George Galloway is on fire.
Listen to the first 12 minutes to hear his view of Trump, his speech and the demise of Obama. These are views you do not hear in the neoliberal mainstream media.
He does provide a fine example of Andre’s point the other day, about how some on the loonier fringes of the left would rather see a right-wing nationalist demagogue win power and implement a policy prescription big on racism, sexism and destruction of the environment, than see an insufficiently-left member of a centre-left party get the job. The convergence of extreme left and extreme right is approaching 1930s levels.
“an insufficiently-left member of a centre left party” is third way (Blairism) and is a proven disaster. Your scale goes straight from Blairism to ‘extreme’ left. I don’t see any calls for that, I only see a growing call for a return to the Left, which you conveniently leave out.
I “conveniently” left out a “return to the left,” as there were only two candidates on the ballot with any chance of success and neither represented the left (hardly surprising in a country far more conservative and right-wing-oriented than New Zealand). Referring to those two candidates, Galloway, a fine representative of the loonier fringes of the left, says it’s better that the right-wing nationalist demagogue got the job than that the fairly ordinary Democrat nominee should have it. I find that significant – don’t you?
No. It comes down to your definition of “loonier fringes of the Left”.
Don’t forget that we, and the Democrats, have under-estimated just how much people did not want “more of the same” as offered by Clinton.
Some of them so not wanted more of the same under Clinton that they elected (either actively by voting for him or passively by not voting) someone far worse. So the question is, are those people indistinguishable from fascists or just idiots? Galloway isn’t a voter in US elections, but his declaration of preference for Trump invites the same question about him – and in his case, I’m genuinely not sure which it is. Possibly both.
“someone far worse”. That is going to be hard to prove because Hillary will not get to deliver her very questionable brand of “Pax Americana” ( which is the same as the Republicans version anyway!).
Well, yes, for the left’s nutcase element there’s no way the actual, really-existing unpleasantness that Trump is about to unleash on the USA will be able to compete with their bizarre fantasies about “Killary,” “Crooked Hillary” etc. However, those of us in the reality-based community are able to spot the difference between a fairly typical Democrat presidential candidate and a Tangerine Nazi Rapeclown. It’s instructive that so many on the extreme left prefer the latter.
New Zealand is supporting them as part of the Ukraine violent Coup …. where Nazis get in power….. with a bit of death before hand …. and heaps afterwards
U.s.a sponsored and Clinton endorsed of course …..
racism, sexism and destruction of the environment …..
Are you describing what Hillary brought to Libya ????
She was afraid of NOT being able to wage ….
” the Clinton emails reveal one other important fact – that before and during the NATO conflict, Clinton and her team knew very well, and actually feared, that the conflict in Libya might very well have been resolved through negotiations;” …
” Clinton shunned such efforts, instead preferring a war, despite its quite predictably horrible consequences, which would give the U.S. and its allies the hand they wanted in the future of Libyan and African affairs.”
Hillary prevailed as we all know ……….. The results have been very bad for blacks, women, children, family’s… and human rights for the people of Libya ..
“…, before the war, Libya had less of its population in poverty than the Netherlands. Libyans had access to free health care, education, electricity and interest-free loans, and women had great freedoms that had been applauded by the U.N. Human Rights Council in January 2011, on the eve of the war that destroyed the government. ….”
War propaganda from clinton and co was used as justification for reprisals and ethnic cleansing of blacks ,,, “US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added fuel to the fire by saying she was “deeply concerned” that Gaddafi’s troops were participating in widespread rape in Libya. “Rape, physical intimidation, sexual harassment, and even so-called ‘virginity tests’ have taken place..,”.
But others not pushing for wars of aggression say otherwise ….
Amnesty International crisis researcher, Donatella Rovera: “We examined this issue in depth and found no evidence. The rebels spread these rumours everywhere,…. which had terrible consequences for African guest workers: there was a systematic hunt for migrants, some were lynched and many arrested….”
Shes quite a woman that Hillary …
” the town of Tawergha had been completely eradicated of all its mainly black population by rebels in nearby Misrata, who had marked their signature on the walls to the town: “the brigade for purging slaves, black skin”
Do we think its racism that makes her such a ‘super-predator’ ???
The rant I’d write if I had the time and the skillz with words…
Just a taster:
“I’m sick of seeing people who insist on being willfully ignorant of basic civics and how government works, stunningly myopic of the bigger picture or the greater good, and outright refuse to even consider coalition building, still being catered to like customers at a high end day spa because they’re the either loudest voices in the room or are adept with or active on social media — even if they’re using it to promote laughingly biased fake news.”
‘Swimming has been banned at 10 Auckland beaches this summer because of worsening pollution from human and animal wastes.
