The problem is still there people but what a brilliant bit of diversion by the government.
Campbell Live highlights that there is a “hunger” problem in schools.
Government response, after much public pressure, make an announcement that
they will provide funding for lower decile schools to provide food…
Yeah, well guess what? The emphasis is on “will” and unsurprisingly not
“now”. So the issue gets removed from the headlines but is still as real today
as it was yesterday. Probably tired, hungry, listless children in classrooms.
Bar patrons are being scanned and photographed as managers seek to keep out the rabble and take note of the regulars.
A new technology that scans and records photo IDs – as well as taking additional photos of revellers – is being trialled throughout the lower North Island.
There are three ID scanning machines in the country, with two in Auckland and the third being moved around from Wellington to Hawke’s Bay.
Any just who will listen to this, concern!
The expansion continues, and the environments will continue to contract, as they digital grid envelops all aspects of life!
Thanks for this, muzza. More worrying extensions of the surveillance society. Surveillance precedes, and enables, control, regulation and/or manipulation of reality.
Notice how the city is “not considered” part of Korea, which is an important aspect of removing sovereignty, or divorcing people from the concept of it.
Cities are already home to half of the world’s 7billion population and that figure will rise to 70 per cent by 2050, according to the United Nations.
Every inch of the city has been wired up by Cisco with fibre optic broadband keeping people connected and sending a constant data stream to computer processors that keep Songdo operating.
TelePresence screens are being installed in all homes, offices, hospitals and shopping centres so people can make video calls whenever they want.
In addition, sensors embedded in streets and buildings monitor everything from temperature to road conditions to help the city run efficiently and react to problems at lightning speed. For example, street lights can be switched off in deserted streets to save energy or brightened in busy ones
See my post on agenda 21 higher up – The UN is driving the globalist agenda, and part of that is forcing people into the cities…
The technology and legislative roadmaps, ensure that the figures quoted by the UN are +/- achieveable, because they’re in control, even now!
Wondering Aloud http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0W7rgo3IDI
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude (well, maybe a little cheeky). it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (that’s a challenge 🙂 ) .Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
(Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in tongues does not speak to men but to God. Indeed!, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.)
Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. (wonder what the moon is getting round to) 🙂
According to one of Rachels’ topical interviewees, Synthetic and Legal Pharmaceuticals are
“the Drug problem of the 21st Century” (ya don’t say! pass me another couple of aspire in)
Sanitarium is using our Court system to fight its corporate interests but doesn’t contribute tax to NZ to fund this. Sanitarium has a waiver on tax because it is a church-charity-owned business. And the business is hand-to-mouth because they are selling food, not because they are a charity that funds itself from cake stalls, op shops, and grants from community trusts.
They spend the tax they would otherwise pay to government and the country, on their own chosen interests. But not even necessarily in NZ. And they are a major player in the food market. Another way for NZ government to be fleeced by big business.
Sanitarium – the maker of Kiwi staples Weet-Bix and Skippy Cornflakes – has evolved into a giant of the local food manufacturing sector over the last century.
The Royal Oak-based firm says its share of the New Zealand cereal market sits at about 35 per cent, while Kellogg’s, its nearest rival, holds roughly 23 per cent….
Wholly owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Sanitarium’s arms on both sides of the Tasman are exempt from paying company tax on their earnings because their profits help fund the church’s charitable and religious activities.
But that tax break doesn’t mean all of the income generated by the church’s local businesses is required to stay in this country.
Following enquiries by the Business Herald, the church confirmed that its New Zealand-based companies have invested roughly $13 million into three ventures in the United States since 2007.
My understanding is that commercial operations such as Sanitarium are now subject to New Zealand Income tax. Presumably an effect of the removal of limits on charitable donations now enables such businesses to make sufficient donations to a registered charity so as to make no taxable profits, but they will be subject to GST and rates for example. I am not a tax expert though..
Ed 7.2
The public, the consumers, pay the GST. Rates cover the use of property for offices, manufacturing or warehousing and are a local council matter, don’t know how they act to charities that are major income earning businesses. I think schools pay rates, there was consternation about being charged individual pan tax for instance, because of the number of toilets required to service all the children. So not too many exemptions.
Ad vertisement:
Life without industry is guilt, and industry without art is brutality.
(approximations at irony, sarcasm, ironic sarcasm, do not convey precisely)
ya’ can’t please all the people all the time, but ya sure can please some of the people some of the time
(and some children in the play ground just choose not to play with you)
Good Jackal – A good look at the possibilities. And the interesting parrying that comes up against any ‘new’ idea in NZ accompanied by some fudged ‘facts’. As far as decision making goes we in this country are about as clear thinking as witch hunters blaming cow deaths on the nearest hapless outlier.
Darien Fenton’s bill to protect library services didn’t make it into the house last night, even though it was supposed to. Disappointing, as I think that this is an issue that needs to be brought out of the shadows.
Fat German computer nerds, sky-high dollars, youth rates and bennie bashing are more sexier topics than a valuble community resource falling victim to local authority cost cutting.
Labour and the Greens would have defintely voted for it, and there was a good chance NZ First and the Maori Party would have voted for it, and who knows, Peter Dunne might have backed it as well. I think ACT and National would have voted against, on the grounds of not wanting to interfere with the activites of local bodies, even though there is a bill pending to limit spending by councils.
“The Local Government (Public Libraries) Amendment Bill is in line with UNESCO Guidelines on Libraries and responds to calls from groups such as the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) to have such free public library services enshrined in law.
Into the wilds – yahoo! Diving into genuineness, reality, clear and unambiguous honesty, credibility, a place of no lies or deception, rorts or other dastardly deeds. A place where lies and deception get turned on their head pretty much instantly with uncomfortable and situation-changing consequences.
vto
Don’t know about credibility at all times in the wilds. Kathryn Ryan did an extremely good and probing interview on the quality of outdoor leaders and their capabilities as used by schools particularly. The picture seemed to be that there was a fuzzy area about who was suitably trained and experienced and what controls on ratios of children, of mixed experience and strength, to leaders. Very interesting and troubling. Lies and deception could be how bereaved parents might see the situation.
Oh yes, you’re right about that. I was referring to the credibility and honesty of the actual environment, not the people who enter it. Trying to put one over nature will lead to nothing but consequences ……
The Alex business cartoon is usually very good. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/alex/
Also they invite emails with ideas for the cartoon and we could supply some wry comments I think – if it mirrored the way that Jokey Hen’s mind works.
And a why can’t a teacher sue Novopay for damages, loss of sleep (stress) etc etc Bills not paid. Because in this day and age of electronic credit checks, they don’t say why the payment was late, just that it was late, or not paid for X weeks. And tough shit on those who are affected.
Good article there Dave. I think the right-wing are doing their best to say inequality isn’t increasing more than blaming the public though. That’s what all the median wages are increasing malarky is about.
You’re probably right Jackal, in actual fact they will say anything to make sure that the finger isn’t pointed at them. In education they love raw data and quantitative research because they can create a narrative around the data to suit themselves. They hate qualitative research because it generally contains rational explanations and evidence for why their policies are wrong.
Yep, all true. There is ample raw data which confirms the Right’s “market power” belief system is fundamentally flawed yet, as you say, it can be framed by a duplicitous narrative which the largely apathetic public and indolent MSM swallow. Its incredibly frustrating because it is the battle for public opinion which is the primary arena if there is to be peaceful political change.
Your public, though well intentioned, is ignorant and more than a little obtuse, inclined to think of the lives of the poor (especially, perhaps, the distant or foreign poor) as not equally real. How do you write, if you want to inform their perceptions and inspire useful choices? . . . C. Daniel Batson’s magisterial work on empathy and altruism shows that a particularized narrative of suffering has unique power to produce motives for constructive action.
