The country’s private schools are raking in a big share of taxpayer funding designed to help special needs students sit exams.
The Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand says the system allows wealthy parents at private schools to work the system at the expense of poor parents whose children miss out.
Applications for funding require parents to pay for a report from an educational psychologist to prove their children have special needs – which critics say benefits those who can afford it.
The foundation said that contrast ( facts provided in article) “epitomises the current inequality of access to SAC between the haves and have-nots”.
That’s a bit like nicking the change from the Child Cancer jar on the coffee shop counter, isn’t it? – and I bet they laugh about how clever they are to ‘minimise’ their tax bill then rip off the taxpayer by taking money from kids who need access to this resource, but can’t afford to go get it. I mean it’s pennies to them.
Why, also, does the NZQA put a financial barrier to financial aid like this? It doesn’t make any sense at all, increasing the disadvantage of the disadvantaged when this resource is meant to improve their lot.
This is a bit more than the Coffee jar rip off. This is the systematic rip off of to start with the NHS, but how many other countries are getting ripped off ?
I wish I could say this surprised me, but it’s very much what you’d expect from NACT NZ. Is there some kind of; Rorts of the Month Newsletter, that goes out to their supporters? The near tripling of SAC expenditure in a single year (159 000 to 433 000) is most suspicious. Especially given that a quarter of King’s students got assistance, while Otahahu College got nothing.
If NZQA require educational psychologist assessment before handing over the cash, you’d hope the ministry review will recommend their funding this themself. I suspect it’ll just be a whitewash though, or maybe they’ll even recommend canceling the SAC programme altogether (as the private schools will have gone on to the next scam by then).
this is unfortunate; individuals living with autism and dyslexia are generally gifted in other dimensions, yet if situated in a lower-decile area / school, these qualities are less likely to be revealed, with the children concerned becoming labeled as ‘difficult’. Then there was the revelation on RNZ this week that of the school settings receiving funding to provide a learning environment for ‘difficult’ children, few are meeting Ministry of Education criteria and guidelines. Instead, many children are just warehoused in a holding pattern.
In the game I watched, the French led twice, and forced scrum penalties from the All Black scrum. The All Blacks scored a try which a referee could not have allowed without video review and which remained dubious, and prevented a French try only by a professional foul with blatant jersey pulling.
The score could have been AB 17 FR 16! Rugby watching is like political commentating and poll watching, isn’t it?
In the game I watched, the French led twice, and forced scrum penalties from the All Black scrum. The All Blacks scored a try which a referee could not have allowed without video review and which remained dubious, and prevented a French try only by a professional foul with blatant jersey pulling.
In the second minute of the match, France got perfect running ball a few metres from the NZ goal line. Any team, even the least talented, would have at least had a go at passing the ball in such a situation; a team of France’s calibre would be almost guaranteed of scoring. But instead of spinning it, French flyhalf Remi Tales kicked it into the All Black’s in-goal area, and a chance went begging. Tales’ “choice” of squandering possession so grossly was to be repeated by him and his lackadaisacal team-mates throughout the “game”.
You can take Steve Hansen’s lead and pretend that France made an effort if you want, just as the clowns in the Herald on Sunday have done. But please don’t pretend to be doing anything other than talking up a hollow win in a friendly match against a team that made only a token effort.
The score could have been AB 17 FR 16!
Sure it could, if the French had turned up to play. They did not, and it was another disgraceful lack of effort, on a par with last weekend’s horror show in Christchurch.
Rugby watching is like political commentating and poll watching, isn’t it?
Some political pollsters like to pretend things are other than what they actually are. Just like Steve Hansen, actually.
Read your own comments as one who reads them from our side of the internet divide. From what you write in reply, if we disagree with you we are clowns like the Herald or Hansen since we (bad12 and myself) saw that game differently, or pretenders who are dishonest in our commenting.
Morrissey, there is a large problem of how to communicate or argue here. Did you ever wonder why you get commenters’ backs up here- and this is over (choke) an unimportant thing like a game of rugby, where they play the ball and not the man!
Read your own comments as one who reads them from our side of the internet divide. From what you write in reply, if we disagree with you we are clowns like the Herald or Hansen since we (bad12 and myself) saw that game differently, or pretenders who are dishonest in our commenting.
