The BBC is utterly banal…this Peter Taylor effort almost rivals its ludicrous claim that Andrew Neil broke the story that Saddam had no WMD.
Letter to BBC journalist Peter Taylor
Mr Taylor,
Your new BBC piece and your Panorama TV programme are titled “Iraq: The Spies Who Fooled the World”, only they did not fool the word, did they? The French and Russian governments for example were not convinced Saddam had WMD nor were our own Intelligence services and of course, neither were multitudes of ordinary people around the world, two million of whom marched in London to prove the point.
It is astonishing to me that after all this time the same old clichés about the world believing Saddam had WMD and how the Intelligence was “wrong” or “failed” can still be trotted out as serious commentary by top BBC reporters.
Anyone paying attention at the time knew these claims were lies, with the likes of the excellent Glen Rangwala, ex weapons inspector Scott Ritter (hardly a dove), Hussein Kamel, and even Hans Blix debunking the propaganda coming out of Washington and Downing Street as fast as it appeared.
In the final analysis, it was not Iraqi spies or “Curveball” who fooled the world. The ones who tried to do that were Bush, Blair, Straw, Rumsfeld, Campbell, Rice, Colin “Anthrax” Powell and all the other baying wolves (aided by the BBC) and when they failed they just walked all over International Law and committed the Supreme War Crime of initiating a war of aggression.
You might have done a report on that at the time but you didn’t…the information was all there and it still is.
Sincerely, Ed Murray
Honestly, this is “news”?
———————————————————————-
Iraq: The Spies Who Fooled the World
The lies of two Iraqi spies were central to the claim – at the heart of the UK and US decision to go to war in Iraq – that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. But even before the fighting started, intelligence from highly-placed sources was available suggesting he did not, Panorama has learned… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21786506
How utterly corrupted that this sort of propaganda sees the light of day. I would expect enough people will see through this dros, for the lies that it is!
Not completely fair to rush to judgment re Collins. Even if he has no legal defence under Japanese law it would pay to wait until it’s clear there are no mitigating factors. We haven’t enough knowledge to down him unequivocally at this point.
When you boil it down “looks” have nothing to do with much. If they did Dunnokeyo would be the person his demeanour and overall presentation (falsely) promise.
Since it was an inch bigger than the limit, that means it’s illegal right?
Anyways, carrying a 6 inch blade around just for “protection” is illegal and in NZ chargeable under the Crimes Act under most circumstances. And as far as I know, the Japanese are even stricter.
“Labour leader David Shearer says his failure to declare a US-based bank account with more than $50,000 in it on the MPs’ Register of Pecuniary Interests was simply an oversight.”
What a twat. Fancy not remembering you have more than $50k stashed offshore.
Next.
To be fair, in the above, Shearer says the account was known to the tax department, and that it was while filling in his tax return, that he realised his omission.
Typical champagne socialist,waffles on about the poor and down trodden but has so much extra coin floating around he forgets that he has an account with 50k in it.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he wipes his arse with $100 dollar bills.
Not implying the Shearer has done anything dodgy, but I could imagine with the amount of money sloshing through the UN, it would be very easy to “misplace” a few million here, couple of mill there.
Just checked, 12 billion dollars a year is the amount of money the UN collects.
It looks a lot to me like you’re implying something dodgy. I am not going to say you’re a spineless piece of garbage for making that post, I’m going to state it clearly. You are a spineless piece of garbage for making that post.
Him having money isn’t the problem, as long as he earned it and paid his taxes, no worries.
The problem is, even if taken at his word and it was a simple oversight and not a devious tactical brain fade, it’s another example of incompetence and proof that caucus have got it terribly wrong.
Shearer out, Cunliffe in. Give the vote to the whole party, now.
“Typical champagne socialist,waffles on about the poor and down trodden but has so much extra coin floating around he forgets that he has an account with 50k in it.”
Ladies and gents, the paucity of right wing thinking.
BM you’re an idiot. You’ve just pointed out that Shearer, although rich, still gives a shit about those not so well off.
And your feeble one-track mind working overtime with your withered black heart calculates this as a human failing.
What else has Shearer conveniently forgotten then!
This is a dsigraceful exposure, of those who are parachuted into positions, because they are able to be controlled.
That is why Shearer is in his role, because he is controlable, just like the caucus who put his there!
NZ inc is rotten little cess pool, where the leader of the largest *left* party, *forgets* he has a bank account with at least tens of thousands in it.
Would be interesting to know what was actually in there, and where else in the world he has *forgotten* about bank accounts, or other back story questioning information!
I heard 37 figures. he uses it to pay all the scientists in the world to tell lies. Not just the climate scientists, the evolutionists too. Keep digging grumps. the truth is out there.
By framing it “anyone but cunliffe”, Shearer’s supporters in caucus justified making a dopey idiot as leader, when it comes to ‘anyone’, they really seemed to have gone for the bottom of the barrel. I just read on Kiwiblog why he wouldn’t be able to justify purchasing Mighty River shares back if Labour was in government, he is simply a hopeless politician.
He will fuck things up in next years election. I am absolutely certain of it.
I’ve been trying to figure out for quite a while who this person is, been leaning towards that Roughan character lately the writing style seems similar as are the views expressed.
It’s pretty disgraceful when a leading newspaper like the Herald stoops to printing such blatantly biased error-ridden crap as editorials.
Anonymous crap too. Not worth the paper it’s written on.
Always thought the same about all editorials. Written by some oafish ex-journalists who for lordy knows what reason seem to think that their opinion is worth reading.
“Anonymous crap too. Not worth the paper it’s written on.”
I disagree there. Editorials carry considerable weight with the general public, they’re explicitly expressing the view of the ‘Herald’ rather than just a “Letter to the Editor” opinion piece that other commentaries are seen as.
People who are politically active view the press differently to the general public, the public tend to view the media as a trusted institution that’s unbiased politically. The editorial is seen by many as an arbiter of neutrality, cutting through the left/right dichotomy and presenting a reasoned and balanced view.
It pays to remember that a good 80-90% of the population get their information from the media only and it’s the manner in which news & information is presented by the media that influences most people’s views. The media is very powerful.
I see Shearer still cant make a decision on anything. In yesterdays Herald column by Bryce Edwards , he is reported as saying that Labour would “look at” the carpark tax if (and thats becoming an increasingly big if imo) they were the next Govt.
Is this the new Labour strategy? “We are not ruling it out but were not ruling it in”, “We will have a look at it when in Govt.”
I’d line the Nacts up against the nearest wall if I could, but I’m beginning to have doubts as to whether I want these dithering fools anywhere near the reins of power.
And he hands the gov’t and their MSM mates a $50k+ stick with which to be beaten further with, nothing he’s said or done shows that Labour will be anything other than a minor party under him in 2014.
How’s that speakers role you covet like the power mad egotist you are looking now Trev ?
David can’t make a call on anything because he doesn’t know what he stands for. When making a decision he can’t fall back on his core principles like most politicians from the right and left because he doesn’t have any core principles.