Permanent signs declaring that the water is not safe for swimming went up at the start of summer at Laingholm and Wood Bay near Titirangi, the north and south lagoons at Piha, and at the Bethells Beach lagoon – all popular swimming spots for children too young to swim in the wild west coast surf.
Auckland Council has now stopped routine monitoring of water quality at all five sites, as well as at five other beaches that already had permanent warning signs – Cox’s Bay, Meola Reef, Weymouth, the Wairau Stream outlet at Milford Beach and Little Oneroa lagoon on Waiheke Island.
It has also issued temporary health warnings so far this summer at seven of the other 72 beaches that are still monitored.’
The worst faecal bacteria count, measured at Green Bay on November 16, was 24,200 enterococci in every 100ml of water – 173 times the maximum safe level of 140.’
Mayors are actually fairly powerless which is a Good Thing as we really don’t want petty dictatorships. But that means that the cities are run by the councillors which are either RWNJs themselves or are scared of the RWNJs call for lowering rates which results in these types of stories happening.
In other words, the problem is the RWNJs saying that we need to lower rates/taxes and the people actually believing those lies.
Stunned mullet
No I haven’t seen your mayors over the last few decades but I have seen a lot of your short comments and don’t think much of your ability to intelligently critique anything including mayors.
I live at Ngataringa Bay and have been here for 14 years.
The seawater quality is better now than for many years. The leechate from the old Devonport tip has essentially disappeared.
I also recall that Takapuna, Cheltenham and the North Shore beaches were regularly closed. This has not happened for years. There has been a huge amount spent on the sewage system that has meant that this almost never happens. The Wairau creek issue will have been much worse in the past.
So these measures of pollution have no context of time. Sure things could be better, but seawater quality has got progressively better in Auckland over the last 20 years.
So your back yard is now fine Wayne ? Oh lucky you living in a rich Nact area. However, the point of the post is that many waterways are deteriorating beyond clean up point and the council does not have the funds to do anything about it.
Another product of Nact’s “let’s load Auckland up with people” and “the rest of the country with cows”.
So as the party of everyone needs to be responsible for themselves – how about your lot taking some personal responsibility for their poor personal choices here which are impacting on the rest of us and are going to cost heaps to fix?
And why aren’t the cost of these choices going into silly old Bill English’s social investment modeling as money the taxpayers will have to spend to clean up after the righties?? It’s going to dwarf the cost of the people he is hounding
Oh and I forgot to mention – if an earlier bunch of rightie’s had had their way then there would be no Ngataringa Bay – they were going to fill it in. Lucky for you Wayne that the left & environmentalist’s fought back and won. Your lot were wrong and the left was right.
The point I am making is that such things have to be viewed in a context.
Our beaches, right across Auckland, are much better than they were 20 years ago.
Watercare is spending enormous amounts of money so that they will continue to improve.
For instance the relatively new sewage system on the Manukau is vastly better than the huge ponds that preceded it. There is a whole new round of new construction taking place at the plant to take account of growth and to improve water quality.
The five spots with permanent signs are a problem. But I know for instance that Wairau creek is substantially better as a result of building the collector tanks, probably now about ten years ago.
If asked the question,; Is water quality in the harbours continuing to improve” I would say “yes”.
So?? In context the number of places permanently off limits has just doubled. All those extra people – look at the cost of fixing it all. let’s do the social investment modelling shall we?
lol, that’s what I was thinking. If Auckland has a magic wand, why aren’t they sharing it around, that’s what I want to know. To be fair to Wayne though, he did say it disappeared, not that someone disappeared it, so maybe it’s a local phenomenon.
Being a solutions kind of person, maybe the wand can be waved inspiring all of those who really do care about the environment to up stakes and exit the burg.
En masse.
Leaving the City of Sails to those who merely seek the kudos of an Auckland address…and they will come, believe me.
And they can sit with clothes pegs on their noses admiring the sludgy tide as it ebbs and flows over the dead and stinking foreshore.
If I’m a bit tetchy about this it is because this has been featured in news reports for decades now…heavy rain flooding the stormwater and sewage system and depositing shit on Auckland beaches.
Not one single extra house or any structure should be allowed until this is sorted. Now.
Its all very well obtaining a building permit or resource consent on the basis that the developer has met the sewage and stormwater requirements when the actual infrastructure receiving those products can’t cope when it rains heavily.
Madness.
If I were living in Auckland I’d be protesting/rioting about this.
I guess it has literally literally leeched out, or alternatively properly sealed in. The tip was closed about 30 years ago and over about 10 years it was properly sealed. It is now quite a nice park.
Anyway from my experience of swimming in Ngataringa (I am one of the few who do) I can absolutely testify to the water quality progressively improving. There has been a recovery of fish life. There is less mud, more sand and the mangroves are more healthy.