I don’t think you are being dishonest, my friend. But I do think you are not looking at that travesty of a match either sensibly or dispassionately. Of course the All Blacks played well, and deserved to win each of the three friendly games. The All Blacks approached those games seriously; the Tricolors, on the other hand, clearly did not. You saw just as clearly as I did that the French team hardly tried to do anything with the ball during any of those matches; even one of that extraordinarily dimwitted commentary team on Prime TV remarked on Saturday night that the French had done nothing other than boot any possession they got down-field and hope for mistakes from the All Blacks, a “tactic” which was never going to succeed, ever. The French showed no commitment, no passion, and not a hint of creativity, in spite of the TV advertisements blathering about “French flair”. In other words, they hardly made an effort. You can either face up to that fact, and condemn them for it, or you can pretend that the All Blacks won against a French team playing football seriously.
Morrissey, there is a large problem of how to communicate or argue here. Did you ever wonder why you get commenters’ backs up here-
That’s a mighty big statement. I have got people’s backs up now and again, certainly. But we usually reconcile and I get along well with most of my interlocutors, even if we squabble occasionally.
and this is over (choke) an unimportant thing like a game of rugby, where they play the ball and not the man!
Yes, you’re right, mac, I should tone it down a bit. Must try harder….
A non-effort by the French,??? my opinion is that the French turned up at Yarrow stadium last night with a game plan designed to negate the game the All Blacks brought to Christchurch the previous week,
Considering that the French were for most of last nights game in a position were a converted try could have won them the game their game plan could be said to have been superior to that of the previous week,
Obviously the French negating the attacking capabilities of the All Blacks last night gave us more an exhibition of thugby as opposed to the brilliant use of the football of the previous week and the old adage about changing a winning team was once again proved as the line-out failed to adequately compete against the French when compared with the previous week and a rusty number 10 in Dan Carter produced what was a pretty lack-luster game by His own standards….
Well at least they actually put warm bodies on the park, even though their hearts were clearly not in it. They did tackle and get in the way, of course, but they tried absolutely nothing on attack, and in fact deliberately squandered chances to score by mindlessly punting away perfect front-foot ball.
…my opinion is that the French turned up at Yarrow stadium last night with a game plan designed to negate the game the All Blacks brought to Christchurch the previous week,
What “game plan”? They showed nothing and did nothing. Except get in the way of the All Blacks.
Considering that the French were for most of last nights game in a position were a converted try could have won them the game their game plan could be said to have been superior to that of the previous week,
Again, WHAT game plan are you talking about? They did nothing. Possibly this was a good tackling practice for them, and I would not put it past them to have treated it as nothing more serious.
Obviously the French negating the attacking capabilities of the All Blacks last night gave us more an exhibition of thugby as opposed to the brilliant use of the football of the previous week
What “brilliant use” of the football? It was virtually an unopposed training run for the All Blacks in Christchurch.
and the old adage about changing a winning team was once again proved as the line-out failed to adequately compete against the French when compared with the previous week and a rusty number 10 in Dan Carter produced what was a pretty lack-luster game by His own standards….
And what about the rustiness of the Tricolors’ No. 10? At least Carter never did anything as grossly irresponsible as his opposite number (Remi Tales) did in the first 90 seconds of last night’s debacle.
Worldwide, demand for medicines is outstripping governments’ ability to pay for them, as people live longer and expensive new therapies come to market. But Pharmac CEO Steffan Crausaz said unlike similar bodies in other countries, Pharmac has a fixed budget, forcing it to prioritise.
Now, for the first time, the public is being asked to give its opinion on whether those priorities need reform.
Harris told the Sunday Star-Times that funding decisions work best when they are based on a set of principles, rather than ad hoc decisions on what seems reasonable. Deciding just what those principles should be, though, can be tricky.
The New Zealand system attempts to compare and prioritise, “independently of disease-based lobbying, whether it’s from manufacturers or doctors or patient groups”.