Encouraging signs from across the ditch where the Labor caucus is realising what the rest of the country has known for weeks. The current leader can’t win and despite their hatred for Rudd, he needs to be restored.
I wouldn’t believe anything from the S&M Herald. It suits Murfax and Stoneheart to portray Labor as divided, with Rudd being the great white hope. I think changing leaders now would be even more disastrous for them. Their real problem in Australia is that Labor is about as left wing as NAct, and the Liberals are getting more like the US Teabaggers every day.
Interesting press release from the Soil and Health Organisation. They present evidence that organic farming copes better in droughts, citing examples int he US, and the way organic farms are coping in NZ’s current drought. And organic crops do a lot better in droughts than GE ones.
A 2007 study led by Ivette Perfecto, of the University of Michigan, showed that in developing countries, where the chances of famine are greatest, organic methods could double or triple crop yields. (1) This is also supported by a similar study conducted by the United Nations in 2010. (3)…
By contrast, Soil & Health – Organic NZ is getting reports that organic farmers in the North Island are generally doing better in the drought than their conventional counterparts. Armed with better soil structures and water-holding capacity, the use of a diversity of pasture species including deep-rooted species like chicory that withstand drought better, and tree crops and shelterbelts, they have been able to protect their animals and their incomes. Some are even capitalizing on their investments by selling baleage for additional stockfeed which is now in high demand.
So it’s not just that lack of pesticides or GE crops that make organic farms more drought resistant, but the alternative practices used, such as pasture diversity.
Hi Karol. Its a crying shame that NZ farmers, orchardists and crop growers have been so slow and reluctant to adopt organic techniques and an organic growing ethos. The benefits to our environment, worker safety, and export potential are so very clear given the body of research on the subject as well as the physical evidence – such as the example you have given above.
I remember visiting an organic apple orchard, many years ago. By contrast we were invited to view to the neighbouring conventional apple orchard. What a difference. Where as the soil was parched with deep cracks around the base of the trees from excessive use of the herbicide round up and the had less fruit on the branches the organic orchard actually felt lush as well as showing more abundant fruiting. Why would you stick with growing methods that damage the soil structure? It seems so backwards.
Despite the slowly growing numbers of growers and farmers that have abandoned the conventional methods over the decades we still have a huge challenge to make organics mainstream. This is partly because the prevailing attitudes of farmers such as “farmboy” who you engaged with on the topic of the amnesty over the weekend (What a dick!!)and Nathan Guy as the Minister for Primary Industries tend to block any progress our small body of organic growers have made.
Would there be anything too wrong with following those farming practices while still not going completely organic? I’m tending towards thinking ‘probably not’. Meanwhile – the market, the market, the market….worst practice returns maximum gains. The market advantage afforded through economy of scale demands centralised, mechanised and homogenised farming practices. And if the waste skyrockets, then so what? It’s a high volume/ low cost game where the returns from sheer volume only have to outstrip the losses from inefficiencies. So they ain’t changing any time soon.
Meanwhile, smaller farmers are squeezed out of market access because they just can’t compete against the high volume/low cost model.
Maybe governments need to subsidise small farmer/owners practicing good farming methods to level the playing field?
Hi Bill. Certainly growers and farmers would do well to adapt their practices without going completely organic, if that suited their needs and the needs of the market.(Yeah! The Market!) If there goal was to become a certified grower/farmer and obtain a biogro (or other) certification for example they they would need need to strictly adhere to organic growing principles and techniques to meet the requirements of the certification. This requires dedication and commitment and not everyone can put their resources into such a project.
Farmers and growers can greatly reduce their reliance upon agri chemicals without reducing their productivity. Just one example is herbicide use. Its just not necessary. There are more sustainable methods available(eg Yealands wines use sheep to graze in their vineyards) if you feel it necessary to remove weeds, which in some cases can compete for nutrients with pasture and crops. However, a well balanced biologically active soil features less weeds, which typically thrive in poor soil. By reducing chemical use they save money too, but not lining the pockets of the likes of Monsanto, Dow, NuFarm etc.
“The market, the market, the market, worst practice returns maximum gains”
Yes, market needs dominate methods of production. Its all about the ease of the market to profit over and above the needs of the earth to be productive at a natural and sustainable rate. Its all back to front. Small ethical and organic producers only have access to a very limited market, unless they are contract growers for Heinz or Fonterror (increasingly less for Fonterror as they are turning away from Organics)
“Maybe the governments need to subsidise small farmers/owners practicing good farming methods to level the playing field?”
Indeed. It would so beneficial in so many ways but I can’t see that happening with having a Fed farmers dairy farmer from Levin in charge of the MPI. I’d like to be proven wrong but I’d say his blinkers are well and truly in place.
Maybe governments need to subsidise small farmer/owners practicing good farming methods to level the playing field?
I’m coming to think that the government needs to mandate use of organic farming. The damage and pollution of the standard industrial ways is too much for the community to endure.
Is this news about charter schools .. it is to me !! Herald this morning on Ombudsman ordering Banks to release funding papers .. but this at the very end has my blood boiling this morning … clearly, this is why Gnats are pushing so hard ..
“Charter schools would get money for set up costs and property funding that their private-sector backers would be able to keep if a school folded.”
After Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee’s keynote talk at SXSW, he answered a question about the controversial plan to add DRM to next version of HTML. HTML 5, a standard currently under debate at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the latest battleground in the long-running war over the design of general-purpose computers. Berners-Lee defended the proposition, and claimed that without it, more of the Web would be locked up in un-searchable, unlinkable formats like Flash.
Some in the entertainment industry have long harboured fantasies about redesigning computers to disobey their owners, as part of a profit-maximisation strategy that depends on being able to charge you piecemeal for the right to use the files on your hard-drive.
Doesn’t look good, note the bit about patents and then connect the dots to the TPPA. Not stretching a long bow to see a TPPA HTML region coding emerging is it.
Tonight I will be in Auckland to listen to Hordur Torfason. The guy that started the insurrection against the banks in Iceland. He will speak at Auckland Uni so if you have nothing to do, want to meet me (I’m 6, 2″ so easily recognizable) AND listen to Hordur talk about how Democracy is done feel free to join me. here is a link to Kim Hill’s interview with him:
so in Ak, 1 in 10 are prepared for an earthquake or an emergency. (i recommend small tins of salmon and cabin biscuits; rice if you have a heat source, and plenty of water stored)
-cost of preparation (how about the cost of not?)
-language barriers
apparently the NZX fell over Cyprus
IMF warns of a falling dollar
-inflationary pressures
-our Current Accounts Deficit places alongside Italy, Spain and Greece according to the C.E of NZIER
regarding farming practices; “the status quo leads to peasantry”- Connor English. Yep!
