Granny’s found a psychology lecturer to put Shonkeys latest brain fade in Antarctica possibly down to fainting then listed some other major memory lapses but not them all as that’d probably take up too much room and remind folk how often and conveniently it occurs.
Bending over backwards to help as always granny, trying to play the health card on his behalf, how about some medical opinions not behavioural ones.
While in Antarctica, Key spoke of how he was affected by news of the Air New Zealand flight which crashed into the side of Mt Erebus.
Flight TE901 was destroyed on impact, killing all 257 passengers and crew.
“I know I was starting School C at around that time – it’s a memory that’s lasted with me till now,” Key said this week.
John Key was born on August 9, 1961, and the Erebus disaster was on November 28, 1979 – meaning he would have been 18 at the time. Students usually sat School Certificate examinations about the age of 15….
Brain fades
• Key sat through a briefing on the Kim Dotcom case weeks after a high-profile police raid on the internet mogul’s property in Key’s Helensville electorate. He said he completely forgot about it.
• Last October, Key told reporters he had voted for the drinking age to be raised to 20 but Key had voted for it to remain at 18.
• During an election debate in 2008, Key said he could not remember how he felt about the 1981 Springbok rugby tour. At the time of the contentious tour, Key was attending Canterbury University – a hotbed of protests. Pressed for an answer Key said he was “probably mildly pro-tour”.
• Also in 2008, when questioned about sham foreign exchange deals, Key said he was not working at Elders when the deals were made. Labour proved Key was still at Elders at the time.
If a B-Com takes three years and he graduated in 1981 then he left School in 78, no?. Which means he was at University when Erebus occured. How can he not remember if he was at University or High School at the time of that disaster
More pathetic Journalism. No fact checking, not even bothering to do basic arithmetic
+1, spot-on, my belief is that Slippery is a compulsive one as well, it’s a gambler, Psycho/sociopath thing with that one as far as i can see,
Compulsive’s, liars that is, have to keep testing the boundaries of what ‘they’ can get people to believe,
The way i see it is He is heading for a major stress related coronary partly brought about by the ‘will they believe this one’ anxiety inherent in the ‘gamble’ of continually talking s**t…
If was was born in 61, when he would have been sitting School Cert in 77 (he could have got Erebus mixed with Tenerife – that happened in 77 and killed 500+ people — A KLM jet collided with a Pam Am jet). He would be sitting Bursary in 79.
Perhaps Slippery’s suitcase of intellectual rigor is as empty as what it would seem to be and He had to sit the school cert year a number of times, before in exasperation, ‘they’ just gave up and gave it to the little failure…
Or perhaps this is just more spin to make him appear more like the common man than the actual conniving and calculating prick he is.
Playing the sympathy card at the same time to make people concerned for his health would seem a masterstroke. Three doctors couldn’t explain Key’s fainting? Please!
The question should be: do we want either a deluded and bumbling fool with a potential health condition that makes him faint and forget things or a master right wing manipulator and compulsive liar as Prime Minister?
What a laughable, twisted old blow-hard is Garth McVicar of the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
His out-of-left-field prognostications that gay marriage will increase crime confirms that his prescription for a decent society invokes selectively applied inequality, discrimination, exclusion, bullying. Such morals !
McVicar is a notorious, over-indulged, redneck clown perfectly suited to the bigotry of US tea party politics where any old shit is true the second some dinosaur zealot chooses to say it is.
Pray that the cruddy old people-hater sells up and relocates to the wilds of Wyoming where to his heart’s content he can run periodically passing aged-hippies, gays, profile-meeting blacks and other dangerous types out of the county on the end of a shotgun. And otherwise batten down against the world.
Like all marriage, Gay marriage is an act of Love. The stuid McVicar (who is best ignored, except that The MSM hang on his every word), is in effect spouting forth that “loving marriage, ipso facto, is likely to end up in criminality”. That is the extent of this pathetic soul’s logic.
Never trust a man prepared to whore out someone else’s grief for a sound bite on the news.
McFlock, Felix, QoT – As self appointed sentinels of the, who is offended, by what, and how, security assessment services, what’s your positon on the above reference to, *whore out* ?
Verb
whore out (third-person singular simple present whores out, present participle whoring out, simple past and past participle whored out)
(informal, transitive) To prostitute, take advantage of, exploit, show off; to hire out or provide to others like a whore
TA – I would suggest you await the security (hate speech assessment services) team, to deliver their judgement – I’ve highlighted the possible threat, to one of the members!
I’m surprised at the tardiness of response today, perhaps its because only one of them appears to be around currently, and is unable to deliver a unilateral response!
TA – Even though this is the virtual space, it is important that should handles feel it appropriate to throw around the serious accusations of bigotry and so on, that accusers are evaluating regulary, and without bias, hyocracy or other, the basis for their accusations, as they are a serious impediment to societal healing.
Highlighting your choice of words, is, in my opinion necessary, as I would like to understand if there is consistancy, should there be a response from those I named. No response, will speak visibly for itself, on their behalf!
Apologies to have to involve you (handle) under these conditions, I mean you no ill.
What muzza’s alluding to is that he was called out for uncritically copy-pasting an article title using the phrase “rent boy”.
As with the phrase “whore out”, this is problematic because it uses sex work as shorthand for immorality or exploitation, per the definition you quoted below.
McVicar is out of control and must be stopped. He will stop at nothing into imposing a return to the 1950’s and all the associated misery the era has inflicted on people for a crime free utopia, especially for those who were packed off Lake Alice and had 500 volts put through them because they couldnt spell ‘cat’ properly.
les Amis de l’ABC (the Friends of the ABC), a group of students dedicated to making political changes in France. In the original French, the name of the group is a pun on Les Amis de l’abaissé, the friends of the debased, “that is to say, the people”,
From les mis. The irony that we have our own red clique. Perhaps history will repeat itself and throw together various left wing idealist that hear the drum beat and bring about change.