I know enough about the rest of North Shore and the Waitemata to also make my observations of water quality. I both sail and fish on it regularly. In the last four weeks, three fishing trips. All with 4 or 5 snapper typically caught over a 2 hour period.
So from what I see the harbour is actually pretty good. Not perfect, but not deteriorating and at least on the North Shore, improving.
Sorry that the rest of you can only ever see a glass half empty.
Wayne – I was unable to respond yesterday; all glitched up with WordPress;
Your anecdotal comments are fair enough, in the way that everyone else’s are, but the science, represented by the warning signs mentioned earlier, tell a more reliable story. It was a bit churlish of you, I thought, to typify “the rest of us” as only ever seeing a glass half empty. That particular phrase seems to be favoured by a certain kind of person; those who laud our “100% pure rivers” by comparing them with China’s much worse rivers. Claiming that we’d be “half-empty glassers” if we believe the rivers now are far from their best, simply because you can remember them when they were even worse, is a similarly deluded, imo. As to the leachate from the landfill you cite, years of leaking and the debatable quality of the engineering of containment systems don’t have me breathing a sigh of relief over any of the tip-sites we’ve created over the past 100 years.
It would be of interest to know what the definition of a Christian is. Is it someone who believes in the idea that Jesus was the son of God etc, etc or that they follow the teachings – because the two do not necessarily go together – frequently don’t, in fact!
If anyone missed it, China housing bubble just popped. Volcanic shelter-flippers can take a break together with the Great Auk. It could be a long and bumpy ride down if the earth moves again.
The incoming administration allocated at least a dozen of 183 seats on the inaugural platform to donors and fundraisers, who sat beside cabinet designees, senators, and President Trump’s immediate family. Another 49 seats for the pre-inaugural Friday morning church service, which Trump attended, were allocated to a billionaire fundraiser.
The documents, which come from the inauguration’s organizing committee, paint a markedly different picture than the one Trump presented during the campaign, that of a swashbuckling populist who would overturn “the rigged system” and drain Washington’s corrupt “swamp” of money-driven influence.
If these documents are any indication, Trump’s inner circle is shaping up to be even more plutocratic and insular than that of previous presidents.
…
In 2013, the New York Times made an incomplete chart showing many of the attendees who were granted platform seats for Barack Obama’s second inaugural. Only two of those among the platform crowd who the Times was able to identify were megadonors—Chris Hughes, the Facebook co-founder, and his husband Sean Eldridge.
Well, it’s Sunday and perhaps minor issues like racist images on popular New Zealand products will interest people who have had enough of politics with a capital “P” during the week. That’s what I reckon, stunned.
Did you watch the video of the woman who comes from a country with a large population of people of African descent, whose job it is to study social phenomena? A few clues there.
Stunned thinks, nothing to see here, move on.
Yates could easily capitulate, acknowledge the problem, change the image and enjoy the kudos and free publicity. But they seem to have dug in (when in a hole etc…garden suppliers after all)
A bigger problem is the way people get upset over things like this and ascribe meanings which in the past were never thought of .. the world is progressively getting more and more idiotic with false sensitivities for political reasons.
Have you noticed the lamp? which suggests to me an ‘Arabian nights’ fairy tale so it is logical the character will be darker skinned than northern european.
Latest NZCPC comment by Muriel Newman puts her finger squarely on the problem of PC or political crap.
After years of neo-liberal propaganda, what goes for ‘middle-of-the-road’ these days is nothing like the views that would have been considered ‘centrist’ sometime earlier (depicted in my sketch).
Now the whole continuum has become distorted. The Third Wayers (Blairites) and the rest of the faux progressives have not only dislocated the Political Left from the True Left but also skewed the distribution of views to the right.
The Political Left is close to where the Right used to sit (the scales on my sketch are meaningful) and as a result, what is now termed ‘centrist’, has shifted dramatically to the right of the distribution.
The Right is now much more extreme than it used to be (particularly on economic matters).
TRUE LEFT ———————————————— POLITICAL LEFT——— CENTRIST VIEWS — RIGHT
Except for a few fringe dwellers in social media the political right in New Zealand is far from extreme. Given that many people claim little real difference between the two larges parties here, National and Labour, and some claim with justification that some Green policy positions (especially environmental) transcend political alignments.
“Except for a few fringe dwellers in social media the political right in New Zealand is far from extreme. ”
I should point out your simply wrong. Both the political left and right in NZ are wedded to a position adopted by Labour4 that the market, left to its own devices, provides a close to ideal social and political environment (which is responsible for most social goods). That is an extreme position and demonstrably incorrect.
I did a binge watch of “The Fugitive” a couple of years ago. Richard Kimble (The Fugitive) lives his life in the USA at the bottom of society, on the margins, so there are shows, in passing, about union troubles and boss/workers troubles. It really shows how far to the right the USA has moved on these issues in just over 50 years.