12500 damaged hospital rooms in ChCh; “operating out of a construction zone”
Syrian planes fire rockets into Lebanon
Iraq heading for full-blown civil war- Jon Stephenson
about the share-market and lies; I watched this business commentator pimp investment in the market on 3 News some months ago, and when he concluded his spiel, even he could not prevent the quiver of deceit at the sides of his mouth…
ghost
I wondered at the advice from the IMF boffin that would assist our economy – having more savings. Has one of our fabulous musicos set this into a song? Making more savings when it gets beyond a tipping point then lead into a small recession because of the lack of money being spent, reduces national income and then there is a failure to raise total savings, and is well known in economics as the Paradox of Thrift.
If he emphasised getting the balance right between home-run and owned businesses, home-owned and run businesses in other countries, and foreign-owned businesses here at home. he would have made more practical sense. But why should the IMF break with tradition.
Profit is a dead weight loss. It’s the reason why we need ever increasing amounts of money and, due to the fact that our monetary system is based upon debt, why we end up with ever increasing amounts of debt which eventually can’t be paid.
Something I didn’t know: National is quietly planning to impose a Cyprus-style bank-robbery should a bank fail in New Zealand:
Seems that such a report has been known to the government for some time and they’re looking at putting in place the necessary laws to steal from people.
How do things become the latest craze? How do you get people wanting to do something – make it the in thing? Like voting for instance!! I wonder if there is anything to learn from the findings in this book. Worth a look. From Radionz 9tonoon this morning Tues 19.
9:36
Jonah Berger is assistant professor of marketing at the Wharton School and author of the book Contagious: Why Things Catch On. (10′02″) http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon
Good news for us all. Farmers in beef and sheep have got together and are going to amalgamate
if they get enough further support. This is timely, like just in time. We must stop the trend to greater and greater dairying. All us eggs in one basket – drop it and…runny us.
See extensive report. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/130737/green-light-for-red-meat-restructuring Meat company representatives including the chairmen of the two big co-operatives, who also attended the meeting, indicated that companies are talking to each other about the industry structure.
A similar project for mass amalgamations failed in 2008, despite strong farmer support, when the two biggest meat processors could not agree.
The chiefs within the two big players need to see past their personal differences and get this deal done. The red meat industry has been badly lagging dairy, and one reason is the inability to get a united front going in the international market place, and also in internal supply chain management.
Seems strange tho to be burning it in a car engine thus producing more co2 to the atmosphere, but, a hell of a lot less than simply burning oil products in car engines and leaving the co2 in the atmosphere…
From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
Capitalism, without any limits or social intervention, will seek to take rent by obstructing peoples ability and extorting those in need. Education cost will rise, those found in need with have to pay considerably more than the wealthy to rectify their positions.
We live in an abundant world where nobody need starve, shiver, or succumb to poor medical outcomes. So why is the world so badly distorted? Have western world government forgotten
why we have governments?
Have western world government forgotten why we have governments?
No, they just have a different view as to why we have governments. They seem to think that government is there to enrich the already rich rather than to look after everyone.
Well I do not think that Chris Hipkins was destroyed by any answer that joyce gave.He was destroyed by the speaker himself who let joyce go on and on about Labour starting the Novapay and not answering the question asked. And I do not understand how Labour can be at fault as they were not the ones who signed Novapay off AGAINST advice. But every time the nits are asked a question they always revert to Its Labours Fault and are always upheld by the sssspeaker.He is a shocking disgrace. AND BY THE WAY when key was recently reminded of his own stance about taxing car parks in 2005 when he said he would not be part of a Government which raised this he responded that his statement was made three elections(9 yrs) ago and that in Opposition Ministers do not have access to all the information that Governments do. Hypocritical what! And where is hekia parata?
”I am not going to feed speculation that feeds on itself and goes very, very silly. I made it very clear up there that I am a strong supporter of the Prime Minster and that what you read is media speculation feeding on itself endlessly.”
“1) For the public record, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament, please confirm – will YOU purchase shares in Mighty River Power, if they become available?
– YES or NO?
2) Is this the agreed position of the political party which you represent, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament?
– YES or NO? ”
____________________________________________________________________
No to Q1
Yes to Q2.
Denis O’Rourke
NZ First List MP
____________________________________________________________________
19 March 2013
Dear Members of the NZ House of Parliament,
The ‘Switch Off Mercury Energy’ group, are looking forward to your replies to the following ‘Open Letter’.
(Thank you Tau Henare, for your prompt response.)
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
A Spokesperson for the Switch Off Mercury Energy group.
A party vote was called for on the question, That the Public Finance (Mixed Ownership Model) Amendment Bill be now read a third time.
Ayes 61
New Zealand National 59; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.
Noes 60
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Maori Party 3; Mana 1.
1) For the public record, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament, can YOU please confirm – will YOU purchase shares in Mighty River Power, if they become available?
– YES or NO?
2) Is this the agreed position of the political party which you represent, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament?
– YES or NO?
Please be advised that your reply will be made available to both the media and the public.
Your prompt response would be much appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Penny Bright
A Spokesperson for the Switch Off Mercury Energy group.
Tariana Turia comes up with a way forward for the Maori Party leadership jam, She says all 3 of them can be leaders,
Te Ureroa Flavall tho will be ‘a lesser’ leader than the other 2 as neither have any plans of giving up their Ministerial positions,
Pita Sharples, who has great things on His mind you know, like paying off His mortgage, reckons He is keeping His tiro warm on the leather of the Ministerial limo until death overtakes Him,
My advice to Pita is not to mock the cold hand of death…
Slippery the Prime Minister gave a good impression of someone having been forced to dine on dead rats for far too long while announcing that the tax upon laptops and i phones will not be going ahead,
Smile’n’wave seems to have become a con trick of the past for Slippery who seems to have lost His humor recently, (lolz internal poll results do that to you),
Cheer up Slippery, just think in under 18 months we all get to tell you to F off and you can disappear to Hawaii leaving NZ smelling a little better for your departure…
Slippery the Prime Minister in the true vein of having no sense of responsibility whatsoever is proposing that those other organizations that demand and get rewarded for not having one either will be allowed to ransack your bank account should said banks look likely to be come insolvent,
Look on in horror over the weekend as the IMF and European union told Cyprus to ransack the bank accounts of it’s citizens did you,
Well Slippery’s National Government looks like it is going to give it’self the power to do the same to anyone with cash in a New Zealand bank account…
Open Bank Resolution (OBR) is Finance Minister Bill English’s favoured option dealing with a major bank failure. If a bank fails under OBR, all depositors will have their savings reduced overnight to fund the bank’s bail out.
“Bill English is proposing a Cyprus-style solution for managing bank failure here in New Zealand – a solution that will see small depositors lose some of their savings to fund big bank bailouts,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.
…
Dr Norman questioned the Government’s insistence on pursuing Open Bank Resolution when virtually no other OECD country uses it.
“Open Bank Resolution is unprecedented in the world. Most OECD countries run deposit insurance schemes which protect people’s deposits up to a maximum ranging from $100,000 – $250,000,” Dr Norman said.