Yep. NZ Labour Party ABC’s have their own group of vehement Young Labour student supporters which fit under this name. Many in Young Labour spoke and voted against the 40% threshold during Conference.
More likely they are looking for a career in a Labour minister’s office (after 2014) and then a possible further career move to the Labour Party caucus some time after that. In the meantime they must butter-up said ministers’ political egos.
Lets face it, they took most of the principles out of politics back in the 1980s…
Good comment – it appears from this blog that there are two Labour wings firstly the real Labour Party, and secondly the Parliamentary Labour wing.
Are these getting further apart – looks like it possibly ?
Yes Fortran that is what is happening and I find it very sad. There are good people on both sides of the leadership fence, but a small group inside the caucus seem intent on fostering disunity for the sake of their own personal egos – at least I suppose that is the basic reason. Their attitude (as demonstrated immediately after the Conference late last year) is an insult to many members because it showed what they really think of us. We are useful fodder during election campaigns – letter box stuffers, canvassers, meeting arrangers, money donators and that’s about all.
As far as I can see, the only person who can change it now is David Shearer. The olive
branch must be extended to David Cunliffe preferably by way of a return to the Front Bench. What happens after that we will have to wait and see…
Spot on, Anne. I think principled young left activists these days are more likely to head towards Mana/Greens or even some of the non-parliamentary movements. The activism exists, but why would they look to participate in Labour when senior figures such as Mallard see them as potential customers for any spare tickets he has lying around? I think those looking for paid positions inside the machine will gravitate towards Young Labour, and this will become even worse as the slightest hint of radicalism continues to be purged from caucus.
The uninformed criticisms of Young Labour here are just staggering. Are these commentators even involved in the Labour Party – certainly not the one that I am a proud member of.
Young Labour activists are some of the most principled, hard-working, intelligent members of this party. We are integral to so many campaigns around the country, we organise events where the big ideas within the party are discussed (Campaign School, Summer School, Winter School etc.), we push for the most progressive policies at conference and usually do well at getting support, we actually do stuff to help the party instead of writing whinging comments on political blogs.
The members I know in Young Labour are not in it for themselves but for the progressive ideals that we get to push for. Why don’t you come help us?
Even more likely is that they realised that 50% plus one is the norm in most democratic elections, Anne. The 60% level is a wank. It appears it was pushed by those hoping DC could use it to his short term advantage in forcing a leadership contest.
But, as I’ve pointed out earlier, it actually means DC can never lead Labour, because his minority support could never be lifted high enough to meet the 60% hurdle in caucus. An unintended consequence, I believe that’s called.
“But, as I’ve pointed out earlier, it actually means DC can never lead Labour, because his minority support could never be lifted high enough to meet the 60% hurdle in caucus. An unintended consequence, I believe that’s called.”
The 60% + 1 threshold only applies for the constitutionally mandated leaders vote at the start of the year immediately following the election, eg once every 3 years. If DC wins the leadership and loses the next election, he’s gone-burger anyway (just as DS will/would be) so it doesn’t really matter.
TRP….You may want to consider what is currently the threshold in other Labour Parties overseas. My understanding is that something like 60% is the norm.
You may be right, RL, but the NZLP has current and historical links to the union movement. There, the norm is 50% plus one. The 60% pass rate seems arbitrary at best and, as I say above, probably intended for DC’s short term gain. (ie its the figure his numbers pre-conference could muster).
The UK Labour Party has far stronger and longer ties to the union movement than the NZLP (affiliates there have long had a real vote in choosing the UK Labour Leader).
A UK Labour MP leadership contender can initiate a leadership challenge with just 20% initial backing of the Labour caucus. The decision then goes to the wider membership.
The NZLP has a long, long way left to go in democratising its Leadership and candidate selection processes.
And yet the UKLP is regarded as being anti-democratic and top down and, in Government, the caucus has the legal right to ignore the party. And, as I said, 50% is the norm in unions in both countries. So what’s your point?
CV, I have a terrible feeling you think democracy means ‘the one I want wins’.
You appear to know little about unions, CV. No reason you should, I suppose, but it leaves your ‘meme’ comment knackered. A simple majority is the norm in the union movement.
When was the last time the UKLP caucus used the trigger, CV?
Answering directly to the party members. This is the kind of thing that many associated with Labour seem deathly afraid of in 2013. And which TRP you seem to consider “anti democratic”.
When was the last time the UKLP caucus used the trigger, CV?
Quite some time ago I think; it may be that the UKLP 20% is actually too high a threshold.
TRP unions have internal votes only. They do not have to participate in decision making where three different sectors of an organisation have to decide on something. Besides the vote is only a trigger for a contest and does not decide the contest.
CV: The point I was making is that the trigger has not been used, as far as I know. It’s meaningless in the UK and arbitrary at best here.
MS: Unions participate in multi-faceted decision making all the time. Unions are represented on all sorts of organisations, including ITO’s, community groups and boards. And many negotiations are multi party, either more than one union or more than one boss.
The tendency for schools to have exclusive stationery deals with single supplier is disturbing, and another reason why Tomorrow’s Schools should be reviewed.
Parents should be able to source stationery for their children through whatever source they see fit. Whether it be calculators through trademe, compasses and protractors from the $2 shop, or books from the Warehouse. Forcing financially burdened parents to go through one supplier is totally wrong.
I would actually stick my neck out and say that school kids have too much stationery. It would be better to have the MoE supply pre printed curriculum workbooks for specialist subjects, and just have the parents buy refill, pens and rulers.
I’m not sure how the schools can prevent you from buying stationary from elsewhere? What are they gonna do, kick your kid out?
I’m sure nothing like this happened when I went to school. They did have stationary that you could buy from the school, presumably they partnered up with a retail chain to offer this. But they always gave you the price list so you could choose to go elsewhere.