I think this sort of approach worked well with the watersiders in their (on-going) struggle for equitable treatment from POAL. The raw data was abundantly clear that the union and its members were being systematically shafted but it seemed (to me, anyway) that a modicom of public support was generated by the personal stories of the workers being subject to the pernicious machinations of the Right.
Telling first-hand and undeniable stories of brave people suffering at the hands of National Ltd™ policies might well be a way forward when it comes to exposing the brutal reality imposed on society’s weakest by John Key and his band of privateers. Thing is, finding those brave people because they will have to expose themselves to an already uncaring public scrutiny and the pradations of the likes of Slater et al.
I quite agree, Blip. The CTU/Maritime Union deliberately used human stories to meet the employers attempt to paint the workers as a union rabble, they were essentially fathers and family men being treated appallingly. It was very successful.
This Government does the same thing themselves, they will cite one or two dodgy teachers to justify a review of the Teachers Council and describe one or two beneficiaries to justify cutting benefits or services. I think Campbell Live is providing a useful service with his visual depiction of school lunches and his stories of suffering in Christchurch. We need print journalists to use more of this approach.
I agree with your concerns about people being prepared to stand up and be counted for this sort of thing because they will need to be well vetted and supported just incase National uses the Paula Bennett strategy to shut them up. I can see this next election becoming a very dirty one indeed.
Being Thursday, John Key -now Dunnokeyo – will not be in the House for Question Time. but the questions are not letting up.
Charles Chauvel is taking another approach in asking Finlayson who the other two Ministers were at the meeting with Key
4.CHARLES CHAUVEL to the Attorney-General: Who, other than himself and the Prime Minister, was present at the discussion on the Government Communications Security Bureau’s unlawful surveillance of Mr Dotcom?
A couple of questions are to the PM – wonder who the lucky Minister will be who will have to answer on his behalf?
6.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he think it is important that his Ministers, including himself, come to the House prepared to give honest answers?
9.Dr DAVID CLARK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his comment that Government computer systems “can’t actually support radical changes from Government”?
And another hilarious/frustrating session with Parata having to answer questions 1, 11 and 12. Parata’s performance yesterday was unbelievable.
1.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA to the Minister of Education: Is it still her strategy in education to “focus on teaching and learning quality” and “transparent accountabilities”?
11.CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: How long will boards of trustees of the schools she proposes to close or merge in Christchurch have to consult with their local communities before they are required to provide feedback to her ahead of a final decision?
12.CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement to schools, about their obligation under the Official Information Act 1982, that, “New Zealand is an open and transparent democracy. They [schools] are required to release this information. You are public entities.”?
Yes and Q 6 from Winston implies fireworks. Risky but it has passed through the checking stage this morning. Must watch.
Wonder if the Minister of Education will be too busy to attend Q Time today? Duck!
Q6 should have said ‘-prepared to deliver factually correct answers ? ‘
the ‘honest’ leaves far too much wriggle room based on the individual’s perception of what constitutes honesty, and who trusts the Nats’ interpretation of anything?
Yep the second tier of bullshit artist will be out on display today.
It’s bad enough that the politicians are only expected to do 3 days a week for 3 weeks and have a what? a month off, it’s just bull shit that Key is too fucking LAZY to attend question time for the 3 days a week that it’s on. Will someone pleasae tell this useless lazy prick that it’s customary to attend parliament if for nothing else but to face your detractors. Shows how Chicken shit Key really is..
Agreed Ianmac. Today’s questions were not put up on the Parliament website until about 30 -45 minutes later than usual, so possibly there has been something going on behind the scenes (my conspiracy theory for the day, lol).
and Charles Chauvell throws a sloppy pitch and watches helpless as Finlayson whacks it soaring away into the bleechers
How can the Opposition Parties allow this bungling of questions during this crucial juncture in New Zealand’s decline? Where was the precision, the detail? The most basic necessity of the current function of the Opposition Parties should be nothing but extracting clear facts from the Government and instead many are appearing complicit in the misdirection and obfuscation.
These games are getting tiresome and NZ Parliament is not a batting cage in which to hone the swing.
SINGLE PART QUESTIONS GET ANSWERS
perhaps next week will be better
I am off to the Hawkes Bay for a long weekend of playing with nephews,
at least they ask decent questions
That is a really good point for Labour and anyone to remember. If a questioner has a particular point, keep honed to that point. If you give the respondent a chance to go off on some fuzzy side issue, or even the hint of some emotional, or current folk issue, then chances are you won’t get into territory that needs toe to toe discussion.
Same with blogs or writing to the newspapers. Give people a chance and they will wander off on some hobby-horse. An example, bad, is the referendum on crime that is so well-known. A two part question and an unclear answer that politicians chose to follow with more punitive punishment all round. Costly and ineffective.
(I have been looking up the Christie Marceau tragedy – better, thoughtful policies for young men in difficulties, would likely have prevented this guy going off his head. Someone must have noticed his weird thinking and behaviour.)
Winston Peters is expressing sufficient levels of anger and disgust to reflect accurately the way I am feeling about the disgusting level of non-answers this Government has been deeming fit to supply the house (and thus all of us).
I’m unclear how parliament can function effectively without some level of adherence to answers with a fair level of honesty or integrity. This is simply a farce and has been going on last term as well as this term.
My view is that Winston Peters has lifted the quality and strength of opposition immensely by his return and I am grateful to those people who voted for him to be quite frank.
I acknowledge that the level of opposition is improving from other parties however, I would like to see a whole lot more indignation/anger over the joke of the way DunnoKeyO ltd are treating the affairs of the State.
If this were persevered in I am confident that our sleepy MSM would eventually catch on, they appear to have to be spoon-fed a critical approach and now that they have checked out it is left up to sites such as The Standard and our opposition politicians to do that.
Crafar farms have passed into Chinese ownership with Landcorp Farming Ltd taking the position of sharemilker to the business. They are going to export to China. It would be expected that this would be high quality milk product. I was thinking of how to do more than slap a NZ label on it and hope for the best as far as keeping our milk standards up – from all NZ exporters.
How would an appellation system go? A tightly run system like the French and other European wine areas adopt? To be included in this a farm would have to do everything right about quality and have high standards as far as pollution and actual enhancing the environment not just repairing it. We don’t want Chinese or others quick to take advantage, selling any more product that is tainted and bringing down what standards and customer loyalty we have established.
A help would be if photogenic PM Jokey Hen didn’t provide a photographic endorsement for foreign dairy business. Other Prime Ministers have talents like singing etc. He should concentrate on connecting his image where it can do him and us some good.
“and have high standards as far as pollution and actual enhancing the environment not just repairing it.”
Industrial dairy farming is inherently polluting and damaging to the land, and inherently unsustainable. Even more so when the product is exported. We are literally pulling the fertility out of the land and selling it overseas. We cannot replace that fertility in the timeframes we are talking about. There is no way to farm sustainably under those conditions, because of the net loss of nutrients as well as the destruction of soil and soil biota from industrial farming practices.
there are many ways to commercially dairy farm, and it’s not really whether a dairy farm is “industrial” or “corporate” which is the issue, it’s how intensive the land is farmed.
Running out of phosphate and diesel is going to put a dampener on all of this anyhows.
The industrial model IS intensive. That’s the whole point – it’s why they clear paddocks of any trees, use artificial fertiliser, pack as many stock units in as possible, allow whatever runoff they can get away with, and steal water from aquifers. It’s all about stock units and profit margins.
I do know some organic dairy farmers who are doing really good things, far far better than conventional industrial dairying, but they’re not really sustainable either. And if they’re exporting their milk/fertility, it’s definitely not sustainable.