“OBR is not in line with Australia, which protects bank deposits up to $250,000.
“A deposit insurance scheme is a much simpler, well-tested alternative to Open Bank Resolution. It rewards safe banks with lower premiums and limits the cost to taxpayers of a bank failure.
“Deposit insurance will, however, require the Reserve Bank to oversee and regulate our banks more closely – a measure which is ultimately the best protection against bank failure.”
As someone with money in the bank, saved for my retirement I feel a little annoyed. However, I am lucky to have that money and would survive such a tax. Generally the housing market gets priority over people like me with money in low risk accounts, which aren’t really earning a lot of interest. Why aren’t they trying to rein in banks re- their role in fueling the housing bubble? Ultimately, it’s people on the lowest incomes that will suffer most with policies that continue to favour the banksters.
I understand the government or Reserve Bank are looking at insurance on deposits up to $20,000.
Having pocketed trillions of euros and dollars in bail out money, now the owners of the banks are coming for the deposits, this is very predictable. Once the same owners pull the plug on the markets, the final stop is to finish destroying public services, then finally the pensions schemes which remain!
Why does NZ continue to find itself being the, *first, or only* in so many situations which are clearly going to cause major damage when they blow up in our face!
Why do so many people not tune in, and why of those that do, is there simply no traction.
Brownlee; 3.5 minute road travel times are a “savings and boost to the economy”
Gr8 to see DC at least given a question; humility is coming along nicely; nicely slayed and Dunne!
Nwz: Joyce backdown, however, “going to Datacom could be as dysfunctional as Novopay”
who’d be a teacher aye?
Dotcom: more embarassing stuff for the police and the spooks. (they should employ me, I tell ya, I see the Blue writing on the wall); “what a cock-up” to para. Robertson.
Farmers now pleading to IRD and the rural services sector; RD1 anyone? hello Christina 🙂
Lawless http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/
somthin’ watchable outta the ol’ US of A
“now you give my regards to Special Deputy Yule (come back now) (have you seen the Bootleggers tarred and feathered?)
“they sold us out Jimmy, time we all picked a side”.
How many out there are happy with the loud, aggressive fellow from the Insurance Council on Campbell Live tonight ?
He said that insurance companies delaying settlement costs them money, claiming inferentially that wilful delay does not happen therefore, of course. He did not say that delay which results in hugely reduced payouts because the punch-drunk, desperate, often needy insured finally settle for what is offered by the insurance company, which of course does pay. To put an end to the health threatening anguish of it. Unfair and wrong as it might be. To resume living a life albeit a reduced one.
So fuck that arsehole and his aggression. In true arrogant, greedy arch-capitalist style he suffered us the “deny” tactic and all is meant to be well. And I’ll root my boot if his anecdotal stuff about some US insurance guy at a conference in Australia apparently asking about how the people of Chrictchurch are getting on, is any indication of insurance company rorts not occurring.
The other guy on the show , the professor of whatever, has written a book which includes in the title the words delay, deny and defend. I know the US produces some pretty shonky professors in quarters, charlatans, but until this guy is shown to be one I’m much happier with his contribution.
I can’t step out of this writing this post to check out the credentials of the NZ Insurance Council but from memory it’s a body comprised of the insurance companies themselves rather than an independent watchdog so to speak, so ask yourself.
Wouldn’t be QoT that you are obliquely referring to?
Seems from the thread on rape culture that you have a problem spitting out what you want to say. That you’d prefer to make controversial, but suitably cryptic, hits and runs than argue your corner.
Something has been niggling at me. Not until after I’d submitted the post above did it come – the resemblance of the Insurance Council prick on Campbell Live tonight, in demeanour and physically, to that angel of kindness aka narcissistic lunatic Bill O’Reilly of Fux News.
Melanie Reid attacked while investigating a story for 3rd Degree!
LOL ….. we’ll here comes a bitch fight if ever there was.
Me thinks the receivers picked on the wrong sort of ‘gal’
As someone once said ..”no matter how long it takes” …… etcetera.
If I were anyone associated with THAT receiver, I’d be watching my back
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Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
Alwyn Poole writes – After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
Eric Crampton writes – A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
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 ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...
The body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...
A banner notification alerts me to the fact that I’ve received an Instagram message from @felicity.loves. She always comments on my posts. I shouldn’t have opened the message, but clicked on the notification before rationalising this. OMG! Are you in Wellys? X I debate not replying, but Instagram will inform ...
In Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
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http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1363592210.html
The BBC is utterly banal…this Peter Taylor effort almost rivals its ludicrous claim that Andrew Neil broke the story that Saddam had no WMD.
Letter to BBC journalist Peter Taylor
Mr Taylor,
Your new BBC piece and your Panorama TV programme are titled “Iraq: The Spies Who Fooled the World”, only they did not fool the word, did they? The French and Russian governments for example were not convinced Saddam had WMD nor were our own Intelligence services and of course, neither were multitudes of ordinary people around the world, two million of whom marched in London to prove the point.
It is astonishing to me that after all this time the same old clichés about the world believing Saddam had WMD and how the Intelligence was “wrong” or “failed” can still be trotted out as serious commentary by top BBC reporters.
Anyone paying attention at the time knew these claims were lies, with the likes of the excellent Glen Rangwala, ex weapons inspector Scott Ritter (hardly a dove), Hussein Kamel, and even Hans Blix debunking the propaganda coming out of Washington and Downing Street as fast as it appeared.
In the final analysis, it was not Iraqi spies or “Curveball” who fooled the world. The ones who tried to do that were Bush, Blair, Straw, Rumsfeld, Campbell, Rice, Colin “Anthrax” Powell and all the other baying wolves (aided by the BBC) and when they failed they just walked all over International Law and committed the Supreme War Crime of initiating a war of aggression.
You might have done a report on that at the time but you didn’t…the information was all there and it still is.
Sincerely,
Ed Murray
Honestly, this is “news”?
———————————————————————-
Iraq: The Spies Who Fooled the World
The lies of two Iraqi spies were central to the claim – at the heart of the UK and US decision to go to war in Iraq – that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. But even before the fighting started, intelligence from highly-placed sources was available suggesting he did not, Panorama has learned…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21786506
Panorama: The Spies Who Fooled the World
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rh8hd
How utterly corrupted that this sort of propaganda sees the light of day. I would expect enough people will see through this dros, for the lies that it is!
The Beeb – Exposed once more!
Dr David Kelly, Robin Cooke – RIP
So Jerry Collins carries a 17 inch knife “for protection” .. in the land of the samurai ?
Talk to a lawyer, Gerry.
Is that idiot working for some Yakuza group as an enforcer, perhaps? He certainly LOOKS like one….
Not completely fair to rush to judgment re Collins. Even if he has no legal defence under Japanese law it would pay to wait until it’s clear there are no mitigating factors. We haven’t enough knowledge to down him unequivocally at this point.
When you boil it down “looks” have nothing to do with much. If they did Dunnokeyo would be the person his demeanour and overall presentation (falsely) promise.