Following on from the, “unexpected arrest”, the youth allegedly involved in the Sina Solomona murder as now been denied bail, “in spite of the “legislative bias” in favour of granting bail to young people.”
The arrest was reported on 20/12/12, court appearance 14/1/13, and prosecution given until 25/2/13 (5.5 weeks extension), when prosecutor Andrew McRae “sought an extension of three or four weeks for the filing of police evidence”. He sought extra time because of the extensive investigation and forensic analysis that was still being done.
1: Why was the additional time granted, over and above what the prosecutor had sought?
2: If the prosecution are sure enough the youth is the perpetrator to keep him on remand, then why is the extended investigation necessary? (surely if there is such a “powerful public interest”, resources would have been working this case since mid December when it happened, around the clock)
3: How long do forensic investigations of a single individual take to match to a victim and place at a crime scene?
4: Why in Christchuch, just weeks earlier (to the youths appearance for alleged murder) was a “convicted paedophile given bail after appearing in court accused of abusing dozens of young boys, and in Northland, a man accused of sex crimes against children was bailed to an Auckland address despite police opposition”
5: Why is it that repeat paedophile gets home detention for molesting a 7 year old girl (based on poor health (apparently), into the community he is from, and the victim’s mother is devastated and says “she is concerned about the safety of the Tauranga community” ?.
6: Why are health concerns seemingly more a factor, over the obvious safety/health concerns of a young teen on remand for many months, at risk of potential mental, and physical harm!
I don’t care about your issues with QoT and McFlock, although I agree with both of them, but why are you continuing to use this case to push your meme? I’ve read your questions and they are leading – to whatever conclusion you have reached – just say it. Is this sort of stuff part of the social experiment you claim you are conducting – the last person that did that was pete george if I remember correctly. You do remind me of him in a weird way.
Oh and please spare me the usual “don’t shoot the messenger” stuff or use americanisms like “cool your jets”. I used to think you were onto the real issues muzza – I feel quite disappointed in you to tell you the truth. Sorry to personalise it but we aren’t bots are we.
Hi Marty, perhaps have a look inside if you feel let down bro, search as to why you associate the emotion to my comments. What meme exactly do you believe I’m pushing Marty, you have yet to make any concrete comments, instead just waffling around.
If you believe the questions to be leading, then point out which ones, and why, tell me what you believe to be better questions to ask, or answer some of the questions, a combo is good. Again you have fed back nothing, just jumped in and expressed your bias, which seems to have been triggered by my letting you down in some way, come on bro, you can do better than that!
Perhaps I should have asked the question – Who is more dangerous to society/bigger flight risk etc, a previously convicted , elderly white paedophile, who we know has a passport, the means to travel, a network of sorts (salvation army), with some health problems or a young brown kid, unknown previous, unknown passport holder, or means to travel, or what, if any his connections are, who is under suspicion of murder!
FYI – I have reached no conclusion at this stage, however there is to me some rather poor reporting of this situation going on, hence I have some questions, because it feel off to me!
Don’t apologise if you actually mean what you say Marty, I’m picking there is more to it than that!
yes I have thought about why your comment triggered me. My conclusion is that this case was first raised by you for no good reason, which I mentioned at the time, and on the other occasions when you have bought it up the use of the case has shifted so that it now has become a “poor brown boy” story, which it wasn’t when you originally mentioned it. That implies to me that the story is useful to you because it helps you promote your ideas and I am not okay when innocent victims are used to score points for any viewpoint. If I come across that type of behavior I normally ignore those postings but I had unrealistic expectations of the stuff you post and therefore began to comment then, and now. Some commenters I engage with for a while until I realise that it is a waste of time for me – vto is one and mate I’m putting you in the same bucket. I don’t wish either of you ill it’s just that I’m more interested in making changes in society and communities and going over 101 areas is just so boring – I’m sure you feel the same.
I hope you leave the defenseless alone and go after those with defenses – they are worth the trouble – kia ora.
As information about this sad situation progresses, and is reported on, is it not probable that questions will develop around the pregressing information releases. Surely this is not shifting, it is commenting on the developments via the media, as I interpret the details, from what I’m reading.
It’s unfortunate that you’re unable to fathom, that my posts, are actually aimed at those with the defenses you refer. The posts were/are intended, to get generate thinking about what the MSM has been reporting, and how the low quality of reporting begs questions about its innaccuracies and gaps, and how those gaps will shape the views of readers who absorb it!
My focus is firmly on the establishments, and those with the ability to deliver/create/protect injustice, because not only are individuals corrupted, but the systems they operate inside of are systematically broken. Those same systems, seek only to protect themselves, no matter the collateral damage to the rest of us, who they pretend to serve and protect!
The reality is Marty, that the changes you (and I), are looking to be invovled with, can’t begin to happen, until what is keeping the changes from gaining traction, (because it must subvert reality in such ways, to keep control), are clearly understood for the barriers, and the theats that the establishment system are.
Take another look Marty, and if you are able to do so without predjudice, you should be able to tell where my intentions lie!
yes granted that situations change and perceptions of those situations change. The initial post from you on that case was well before much had come out – it was ghoulish, disrespectful and unnecessary – but that was then…
maybe you are trying to be too tricky – just a thought because your middle three paragraphs above are pretty coherent – perhaps if you wacked out those then your evidence/questions it might flow better, for me anyway.
Are you a believer of the “to save a family/town/country a person/family/town can be sacrificed” mode of thinking?
See for me using a recently deceased innocent victim of a terrible crime as a flail against mine enemies within the fray is just not on. You may consider me over sensitive and too pc but for my sensibilities I’d rather use the recently pulled out appendage of the enemy to slot them around the head. But hey we are all different and my lines are my lines, as are yours.