(And it’s a really interesting watch for two other reasons:
1) for how the adults act towards the teenagers of the time (the baby boom generation). It’s like their force of numbers means that the adults perceive them as just inherently troublesome and
2) for how primitive all the technology was just 50 years ago)
Trump repeated a campaign line that the U.S. should have “kept”‘ Iraq’s oil after the 2003 invasion, saying that might have blocked the rise of the Islamic State. He added: “Maybe we’ll have another chance.” The president again said he opposed the Iraq war, though interviews at the time indicated otherwise.
The Retirement Commissioner is getting airplay for the problems of funding the old age pension (superannuation) giving the large costs which she forecasts to go to 90 billion a year by 2020 I think. There is talk about shifting it up to 67 which is a commonsense way of dealing with it. That there are not enough paid jobs to go round doesn’t enter into it. The Wince department drives people into depression and oppresses and degrades those forced to go on the treadmill who aren’t the right fit for employers and the cold-blooded working -bludgers-being-bludgeoned system is not acknowledged either.
It’s time to face up to the truth that money is a system of exchangeable tokens. It’s a way to convert credits to a virtually universal transfer system. What is essential to have is food, housing, security, transport, personal care for health, spectacles etc. – that doesn’t change. If retired people can earn credits by doing something that is useful to society then they should be given enough credits from the system to provide for themselves to a decent level. Then any money they manage to earn can be on top of that. Superannuation tax on income would be 5% for the first $20,000 and 40% over that, and all the time there would be no tax on their basic pension.
Also planned demise will be legalised with a practical, thoughtful system set up that people could choose to ignore, or opt into or out of with set steps to follow, and would apply to all those over 70 and to medical personnel or others. There may be specially designated trained and certificated people to be the dying equivalents of marriage celebrants.
Instead of top-down policies for older people, with decisions made for them,
there should be groups holding discussions around the country as to how they should be treated. There are enough capable, mature minds still functioning well and able to absorb facts, discuss financial matters, standards of living, standards of ethical treatment, philosophical and religious aspects.
Then there is the conflict caused by generational unbalance in numbers and expectations, in political power and experience and the lack of input into society by many wage earners when they retire although receiving much respectful assistance and finance from society on top of any income and assets they hold, which is not equally available to the young vulnerable adult.
Why is the retirement comissioner engaged in undermining entitlements for pensioners? Is that part of her job description? Given the impending boom in demand for services for the retired, should she not be advocating for capacity increases and additional training to relieve inflationary pressures here before they arrise?
My comment about the Retirement Commissioner will probably come up later.
It’s 12.52 22/1 now. I will put the link to Radionz item of the Commissioner below. I think some have not been able to access this easily. I have found that if the link is put in the subject heading window in a new tab, it goes through okay to the item summary with the listen button at top.
This will be a sub-set of the Hilary vote feeling good about themselves but, like the Occupy Movement, achieving no effective change because they are only ever preaching to the converted.
Rather than making an effort to understand how the people they need to win over think and changing the strategy to fit. Whining and stomping feet ‘aint it.
Still, I guess some people got some much needed exercise, so it’s not all a waste of time.
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Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
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The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
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It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
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Colbert on fire. Finally I’ve learned what length a tie should be tied at.
https://youtu.be/0L9ZDnOB5ZU
Stacey Herbert and Max Keiser on fire. I learnt why the Democrats lost the US election.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fVD2fI_uXSk
It was because they relied on quants and algorithms.
George Galloway is on fire.
Listen to the first 12 minutes to hear his view of Trump, his speech and the demise of Obama. These are views you do not hear in the neoliberal mainstream media.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj1PjSpkPss
Everyone’s on fire.
He does provide a fine example of Andre’s point the other day, about how some on the loonier fringes of the left would rather see a right-wing nationalist demagogue win power and implement a policy prescription big on racism, sexism and destruction of the environment, than see an insufficiently-left member of a centre-left party get the job. The convergence of extreme left and extreme right is approaching 1930s levels.
“an insufficiently-left member of a centre left party” is third way (Blairism) and is a proven disaster. Your scale goes straight from Blairism to ‘extreme’ left. I don’t see any calls for that, I only see a growing call for a return to the Left, which you conveniently leave out.
I “conveniently” left out a “return to the left,” as there were only two candidates on the ballot with any chance of success and neither represented the left (hardly surprising in a country far more conservative and right-wing-oriented than New Zealand). Referring to those two candidates, Galloway, a fine representative of the loonier fringes of the left, says it’s better that the right-wing nationalist demagogue got the job than that the fairly ordinary Democrat nominee should have it. I find that significant – don’t you?
No. It comes down to your definition of “loonier fringes of the Left”.
Don’t forget that we, and the Democrats, have under-estimated just how much people did not want “more of the same” as offered by Clinton.