17 centimetre.
17 centimeter knife… reduce your outrage by a factor of 2.54.
Its a small kitchen knife, if it had been a inch smaller it would have been legal.
Since it was an inch bigger than the limit, that means it’s illegal right?
Anyways, carrying a 6 inch blade around just for “protection” is illegal and in NZ chargeable under the Crimes Act under most circumstances. And as far as I know, the Japanese are even stricter.
Apparently an inch than the limit can make a lot of difference…so I’ve been told 😉
Dammit! An inch bigger than the limit…well that jokes ruined
I got the idea the first time haha 😉
Also, welcome back, Sir.
“Labour leader David Shearer says his failure to declare a US-based bank account with more than $50,000 in it on the MPs’ Register of Pecuniary Interests was simply an oversight.”
What a twat. Fancy not remembering you have more than $50k stashed offshore.
Next.
It would be interesting to know how much is in that account, and whether he also forgot to inform the tax department…..
Or maybe the tax-evasion amnesty was just the reminder he needed…..
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10872124
To be fair, in the above, Shearer says the account was known to the tax department, and that it was while filling in his tax return, that he realised his omission.
Typical champagne socialist,waffles on about the poor and down trodden but has so much extra coin floating around he forgets that he has an account with 50k in it.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he wipes his arse with $100 dollar bills.
@ least he wont be wipin em with KIWIRAIL Shares ae
He should be, that’s all the Kiwi rail shares are good for.
hes not the one with said kiwirail shares
Ask ya mate Key
Snigger
Probably much more than $50k – that’s just the minimum sum required for it being declarable in the register. UN execs are extremely well remunerated.
Not implying the Shearer has done anything dodgy, but I could imagine with the amount of money sloshing through the UN, it would be very easy to “misplace” a few million here, couple of mill there.
Just checked, 12 billion dollars a year is the amount of money the UN collects.
It looks a lot to me like you’re implying something dodgy. I am not going to say you’re a spineless piece of garbage for making that post, I’m going to state it clearly. You are a spineless piece of garbage for making that post.
Him having money isn’t the problem, as long as he earned it and paid his taxes, no worries.
The problem is, even if taken at his word and it was a simple oversight and not a devious tactical brain fade, it’s another example of incompetence and proof that caucus have got it terribly wrong.
Shearer out, Cunliffe in. Give the vote to the whole party, now.
I totally agree
+1
+2
MORE than $50,000, could be $500,000 for all we know.
“Typical champagne socialist,waffles on about the poor and down trodden but has so much extra coin floating around he forgets that he has an account with 50k in it.”
Ladies and gents, the paucity of right wing thinking.
BM you’re an idiot. You’ve just pointed out that Shearer, although rich, still gives a shit about those not so well off.
And your feeble one-track mind working overtime with your withered black heart calculates this as a human failing.
What else has Shearer conveniently forgotten then!
This is a dsigraceful exposure, of those who are parachuted into positions, because they are able to be controlled.
That is why Shearer is in his role, because he is controlable, just like the caucus who put his there!
NZ inc is rotten little cess pool, where the leader of the largest *left* party, *forgets* he has a bank account with at least tens of thousands in it.
Would be interesting to know what was actually in there, and where else in the world he has *forgotten* about bank accounts, or other back story questioning information!
Sheaer you plant!
Looks like brain fades are a prerequisite to being the PM
So David Shearer is the clean “non-politician” that Labour sees as the answer to John Key.
Just another grubby bastard with his snout in the trough!
What a twat. A US bank account Ugh.
The account probably holds more money than most New Zealanders earn in a year, not a good look to forget about that kind of sum.
Rumour is that it’s well into 6 figures……
I heard 37 figures. he uses it to pay all the scientists in the world to tell lies. Not just the climate scientists, the evolutionists too. Keep digging grumps. the truth is out there.
I don’t think anyone is seriously suggesting he forgot about it, Ant.
How many further “oversights” are we to expect?
By framing it “anyone but cunliffe”, Shearer’s supporters in caucus justified making a dopey idiot as leader, when it comes to ‘anyone’, they really seemed to have gone for the bottom of the barrel. I just read on Kiwiblog why he wouldn’t be able to justify purchasing Mighty River shares back if Labour was in government, he is simply a hopeless politician.
He will fuck things up in next years election. I am absolutely certain of it.
$US320,000.
$US320,000………and in one of those evil family trust accounts……
Why do you call it evil?
The card carrying National supporting Herald editorial writer is at it again;
“Editorial: Give private sector a go at Solid Energy”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10872114
I’ve been trying to figure out for quite a while who this person is, been leaning towards that Roughan character lately the writing style seems similar as are the views expressed.
It’s pretty disgraceful when a leading newspaper like the Herald stoops to printing such blatantly biased error-ridden crap as editorials.
Anonymous crap too. Not worth the paper it’s written on.
Always thought the same about all editorials. Written by some oafish ex-journalists who for lordy knows what reason seem to think that their opinion is worth reading.
“Anonymous crap too. Not worth the paper it’s written on.”
I disagree there. Editorials carry considerable weight with the general public, they’re explicitly expressing the view of the ‘Herald’ rather than just a “Letter to the Editor” opinion piece that other commentaries are seen as.
People who are politically active view the press differently to the general public, the public tend to view the media as a trusted institution that’s unbiased politically. The editorial is seen by many as an arbiter of neutrality, cutting through the left/right dichotomy and presenting a reasoned and balanced view.
It pays to remember that a good 80-90% of the population get their information from the media only and it’s the manner in which news & information is presented by the media that influences most people’s views. The media is very powerful.
“Anonymous crap too.”
Do you feel the same about blog postings and comments using anonymity or pseudonyms?
not all of us hide in the grave
He obviously doesn’t understand that SoEs work under private business rules, ergo, the private won’t do it any better.
Yes – Pike River worked really well in the private sector.
I see Shearer still cant make a decision on anything. In yesterdays Herald column by Bryce Edwards , he is reported as saying that Labour would “look at” the carpark tax if (and thats becoming an increasingly big if imo) they were the next Govt.
Is this the new Labour strategy? “We are not ruling it out but were not ruling it in”, “We will have a look at it when in Govt.”
I’d line the Nacts up against the nearest wall if I could, but I’m beginning to have doubts as to whether I want these dithering fools anywhere near the reins of power.
And he hands the gov’t and their MSM mates a $50k+ stick with which to be beaten further with, nothing he’s said or done shows that Labour will be anything other than a minor party under him in 2014.
How’s that speakers role you covet like the power mad egotist you are looking now Trev ?
David can’t make a call on anything because he doesn’t know what he stands for. When making a decision he can’t fall back on his core principles like most politicians from the right and left because he doesn’t have any core principles.
Encouraging signs from across the ditch where the Labor caucus is realising what the rest of the country has known for weeks. The current leader can’t win and despite their hatred for Rudd, he needs to be restored.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/ministers-turn-on-pm-20130318-2gb8r.html
How many similarities are there between Labor and NZ Labour?