The ANZ bank job survey out today, says that job ads fell back almost 3% in september,
pointing to unemployment rising to 7%.
The survey also said there was a 5.9% fall in newspaper job ads in the month of september,
internet job ads dropped 2.4% in september.
A 7% unemployment rate is expected in 6 months.
TPP is a negotiation, an attempt in a structured process to find scope for consensus where none appears to exist. It’s not for nothing trade negotiations are called the art of the possible.
That’s also why this process needs to take place behind closed doors, at least until consensus is forged.
This is not the same as secrecy – it’s no secret TPP talks are taking place in Auckland in December. At that time any public stakeholders who register their interest will be able to meet with negotiators as they have done in every other negotiating round.
Those on all sides of the TPP debate will do so and they should, to ensure negotiators are aware of their concerns. New Zealand negotiators are extremely open to this and meet regularly with those for and against TPP.
translation? : Trust us, fear not, It’s all ok! No need to look back there, there is no curtain, that is simply a light diffusing tool that happens to be made of fabric and has multi-positional capabilities.
At that time any public stakeholders who register their interest will be able to meet with negotiators as they have done in every other negotiating round.
The implication of that sentence is that the public aren’t stakeholders in their own governance.
Dearest Ad / Uturn, Viper et al; 🙂
The Spirit moves among us, of that I am certain. Only yesterday I learned of the relationship between the parish and the Orthodox Greeks here. Then, this morning, another timely and topical homily delivered by a Theologian who made me feel very at home and directed over a cup of tea 😉 (man! now I am gonna have to go back to school, at least Otago can come to us, just continue being a rogue in the interim). Amongst other topics, we covered Heidegger’s ” Instrumental, Inter-personal and Revelational” (off the top of my head, William Tell) and now this
Propaganda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_Men%27s_Attitudes
and this
Jack http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellul,_Jacques
and the Industrial Workers of the World (and a whole lotta lovin people who suggest you are not alone) Wow! Thanks very much!
The Book of Ammon appears worth reading.
(I have always been meaning to read Barth on Romans)
There aint half been some clever ( wise) bastards; Another cornerstone for the AC (all sharing the plough)
Now, to all the atheists, if you let it happen, you will be amazed by the phenomenology of The Spirit; It just keeps on giving, Day after day after day.
-John (chips and fishes for lunch) Wow!
Rock On! 🙂
(oops, there is some un-referenced Ruskin behind me)
So apparently Tariana was on radio live yesterday, and apparently she said that the actions of the govt (of which she is a part) regarding the water rights issue constitute “confiscation” of water rights from maori.
Apparently it was pointed out to her that this is exactly what she left the Labour govt over, and was asked if she would be walking from the govt, and if not, why that threshold for her support no longer applied.
And apparently she said she intended to remain supporting National until such time as “my people” tell her to go.
I can only assume that the “my people” she refers to are John Key and Bill English.
Which New Zealand personalities are going to be caught up in this one? But then when you get to the third paragraph you discover that it isn’t good ol’ Nuzilnd – phew just another tacky story from that land that Key loves and admires.
The MSMs job is to deflect and dumb down to the point where people are no longer able to understand, let alone comprehend what is happening around, and to them. They are enveloped in a bubble of utter irrelevance, to the point where their instincts are dead, we see that the masses are most of the way to that stage of devolution.
Anyone who has even a modacum of understanding/awareness, is already, and will increasingly be seen even more so, as “a freak”!
The world is being twisted inside out, and for those who can see it happening, its hard to watch to be fair!
Why is STEPHEN FRANKS being interviewed about a knife-killing?
The Panel, National Radio, Thursday 18 October 2012
Jim Mora, Andrew Clay, Rosemary McLeod
First topic for the day: the killing of Christie Marceau by Akshay Chand. Who better to discuss this than a couple of lightweight Panelists and someone from the pro-knife-killing Sensible Sentencing Trust?…
JIM MORA: We’re going to talk to Wellington lawyer Stephen Franks about this “Not Guilty by reason of insanity” verdict.
ANDREW CLAY: [blithely] I’m a liberal left kind of guy but on this issue, I’m happy to say I’m quite right wing!
ROSEMARY McLEOD: [gravely] I’m surprised that you are having someone on who is an expert on the law rather than on human relations.
STEPHEN FRANKS: [disgustingly]REDACTED FOR REASONS OF MORALITY AND TASTE.
Franks is such a repellent character that we are unable to physically transcribe his garbage. However, it is noteworthy that Franks, who, remember, is a shameless supporter of this kind of crime, used the word “wickedness” four times, including once in the phrase “mad wickedness”. He also mocked the “pious wishes” of what he called “liberals”. This prompted another McLeod outburst….
ROSEMARY McLEOD: [gravely]It’s these counsellors I am concerned about. Who exactly are these counsellors? Curious middle class women who enjoy interfering in other people’s lives.
ANDREW CLAY: A hur hur hur hur!
ROSEMARY McLEOD: Sniff. I find it all quite odd, really.
Appalled, I dashed off the following e-mail to Jim Mora….
Dear Jim,
Stephen Franks works for the Sensible Sentencing Trust, and is a close colleague of Garth McVicar. After the 2008 knife-killing of a boy in Manurewa, both Franks and McVicar, speaking as official representatives of the SST, expressed vehement support not for the victim, but for his killer. For weeks and months after the killing, they spoke out in support of the killer, and compounded this by pouring abuse and scorn on the memory of the dead boy and his grieving mother.
Could you explain to your listeners why you chose to interview Stephen Franks, of all people, about a knife murder?
Well noted Morrissey.
A question for RNZ.
Why do you use so many ex- ACT MPs as representative of NZ opinion when they have have less than 1% of the vote? Jim Moira in particular asks the right wing of Natioanl + ACT a lot onto his ‘panel’.
Its not Jim’s fault. He’s just the “talent” – the “Ted Knight” of “Afternoons”.
The weakness lies in the RNZ management system whereby idiots are employed to soothe funder concerns. This results in “shows” being filled-up with people who promote themselves and, thus, save staff having to do any work or otherwise think about who might be suitable and/or interesting. The problem is compounded by the Wellington social-circuit where “media darlings” are courted by apparently sincere people who can “help” with “access” to “opinion leaders”.
Its a shame, really. What’s missing from the public dialouge is that bitter truth derived from cynicism that used to exist in the media. Now its all about “networking”.
Really interesting Blip – especially the points about the RNZ management system and the Wellington social circuit.
Can I ask you, if you were the boss of RNZ for a week, which more varied opinions would you invite to challenge funder concerns?
Was Malcolom Bradbury removed from the Panel for these reasons?
Can I ask you, if you were the boss of RNZ for a week, which more varied opinions would you invite to challenge funder concerns?
If I were The Boss of RNZ for a week I wouldn’t worry about the details. First off, I would double the advertising rates for all the commercial channels and leave them intact. On the free-to-air channels I would devolve the network down to local channels, no more than, say, 10,000 listeners and involve community activists wishing to address that audience – plus play excellent music and re-run The Goon Show.
So far as the spread-sheet is concerned, I would sack anyone earning more than $100,000 and direct that savings into the provision of a more effective community and national news service.
But … yeah, the funder. I guess there has to be a slant towards patriotism and heritage and an abiding respect for parliament and the courts, our kaumatua and our children. There’s a need to “stay positive” and bouyant but also speak truth.
(Also, while The Boss, I would get my expense card out and thrash it every night of the week shouting the staff free drinks/meals/art/training and taxis home. When the media come to ask me about it I’ll say: “yeah, so what?”)