I hope you go all neo on the owners of the foot across most of our throats 🙂
Are you a believer of the “to save a family/town/country a person/family/town can be sacrificed” mode of thinking?
Quintessentially, no, however its not that simple in reality. If you apply that premise 100%, then justice would be very difficult to see done. Jimmy Saville for example, there are many victims alive, should people ignore what was done, and what will be the fallout from his evil, because the victims are innocent? You can apply the same measure to almost any situation where there are victims, and there would be few perpetrators punished for crimes!
See for me using a recently deceased innocent victim of a terrible crime as a flail against mine enemies within the fray is just not on.
Marty, that’s ok, I accept your view, and understand your position, but mine is that I was not using the deceased victim. I spend alot of time reading through articles, and it felt like there was more to this one, so I went about finding, reading, cross referencing as many write ups as I could, and then posted my thoughts/views. Whats not on for me, is the pathetic so called reporting around such terrible events, and the fact questions are not asked, and that people do not think, because it allows injustice to flourish!
You may consider me over sensitive and too pc but for my sensibilities I’d rather use the recently pulled out appendage of the enemy to slot them around the head. But hey we are all different and my lines are my lines, as are yours.
It takes all types of approach to get messages out there Marty, as you and I show, that we have different ways to express ourselves, so there are different ways that people receiving (hearing) those messages, might be swayed, or jolted into thinking more deeply.
IMO, the more varied the message delivery we can get, but with the constant intent to promote positive , the higher chance of reaching, even more minds.
Hide’s dishonest piece on state housing is just part of a broader effort which fetishes ownership and aims to further curtail tenancy rights. If he and his acolytes get their way, Housing Corp will end up managing emergency night shelters with a maximum of one week stay. Or maybe contracting out the management of these to a private provider?
Utterly predictable. But this from a man who has openly admitted that the 1840’s were a much better time because it was without all that ‘government interference’.
Mega upload. Have I got this right? New rules a year or so ago meant that if an “authority” believed that a person was downloading illegally the the internet provider was contacted, the downloader warned, and ex-communicated if she persisted. This was how Kim Dotcom cooperated with the “authorities” who then shat all over him in spite of cooperation.
So now Mega is launched with 100,000 registrations in the first hour. Wow!
Found a copy of the infamous Picot Report in the local library today. Which was good, as before I had an OIA request for it turned down by the min of ed.
A few interesting points:
All support services for schools, that were provided by the old Department of Education, or the local education boards, were chopped, and school boards given extra cash to ‘purchase their own services’.
The education advisers employed by the above effectively became consultants/independent contractors, selling their services to schools.
The education service centres that were to replace the education boards are/were basically privatised versions of the latter, some of them set up by old Education Board staff.
It was intended that community education forums would be set up and help so the local community can have a say in the running of the education system. This measure, not implemented, could have made a difference to Mallard’s school closing frenzy 10 years ago, the Parata’s school restructuring in Christchurch.
This is not really what I agree with and like, but I came across it, and I think it is important to remind ourselves of what historic events once happened.
We are busy, sometimes with perhaps trivial political stories, but the history of fascism, and what it led to is something that must never be forgotten.
Rommel was not a fascist as such himself, Hitler even hated him in the end, but he was an instrument, just like many in modern NZ society are instruments also in introducing and implementing “reforms” of a welfare kind, that have elements of fascism in them. Few get the message, I am afraid.
Maybe lucky to get away alive. The history of human kind (vermin like kind) is full of hatred, war, destruction and exploitation, some try to put a nice gloss on it. So where do we go from here???
Yet another, more friendly perspective. “Die Prinzen”, one of the more favourite bands from there, I know of. Always witty, a bit cynical and critical but always measured and sound.
So where do we get this here? I love Mr Bean also, good old UK humour, and there is some good program on TV3 on Fridays now, but hey, get a bit into the global sphere, there is so much more, and worth listening to, even if you may (at first) not understand the language.
NZ is needing to climb up the learning curve a bit more. Get onto it, and you cannot lose.
Why is The Standard not sufficiently promoting socialist or social democratic ideas, as it proclaims it is. We must move further to take a stand, I sadly see a too weak and mellowed down approach. Remember your bloody heritage, PLUS what the international development has shown.
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Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency. It is the opening move in the political chess match to form the country’s next government. Returning officer Christopher Makoni made the declaration late last night after ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
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Granny’s found a psychology lecturer to put Shonkeys latest brain fade in Antarctica possibly down to fainting then listed some other major memory lapses but not them all as that’d probably take up too much room and remind folk how often and conveniently it occurs.
Bending over backwards to help as always granny, trying to play the health card on his behalf, how about some medical opinions not behavioural ones.
Although, the brain fades the article does mention are pretty significant:
If a B-Com takes three years and he graduated in 1981 then he left School in 78, no?. Which means he was at University when Erebus occured. How can he not remember if he was at University or High School at the time of that disaster
More pathetic Journalism. No fact checking, not even bothering to do basic arithmetic
To be fair to the PM, the four events listed aren’t “brain fades”.
It’s a little unfair to blame his failing health for what are really just out and out lies told by Mr Key.
+1, spot-on, my belief is that Slippery is a compulsive one as well, it’s a gambler, Psycho/sociopath thing with that one as far as i can see,
Compulsive’s, liars that is, have to keep testing the boundaries of what ‘they’ can get people to believe,
The way i see it is He is heading for a major stress related coronary partly brought about by the ‘will they believe this one’ anxiety inherent in the ‘gamble’ of continually talking s**t…
That’s weird.
If was was born in 61, when he would have been sitting School Cert in 77 (he could have got Erebus mixed with Tenerife – that happened in 77 and killed 500+ people — A KLM jet collided with a Pam Am jet). He would be sitting Bursary in 79.