Came on this indecisve fool has to go…
I wouldn’t believe anything from the S&M Herald. It suits Murfax and Stoneheart to portray Labor as divided, with Rudd being the great white hope. I think changing leaders now would be even more disastrous for them. Their real problem in Australia is that Labor is about as left wing as NAct, and the Liberals are getting more like the US Teabaggers every day.
Interesting press release from the Soil and Health Organisation. They present evidence that organic farming copes better in droughts, citing examples int he US, and the way organic farms are coping in NZ’s current drought. And organic crops do a lot better in droughts than GE ones.
So it’s not just that lack of pesticides or GE crops that make organic farms more drought resistant, but the alternative practices used, such as pasture diversity.
Hi Karol. Its a crying shame that NZ farmers, orchardists and crop growers have been so slow and reluctant to adopt organic techniques and an organic growing ethos. The benefits to our environment, worker safety, and export potential are so very clear given the body of research on the subject as well as the physical evidence – such as the example you have given above.
I remember visiting an organic apple orchard, many years ago. By contrast we were invited to view to the neighbouring conventional apple orchard. What a difference. Where as the soil was parched with deep cracks around the base of the trees from excessive use of the herbicide round up and the had less fruit on the branches the organic orchard actually felt lush as well as showing more abundant fruiting. Why would you stick with growing methods that damage the soil structure? It seems so backwards.
Despite the slowly growing numbers of growers and farmers that have abandoned the conventional methods over the decades we still have a huge challenge to make organics mainstream. This is partly because the prevailing attitudes of farmers such as “farmboy” who you engaged with on the topic of the amnesty over the weekend (What a dick!!)and Nathan Guy as the Minister for Primary Industries tend to block any progress our small body of organic growers have made.
Would there be anything too wrong with following those farming practices while still not going completely organic? I’m tending towards thinking ‘probably not’. Meanwhile – the market, the market, the market….worst practice returns maximum gains. The market advantage afforded through economy of scale demands centralised, mechanised and homogenised farming practices. And if the waste skyrockets, then so what? It’s a high volume/ low cost game where the returns from sheer volume only have to outstrip the losses from inefficiencies. So they ain’t changing any time soon.
Meanwhile, smaller farmers are squeezed out of market access because they just can’t compete against the high volume/low cost model.
Maybe governments need to subsidise small farmer/owners practicing good farming methods to level the playing field?
Hi Bill. Certainly growers and farmers would do well to adapt their practices without going completely organic, if that suited their needs and the needs of the market.(Yeah! The Market!) If there goal was to become a certified grower/farmer and obtain a biogro (or other) certification for example they they would need need to strictly adhere to organic growing principles and techniques to meet the requirements of the certification. This requires dedication and commitment and not everyone can put their resources into such a project.
Farmers and growers can greatly reduce their reliance upon agri chemicals without reducing their productivity. Just one example is herbicide use. Its just not necessary. There are more sustainable methods available(eg Yealands wines use sheep to graze in their vineyards) if you feel it necessary to remove weeds, which in some cases can compete for nutrients with pasture and crops. However, a well balanced biologically active soil features less weeds, which typically thrive in poor soil. By reducing chemical use they save money too, but not lining the pockets of the likes of Monsanto, Dow, NuFarm etc.
“The market, the market, the market, worst practice returns maximum gains”
Yes, market needs dominate methods of production. Its all about the ease of the market to profit over and above the needs of the earth to be productive at a natural and sustainable rate. Its all back to front. Small ethical and organic producers only have access to a very limited market, unless they are contract growers for Heinz or Fonterror (increasingly less for Fonterror as they are turning away from Organics)
“Maybe the governments need to subsidise small farmers/owners practicing good farming methods to level the playing field?”
Indeed. It would so beneficial in so many ways but I can’t see that happening with having a Fed farmers dairy farmer from Levin in charge of the MPI. I’d like to be proven wrong but I’d say his blinkers are well and truly in place.
I’m coming to think that the government needs to mandate use of organic farming. The damage and pollution of the standard industrial ways is too much for the community to endure.
A comedic history of Karl Marx, courtesy of ‘Against the Current’ blog:
http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/the-mark-steel-lectures-karl-marx.html
And gentle whimsy from Giovanni at ‘Bat Bean Beam’:
http://bat-bean-beam.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/idea-for-movie-in-which-aliens-invade.html
Is this news about charter schools .. it is to me !! Herald this morning on Ombudsman ordering Banks to release funding papers .. but this at the very end has my blood boiling this morning … clearly, this is why Gnats are pushing so hard ..
“Charter schools would get money for set up costs and property funding that their private-sector backers would be able to keep if a school folded.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10872032
Hard to believe this can be true.
yup, charter schools is simply more taxpayer funded corporate welfare masked as education.
No wonder Brian Tamaki’s licking his lips and probably ordering another Harley.
?? WTF??? I finally see opportunity to get on the property ladder….
So the business plan is
Start a charter school.
Run it for a year.
Crash the school so it fails.
Walk away.
Then sell the land and buildings as you effectively won it from the taxpayer by being in with the NACT inner circle.
No comment about the harm to the kids!!
Why don’t we prevent the harm to the kids and just give them the money!!
Cut out the middle man and all the red tape associated with starting up the schools.
Further about schools in private/public mix. What controls over, what protections? Will leaky schools be the next blot on our horizon?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8372059/Hutt-school-ignores-advice-to-refund-parents
Is DRM to become part of HTML 5?
Doesn’t look good, note the bit about patents and then connect the dots to the TPPA. Not stretching a long bow to see a TPPA HTML region coding emerging is it.
HTML5 worries all those who harbour proprietary ambitions, Apple with the iApps especially.
Tonight I will be in Auckland to listen to Hordur Torfason. The guy that started the insurrection against the banks in Iceland. He will speak at Auckland Uni so if you have nothing to do, want to meet me (I’m 6, 2″ so easily recognizable) AND listen to Hordur talk about how Democracy is done feel free to join me. here is a link to Kim Hill’s interview with him:
so in Ak, 1 in 10 are prepared for an earthquake or an emergency. (i recommend small tins of salmon and cabin biscuits; rice if you have a heat source, and plenty of water stored)
-cost of preparation (how about the cost of not?)
-language barriers
apparently the NZX fell over Cyprus
IMF warns of a falling dollar
-inflationary pressures
-our Current Accounts Deficit places alongside Italy, Spain and Greece according to the C.E of NZIER
regarding farming practices; “the status quo leads to peasantry”- Connor English. Yep!