Some of them so not wanted more of the same under Clinton that they elected (either actively by voting for him or passively by not voting) someone far worse. So the question is, are those people indistinguishable from fascists or just idiots? Galloway isn’t a voter in US elections, but his declaration of preference for Trump invites the same question about him – and in his case, I’m genuinely not sure which it is. Possibly both.
“someone far worse”. That is going to be hard to prove because Hillary will not get to deliver her very questionable brand of “Pax Americana” ( which is the same as the Republicans version anyway!).
Well, yes, for the left’s nutcase element there’s no way the actual, really-existing unpleasantness that Trump is about to unleash on the USA will be able to compete with their bizarre fantasies about “Killary,” “Crooked Hillary” etc. However, those of us in the reality-based community are able to spot the difference between a fairly typical Democrat presidential candidate and a Tangerine Nazi Rapeclown. It’s instructive that so many on the extreme left prefer the latter.
And did you mention nazis ????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYyy0aeWrnw
New Zealand is supporting them as part of the Ukraine violent Coup …. where Nazis get in power….. with a bit of death before hand …. and heaps afterwards
U.s.a sponsored and Clinton endorsed of course …..
They care not who they kill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8veOzd39VWI
racism, sexism and destruction of the environment …..
Are you describing what Hillary brought to Libya ????
She was afraid of NOT being able to wage ….
” the Clinton emails reveal one other important fact – that before and during the NATO conflict, Clinton and her team knew very well, and actually feared, that the conflict in Libya might very well have been resolved through negotiations;” …
” Clinton shunned such efforts, instead preferring a war, despite its quite predictably horrible consequences, which would give the U.S. and its allies the hand they wanted in the future of Libyan and African affairs.”
Hillary prevailed as we all know ……….. The results have been very bad for blacks, women, children, family’s… and human rights for the people of Libya ..
“…, before the war, Libya had less of its population in poverty than the Netherlands. Libyans had access to free health care, education, electricity and interest-free loans, and women had great freedoms that had been applauded by the U.N. Human Rights Council in January 2011, on the eve of the war that destroyed the government. ….”
And now ?.?, ?”Control and crucifixions: Life in Libya under IS”
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35325072
War propaganda from clinton and co was used as justification for reprisals and ethnic cleansing of blacks ,,, “US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added fuel to the fire by saying she was “deeply concerned” that Gaddafi’s troops were participating in widespread rape in Libya. “Rape, physical intimidation, sexual harassment, and even so-called ‘virginity tests’ have taken place..,”.
But others not pushing for wars of aggression say otherwise ….
Amnesty International crisis researcher, Donatella Rovera: “We examined this issue in depth and found no evidence. The rebels spread these rumours everywhere,…. which had terrible consequences for African guest workers: there was a systematic hunt for migrants, some were lynched and many arrested….”
Shes quite a woman that Hillary …
” the town of Tawergha had been completely eradicated of all its mainly black population by rebels in nearby Misrata, who had marked their signature on the walls to the town: “the brigade for purging slaves, black skin”
Do we think its racism that makes her such a ‘super-predator’ ???
Or is she just a psycho like her mentor Kissinger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmOb6DRrLWg
The rant I’d write if I had the time and the skillz with words…
Just a taster:
“I’m sick of seeing people who insist on being willfully ignorant of basic civics and how government works, stunningly myopic of the bigger picture or the greater good, and outright refuse to even consider coalition building, still being catered to like customers at a high end day spa because they’re the either loudest voices in the room or are adept with or active on social media — even if they’re using it to promote laughingly biased fake news.”
https://medium.com/@sammystyle77/the-nihilistic-purity-of-the-far-left-will-kill-us-all-54169b25e3a8#.rdo17tvj3
Hmm,
Galloway as a touchstone of sensible political analysis. Probably enough said with that one observation.
Clean Green New Zealand.
‘Swimming has been banned at 10 Auckland beaches this summer because of worsening pollution from human and animal wastes.
Permanent signs declaring that the water is not safe for swimming went up at the start of summer at Laingholm and Wood Bay near Titirangi, the north and south lagoons at Piha, and at the Bethells Beach lagoon – all popular swimming spots for children too young to swim in the wild west coast surf.
Auckland Council has now stopped routine monitoring of water quality at all five sites, as well as at five other beaches that already had permanent warning signs – Cox’s Bay, Meola Reef, Weymouth, the Wairau Stream outlet at Milford Beach and Little Oneroa lagoon on Waiheke Island.
It has also issued temporary health warnings so far this summer at seven of the other 72 beaches that are still monitored.’
The worst faecal bacteria count, measured at Green Bay on November 16, was 24,200 enterococci in every 100ml of water – 173 times the maximum safe level of 140.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11786380
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11785299
Auckland eh? What a shithole.
This has been happening for years…yet the message is…. build more houses!