Perhaps Slippery’s suitcase of intellectual rigor is as empty as what it would seem to be and He had to sit the school cert year a number of times, before in exasperation, ‘they’ just gave up and gave it to the little failure…
Or perhaps this is just more spin to make him appear more like the common man than the actual conniving and calculating prick he is.
Playing the sympathy card at the same time to make people concerned for his health would seem a masterstroke. Three doctors couldn’t explain Key’s fainting? Please!
The question should be: do we want either a deluded and bumbling fool with a potential health condition that makes him faint and forget things or a master right wing manipulator and compulsive liar as Prime Minister?
My answer in both cases would have to be no!
He was most likely accredited from sixth form
in order to be at Uni in ’79 in order to graduate in ’81
What a laughable, twisted old blow-hard is Garth McVicar of the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
His out-of-left-field prognostications that gay marriage will increase crime confirms that his prescription for a decent society invokes selectively applied inequality, discrimination, exclusion, bullying. Such morals !
McVicar is a notorious, over-indulged, redneck clown perfectly suited to the bigotry of US tea party politics where any old shit is true the second some dinosaur zealot chooses to say it is.
Pray that the cruddy old people-hater sells up and relocates to the wilds of Wyoming where to his heart’s content he can run periodically passing aged-hippies, gays, profile-meeting blacks and other dangerous types out of the county on the end of a shotgun. And otherwise batten down against the world.
Here’s the link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8199943/Lobbyist-links-gay-marriage-to-crime-rise-in-NZ
You beat me to the post and thanks for your lovely writing .. what a hate-filled message he sends. Horrible.
Like all marriage, Gay marriage is an act of Love. The stuid McVicar (who is best ignored, except that The MSM hang on his every word), is in effect spouting forth that “loving marriage, ipso facto, is likely to end up in criminality”. That is the extent of this pathetic soul’s logic.
Never trust a man prepared to whore out someone else’s grief for a sound bite on the news.
[IrishBill: you were banned for a week for calling an author a liar. See you next Saturday]
McFlock, Felix, QoT – As self appointed sentinels of the, who is offended, by what, and how, security assessment services, what’s your positon on the above reference to, *whore out* ?
Is there a problem with what I’ve written?
Form wiki
Verb
whore out (third-person singular simple present whores out, present participle whoring out, simple past and past participle whored out)
(informal, transitive) To prostitute, take advantage of, exploit, show off; to hire out or provide to others like a whore
TA – I would suggest you await the security (hate speech assessment services) team, to deliver their judgement – I’ve highlighted the possible threat, to one of the members!
I’m surprised at the tardiness of response today, perhaps its because only one of them appears to be around currently, and is unable to deliver a unilateral response!
No offence, but if it’s all about an e-peen fight, I don’t want anything to do with it.
I’d rather I wasn’t quoted to make point scoring bombs.
As a weapon of massively good looking distraction, I’m strictly handle with care. 😆
TA – Even though this is the virtual space, it is important that should handles feel it appropriate to throw around the serious accusations of bigotry and so on, that accusers are evaluating regulary, and without bias, hyocracy or other, the basis for their accusations, as they are a serious impediment to societal healing.
Highlighting your choice of words, is, in my opinion necessary, as I would like to understand if there is consistancy, should there be a response from those I named. No response, will speak visibly for itself, on their behalf!
Apologies to have to involve you (handle) under these conditions, I mean you no ill.
“Apologies to have to involve you (handle) under these conditions, I mean you no ill.”
No worries. No offence taken.
fucktard, I’ve only just turned on the computer, and you already know the fucking answer.
Funnily enough, while you might be “surprised” at the “tardiness”, my life doesn’t revolve around your fantasies.
Nothing wrong at all, Al1en. Muzza is just trying to reinforce his No1 tool status.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19012013/#comment-575492
Still waiting for that genius in your explanation! – Was my helpful hint not enough to get you statred?
Yeah, we get it … you have comprehension difficulties, muz. All the best with the therapy.
What muzza’s alluding to is that he was called out for uncritically copy-pasting an article title using the phrase “rent boy”.
As with the phrase “whore out”, this is problematic because it uses sex work as shorthand for immorality or exploitation, per the definition you quoted below.
Someone should point out to him what het marriages leads to –
http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/opinion/cartoons/michael-leunig-20090711-dgl6.html?selectedImage=43
Gay marriage on the other hand –
http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/opinion/cartoons/michael-leunig-20090711-dgl6.html?selectedImage=34
Excellent Colonial 🙂
McVicar is out of control and must be stopped. He will stop at nothing into imposing a return to the 1950’s and all the associated misery the era has inflicted on people for a crime free utopia, especially for those who were packed off Lake Alice and had 500 volts put through them because they couldnt spell ‘cat’ properly.
Tac you mean???…
les Amis de l’ABC (the Friends of the ABC), a group of students dedicated to making political changes in France. In the original French, the name of the group is a pun on Les Amis de l’abaissé, the friends of the debased, “that is to say, the people”,
From les mis. The irony that we have our own red clique. Perhaps history will repeat itself and throw together various left wing idealist that hear the drum beat and bring about change.
Yep. NZ Labour Party ABC’s have their own group of vehement Young Labour student supporters which fit under this name. Many in Young Labour spoke and voted against the 40% threshold during Conference.
+1CV
That was one of the most shocking aspects of the Conference, seeing the Youth fight against democracy and membership power.
Sad.
Youth wings are normally the instigators of change and radicalism, not the backers of conservative power players.
Their “leaders” must have been got “confused”.
I’m sure clarity will prevail at the Summer School.
More likely they are looking for a career in a Labour minister’s office (after 2014) and then a possible further career move to the Labour Party caucus some time after that. In the meantime they must butter-up said ministers’ political egos.
Lets face it, they took most of the principles out of politics back in the 1980s…
Anne
Good comment – it appears from this blog that there are two Labour wings firstly the real Labour Party, and secondly the Parliamentary Labour wing.