My Grandma was pretty self reliant and sensible. But like Rosemary, she had great difficulty understanding modern stuff like TV or jet travel or modern dress. But she was very tolerant in a trembling manner where Rosemary condemns as she confirms her ignorance and bigotry.
So score Nana @ 90+years 8/10. Rosemary sounds like 90+years 1/10.
Israel forced to release study on Gaza blockade
17 October 2012
An Israeli court has forced the release of government research detailing the number of calories Palestinians in Gaza need to consume to avoid malnutrition.
The study was commissioned after Israel tightened its blockade of the territory after Hamas came to power in June 2007.
The UN said if the research reflected a policy intended to cap food imports, it went against humanitarian principles.
If you have the stomach for it, you can read more here….
Am looking forward to Key’s explanation over the 18y vote. He will blame the Whip or whoever cast his proxy (maybe the Whip didn’t quite know what Key’s position was given his ambivalence?), or maybe it is David Shearer’s fault. or the Speaker or ummm TV3 asked him the wrong question.
His explanation beggars belief.
Tonight, his media interviews show him saying, “I should have been more specific, I actually should have added after I said 20, ‘that was offlicence sales’.”
Unfortunately the interviewers did not take him to task.
In yesterday’s Beehive precincts interview he was very specific.
He said, ” I voted for a split vote 18 and 20, but that one was defeated, and I then voted for 20.” Key lied there and then. An absolute liar on this one and he needs to be pulled on it. The voting record shows it.
Tonight his explanation at no time mentions that he voted 18 when the split vote (which he tries to use as the excuse) failed.
Now just perhaps NZ will take a closer look at his other occasions of being economical with the truth.
He seems to have decided to apologize on this ‘brain fade’ and try and move on – probably the best (and only) thing to do. What was interesting was that both networks had different stories tonight which cast him in a poor light. He ain’t having much fun anymore.
Except that he has admitted to only partial error. He has not accepted that his response yesterday was clear and precise. He has never admitted to voting for keeping it at 18 though that is what he clearly voted for. (Clear case of wanting to sound as though he voted according to his adoring people’s wishes in latest poll – but he didn’t).
This is 10 year old playground stuff. Think you are getting caught out and go into denial… teachers will tell you they witness it every day.
Every Senator in this chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave. This chamber reeks of blood. Every Senator here is partly responsible for that human wreckage at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval and all across our land—young men without legs, or arms, or genitals, or faces or hopes. There are not very many of these blasted and broken boys who think this war is a glorious adventure. Do not talk to them about bugging out, or national honor or courage. It does not take any courage at all for a congressman, or a senator, or a president to wrap himself in the flag and say we are staying in Vietnam, because it is not our blood that is being shed. But we are responsible for those young men and their lives and their hopes. And if we do not end this damnable war those young men will some day curse us for our pitiful willingness to let the Executive carry the burden that the Constitution places on us
Time to do a Pete George. Put a “more in sorrow than anger” ‘rant’ hidden where few people ever see it.
I guess Cameron Slater saw my addition to this post where I pointed out the obvious…
His response to criticism about his techniques – well that is as puerile as it is possible to get. I guess he doesn’t handle criticism well..
He left a trackback, so I guess he wanted me to see it.
But of course I don’t “hate” the wee man. So he can be rest assured on that as he does his usual pass through here looking for stories to put up. BTW: his posts never seem to get any significant numbers of comments – why is that?.
I just think he is an extreme example of having an oversized ego and very few (if any) observable talents. Certainly logical thinking isn’t one of them. His political abilities seem to mostly consist of blustering on others hitting them with that bloated ego. In short – a political dickhead.
That maggot sure can pack bigotry into a sentence can’t he M8.
(heh … He almost replied to this one…. save me LP!)
(*he-is-not-that-good*,*he-is-not-that-good*,*he-is-not-that-good*,*he-is-not-that-good*,….) 😀 @ u CS M8!
The headline on tvnz says that ‘Key in the dark over superanuation review’
A minister in key’s cabinet seems to be questioning key’s stance on national
superanuation and now one of key’s ministers wants the issue formally looked
at by retirement commissioner Diana Crossan.
Craig Foss gave the go ahead for Diana Crossan to look at the issue.
Key was on one news and looked suprised when asked about the issue.
Yes. Saw that on the late news. Craig Foss authorised the review which includes the age of entitlement which Key flatly opposes. So The Prime Minister is out of step with Minister Foss.
Plus the 18 year old vote. There can be no doubt as the absent Minister signs a piece of paper to authorise his proxy vote.
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
One of the strongest narratives about "our" spy agencies is that they are basically institutional traitors, working for foreign powers (or just themselves), without any control or oversight by the elected government. And today, we have yet another report from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security which explicitly confirms this. ...
“It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April to meet the Prime Minister’s ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
The unidentified foreign intelligence operation discussed in a scathing report by New Zealand’s Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) last week appears to be a controversial United States intelligence system. The IGIS report said the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) decision to host a foreign system from 2012-2020 was “improper” ...
As a young gymnast, Aimee Didierjean was always conscious of making sure her underwear wasn’t showing on the competition floor. A peek of a bra strap, or briefs if a leotard rode up, would cost a gymnast points in her routines. “When I was growing and going through puberty, it ...
Jubi/West Papua Daily Repeated cases of Indonesian military (TNI) soldiers torturing civilians in Papua have been evident, as seen in the viral video depicting the torture of civilians in the Puncak Regency allegedly done by soldiers of Raider 300/Brajawijaya Infantry Battalion. There is a pressing need for stringent law enforcement ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In 2023, Anthony Albanese was shooting for the moon, his eyes on the Voice referendum. On one view, he looked like the idealist reflecting his left-wing roots. In 2024, we’re seeing a pragmatic, determined, ...
The House - The principle that all MPs are honourable and that they should be taken at their word has been tested multiple times this week in Parliament. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Dickinson, Professor, Public Service Research, UNSW Sydney Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock Since the review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) released its recommendations in December, there has been a series of Town Hall events to discuss them around the country ...
Asia Pacific Report Two of the global Freedom Flotilla ships are being prepared in Turkey and almost ready for the upcoming humanitarian mission to Gaza. It is expected that the flotilla will include a New Zealand medical team. Kia Ora Gaza is a member of the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition ...
http://www.facebook.com/PaulaBennettHasToGo
AWW. Sure, Bennett has to go, BUT WHEN? In 20 years time? No National Minister “goes” whatever the circumstance!
Barriers to learning.
The problem is still there people but what a brilliant bit of diversion by the government.
Campbell Live highlights that there is a “hunger” problem in schools.
Government response, after much public pressure, make an announcement that
they will provide funding for lower decile schools to provide food…
Yeah, well guess what? The emphasis is on “will” and unsurprisingly not
“now”. So the issue gets removed from the headlines but is still as real today
as it was yesterday. Probably tired, hungry, listless children in classrooms.
Logie – Of course it is as real today as yesterday. Again, we must ask “when?” – 20 or more years time (with luck)?
Agenda 21 in NZ
Where does the formation of MoBIE fit into this ….
[lprent: Link fixed.. ]
Page not found.
remove the hyphen at the end of the link
I see I included ‘ when posting the link, just remove this from the cut an paste…
Mods, could someone please fix the link?
Cheers
[lprent: ok ]
OZ broadcaster Channel 9 now 100% owned by US hedge funds being mainly Oaktree Capital and Apollo Global Management.
Watch that space now uncle sam interests owns them and Rupert’s reasserted himself in his newpaper empire in OZ.
Bars’ use of ID scanners raises concern
Any just who will listen to this, concern!
The expansion continues, and the environments will continue to contract, as they digital grid envelops all aspects of life!
Thanks for this, muzza. More worrying extensions of the surveillance society. Surveillance precedes, and enables, control, regulation and/or manipulation of reality.