Bring in more people! With the extra rates we can fix the infrastructure!
Stupid.
Talking of stupid, have you seen our mayors over the last few decades.
And have you read the above comment?
Mayors are actually fairly powerless which is a Good Thing as we really don’t want petty dictatorships. But that means that the cities are run by the councillors which are either RWNJs themselves or are scared of the RWNJs call for lowering rates which results in these types of stories happening.
In other words, the problem is the RWNJs saying that we need to lower rates/taxes and the people actually believing those lies.
Stunned mullet
No I haven’t seen your mayors over the last few decades but I have seen a lot of your short comments and don’t think much of your ability to intelligently critique anything including mayors.
I live at Ngataringa Bay and have been here for 14 years.
The seawater quality is better now than for many years. The leechate from the old Devonport tip has essentially disappeared.
I also recall that Takapuna, Cheltenham and the North Shore beaches were regularly closed. This has not happened for years. There has been a huge amount spent on the sewage system that has meant that this almost never happens. The Wairau creek issue will have been much worse in the past.
So these measures of pollution have no context of time. Sure things could be better, but seawater quality has got progressively better in Auckland over the last 20 years.
There is still no excuse for so many places to be unsafe for swimming. “It could be worse” is the classic canard of the visionless.
Those permanent signs must just be a wee jolly prank then. That’s a relief.
So your back yard is now fine Wayne ? Oh lucky you living in a rich Nact area. However, the point of the post is that many waterways are deteriorating beyond clean up point and the council does not have the funds to do anything about it.
Another product of Nact’s “let’s load Auckland up with people” and “the rest of the country with cows”.
So as the party of everyone needs to be responsible for themselves – how about your lot taking some personal responsibility for their poor personal choices here which are impacting on the rest of us and are going to cost heaps to fix?
And why aren’t the cost of these choices going into silly old Bill English’s social investment modeling as money the taxpayers will have to spend to clean up after the righties?? It’s going to dwarf the cost of the people he is hounding
Oh and I forgot to mention – if an earlier bunch of rightie’s had had their way then there would be no Ngataringa Bay – they were going to fill it in. Lucky for you Wayne that the left & environmentalist’s fought back and won. Your lot were wrong and the left was right.
The point I am making is that such things have to be viewed in a context.
Our beaches, right across Auckland, are much better than they were 20 years ago.
Watercare is spending enormous amounts of money so that they will continue to improve.
For instance the relatively new sewage system on the Manukau is vastly better than the huge ponds that preceded it. There is a whole new round of new construction taking place at the plant to take account of growth and to improve water quality.
The five spots with permanent signs are a problem. But I know for instance that Wairau creek is substantially better as a result of building the collector tanks, probably now about ten years ago.
If asked the question,; Is water quality in the harbours continuing to improve” I would say “yes”.
So?? In context the number of places permanently off limits has just doubled. All those extra people – look at the cost of fixing it all. let’s do the social investment modelling shall we?
No they’re not.
That’s five new spots. There were other spots that had permanent warning signs up before them.
Have you got research to back that up?
Because if you don’t then it’s simply unfounded opinion.
” The leechate from the old Devonport tip has essentially disappeared.”
Poof! Just like that!
lol, that’s what I was thinking. If Auckland has a magic wand, why aren’t they sharing it around, that’s what I want to know. To be fair to Wayne though, he did say it disappeared, not that someone disappeared it, so maybe it’s a local phenomenon.
“To be fair to Wayne though, …”
Why?
The King of NIMBY and I’m Alright, Jack needs none of us to support his position.
Wayne…you will just never get it will you?
You do actually reside in your own little island -in- your -head.
I was being satirical 😉
So was I. 😉 😉
Are you sure? Because your makes sense and is meaningful when read straight.
“Are you sure? Because your makes sense and is meaningful when read straight.”
Now I’m not sure what you’re saying here. 🙂
The “Why” was satirical.
The rest was not so much. 😉
Satire and sarcasm never come across well in text and can thus often lead to miscommunication.
Agree with Draco, it was impossible to tell that that was satirical.
“If Auckland has a magic wand….”
Being a solutions kind of person, maybe the wand can be waved inspiring all of those who really do care about the environment to up stakes and exit the burg.
En masse.
Leaving the City of Sails to those who merely seek the kudos of an Auckland address…and they will come, believe me.
And they can sit with clothes pegs on their noses admiring the sludgy tide as it ebbs and flows over the dead and stinking foreshore.
If I’m a bit tetchy about this it is because this has been featured in news reports for decades now…heavy rain flooding the stormwater and sewage system and depositing shit on Auckland beaches.
Not one single extra house or any structure should be allowed until this is sorted. Now.
Its all very well obtaining a building permit or resource consent on the basis that the developer has met the sewage and stormwater requirements when the actual infrastructure receiving those products can’t cope when it rains heavily.