Are these getting further apart – looks like it possibly ?
Yes Fortran that is what is happening and I find it very sad. There are good people on both sides of the leadership fence, but a small group inside the caucus seem intent on fostering disunity for the sake of their own personal egos – at least I suppose that is the basic reason. Their attitude (as demonstrated immediately after the Conference late last year) is an insult to many members because it showed what they really think of us. We are useful fodder during election campaigns – letter box stuffers, canvassers, meeting arrangers, money donators and that’s about all.
As far as I can see, the only person who can change it now is David Shearer. The olive
branch must be extended to David Cunliffe preferably by way of a return to the Front Bench. What happens after that we will have to wait and see…
Spot on, Anne. I think principled young left activists these days are more likely to head towards Mana/Greens or even some of the non-parliamentary movements. The activism exists, but why would they look to participate in Labour when senior figures such as Mallard see them as potential customers for any spare tickets he has lying around? I think those looking for paid positions inside the machine will gravitate towards Young Labour, and this will become even worse as the slightest hint of radicalism continues to be purged from caucus.
The uninformed criticisms of Young Labour here are just staggering. Are these commentators even involved in the Labour Party – certainly not the one that I am a proud member of.
Young Labour activists are some of the most principled, hard-working, intelligent members of this party. We are integral to so many campaigns around the country, we organise events where the big ideas within the party are discussed (Campaign School, Summer School, Winter School etc.), we push for the most progressive policies at conference and usually do well at getting support, we actually do stuff to help the party instead of writing whinging comments on political blogs.
The members I know in Young Labour are not in it for themselves but for the progressive ideals that we get to push for. Why don’t you come help us?
Even more likely is that they realised that 50% plus one is the norm in most democratic elections, Anne. The 60% level is a wank. It appears it was pushed by those hoping DC could use it to his short term advantage in forcing a leadership contest.
But, as I’ve pointed out earlier, it actually means DC can never lead Labour, because his minority support could never be lifted high enough to meet the 60% hurdle in caucus. An unintended consequence, I believe that’s called.
“But, as I’ve pointed out earlier, it actually means DC can never lead Labour, because his minority support could never be lifted high enough to meet the 60% hurdle in caucus. An unintended consequence, I believe that’s called.”
The 60% + 1 threshold only applies for the constitutionally mandated leaders vote at the start of the year immediately following the election, eg once every 3 years. If DC wins the leadership and loses the next election, he’s gone-burger anyway (just as DS will/would be) so it doesn’t really matter.
.
And who came up with that one TRP? Someone from the ABC camp perchance?
TRP….You may want to consider what is currently the threshold in other Labour Parties overseas. My understanding is that something like 60% is the norm.
You may be right, RL, but the NZLP has current and historical links to the union movement. There, the norm is 50% plus one. The 60% pass rate seems arbitrary at best and, as I say above, probably intended for DC’s short term gain. (ie its the figure his numbers pre-conference could muster).
Which sounds like tripe to me, TRP.
The UK Labour Party has far stronger and longer ties to the union movement than the NZLP (affiliates there have long had a real vote in choosing the UK Labour Leader).
A UK Labour MP leadership contender can initiate a leadership challenge with just 20% initial backing of the Labour caucus. The decision then goes to the wider membership.
The NZLP has a long, long way left to go in democratising its Leadership and candidate selection processes.
And yet the UKLP is regarded as being anti-democratic and top down and, in Government, the caucus has the legal right to ignore the party. And, as I said, 50% is the norm in unions in both countries. So what’s your point?
CV, I have a terrible feeling you think democracy means ‘the one I want wins’.
They are however far more democratic than the NZLP, including using a far lower leadership trigger threshold.
And it looks like your “union 50% + 1” meme is false, as demonstrated by the UKLP 20% threshold (which the unions over there support).
I suggest just one basic tennet for democracy: all Labour Party members get a say about the Leadership, not just 34 of them.
If the wider party backs Shearer in a leaderhip vote than he is my man through to 2014. But will we even be given that chance by the 34.
What exactly is your problem with that?
You appear to know little about unions, CV. No reason you should, I suppose, but it leaves your ‘meme’ comment knackered. A simple majority is the norm in the union movement.
When was the last time the UKLP caucus used the trigger, CV?
UK Labour leadership candidate hustings 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a128paHGoEs
Answering directly to the party members. This is the kind of thing that many associated with Labour seem deathly afraid of in 2013. And which TRP you seem to consider “anti democratic”.
Quite some time ago I think; it may be that the UKLP 20% is actually too high a threshold.
TRP unions have internal votes only. They do not have to participate in decision making where three different sectors of an organisation have to decide on something. Besides the vote is only a trigger for a contest and does not decide the contest.
CV: The point I was making is that the trigger has not been used, as far as I know. It’s meaningless in the UK and arbitrary at best here.
MS: Unions participate in multi-faceted decision making all the time. Unions are represented on all sorts of organisations, including ITO’s, community groups and boards. And many negotiations are multi party, either more than one union or more than one boss.
The tendency for schools to have exclusive stationery deals with single supplier is disturbing, and another reason why Tomorrow’s Schools should be reviewed.
Parents should be able to source stationery for their children through whatever source they see fit. Whether it be calculators through trademe, compasses and protractors from the $2 shop, or books from the Warehouse. Forcing financially burdened parents to go through one supplier is totally wrong.
I would actually stick my neck out and say that school kids have too much stationery. It would be better to have the MoE supply pre printed curriculum workbooks for specialist subjects, and just have the parents buy refill, pens and rulers.
I’m not sure how the schools can prevent you from buying stationary from elsewhere? What are they gonna do, kick your kid out?
I’m sure nothing like this happened when I went to school. They did have stationary that you could buy from the school, presumably they partnered up with a retail chain to offer this. But they always gave you the price list so you could choose to go elsewhere.
