacifica situation here in NZ.
So the Key-Maori Party meeting has begun, at 9 pm.
All smiles by midnight? Anyone want to pick the language for ‘Statement Bingo’?
Something like …
Key to acknowledge “need for improved communication between partners”, pledges “respect for mana of Turia and Sharples”, pays tribute to “their valued contribution”, yada yadda.
Turia and Sharples reaffirm support for “the judicial process”, and “stable government”. More yadda.
Come on, Pita, Tariana … surprise us.
… and a Mighty River share allocation.
Baubles talk … business as usual:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Maori-Party-National-still-friends-after-meeting/tabid/1607/articleID/261808/Default.aspx
Beads and whisky, excellent compensation for selling out our country.
Right-wing Maori are just as toxic as right-wing Pakeha.
They’re worse. They’ve travelled a greater distance from the wairua of Maoridom than has the same self-seeking Pakeha from his relatively more individualistic society.
All for self indulgence and vanity. “My people…..” indeed. Peter’s and Toryana’s “people” are so far behind in the BMW exhaust fumes that they’ve been lost sight of altogether.
Wonder when we’ll have our first Maori High Commissioner in London and our first Maori ambassador in Washington ?
Last night’s meeting between The Ponce, Peter, and Toryana will have addressed those questions I guess.