From Tuesday, Pharmac is hosting a series of free community forums seeking the public’s views on what its decision criteria should be. For details see bit.ly/19m3Jvr
Thanks for raising this really important issue, LynWiper. Pharmac has been under attack from drug companies for some time now because they’ve been holding prices of meds down, and using generics rather than expensive drug company specialities. I think we need to give them as much support as possible, help them work out those priorities, so we continue to get reasonable costs on our medications and not be subject to the prices of those huge multinational drugs manufacturers.
The TPP negotiations loom large on this issue. The Americans have their eye on Pharmac and one wonders what is the real position of our Nact representatives at these talks.
For a start they could pay attention to their first 8 decision making criteria and END all funding for the current tranche of Nicotine Replacement Therapies (patches, inhalers, gum etc that all contain nicotine) and save, how many millions of dollars per annum that currently goes to lining the pockets of Big Pharma? Instead, and in line with 1 through 8 of their own criteria, they could provide nicotine in solution to ex-smokers, allowing them to either continue the addiction with far fewer health consequences or to step their dosage down in incremental stages until they were nicotine free.
I’m hoping to see an interest in what people think about quality of life concerns in Pharmac’s decision-making process.
From my point of view, decisions are too focused on a narrow medical benefit and cost to the health system. For example there are relatively rare disabling conditions that can prevent people taking part in society. Standard drugs can keep them as functioning invalids, prevent hospitalisation, and slow the course of the disease, but may not allow the patient to resume a life without assistance – financial (including invalid benefit for those who don’t have a partner to rely on) and/or physical – due to disabilities resulting from the illness.
However, newer, very expensive drugs can allow the ill person to function at the same level as a person without the condition – interacting with family, having a social life, and crucially (in term of other societal/taxpayer costs), able to work and pay tax, play, and physically look after their families. However in Pharmac’s view the new drug does nothing more than the older, cheaper drugs in the reduction of health system costs so is heavily restricted.
And yet, (for my personal pet rant) Pharmac pay a fortune in omeprazole (Losec) (due to the number of people who are prescribed it) so people can eat spicy chicken (queue Losec ad) when a green prescription may have a greater impact. Rant exceptions, of course, for people with little choice – I don’t intend to dismiss need – e.g. those with stomach ulcers, IBDs or taking anti-inflammatories for a condition that the above example incorporates.
I posted this link last night: USA Today did a great interview with 3 former NSA whistleblowers who say Snowden has succeeded where they have failed. Some of the things they reveal about attitudes in the US govt since 9-11 are very scary. But kudos to them and to USA today for doing this piece.
The SST is reporting Truth’s escort service website has been hacked and the phone numbers of escorts replaced by Cam Slater’s number. Imagine the surprised calls he must be receiving …
on pA3, there’s a small article, “Official: Truth a bunch of Hacks” about the website hack. SLater says he put his phone on silent, and wasn’t very bothered by “the childish games people play”.
Slater says he hasn’t heard from the Truth’s owners since the closure was announced, and that he’s now “exploring a digital-only newspaper venture”.
Q + A………to be renamed “Qeue + Adore” (ShonKey Python and National that is).
In the first 20 minutes:
– Key given full novelistic reign on QE with nothing from Norman.
– Big ups to National for protecting vulnerable immigrant workers (oh how
marvellous……everyone else is implacably opposed to that of course, yeah right).
– Miller, Mapp and Mei waxing lyrical how wonderful is “Minister” Woodhouse for militating
against immigrant worker exploitation. Mapp……..the embarrassingly pompous pedant former National Party cabinet minister. On the show to lead the cheering by and for “Woody” ?
– Oh wow……..Palestine……..thank you lawyer Mei…….”this is a very important matter for which a
solution must be found…..”. Strangely, no addressing “justice the seed, peace the
flower”. To do so I guess would be too challenging for the Susan (thick as a piece of) Wood.
– And on the question of workers rights no mention during the acclaimation for “Minister”
Woodhouse of the attack on New Zealand workers’ rights promoted by that sleaze the slightly
cleverer than Gilmore, Jamie-Lee Ross. Parallel to the startlingly innovative focus of
“Minister ” Woodhouse in boldly enforcing law already on the statute book.
Qeue + Adore not worth watching I’m afraid. Why not just can it and toss production costs into National Party coffers.
Yes, migrant labour exploitation equivalent to NAct labour law exploitation.
After a few token prosecutions, where will the resourcing come from to follow up notifications.