Madness.
If I were living in Auckland I’d be protesting/rioting about this.
Robert,
I guess it has literally literally leeched out, or alternatively properly sealed in. The tip was closed about 30 years ago and over about 10 years it was properly sealed. It is now quite a nice park.
Anyway from my experience of swimming in Ngataringa (I am one of the few who do) I can absolutely testify to the water quality progressively improving. There has been a recovery of fish life. There is less mud, more sand and the mangroves are more healthy.
I know enough about the rest of North Shore and the Waitemata to also make my observations of water quality. I both sail and fish on it regularly. In the last four weeks, three fishing trips. All with 4 or 5 snapper typically caught over a 2 hour period.
So from what I see the harbour is actually pretty good. Not perfect, but not deteriorating and at least on the North Shore, improving.
Sorry that the rest of you can only ever see a glass half empty.
Wayne – I was unable to respond yesterday; all glitched up with WordPress;
Your anecdotal comments are fair enough, in the way that everyone else’s are, but the science, represented by the warning signs mentioned earlier, tell a more reliable story. It was a bit churlish of you, I thought, to typify “the rest of us” as only ever seeing a glass half empty. That particular phrase seems to be favoured by a certain kind of person; those who laud our “100% pure rivers” by comparing them with China’s much worse rivers. Claiming that we’d be “half-empty glassers” if we believe the rivers now are far from their best, simply because you can remember them when they were even worse, is a similarly deluded, imo. As to the leachate from the landfill you cite, years of leaking and the debatable quality of the engineering of containment systems don’t have me breathing a sigh of relief over any of the tip-sites we’ve created over the past 100 years.
President Donald J Trump: It all begins today.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/822421390125043713
Indeed it does Mr President. And godspeed Mr President, godspeed.
If your god is on the side of Trump then it just reflects how stupid this whole god concept is.
No-one could claim Trump is a Christian.
It would be of interest to know what the definition of a Christian is. Is it someone who believes in the idea that Jesus was the son of God etc, etc or that they follow the teachings – because the two do not necessarily go together – frequently don’t, in fact!
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-18/china-housing-bubble-finally-pops-first-slowdown-after-19-months-acceleration
If anyone missed it, China housing bubble just popped. Volcanic shelter-flippers can take a break together with the Great Auk. It could be a long and bumpy ride down if the earth moves again.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-20/real-markets%C2%A0are-not-pop-economics
It looks like Trumps main financial backers include many mega-wealthy, like Peter Thiel.
Mattathias Schwartz writes:
The Black Magic debate – are you offended by this logo?
Should Yates rebrand?
You’ve heard of Zoo-do, but Voodoo…?
http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/88568961/kiwi-gardening-company-defends-black-magic-product-amid-racism-concerns
Must be a slow news day.
Well, it’s Sunday and perhaps minor issues like racist images on popular New Zealand products will interest people who have had enough of politics with a capital “P” during the week. That’s what I reckon, stunned.
What is racist about the image ?
Everything.
Hoodoo you think might find that image offensive?
“What is racist about the image ?”
Did you watch the video of the woman who comes from a country with a large population of people of African descent, whose job it is to study social phenomena? A few clues there.
OMG, I was thinking “so it’s called Black Magic, big whoop,” then I clicked on the story and saw the image. What the serious fuck were they thinking?
Stunned thinks, nothing to see here, move on.
Yates could easily capitulate, acknowledge the problem, change the image and enjoy the kudos and free publicity. But they seem to have dug in (when in a hole etc…garden suppliers after all)
Brought up on Little Black Sambo, I shouldn’t wonder. Hasn’t noticed the world has moved on – friend of the mad butcher, maybe
Yates is now a subsidiary of DuluxGroup, an Australian listed company on the S&P/ASX 200.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yates_(company)
It’s as inoffensive as a Thai Hitler restaurant.
A bigger problem is the way people get upset over things like this and ascribe meanings which in the past were never thought of .. the world is progressively getting more and more idiotic with false sensitivities for political reasons.
Have you noticed the lamp? which suggests to me an ‘Arabian nights’ fairy tale so it is logical the character will be darker skinned than northern european.
Latest NZCPC comment by Muriel Newman puts her finger squarely on the problem of PC or political crap.
Upset? More tidying up things that have passed unnoticed, due to familiarity. Muriel gets upset though, whenever anyone points out such issues.
Post on third-way politics. With a bonus, implications of NZ govt meddling in US politics.
http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=35202
Weka might be interested in this part:
Except for a few fringe dwellers in social media the political right in New Zealand is far from extreme. Given that many people claim little real difference between the two larges parties here, National and Labour, and some claim with justification that some Green policy positions (especially environmental) transcend political alignments.