12500 damaged hospital rooms in ChCh; “operating out of a construction zone”
Syrian planes fire rockets into Lebanon
Iraq heading for full-blown civil war- Jon Stephenson
about the share-market and lies; I watched this business commentator pimp investment in the market on 3 News some months ago, and when he concluded his spiel, even he could not prevent the quiver of deceit at the sides of his mouth…
God Bless Alice In Chains
In The House Of The Interpreter
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/in-the-house-of-the-interpreter-a-memoir-by-ngugi-wa-thiongo-8368336.html
“you keep on moving and you don’t write a book.”-Robert Plant :Man of Steel
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4AyqskAvrmo/USy3FxoYNGI/AAAAAAAAF5o/wr5llgJnQSg/s1600/BRMC+MERCY+LEX+KY.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Rebel_Motorcycle_Club
BRMC
ghost
I wondered at the advice from the IMF boffin that would assist our economy – having more savings. Has one of our fabulous musicos set this into a song? Making more savings when it gets beyond a tipping point then lead into a small recession because of the lack of money being spent, reduces national income and then there is a failure to raise total savings, and is well known in economics as the Paradox of Thrift.
If he emphasised getting the balance right between home-run and owned businesses, home-owned and run businesses in other countries, and foreign-owned businesses here at home. he would have made more practical sense. But why should the IMF break with tradition.
Profit is a dead weight loss. It’s the reason why we need ever increasing amounts of money and, due to the fact that our monetary system is based upon debt, why we end up with ever increasing amounts of debt which eventually can’t be paid.
Last time I looked the sun shone most days and so a heat source is easy and remarkable cheap.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cooker and a video.
even Key is conceding the risks of a housing bubble.
He should know… based on his time at Merrill Lynch.
Generalise the case to investment asset class bubble…
Interesting article in the Herald Today: Government Must Insure Our Savings. Why doesn’t it?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10872059
It doesn’t insure savings, because *we*, in NZ are treated as lab rats, except *we*, don’t realise it!
Let’s see how the govt (that would be , *we*), respond, should *we*, realise their bank accounts are not protected, and deposits are lost!
Banks have a taxpayer funded underwrite, or a deposit holder underwrite – Not ideal either way, as *we* will have to pay.
Make the banks pay for their own stability!
National quietly plans to impose the Cyprus solution in NZ
Seems that such a report has been known to the government for some time and they’re looking at putting in place the necessary laws to steal from people.
How do things become the latest craze? How do you get people wanting to do something – make it the in thing? Like voting for instance!! I wonder if there is anything to learn from the findings in this book. Worth a look. From Radionz 9tonoon this morning Tues 19.
9:36
Jonah Berger is assistant professor of marketing at the Wharton School and author of the book Contagious: Why Things Catch On. (10′02″)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon
Good news for us all. Farmers in beef and sheep have got together and are going to amalgamate
if they get enough further support. This is timely, like just in time. We must stop the trend to greater and greater dairying. All us eggs in one basket – drop it and…runny us.
See extensive report.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/130737/green-light-for-red-meat-restructuring
Meat company representatives including the chairmen of the two big co-operatives, who also attended the meeting, indicated that companies are talking to each other about the industry structure.
A similar project for mass amalgamations failed in 2008, despite strong farmer support, when the two biggest meat processors could not agree.
The chiefs within the two big players need to see past their personal differences and get this deal done. The red meat industry has been badly lagging dairy, and one reason is the inability to get a united front going in the international market place, and also in internal supply chain management.
cv
yes I can’t wait for positive things in business to happen in and for NZ. This could be a turning point.
yes, an encouraging muster
Is converting CO2 to methanol the path to the future of energy, according to these people the answer is a big yes,
http://www.co2tomethanol.com/
Seems strange tho to be burning it in a car engine thus producing more co2 to the atmosphere, but, a hell of a lot less than simply burning oil products in car engines and leaving the co2 in the atmosphere…
wow the house is a cluster fuck today… I’ve never watched this new speaker, but man is he getting stomped.
Well Chris Hipkins got destroyed.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
Capitalism, without any limits or social intervention, will seek to take rent by obstructing peoples ability and extorting those in need. Education cost will rise, those found in need with have to pay considerably more than the wealthy to rectify their positions.
We live in an abundant world where nobody need starve, shiver, or succumb to poor medical outcomes. So why is the world so badly distorted? Have western world government forgotten
why we have governments?
No, they just have a different view as to why we have governments. They seem to think that government is there to enrich the already rich rather than to look after everyone.
Well I do not think that Chris Hipkins was destroyed by any answer that joyce gave.He was destroyed by the speaker himself who let joyce go on and on about Labour starting the Novapay and not answering the question asked. And I do not understand how Labour can be at fault as they were not the ones who signed Novapay off AGAINST advice. But every time the nits are asked a question they always revert to Its Labours Fault and are always upheld by the sssspeaker.He is a shocking disgrace. AND BY THE WAY when key was recently reminded of his own stance about taxing car parks in 2005 when he said he would not be part of a Government which raised this he responded that his statement was made three elections(9 yrs) ago and that in Opposition Ministers do not have access to all the information that Governments do. Hypocritical what! And where is hekia parata?
”I am not going to feed speculation that feeds on itself and goes very, very silly. I made it very clear up there that I am a strong supporter of the Prime Minster and that what you read is media speculation feeding on itself endlessly.”
No, not DC this time:
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/carr-says-pm-has-his-support-20130319-2gbpe.html
PS, yes, the article does contain a typo. Who needs subbies, eh? Digital chocolate fish to the first one to spot it!
Quote: Crown prosecutor Megan Jaquiery said the complainant consented
Who was this complainant? A nine year old boy who has alleged sexual abuse. *grrr* THIS IS NOT CONSENT.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10872192
Duncan Garmer interviewing Shearer, 4.45 pm Radio Live.
Legislation is due back in the House this week paving the way for ‘youth rates’ to be imposed in a far harsher manner than they are now,
‘Youth rates’???= the acclimatization of young New Zealanders to slave wages where the basics of life are just affordable and nothing else,
the Herald online is running a poll on the question,the results so far,
Yes to youth rates 23%
Maybe to youth rates with a graduated system based upon age 31%
Not to youth rates 46%…
http://www.weeklystandard.com/keyword/Gazprom
Interesting!
NZ FIRST – FIRST NZ POLITICAL PARTY TO CONFIRM THAT THEIR MPS WILL NOT PURCHASE SHARES IN MIGHTY RIVER POWER!
Well done NZ FIrst!
____________________________________________________________________
“1) For the public record, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament, please confirm – will YOU purchase shares in Mighty River Power, if they become available?
– YES or NO?
2) Is this the agreed position of the political party which you represent, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament?
– YES or NO? ”
____________________________________________________________________
No to Q1
Yes to Q2.
Denis O’Rourke
NZ First List MP
____________________________________________________________________
19 March 2013
Dear Members of the NZ House of Parliament,
The ‘Switch Off Mercury Energy’ group, are looking forward to your replies to the following ‘Open Letter’.
(Thank you Tau Henare, for your prompt response.)
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
A Spokesperson for the Switch Off Mercury Energy group.
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’.
…………..