And on New Zealanders returning from overseas? from Tracey Lee , ‘Brand Strategist’ and wastage of a sociology education, “we must smooth the hardship of their transition” (paraphrased) …I shake my head in despair! Lord give us strength, strewth!
Did I say, I’m feeling disgust about now…
+1 The bit about Kiwis returning back to New Zealand was particularly naive. Not once was our low waged economy, which is the main reason for the mass-exodus, mentioned. All we had was propaganda about a supposed 25,000 Kiwis returning each year, which morphed into a puff piece with claims that most Kiwis only left for a little while anyway.
Meanwhile in the real world there’s approximately a million Kiwis permanently living abroad, and the mass exodus continues unabated.
But whatever, John Key promising that people would waive goodbye to higher taxes and not their loved ones is a distant memory, especially it seems for the deluded spin doctors over at Q+A.
I well remember the time when John Campbell broke the investigation by Nicky Hager into Corngate. Senior Labour Party activists I spoke to were ropeable. The air was blue. And the abuse they showered on Campbell and Hager. “They were close friends”, “They were working together to discredit the Labour Party”, “They are rats”, “anti-Labour” etc. etc
Yeah I near vomited at the sycophancy that was shown. Shit it’s another program that’s on the why bother list, as it’s been dumbed down, and is at the level of 7 sharp now. and it’s getting worse, the MSM is hopeless. And the so called Current Affairs shows are either dumbed down, or are on at such weird times that the stories are lost to the main stream.
Q + A is part of the NACT spin machine. The nats know how to make the SOE’s do their bidding, it’s all too easy when you stack the board/management and have that mafia style approach to the ‘funding ‘
Susan Wood as on of the attack dogs..says it all really, just a revolving door of hacks and has beens.
Q + A is part of the NACT spin machine. The nats know how to make the SOE’s do their bidding, it’s all too easy when you stack the board/management and have that mafia style approach to the ‘funding ‘
Susan Wood as one of the attack dogs says it all really, just a revolving door of hacks and has beens who know how to keep the paymasters happy.
Labour is planning to ‘ take the fight to National’, and will announce new policy imminently, on what it says is one of the most pressing issues facing New Zealand. It asks:
What are we doing to make Herne Bay housing more
affordable for young professional first-home buyers?
Labour leader, David Shearer says he expects this to be one of the key election issues in 2014 and Labour will ‘terrorise’ its National Party opponents in the ferocity with which they will fight for the “hard working children of our own hard working families, who work very hard”.
The Herald this morning – front page online – elderly lady attacked and assaulted in her own home – surveillance camera style photograph of a capped and hoodied young brown guy:
I will try Andy. Where’s the Herald at leaving the photo completely unexplained in the article.
Sensible to link surely ? Oh hang on, maybe the stereoptype is so established as to obviate the link.
The police have given the Herald footage from a crime to help solve it, evil fucker robbing old folk. Jeeebus they aint perfect (teh herald) but cut them some slack on this.
Fuck you and your ‘established stereotype’ nonsense. There is some dangerous dude robbing old people with increasing violence. Colour of perpetrator and old folk not important.
Dead right Angry Andy as I now know. But who was to know that without any explanation of the photo ? Just in case you blow a fuse Dick !!, give a thought to this: the article has been updated as CV says. My comment was posted at about 11.00 am, before the update.
If you wanna stay Angry Andy I’ll falsely state “Good on ya young brown fulla, bash those old ladies and steal their money”, just to prove your point and invigorate your strawman
I give the herald a little bit of credit. Not much but, some. Jumping to conclusions on a Sunday when they have the least staff on board still makes you a dick, when proven wrong by further updates.
Yeah, I’m angry. Angry at your stupid and angry that some douche bag is robbing old people.
Press F5 on your keyboard, its called ‘refresh’. Makes you less of a dick sometimes.
You can falsely state whatever you want, but your still wrong and will not, withdraw and apologise.
There is no strawman, just facts.
Dick!!!
Edit: was updated at 10.40am ish with attribution on photo.
Yeah, facts, as presented by the Herald at 11.00 am, and crucially, differently and more instructively, some hours later.