Since your trying to claim
“Except for a few fringe dwellers in social media the political right in New Zealand is far from extreme. ”
I should point out your simply wrong. Both the political left and right in NZ are wedded to a position adopted by Labour4 that the market, left to its own devices, provides a close to ideal social and political environment (which is responsible for most social goods). That is an extreme position and demonstrably incorrect.
Weka understands that, BTW.
I did a binge watch of “The Fugitive” a couple of years ago. Richard Kimble (The Fugitive) lives his life in the USA at the bottom of society, on the margins, so there are shows, in passing, about union troubles and boss/workers troubles. It really shows how far to the right the USA has moved on these issues in just over 50 years.
(And it’s a really interesting watch for two other reasons:
1) for how the adults act towards the teenagers of the time (the baby boom generation). It’s like their force of numbers means that the adults perceive them as just inherently troublesome and
2) for how primitive all the technology was just 50 years ago)
Plus, where’s that guy’s missing arm?
Our most valuable asset
Can’t be made, mined or bought
Is misunderstood,misapplied and disregarded
https://www.mcc-berlin.net/en/research/co2-budget.html
Labour in the U.K. – Corbyn looking to deliver how some of us predicted. (According to their own figures).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/20/exclusive-labour-set-lose-copeland-by-election-partys-canvass/
Probably only because hes not far left enough
But emails!.
Trump repeated a campaign line that the U.S. should have “kept”‘ Iraq’s oil after the 2003 invasion, saying that might have blocked the rise of the Islamic State. He added: “Maybe we’ll have another chance.” The president again said he opposed the Iraq war, though interviews at the time indicated otherwise.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/21/donald-trump-president-day-two-prayer-service-national-cathedral/96877028/
The Retirement Commissioner is getting airplay for the problems of funding the old age pension (superannuation) giving the large costs which she forecasts to go to 90 billion a year by 2020 I think. There is talk about shifting it up to 67 which is a commonsense way of dealing with it. That there are not enough paid jobs to go round doesn’t enter into it. The Wince department drives people into depression and oppresses and degrades those forced to go on the treadmill who aren’t the right fit for employers and the cold-blooded working -bludgers-being-bludgeoned system is not acknowledged either.
It’s time to face up to the truth that money is a system of exchangeable tokens. It’s a way to convert credits to a virtually universal transfer system. What is essential to have is food, housing, security, transport, personal care for health, spectacles etc. – that doesn’t change. If retired people can earn credits by doing something that is useful to society then they should be given enough credits from the system to provide for themselves to a decent level. Then any money they manage to earn can be on top of that. Superannuation tax on income would be 5% for the first $20,000 and 40% over that, and all the time there would be no tax on their basic pension.
Also planned demise will be legalised with a practical, thoughtful system set up that people could choose to ignore, or opt into or out of with set steps to follow, and would apply to all those over 70 and to medical personnel or others. There may be specially designated trained and certificated people to be the dying equivalents of marriage celebrants.
Instead of top-down policies for older people, with decisions made for them,
there should be groups holding discussions around the country as to how they should be treated. There are enough capable, mature minds still functioning well and able to absorb facts, discuss financial matters, standards of living, standards of ethical treatment, philosophical and religious aspects.
Then there is the conflict caused by generational unbalance in numbers and expectations, in political power and experience and the lack of input into society by many wage earners when they retire although receiving much respectful assistance and finance from society on top of any income and assets they hold, which is not equally available to the young vulnerable adult.
Why is the retirement comissioner engaged in undermining entitlements for pensioners? Is that part of her job description? Given the impending boom in demand for services for the retired, should she not be advocating for capacity increases and additional training to relieve inflationary pressures here before they arrise?
My comment about the Retirement Commissioner will probably come up later.
It’s 12.52 22/1 now. I will put the link to Radionz item of the Commissioner below. I think some have not been able to access this easily. I have found that if the link is put in the subject heading window in a new tab, it goes through okay to the item summary with the listen button at top.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-weekend/audio/201830221/commissioned-retirement-commissioner-diane-maxwell
Don’t like the result?, Protest
Don’t like the policies?, Protest
Got an axe to grind?, Protest
Yawn, do something useful such as get a job, get a haircut and have a shower….
[away you go troll, 2 weeks. – weka]
[2 weeks is Waitangi Day, so better to make it 3 weeks. – weka]
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
You forgot to mention yell racism and sexism.
Or lynch mob the arrogant right who like to denigrate and label those who actually give a damn about others!
Welcome back 😉
This will be a sub-set of the Hilary vote feeling good about themselves but, like the Occupy Movement, achieving no effective change because they are only ever preaching to the converted.
Rather than making an effort to understand how the people they need to win over think and changing the strategy to fit. Whining and stomping feet ‘aint it.
Still, I guess some people got some much needed exercise, so it’s not all a waste of time.