Hi Karol, yes its all being played out right in front of our faces…
This link from yesterday .
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/7811216/Subaru-adds-EyeSight-for-safer-driving
Awesome!
Ha!.. But machines are always fallible – one step away from a “toaster”?!
Songdo in South Korea leading charge to become city of the future
Notice how the city is “not considered” part of Korea, which is an important aspect of removing sovereignty, or divorcing people from the concept of it.
See my post on agenda 21 higher up – The UN is driving the globalist agenda, and part of that is forcing people into the cities…
The technology and legislative roadmaps, ensure that the figures quoted by the UN are +/- achieveable, because they’re in control, even now!
And do you trust your Computer more than your Toaster?
Why?
Because it does not matter whether you paid 50g or 50c for it. When the circuit goes pop all you got left is E waste.
I was thinking of Battlestar Galactica Toasters.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2012/10/simon-and-garfunkel-sing-the-sound-of-cylons/
Possibly NSFW
Ha! Brilliant!. Now there was a show! And one of those female toasters is into motorbikes (apropos of nothing, except it reminds me of my youth).
😎
😉 X 2
Wondering Aloud http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0W7rgo3IDI
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude (well, maybe a little cheeky). it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (that’s a challenge 🙂 ) .Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
(Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in tongues does not speak to men but to God. Indeed!, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.)
Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. (wonder what the moon is getting round to) 🙂
-Homiletics 101; The Living Word
anyway,
Te Whare tapa Wha; Struggle without End
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10841293
Back Down on The Farm
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10841238
” standing on shakey ground…”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502981&objectid=10840853
According to one of Rachels’ topical interviewees, Synthetic and Legal Pharmaceuticals are
“the Drug problem of the 21st Century” (ya don’t say! pass me another couple of aspire in)
What’s The Matter Here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m39DWVFK-Bw
Read: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7rikO0nsHA
(There was only a brief Summer of The Golden Weather; much time spent In our fathers / mothers den)
Great Art goes missing-Rothko
To when they allow the Philosopher Kings
-the madman crying in the wilderness
(Franken Steinway my Dear, I don’t give damn)
😉
Sanitarium is using our Court system to fight its corporate interests but doesn’t contribute tax to NZ to fund this. Sanitarium has a waiver on tax because it is a church-charity-owned business. And the business is hand-to-mouth because they are selling food, not because they are a charity that funds itself from cake stalls, op shops, and grants from community trusts.
They spend the tax they would otherwise pay to government and the country, on their own chosen interests. But not even necessarily in NZ. And they are a major player in the food market. Another way for NZ government to be fleeced by big business.
Christopher Adams at NZ Business Herald had a good piece in June 2012 on this. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10816412
Other – on their profit and accounts http://www.avalonsguide.com/anab/2012/09/sanitarium-by-the-numbers/
What Sanitarium say about themselves:
http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/about-us/our-promise/sanitarium-charitable-purposes
Kiwi kids, are Weet-Bix kids ( Daniel can probably eat a whole box)
My understanding is that commercial operations such as Sanitarium are now subject to New Zealand Income tax. Presumably an effect of the removal of limits on charitable donations now enables such businesses to make sufficient donations to a registered charity so as to make no taxable profits, but they will be subject to GST and rates for example. I am not a tax expert though..
Ed 7.2
The public, the consumers, pay the GST. Rates cover the use of property for offices, manufacturing or warehousing and are a local council matter, don’t know how they act to charities that are major income earning businesses. I think schools pay rates, there was consternation about being charged individual pan tax for instance, because of the number of toilets required to service all the children. So not too many exemptions.
As far as I know, schools dont pay rates, but they do pay council water charge, like the proposed pan tax.
Ad vertisement:
Life without industry is guilt, and industry without art is brutality.
(approximations at irony, sarcasm, ironic sarcasm, do not convey precisely)
ya’ can’t please all the people all the time, but ya sure can please some of the people some of the time
(and some children in the play ground just choose not to play with you)
🙂 🙂 🙂
Time for a maximum wage
Clearly a maximum wage has many benefits for the government and New Zealand in general…
Good Jackal – A good look at the possibilities. And the interesting parrying that comes up against any ‘new’ idea in NZ accompanied by some fudged ‘facts’. As far as decision making goes we in this country are about as clear thinking as witch hunters blaming cow deaths on the nearest hapless outlier.
Darien Fenton’s bill to protect library services didn’t make it into the house last night, even though it was supposed to. Disappointing, as I think that this is an issue that needs to be brought out of the shadows.
Fat German computer nerds, sky-high dollars, youth rates and bennie bashing are more sexier topics than a valuble community resource falling victim to local authority cost cutting.
Labour and the Greens would have defintely voted for it, and there was a good chance NZ First and the Maori Party would have voted for it, and who knows, Peter Dunne might have backed it as well. I think ACT and National would have voted against, on the grounds of not wanting to interfere with the activites of local bodies, even though there is a bill pending to limit spending by councils.
Oh well, next week I guess.
Agreed, millsy, and I’m keeping a watch on it.
Fuck all this, I’m off.
Into the wilds – yahoo! Diving into genuineness, reality, clear and unambiguous honesty, credibility, a place of no lies or deception, rorts or other dastardly deeds. A place where lies and deception get turned on their head pretty much instantly with uncomfortable and situation-changing consequences.
Imagine if the real world was like that…
vto
Don’t know about credibility at all times in the wilds. Kathryn Ryan did an extremely good and probing interview on the quality of outdoor leaders and their capabilities as used by schools particularly. The picture seemed to be that there was a fuzzy area about who was suitably trained and experienced and what controls on ratios of children, of mixed experience and strength, to leaders. Very interesting and troubling. Lies and deception could be how bereaved parents might see the situation.
Oh yes, you’re right about that. I was referring to the credibility and honesty of the actual environment, not the people who enter it. Trying to put one over nature will lead to nothing but consequences ……
vto
It is uncompromising all right. Go well and safely.
The Alex business cartoon is usually very good.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/alex/
Also they invite emails with ideas for the cartoon and we could supply some wry comments I think – if it mirrored the way that Jokey Hen’s mind works.
Quick, pass it on…
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/pass-responsibility-latest-party-game.html
Like!
Good one! And see
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/7833277/Pay-system-leaves-teacher-with-just-4
Talk about a series of fiascos this month…and still 2 weeks to go!
And a why can’t a teacher sue Novopay for damages, loss of sleep (stress) etc etc Bills not paid. Because in this day and age of electronic credit checks, they don’t say why the payment was late, just that it was late, or not paid for X weeks. And tough shit on those who are affected.
Good article there Dave. I think the right-wing are doing their best to say inequality isn’t increasing more than blaming the public though. That’s what all the median wages are increasing malarky is about.
You’re probably right Jackal, in actual fact they will say anything to make sure that the finger isn’t pointed at them. In education they love raw data and quantitative research because they can create a narrative around the data to suit themselves. They hate qualitative research because it generally contains rational explanations and evidence for why their policies are wrong.
.
Yep, all true. There is ample raw data which confirms the Right’s “market power” belief system is fundamentally flawed yet, as you say, it can be framed by a duplicitous narrative which the largely apathetic public and indolent MSM swallow. Its incredibly frustrating because it is the battle for public opinion which is the primary arena if there is to be peaceful political change.
The TLS has an interesting piece about how to get the message across:
I think this sort of approach worked well with the watersiders in their (on-going) struggle for equitable treatment from POAL. The raw data was abundantly clear that the union and its members were being systematically shafted but it seemed (to me, anyway) that a modicom of public support was generated by the personal stories of the workers being subject to the pernicious machinations of the Right.