Teen refused bail on murder charge
Following on from the, “unexpected arrest”, the youth allegedly involved in the Sina Solomona murder as now been denied bail, “in spite of the “legislative bias” in favour of granting bail to young people.”
The arrest was reported on 20/12/12, court appearance 14/1/13, and prosecution given until 25/2/13 (5.5 weeks extension), when prosecutor Andrew McRae “sought an extension of three or four weeks for the filing of police evidence”. He sought extra time because of the extensive investigation and forensic analysis that was still being done.
1: Why was the additional time granted, over and above what the prosecutor had sought?
2: If the prosecution are sure enough the youth is the perpetrator to keep him on remand, then why is the extended investigation necessary? (surely if there is such a “powerful public interest”, resources would have been working this case since mid December when it happened, around the clock)
3: How long do forensic investigations of a single individual take to match to a victim and place at a crime scene?
4: Why in Christchuch, just weeks earlier (to the youths appearance for alleged murder) was a “convicted paedophile given bail after appearing in court accused of abusing dozens of young boys, and in Northland, a man accused of sex crimes against children was bailed to an Auckland address despite police opposition”
5: Why is it that repeat paedophile gets home detention for molesting a 7 year old girl (based on poor health (apparently), into the community he is from, and the victim’s mother is devastated and says “she is concerned about the safety of the Tauranga community” ?.
6: Why are health concerns seemingly more a factor, over the obvious safety/health concerns of a young teen on remand for many months, at risk of potential mental, and physical harm!
I don’t care about your issues with QoT and McFlock, although I agree with both of them, but why are you continuing to use this case to push your meme? I’ve read your questions and they are leading – to whatever conclusion you have reached – just say it. Is this sort of stuff part of the social experiment you claim you are conducting – the last person that did that was pete george if I remember correctly. You do remind me of him in a weird way.
Oh and please spare me the usual “don’t shoot the messenger” stuff or use americanisms like “cool your jets”. I used to think you were onto the real issues muzza – I feel quite disappointed in you to tell you the truth. Sorry to personalise it but we aren’t bots are we.
Hi Marty, perhaps have a look inside if you feel let down bro, search as to why you associate the emotion to my comments. What meme exactly do you believe I’m pushing Marty, you have yet to make any concrete comments, instead just waffling around.
If you believe the questions to be leading, then point out which ones, and why, tell me what you believe to be better questions to ask, or answer some of the questions, a combo is good. Again you have fed back nothing, just jumped in and expressed your bias, which seems to have been triggered by my letting you down in some way, come on bro, you can do better than that!
Perhaps I should have asked the question – Who is more dangerous to society/bigger flight risk etc, a previously convicted , elderly white paedophile, who we know has a passport, the means to travel, a network of sorts (salvation army), with some health problems or a young brown kid, unknown previous, unknown passport holder, or means to travel, or what, if any his connections are, who is under suspicion of murder!
FYI – I have reached no conclusion at this stage, however there is to me some rather poor reporting of this situation going on, hence I have some questions, because it feel off to me!
Don’t apologise if you actually mean what you say Marty, I’m picking there is more to it than that!
Ta muzza
yes I have thought about why your comment triggered me. My conclusion is that this case was first raised by you for no good reason, which I mentioned at the time, and on the other occasions when you have bought it up the use of the case has shifted so that it now has become a “poor brown boy” story, which it wasn’t when you originally mentioned it. That implies to me that the story is useful to you because it helps you promote your ideas and I am not okay when innocent victims are used to score points for any viewpoint. If I come across that type of behavior I normally ignore those postings but I had unrealistic expectations of the stuff you post and therefore began to comment then, and now. Some commenters I engage with for a while until I realise that it is a waste of time for me – vto is one and mate I’m putting you in the same bucket. I don’t wish either of you ill it’s just that I’m more interested in making changes in society and communities and going over 101 areas is just so boring – I’m sure you feel the same.
I hope you leave the defenseless alone and go after those with defenses – they are worth the trouble – kia ora.
Hi Marty,
As information about this sad situation progresses, and is reported on, is it not probable that questions will develop around the pregressing information releases. Surely this is not shifting, it is commenting on the developments via the media, as I interpret the details, from what I’m reading.
It’s unfortunate that you’re unable to fathom, that my posts, are actually aimed at those with the defenses you refer. The posts were/are intended, to get generate thinking about what the MSM has been reporting, and how the low quality of reporting begs questions about its innaccuracies and gaps, and how those gaps will shape the views of readers who absorb it!
My focus is firmly on the establishments, and those with the ability to deliver/create/protect injustice, because not only are individuals corrupted, but the systems they operate inside of are systematically broken. Those same systems, seek only to protect themselves, no matter the collateral damage to the rest of us, who they pretend to serve and protect!
The reality is Marty, that the changes you (and I), are looking to be invovled with, can’t begin to happen, until what is keeping the changes from gaining traction, (because it must subvert reality in such ways, to keep control), are clearly understood for the barriers, and the theats that the establishment system are.
Take another look Marty, and if you are able to do so without predjudice, you should be able to tell where my intentions lie!
Hey muzza
yes granted that situations change and perceptions of those situations change. The initial post from you on that case was well before much had come out – it was ghoulish, disrespectful and unnecessary – but that was then…
maybe you are trying to be too tricky – just a thought because your middle three paragraphs above are pretty coherent – perhaps if you wacked out those then your evidence/questions it might flow better, for me anyway.
Are you a believer of the “to save a family/town/country a person/family/town can be sacrificed” mode of thinking?
See for me using a recently deceased innocent victim of a terrible crime as a flail against mine enemies within the fray is just not on. You may consider me over sensitive and too pc but for my sensibilities I’d rather use the recently pulled out appendage of the enemy to slot them around the head. But hey we are all different and my lines are my lines, as are yours.