_______________________________________________________
‘Open Letter’ to all New Zealand Members of Parliament – re: the purchase of shares in Mighty River Power
14 March 2013
Dear New Zealand Member Of Parliament,
Please be reminded that the final vote on the Public Finance (Mixed Ownership Model) Amendment Act 2012, was 61 – 60
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/e/8/e/50HansD_20120626_00000012-State-Owned-Enterprises-Amendment-Bill-Public.htm
A party vote was called for on the question, That the Public Finance (Mixed Ownership Model) Amendment Bill be now read a third time.
Ayes 61
New Zealand National 59; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.
Noes 60
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Maori Party 3; Mana 1.
____________________________________________________________________
1) For the public record, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament, can YOU please confirm – will YOU purchase shares in Mighty River Power, if they become available?
– YES or NO?
2) Is this the agreed position of the political party which you represent, as a New Zealand Member of Parliament?
– YES or NO?
Please be advised that your reply will be made available to both the media and the public.
Your prompt response would be much appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Penny Bright
A Spokesperson for the Switch Off Mercury Energy group.
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’.
Tariana Turia comes up with a way forward for the Maori Party leadership jam, She says all 3 of them can be leaders,
Te Ureroa Flavall tho will be ‘a lesser’ leader than the other 2 as neither have any plans of giving up their Ministerial positions,
Pita Sharples, who has great things on His mind you know, like paying off His mortgage, reckons He is keeping His tiro warm on the leather of the Ministerial limo until death overtakes Him,
My advice to Pita is not to mock the cold hand of death…
Slippery the Prime Minister gave a good impression of someone having been forced to dine on dead rats for far too long while announcing that the tax upon laptops and i phones will not be going ahead,
Smile’n’wave seems to have become a con trick of the past for Slippery who seems to have lost His humor recently, (lolz internal poll results do that to you),
Cheer up Slippery, just think in under 18 months we all get to tell you to F off and you can disappear to Hawaii leaving NZ smelling a little better for your departure…
Slippery the Prime Minister in the true vein of having no sense of responsibility whatsoever is proposing that those other organizations that demand and get rewarded for not having one either will be allowed to ransack your bank account should said banks look likely to be come insolvent,
Look on in horror over the weekend as the IMF and European union told Cyprus to ransack the bank accounts of it’s citizens did you,
Well Slippery’s National Government looks like it is going to give it’self the power to do the same to anyone with cash in a New Zealand bank account…
As in Russel Norman’s press release.
As someone with money in the bank, saved for my retirement I feel a little annoyed. However, I am lucky to have that money and would survive such a tax. Generally the housing market gets priority over people like me with money in low risk accounts, which aren’t really earning a lot of interest. Why aren’t they trying to rein in banks re- their role in fueling the housing bubble? Ultimately, it’s people on the lowest incomes that will suffer most with policies that continue to favour the banksters.
I understand the government or Reserve Bank are looking at insurance on deposits up to $20,000.
NRT on it,
which links to the full RBNZ plan.
Cyprus Bill English
tellus about it bad
Having pocketed trillions of euros and dollars in bail out money, now the owners of the banks are coming for the deposits, this is very predictable. Once the same owners pull the plug on the markets, the final stop is to finish destroying public services, then finally the pensions schemes which remain!
Why does NZ continue to find itself being the, *first, or only* in so many situations which are clearly going to cause major damage when they blow up in our face!
Why do so many people not tune in, and why of those that do, is there simply no traction.
Internet killed the pro-tes-star
that last line is interesting muzza
well,
Q.T
Joyce evades CC acknowledgement, unlike English…
Brownlee; 3.5 minute road travel times are a “savings and boost to the economy”
Gr8 to see DC at least given a question; humility is coming along nicely; nicely slayed and Dunne!
Nwz: Joyce backdown, however, “going to Datacom could be as dysfunctional as Novopay”
who’d be a teacher aye?
Dotcom: more embarassing stuff for the police and the spooks. (they should employ me, I tell ya, I see the Blue writing on the wall); “what a cock-up” to para. Robertson.
Farmers now pleading to IRD and the rural services sector; RD1 anyone? hello Christina 🙂
Lawless http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/
somthin’ watchable outta the ol’ US of A
“now you give my regards to Special Deputy Yule (come back now) (have you seen the Bootleggers tarred and feathered?)
“they sold us out Jimmy, time we all picked a side”.
How many out there are happy with the loud, aggressive fellow from the Insurance Council on Campbell Live tonight ?
He said that insurance companies delaying settlement costs them money, claiming inferentially that wilful delay does not happen therefore, of course. He did not say that delay which results in hugely reduced payouts because the punch-drunk, desperate, often needy insured finally settle for what is offered by the insurance company, which of course does pay. To put an end to the health threatening anguish of it. Unfair and wrong as it might be. To resume living a life albeit a reduced one.
So fuck that arsehole and his aggression. In true arrogant, greedy arch-capitalist style he suffered us the “deny” tactic and all is meant to be well. And I’ll root my boot if his anecdotal stuff about some US insurance guy at a conference in Australia apparently asking about how the people of Chrictchurch are getting on, is any indication of insurance company rorts not occurring.
The other guy on the show , the professor of whatever, has written a book which includes in the title the words delay, deny and defend. I know the US produces some pretty shonky professors in quarters, charlatans, but until this guy is shown to be one I’m much happier with his contribution.
I can’t step out of this writing this post to check out the credentials of the NZ Insurance Council but from memory it’s a body comprised of the insurance companies themselves rather than an independent watchdog so to speak, so ask yourself.
…better put this here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zl7S1LaPMU
afore Qu. crucifies me
oops, better put THIS here,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/18/porn-meat-consuming-it-freedom
before Qu. crucifies me…
Who exactly is Qu ghostrider888?
Wouldn’t be QoT that you are obliquely referring to?
Seems from the thread on rape culture that you have a problem spitting out what you want to say. That you’d prefer to make controversial, but suitably cryptic, hits and runs than argue your corner.
Is this more of the same?
Something has been niggling at me. Not until after I’d submitted the post above did it come – the resemblance of the Insurance Council prick on Campbell Live tonight, in demeanour and physically, to that angel of kindness aka narcissistic lunatic Bill O’Reilly of Fux News.
something else to get ones’ teeth in to
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/mar/19/philippines-political-support-reproductive-health
Overlawyered?
http://overlawyered.com/2013/03/claim-depictions-rights-violations-pop-entertainment-may-violate-u-n-guidelines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=claim-depictions-rights-violations-pop-entertainment-may-violate-u-n-guidelines
THE CASE AGAINST FEEDING EVERY STARVING CHILD
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/03/the-case-against-feeding-every-hungry-child/274072/
now, off home to a corned beef and some stir-fried veges
Melanie Reid attacked while investigating a story for 3rd Degree!
LOL ….. we’ll here comes a bitch fight if ever there was.
Me thinks the receivers picked on the wrong sort of ‘gal’
As someone once said ..”no matter how long it takes” …… etcetera.
If I were anyone associated with THAT receiver, I’d be watching my back