Telling first-hand and undeniable stories of brave people suffering at the hands of National Ltd™ policies might well be a way forward when it comes to exposing the brutal reality imposed on society’s weakest by John Key and his band of privateers. Thing is, finding those brave people because they will have to expose themselves to an already uncaring public scrutiny and the pradations of the likes of Slater et al.
I quite agree, Blip. The CTU/Maritime Union deliberately used human stories to meet the employers attempt to paint the workers as a union rabble, they were essentially fathers and family men being treated appallingly. It was very successful.
This Government does the same thing themselves, they will cite one or two dodgy teachers to justify a review of the Teachers Council and describe one or two beneficiaries to justify cutting benefits or services. I think Campbell Live is providing a useful service with his visual depiction of school lunches and his stories of suffering in Christchurch. We need print journalists to use more of this approach.
I agree with your concerns about people being prepared to stand up and be counted for this sort of thing because they will need to be well vetted and supported just incase National uses the Paula Bennett strategy to shut them up. I can see this next election becoming a very dirty one indeed.
Being Thursday, John Key -now Dunnokeyo – will not be in the House for Question Time. but the questions are not letting up.
Charles Chauvel is taking another approach in asking Finlayson who the other two Ministers were at the meeting with Key
4.CHARLES CHAUVEL to the Attorney-General: Who, other than himself and the Prime Minister, was present at the discussion on the Government Communications Security Bureau’s unlawful surveillance of Mr Dotcom?
A couple of questions are to the PM – wonder who the lucky Minister will be who will have to answer on his behalf?
6.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he think it is important that his Ministers, including himself, come to the House prepared to give honest answers?
9.Dr DAVID CLARK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his comment that Government computer systems “can’t actually support radical changes from Government”?
And another hilarious/frustrating session with Parata having to answer questions 1, 11 and 12. Parata’s performance yesterday was unbelievable.
1.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA to the Minister of Education: Is it still her strategy in education to “focus on teaching and learning quality” and “transparent accountabilities”?
11.CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: How long will boards of trustees of the schools she proposes to close or merge in Christchurch have to consult with their local communities before they are required to provide feedback to her ahead of a final decision?
12.CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement to schools, about their obligation under the Official Information Act 1982, that, “New Zealand is an open and transparent democracy. They [schools] are required to release this information. You are public entities.”?
Why are questions not being asked to Tolley?
Police told the GCSB on 16 February 2012 at a debrief that the spying may have been illegal.
Are the Police not answerable to Tolley?
Yes and Q 6 from Winston implies fireworks. Risky but it has passed through the checking stage this morning. Must watch.
Wonder if the Minister of Education will be too busy to attend Q Time today? Duck!
Q6 should have said ‘-prepared to deliver factually correct answers ? ‘
the ‘honest’ leaves far too much wriggle room based on the individual’s perception of what constitutes honesty, and who trusts the Nats’ interpretation of anything?
Yep the second tier of bullshit artist will be out on display today.
It’s bad enough that the politicians are only expected to do 3 days a week for 3 weeks and have a what? a month off, it’s just bull shit that Key is too fucking LAZY to attend question time for the 3 days a week that it’s on. Will someone pleasae tell this useless lazy prick that it’s customary to attend parliament if for nothing else but to face your detractors. Shows how Chicken shit Key really is..
Agreed Ianmac. Today’s questions were not put up on the Parliament website until about 30 -45 minutes later than usual, so possibly there has been something going on behind the scenes (my conspiracy theory for the day, lol).
That is a big surprise. The Minister of Education is absent. Never mind Ex Minister Tolley is there to help.
Surprise, surprise after Parata’s unbelievable performance yesterday. I note that the Associate Minister of Education is in the House – Banks.
and Charles Chauvell throws a sloppy pitch and watches helpless as Finlayson whacks it soaring away into the bleechers
How can the Opposition Parties allow this bungling of questions during this crucial juncture in New Zealand’s decline? Where was the precision, the detail? The most basic necessity of the current function of the Opposition Parties should be nothing but extracting clear facts from the Government and instead many are appearing complicit in the misdirection and obfuscation.
These games are getting tiresome and NZ Parliament is not a batting cage in which to hone the swing.
SINGLE PART QUESTIONS GET ANSWERS
perhaps next week will be better
I am off to the Hawkes Bay for a long weekend of playing with nephews,
at least they ask decent questions
p.s.
Why was the Associate Minister of Education not answering the questions put to the Minsiter of Education?
freedom 15.3 et al
That is a really good point for Labour and anyone to remember. If a questioner has a particular point, keep honed to that point. If you give the respondent a chance to go off on some fuzzy side issue, or even the hint of some emotional, or current folk issue, then chances are you won’t get into territory that needs toe to toe discussion.
Same with blogs or writing to the newspapers. Give people a chance and they will wander off on some hobby-horse. An example, bad, is the referendum on crime that is so well-known. A two part question and an unclear answer that politicians chose to follow with more punitive punishment all round. Costly and ineffective.
(I have been looking up the Christie Marceau tragedy – better, thoughtful policies for young men in difficulties, would likely have prevented this guy going off his head. Someone must have noticed his weird thinking and behaviour.)
St Matthew’s bearing own cross
Winston Peters is expressing sufficient levels of anger and disgust to reflect accurately the way I am feeling about the disgusting level of non-answers this Government has been deeming fit to supply the house (and thus all of us).
I’m unclear how parliament can function effectively without some level of adherence to answers with a fair level of honesty or integrity. This is simply a farce and has been going on last term as well as this term.
My view is that Winston Peters has lifted the quality and strength of opposition immensely by his return and I am grateful to those people who voted for him to be quite frank.
I acknowledge that the level of opposition is improving from other parties however, I would like to see a whole lot more indignation/anger over the joke of the way DunnoKeyO ltd are treating the affairs of the State.
If this were persevered in I am confident that our sleepy MSM would eventually catch on, they appear to have to be spoon-fed a critical approach and now that they have checked out it is left up to sites such as The Standard and our opposition politicians to do that.
Crafar farms have passed into Chinese ownership with Landcorp Farming Ltd taking the position of sharemilker to the business. They are going to export to China. It would be expected that this would be high quality milk product. I was thinking of how to do more than slap a NZ label on it and hope for the best as far as keeping our milk standards up – from all NZ exporters.
How would an appellation system go? A tightly run system like the French and other European wine areas adopt? To be included in this a farm would have to do everything right about quality and have high standards as far as pollution and actual enhancing the environment not just repairing it. We don’t want Chinese or others quick to take advantage, selling any more product that is tainted and bringing down what standards and customer loyalty we have established.
A help would be if photogenic PM Jokey Hen didn’t provide a photographic endorsement for foreign dairy business. Other Prime Ministers have talents like singing etc. He should concentrate on connecting his image where it can do him and us some good.
“He should concentrate on connecting his image where it can do him and us some good.”
The International Depature Gates might be a good start
“and have high standards as far as pollution and actual enhancing the environment not just repairing it.”
Industrial dairy farming is inherently polluting and damaging to the land, and inherently unsustainable. Even more so when the product is exported. We are literally pulling the fertility out of the land and selling it overseas. We cannot replace that fertility in the timeframes we are talking about. There is no way to farm sustainably under those conditions, because of the net loss of nutrients as well as the destruction of soil and soil biota from industrial farming practices.
there are many ways to commercially dairy farm, and it’s not really whether a dairy farm is “industrial” or “corporate” which is the issue, it’s how intensive the land is farmed.
Running out of phosphate and diesel is going to put a dampener on all of this anyhows.
The industrial model IS intensive. That’s the whole point – it’s why they clear paddocks of any trees, use artificial fertiliser, pack as many stock units in as possible, allow whatever runoff they can get away with, and steal water from aquifers. It’s all about stock units and profit margins.