I hope you go all neo on the owners of the foot across most of our throats 🙂
Quintessentially, no, however its not that simple in reality. If you apply that premise 100%, then justice would be very difficult to see done. Jimmy Saville for example, there are many victims alive, should people ignore what was done, and what will be the fallout from his evil, because the victims are innocent? You can apply the same measure to almost any situation where there are victims, and there would be few perpetrators punished for crimes!
Marty, that’s ok, I accept your view, and understand your position, but mine is that I was not using the deceased victim. I spend alot of time reading through articles, and it felt like there was more to this one, so I went about finding, reading, cross referencing as many write ups as I could, and then posted my thoughts/views. Whats not on for me, is the pathetic so called reporting around such terrible events, and the fact questions are not asked, and that people do not think, because it allows injustice to flourish!
It takes all types of approach to get messages out there Marty, as you and I show, that we have different ways to express ourselves, so there are different ways that people receiving (hearing) those messages, might be swayed, or jolted into thinking more deeply.
IMO, the more varied the message delivery we can get, but with the constant intent to promote positive , the higher chance of reaching, even more minds.
And the Orwell prize for neo-liberal bullshit goes today to… Rodney Hide!
“State house policy must free tenants from rentals”
That’s right, the poor in tin and tar paper shanties without power or sanitation are free! FREE I TELL YOU!!!
he also manages to tell a nasty little lie in an attempt to smear Michael Joseph Savage, a man who he clearly very, very jealous of.
PS I am not linking to his nasty little piece of shit because the HoS shouldn’t be encouraged by the site hits.
Hide’s dishonest piece on state housing is just part of a broader effort which fetishes ownership and aims to further curtail tenancy rights. If he and his acolytes get their way, Housing Corp will end up managing emergency night shelters with a maximum of one week stay. Or maybe contracting out the management of these to a private provider?
Utterly predictable. But this from a man who has openly admitted that the 1840’s were a much better time because it was without all that ‘government interference’.
Mega upload. Have I got this right? New rules a year or so ago meant that if an “authority” believed that a person was downloading illegally the the internet provider was contacted, the downloader warned, and ex-communicated if she persisted. This was how Kim Dotcom cooperated with the “authorities” who then shat all over him in spite of cooperation.
So now Mega is launched with 100,000 registrations in the first hour. Wow!
But the new Mega has no open-ness to any authority not even to Mega itself.
Is this huge, very huge, given the wish for USA (and National) want to to control the internet?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10860260
So will people use the mega site to file share, pretty much as they used Megaupload, or does it’s set-up open it up to different sorts of uses?
Well I’m interested in backups…
Rock and Roll ‘aint Noise Pollution
(to me it makes good good sense) 🙂
Muwahahahahahahaha:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/page/292910_FACTA–Ireland_and_Caymens_on_
Found a copy of the infamous Picot Report in the local library today. Which was good, as before I had an OIA request for it turned down by the min of ed.
A few interesting points:
All support services for schools, that were provided by the old Department of Education, or the local education boards, were chopped, and school boards given extra cash to ‘purchase their own services’.
The education advisers employed by the above effectively became consultants/independent contractors, selling their services to schools.
The education service centres that were to replace the education boards are/were basically privatised versions of the latter, some of them set up by old Education Board staff.
It was intended that community education forums would be set up and help so the local community can have a say in the running of the education system. This measure, not implemented, could have made a difference to Mallard’s school closing frenzy 10 years ago, the Parata’s school restructuring in Christchurch.
This is not really what I agree with and like, but I came across it, and I think it is important to remind ourselves of what historic events once happened.
We are busy, sometimes with perhaps trivial political stories, but the history of fascism, and what it led to is something that must never be forgotten.
Rommel was not a fascist as such himself, Hitler even hated him in the end, but he was an instrument, just like many in modern NZ society are instruments also in introducing and implementing “reforms” of a welfare kind, that have elements of fascism in them. Few get the message, I am afraid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oNkYFpg2iw&NR=1
They killed the Jews, and this is what some of them got in return:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=YpxX4cg9JqY
Maybe lucky to get away alive. The history of human kind (vermin like kind) is full of hatred, war, destruction and exploitation, some try to put a nice gloss on it. So where do we go from here???
Free “western” NZ, UK, USA ???
Yet another, more friendly perspective. “Die Prinzen”, one of the more favourite bands from there, I know of. Always witty, a bit cynical and critical but always measured and sound.
So where do we get this here? I love Mr Bean also, good old UK humour, and there is some good program on TV3 on Fridays now, but hey, get a bit into the global sphere, there is so much more, and worth listening to, even if you may (at first) not understand the language.
NZ is needing to climb up the learning curve a bit more. Get onto it, and you cannot lose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY9K8CjXHkM
We want revolutionary spirit, nothing else, so please enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY9K8CjXHkM
(over 1 million downloads is impressive)
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=el+pueblo+unido+jamas+sera+vencido&oq=el+pueblo&gs_l=youtube-reduced.1.1.0l4.121108.125107.0.128120.9.5.0.3.3.0.1174.2030.1j1j1j1j7-1.5.0…0.0…1ac.1.3lKKd_8s9Jc
(for search options)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWlkWPXfvXc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWlkWPXfvXc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mOjijV4jA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSRVtlTwFs8
Why is The Standard not sufficiently promoting socialist or social democratic ideas, as it proclaims it is. We must move further to take a stand, I sadly see a too weak and mellowed down approach. Remember your bloody heritage, PLUS what the international development has shown.
Viva el pueble, viva la revolution.
THE TRUTH or El Veridad –
This is a MUST view documentary, before anybody goes about adopting biased and anti social comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=6QfuOOJzByg
El Che was MURDERED by CIA, so also in Chile we had Pinochet establish later a fascist dictatorship, supported and created by USA!!!