Careful with your fuse Andy. Happy to cut the Herald some slack aye ? Fair enough. How about some for me since I commented on the appearance of the earlier set of Herald “facts”, not the later set of Herald “facts”.
Highly unreasonable of you to keep up the insistence that I approve of the criminality and cowardice we mutually detest when you know full well I do not.
Tried to edit the above comment after reading your edit. Understand Andy, not facts that I saw. I read and reread the article, surprised there was no explanation as to the guy’s connection. Then spent 10-15 minutes writing a comment in response to the article as first presented by the Herald which response I submitted at 10.50 am.
Still not satisfied ? Tough. Be obtuse.
Yeah right. I applaud the bastard responsible. Of course I do ! Happy now ? How’s the fuse ?
In scenes reminiscent of the early days of the Syrian protests. Turkish police break up peaceful demonstrations with unprovoked violence.
Though he didn’t state who they were, following Basher Assad’s lead, Turkish leader Tayip Erdogan blamed Turkey’s enemies.
Turkish riot police fired water cannon to disperse thousands of anti-government demonstrators in central Istanbul on Saturday, as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan castigated those behind protests he said had played into the hands of Turkey’s enemies.
The latest unrest in Taksim Square punctured six days of relative calm in Turkey’s biggest city, although it was a long way frommatching the ferocity of previous clashes there and in other cities that began more than three weeks ago.
Demonstrators threw carnations at a phalanx of officers carrying shields who slowly advanced towards them, flanked by water cannon, to clear the square.
“Police, don’t betray your people!” activists shouted after they had been scattered into streets leading to Taksim. Witnesses said police later used teargas to disperse pockets of protesters on a main shopping street nearby.
Hours earlier, Erdogan had told thousands of supporters in the Black Sea city of Samsun that the unrest had played into the hands of Turkey’s enemies.
Maybe Colonial Viper could help Erdogan out here. And put a name to these unnamed enemies of Turkey
This shouldn’t be to hard for CV. As CV doesn’t need to have any knowledge at all of conditions on the ground in Turkey. Or even take note of those who do. All he has to do is pull out his tired old Marxist dogmatic script which reliably informed him that the Yankee Imperialists were behind every other Middle Eastern revolt.
Maybe CV could helpfully suggest to Erdogan, as he did for Assad, that the use of deadly nerve gas against the enemies of his country wouldn’t be a war crime.
You are probably right. I will stop wasting my time and energy on this supporter of fascism when he stops provoking me.
What I was responding to was his attack on me.
I posted a statement in support of Edward Snowden. Which Colonial Viper took exception to. And which I replied to by trying to keep it light. To which Colonial Viper launched an unwarranted attack on me for supporting the Syrian people’s struggle to free themselves of a murderous dictatorship.
I have never used CV’s support for the fascist regime of Basher Assad against him. Preferring to argue the merit of the issue at hand. I had also hoped that CV’s support for the Assad regime, indeed his whole racist dismissal of the validity of the Arab Spring, was some sort of grotesque mistake. Everyone can make mistakes. And so out of politeness I have never used it to beat him up, when discussing other issues.
However I feel that I would be remiss in not responding to CV’s unprovoked attack. IMHO to allow CV’s sick support for the facist style Bashar Assad regime to go unchallenged would be tantamount to agreeing not to challenge this sort of repression anywhere. If he thinks he can bring this up in an attempt to embarrass me every time he disagrees with me, then he is mistaken
I make no apology for supporting the struggle of the people of Syria fighting for democracy. That that struggle has become brutal and fratracidal, in the nature of all civil wars, was not of their choice but of the dictator Bashar Assad. Bashar Assad could have agreed to grant the protesters the minor democratic reforms that they originally sought. Instead he decided to gun them down instead.
What I take from CV’s attack on me over the comment on Edward Snowden, is that Colonial Viper hates the sort of political activism that the citizens of Hong Kong are famous for. The courageous political activism that has seen the people of Hong Kong openly defy the Beijing communist regime, and that Snowden has put his faith in, to protect him, from both the Chinese communist and the American capitalist governments.
And I might add, also the same sort of political activism that New Zealanders too can also rightly lay claim to as a proud tradition of protest practiced here.
I believe this argument has relevance to what happens here.