I do know some organic dairy farmers who are doing really good things, far far better than conventional industrial dairying, but they’re not really sustainable either. And if they’re exporting their milk/fertility, it’s definitely not sustainable.
The ANZ bank job survey out today, says that job ads fell back almost 3% in september,
pointing to unemployment rising to 7%.
The survey also said there was a 5.9% fall in newspaper job ads in the month of september,
internet job ads dropped 2.4% in september.
A 7% unemployment rate is expected in 6 months.
Has brownlee mistaken the anz figures? i just heard him saying in parliament that
there had been a 5.9% increase in newspaper jobs in chch.
In Christchurch. Talk about cherry picking your data …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10841205
translation? : Trust us, fear not, It’s all ok! No need to look back there, there is no curtain, that is simply a light diffusing tool that happens to be made of fabric and has multi-positional capabilities.
Jacobi used the word conspiracy in the the title, so the automatic position MUST be that there is something(s) to be hidden…
Stephen Jacobi is executive director of the NZ US Council and the NZ International Business Forum – Makes him a neutral then doen’t it!
The implication of that sentence is that the public aren’t stakeholders in their own governance.
Yes I read that, and as I did so, I just shook my head at the implication!
For-gone-con-clu-sion
Great video on the TPP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SOokUdKYcM
CAMERON BREWER CLAIMS JOHN BANKS HAS BEEN GREAT FOR AUCKLAND!
(You have GOT to be joking ? )
http://cameronbrewer.co.nz/2012/10/john-banks-has-been-great-for-auckland/
Birds of a feather flock together?
NOT a good look Cameron Brewer- defending the indefensible ‘dodgy’ John Banks?
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/JOHN-BANKS-RAT-WITH-GOLD-TOOTH-MORPH-BANNER-ONLY-23-September-2012.jpg
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/HOWCOME.jpg
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Dearest Ad / Uturn, Viper et al; 🙂
The Spirit moves among us, of that I am certain. Only yesterday I learned of the relationship between the parish and the Orthodox Greeks here. Then, this morning, another timely and topical homily delivered by a Theologian who made me feel very at home and directed over a cup of tea 😉 (man! now I am gonna have to go back to school, at least Otago can come to us, just continue being a rogue in the interim). Amongst other topics, we covered Heidegger’s ” Instrumental, Inter-personal and Revelational” (off the top of my head, William Tell) and now this
Propaganda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_Men%27s_Attitudes
and this
Jack http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellul,_Jacques
and the Industrial Workers of the World (and a whole lotta lovin people who suggest you are not alone) Wow! Thanks very much!
The Book of Ammon appears worth reading.
(I have always been meaning to read Barth on Romans)
There aint half been some clever ( wise) bastards; Another cornerstone for the AC (all sharing the plough)
Now, to all the atheists, if you let it happen, you will be amazed by the phenomenology of The Spirit; It just keeps on giving, Day after day after day.
-John (chips and fishes for lunch) Wow!
Rock On! 🙂
(oops, there is some un-referenced Ruskin behind me)
RT
I thought it was loaves and fishes.
🙂
Why ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ has not been applied to John Banks and Don Brash………
yep – smells like a corrupt form of political protection to me – in my considered opinion.
The Report of the Commerce Select Committee and new evidence provided by the Finance Markets Authority and the Serious Fraud Office .
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com/corruption/commerce-select-committee-report-on-banks/
What do others think?
(After actually READING the information provided? 🙂
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Penny I agree with you.
It seems rather Odd that Banks and Brash sign a prospectus in which dodgy figures are used that Hullich got prosecuted for.
The other bit about this saga is Hullich toted his Kiwisaver round south auckland an Porirua in the malls (and door to door?).
So apparently Tariana was on radio live yesterday, and apparently she said that the actions of the govt (of which she is a part) regarding the water rights issue constitute “confiscation” of water rights from maori.
Apparently it was pointed out to her that this is exactly what she left the Labour govt over, and was asked if she would be walking from the govt, and if not, why that threshold for her support no longer applied.
And apparently she said she intended to remain supporting National until such time as “my people” tell her to go.
I can only assume that the “my people” she refers to are John Key and Bill English.
Distortion
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/932_458407134198570_661795578_n.jpg
( I have heard ” the city is the supreme work of man” distorted by an architect referring to the Shard Tower of Babel )
Shock, horror, Stuff headline
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/7833748/Zumba-teaching-prostitute-shakes-up-town
Which New Zealand personalities are going to be caught up in this one? But then when you get to the third paragraph you discover that it isn’t good ol’ Nuzilnd – phew just another tacky story from that land that Key loves and admires.
Says a lot about the editors of our MSM though.
The MSMs job is to deflect and dumb down to the point where people are no longer able to understand, let alone comprehend what is happening around, and to them. They are enveloped in a bubble of utter irrelevance, to the point where their instincts are dead, we see that the masses are most of the way to that stage of devolution.
Anyone who has even a modacum of understanding/awareness, is already, and will increasingly be seen even more so, as “a freak”!
The world is being twisted inside out, and for those who can see it happening, its hard to watch to be fair!
Why is STEPHEN FRANKS being interviewed about a knife-killing?
The Panel, National Radio, Thursday 18 October 2012
Jim Mora, Andrew Clay, Rosemary McLeod
First topic for the day: the killing of Christie Marceau by Akshay Chand. Who better to discuss this than a couple of lightweight Panelists and someone from the pro-knife-killing Sensible Sentencing Trust?…
JIM MORA: We’re going to talk to Wellington lawyer Stephen Franks about this “Not Guilty by reason of insanity” verdict.
ANDREW CLAY: [blithely] I’m a liberal left kind of guy but on this issue, I’m happy to say I’m quite right wing!
ROSEMARY McLEOD: [gravely] I’m surprised that you are having someone on who is an expert on the law rather than on human relations.
STEPHEN FRANKS: [disgustingly] REDACTED FOR REASONS OF MORALITY AND TASTE.
Franks is such a repellent character that we are unable to physically transcribe his garbage. However, it is noteworthy that Franks, who, remember, is a shameless supporter of this kind of crime, used the word “wickedness” four times, including once in the phrase “mad wickedness”. He also mocked the “pious wishes” of what he called “liberals”. This prompted another McLeod outburst….
ROSEMARY McLEOD: [gravely]It’s these counsellors I am concerned about. Who exactly are these counsellors? Curious middle class women who enjoy interfering in other people’s lives.
ANDREW CLAY: A hur hur hur hur!
ROSEMARY McLEOD: Sniff. I find it all quite odd, really.
Appalled, I dashed off the following e-mail to Jim Mora….
Dear Jim,
Stephen Franks works for the Sensible Sentencing Trust, and is a close colleague of Garth McVicar. After the 2008 knife-killing of a boy in Manurewa, both Franks and McVicar, speaking as official representatives of the SST, expressed vehement support not for the victim, but for his killer. For weeks and months after the killing, they spoke out in support of the killer, and compounded this by pouring abuse and scorn on the memory of the dead boy and his grieving mother.
Could you explain to your listeners why you chose to interview Stephen Franks, of all people, about a knife murder?
Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
Well noted Morrissey.
A question for RNZ.
Why do you use so many ex- ACT MPs as representative of NZ opinion when they have have less than 1% of the vote? Jim Moira in particular asks the right wing of Natioanl + ACT a lot onto his ‘panel’.
deaf to RNZ for years
.
Its not Jim’s fault. He’s just the “talent” – the “Ted Knight” of “Afternoons”.
The weakness lies in the RNZ management system whereby idiots are employed to soothe funder concerns. This results in “shows” being filled-up with people who promote themselves and, thus, save staff having to do any work or otherwise think about who might be suitable and/or interesting. The problem is compounded by the Wellington social-circuit where “media darlings” are courted by apparently sincere people who can “help” with “access” to “opinion leaders”.
Its a shame, really. What’s missing from the public dialouge is that bitter truth derived from cynicism that used to exist in the media. Now its all about “networking”.
Really interesting Blip – especially the points about the RNZ management system and the Wellington social circuit.
Can I ask you, if you were the boss of RNZ for a week, which more varied opinions would you invite to challenge funder concerns?
Was Malcolom Bradbury removed from the Panel for these reasons?
.
If I were The Boss of RNZ for a week I wouldn’t worry about the details. First off, I would double the advertising rates for all the commercial channels and leave them intact. On the free-to-air channels I would devolve the network down to local channels, no more than, say, 10,000 listeners and involve community activists wishing to address that audience – plus play excellent music and re-run The Goon Show.
So far as the spread-sheet is concerned, I would sack anyone earning more than $100,000 and direct that savings into the provision of a more effective community and national news service.
But … yeah, the funder. I guess there has to be a slant towards patriotism and heritage and an abiding respect for parliament and the courts, our kaumatua and our children. There’s a need to “stay positive” and bouyant but also speak truth.
(Also, while The Boss, I would get my expense card out and thrash it every night of the week shouting the staff free drinks/meals/art/training and taxis home. When the media come to ask me about it I’ll say: “yeah, so what?”)
Love the Ted Knight characterisation
-Lou (Ed)
Franks is predictable and so is McLeod. Weird and dangerous is one and the other sounds like my 90 year old Grandmother.
The real problem is why Radio New Zealand still interviews Franks and McVicar.
Is your grandmother as complacent and smarmy as Rosemary McLeod, Ian? I’m sure you’re being hard on her.
My Grandma was pretty self reliant and sensible. But like Rosemary, she had great difficulty understanding modern stuff like TV or jet travel or modern dress. But she was very tolerant in a trembling manner where Rosemary condemns as she confirms her ignorance and bigotry.
So score Nana @ 90+years 8/10. Rosemary sounds like 90+years 1/10.
HUMANITARIAN GOVERNMENT NEWS
Israel forced to release study on Gaza blockade
17 October 2012
An Israeli court has forced the release of government research detailing the number of calories Palestinians in Gaza need to consume to avoid malnutrition.
The study was commissioned after Israel tightened its blockade of the territory after Hamas came to power in June 2007.
The UN said if the research reflected a policy intended to cap food imports, it went against humanitarian principles.
If you have the stomach for it, you can read more here….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19975211
Has there been a previous NZ government which has had such a gaff prone, disaster prone, crisis prone year in power that this John Key Government has?
Every month it seems to lurch from gaff, to crisis, to disaster.
Keys lack of leadership and ‘relaxation’ is now costing him dearly.
The ‘higher standards’ have gone out the door and he is now twisting and turning like mad to try and avoid gaff after crisis.
What more can eventuate in the next 2 1/2 months to dent public support for Key and his Govt?
Still enough time in the year for another gaff or crisis yet.
Am looking forward to Key’s explanation over the 18y vote. He will blame the Whip or whoever cast his proxy (maybe the Whip didn’t quite know what Key’s position was given his ambivalence?), or maybe it is David Shearer’s fault. or the Speaker or ummm TV3 asked him the wrong question.
His explanation beggars belief.
Tonight, his media interviews show him saying, “I should have been more specific, I actually should have added after I said 20, ‘that was offlicence sales’.”
Unfortunately the interviewers did not take him to task.
In yesterday’s Beehive precincts interview he was very specific.
He said, ” I voted for a split vote 18 and 20, but that one was defeated, and I then voted for 20.” Key lied there and then. An absolute liar on this one and he needs to be pulled on it. The voting record shows it.
Tonight his explanation at no time mentions that he voted 18 when the split vote (which he tries to use as the excuse) failed.
Now just perhaps NZ will take a closer look at his other occasions of being economical with the truth.
Trust him … sure can???
He seems to have decided to apologize on this ‘brain fade’ and try and move on – probably the best (and only) thing to do. What was interesting was that both networks had different stories tonight which cast him in a poor light. He ain’t having much fun anymore.
Except that he has admitted to only partial error. He has not accepted that his response yesterday was clear and precise. He has never admitted to voting for keeping it at 18 though that is what he clearly voted for. (Clear case of wanting to sound as though he voted according to his adoring people’s wishes in latest poll – but he didn’t).
This is 10 year old playground stuff. Think you are getting caught out and go into denial… teachers will tell you they witness it every day.
No, they were just another lie. The character of the National Party is psychopathic and so they could not be anything else.
The ‘higher standards’ have gone out the door…
What?!!??!?!?? When were higher standards ever IN the door with this embarrassingly inept and ideologically extremist regime?
Before the 2008 elections, but not since.
George McGovern, former Senator, presidential nominee and opponent of the Vietnam war is on his way out.
http://news.yahoo.com/ex-senator-presidential-nominee-mcgovern-no-longer-responsive-191525402.html
Every Senator in this chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave. This chamber reeks of blood. Every Senator here is partly responsible for that human wreckage at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval and all across our land—young men without legs, or arms, or genitals, or faces or hopes. There are not very many of these blasted and broken boys who think this war is a glorious adventure. Do not talk to them about bugging out, or national honor or courage. It does not take any courage at all for a congressman, or a senator, or a president to wrap himself in the flag and say we are staying in Vietnam, because it is not our blood that is being shed. But we are responsible for those young men and their lives and their hopes. And if we do not end this damnable war those young men will some day curse us for our pitiful willingness to let the Executive carry the burden that the Constitution places on us
From parliament today
Hon Nanaia Mahuta: What criteria will be used to determine the funding and staffing level provisions for charter schools?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Each school’s contract will differ according to the needs of the sponsor,
My bold.
I thought schools were for the NEEDS of the pupils not the ‘sponsors’
Time to do a Pete George. Put a “more in sorrow than anger” ‘rant’ hidden where few people ever see it.
I guess Cameron Slater saw my addition to this post where I pointed out the obvious…
His response to criticism about his techniques – well that is as puerile as it is possible to get. I guess he doesn’t handle criticism well..
He left a trackback, so I guess he wanted me to see it.
But of course I don’t “hate” the wee man. So he can be rest assured on that as he does his usual pass through here looking for stories to put up. BTW: his posts never seem to get any significant numbers of comments – why is that?.
I just think he is an extreme example of having an oversized ego and very few (if any) observable talents. Certainly logical thinking isn’t one of them. His political abilities seem to mostly consist of blustering on others hitting them with that bloated ego. In short – a political dickhead.
That maggot sure can pack bigotry into a sentence can’t he M8.
(heh … He almost replied to this one…. save me LP!)
(*he-is-not-that-good*,*he-is-not-that-good*,*he-is-not-that-good*,*he-is-not-that-good*,….) 😀 @ u CS M8!
The headline on tvnz says that ‘Key in the dark over superanuation review’
A minister in key’s cabinet seems to be questioning key’s stance on national
superanuation and now one of key’s ministers wants the issue formally looked
at by retirement commissioner Diana Crossan.
Craig Foss gave the go ahead for Diana Crossan to look at the issue.
Key was on one news and looked suprised when asked about the issue.
Yes. Saw that on the late news. Craig Foss authorised the review which includes the age of entitlement which Key flatly opposes. So The Prime Minister is out of step with Minister Foss.
Plus the 18 year old vote. There can be no doubt as the absent Minister signs a piece of paper to authorise his proxy vote.