Colonial Viper dismisses the power and the success and validity of all grass roots citizen protest movements protesting against authority and injustice.
Though it can be seriously argued that such movements have achieved more for human progress and human rights than all the pragmatic top table horse trading that political parties spend their time on.
I believe that Colonial Viper is of the opinion that we should leave everything up to the high ups in the Labour Party and the Greens.
If the Greens and Labour decide in their coalition discussions that Deep Sea Oil drilling is OK. Then we must accept it. If these “leaders” decide on our behalf that there is nothing we here in New Zealand can do about climate change, we must accept that too. In fact we must accept everything that the political bureaucracies shove down our throats even if it is killing us.
I believe that the sort of activism that I talk about, makes people like Colonial Viper uneasy, because it holds mainstream parties to account and decreases the amount of wriggle room that the mainstream politicians have to make compromises and sellouts.
But it is the tradition that made New Zealand become nuclear free and left no room for compromise for the Lange government. It is the tradition that saw New Zealand reject racially selected sports teams.
It is the same proud tradition of protest that keeps democracy alive in Hong Kong while surrounded by a communist dictatorship.
Finally it is the same spirit that moved the people of Syria to take up arms against the state in response to the violence unleashed against them by the regime. (A lesson that Erdogan of Turkey, indeed all autocratic leaders where ever they are, should take note of.)
(Reuters) – Turkey detained 10 people on Tuesday on suspicion of providing weapons and fighters in the name of al Qaeda to Islamist rebels trying to topple the Syrian government, highlighting the dilemma Turkey faces as one of the rebel movement’s biggest backers
The United States has been sending communication equipment to rebels of the Free Syrian Army through Turkey. Rebels have picked up shipments in Istanbul and driven them across the border into Syria along secure routes.
Turkey has sea ports for larger shipments. Most of the arms rebel leaders have requested are light weapons, chief among them shoulder-fired missiles. The missiles are wanted to shoot down Syrian aircraft or disable Syrian tanks.
Turkey allowed itself to be used by the USA/UK/France, imperialists in their desire to upend the ME, to control the resources on that region, as well as the continued resource theft in Africa.
Turkey, has played its part very poorly, and alienated Muslim sects, by being used as an imperialist puppet, and is now feeling the fallout of the administrations corrupted actions!
Not to hard to understand where these, *enemies* might come from, Jenny!
The subject of the ME/Africa, is clearly beyond your ability to comprehend, Jenny. Perhaps its a good time to re-focus on those areas you might consider to be, strenghts!
Maybe CV could helpfully suggest to Erdogan, as he did for Assad, that the use of deadly nerve gas against the enemies of his country wouldn’t be a war crime.
Maybe we should introduce some facts,which tend to get in the way of Jenny’s story books.
In your your deadly serious campaign to support mass murder and torture CV you and your mates are so out of touch with reality that you have completely lost your sense of the ridiculous.
Do you guys seriously expect us to believe this rubbish?
What you are trying to tell us is that the rebels who can’t even build a safe field hospital. Assembled all the chemical ingredients to make sarin. Not to mention, putting in place all the high tech containment and safety procedures that need to be at the very least a PC1 level containment. According to wikipedia, a task even the nazis couldn’t fully complete in time before the end of the war.
And having achieved all that, loaded it into a specialised artillery shell. Or did they deliver it in the back of a bread van?
Jenny, I think your overwrought witterings are the problem. eg Assad and CV are not fascists and not liking the makeup of parts of the Syrian opposition does not make one a fascist. And you are dreaming if you think anyone much is fighting for ‘democracy’. One of the reasons the West has been slow to get involved is exactly that question; is there any point in replacing Assad when an even worse regime will be taking over?
We went through that scenario in Iraq and look how that turned out.
One of the reasons the West has been slow to get involved is exactly that question; is there any point in replacing Assad when an even worse regime will be taking over?
Te Reo Putake
TRP Your defence of Colonial Viper’s support for the brutal Basha Assad regime falls down on the fact that from the beginning CV has claimed that the whole thing is an American plot. Including the Arab Spring itself.
This is not just factually wrong but is actually a racist slur on the Arab people.
I don’t think that any party that calls itself democratic can long tolerate in their ranks an Islamaphobic racist who openly admires a fascist style dictatorial regime that indulges in mass murder and torture.
No I got it right. You have consistently argued in the past to do nothing about climate change. I have never called you a “climate change denialist“. What I did term you as, and I think I was being accurate at the time, was a “climate change ignorer“. (something you share in common with David Shearer). However on saying that I have noticed of late, a positive change in your position. It just goes to shows me that no one is irredeemable. I play rough but you are learning.
What have you got right exactly, Jenny? Your Arab Spring working out for ordinary people in Egypt and Libya is it? Your Syrian “popular revolt” still importing a lot of foreign Islamic fighters just to keep going? Green party coming around to your way of looking at the world?
What exactly is it that you have got right?
It just goes to shows me that no one is irredeemable. I play rough but you are learning.
New information about the drive to place sick and incapacitated WINZ beneficiaries with mental health issues into employment:
Learn a bit about some of the possibly leading “pigs at the government trough”, who are likely contenders for MSDs contracts to outsource employment services for getting mentally ill (and other incapacitated) WINZ beneficiaries into work, for nice fees paid that will be based on referrals, duration of employment and so forth (more to come):
Press Release – Wise Group, 10:15 May 16, 2013: http://business.scoop.co.nz/2013/05/16/employment-and-mental-health/
describing a new “tool” for doctors and mental health service providers, to “assist” and “motivate” clients to move back into work, developed by ‘The Wise Group’ – more on them further below!!!
See what was already done last year to prepare for the push to get mentally ill assisted back into work in last year:
Employment Support as a Mental Health Intervention Forum: 9 March 2012
Quote:
“This is your invitation to a forum for clinicians and others that will focus on this developing field of practice. International research andthe experience of practitioners, signals that evidence-based supported employment is emerging as a significant intervention to help people into paid competitive work.This symposium with is focus on employment is timely as the Government has indicated a comprehensive review of the benefit system.”
…with information on a forum last year, at the Ko Awatea Centre for Education & Innovation, Otahuhu
attended by speakers:
Rob Warriner, CEO of Walsh Trust: http://www.walsh.org.nz;
Warren Elwin, CEO of Workwise, Employment Agency: http://www.workwise.org.nz;
Helen Lockett, Strategic Development, Wise Group: http://www.wisegroup.co.nz;
Clive Bensemann, Director of Mental Health, Auckland District Health Bd;
David Codyre, Clinical Director/ Consultant Psychiatrist, ProCare Psychological Services …
And –
John Zonnevylle, Capital Coast DHB
Magdel Hammond, Edge Employment,
Dale Rook, Occupational Therapist, Auckland District Health Board
Also to take note of: http://grow.co.nz/real-value-helen-lockett/
(another “UK expert”, but I am a bit unsure whether she is one of those supporting Prof. Mansel Aylward’s and Dr David Bratt’s particularly hardline philosophies on “work capacity” and the “health benefits of work”)
So there we have it – more “corporate welfare” in the form of generous employment schemes for the well paid running of such services, and for perhaps a bit less generously paid bulk of the remaining “staff”. All likely to be part of the planned outsourcing and privatisation of welfare.
One thing is sure for the Wise Group:
$ 61,277,236 government grants and contract payments, out of $ 65,412,195 total income of that “charity”!!! Not bad really, especially for the ones running it.
I had some personal experiences with “Workwise” some time ago, as a former flatmate with some mental health issues tried to find work through the help of two of their staff. She got “stuff all” in real, effective support, and was rather disappointed by the “service” delivered by at times very unreliable and not all that motivated staff!
***When thinking of “charities” “Sanitarium” comes to mind again, owned by a church that can run the business as a “charity”, paying no tax on earnings. ***
I presume much is just “illness belief” (e.g. imagination), I suppose: http://awdpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Models-of-Sickness-Disability-Waddell-and-Aylward-2010-2.pdf
(Publication by Prof. M. Aylward from 2010: ‘Models of Sickness and Disability’, or perhaps rather “blurring the lines, to open up attack lines on sick and disabled with incapacities – for state welfare agencies or insurance companies to dis-entitle beneficiaries and claimants”)
In contrast the more widely known and well-established agency used by MSD and Work and Income to place people with physical disabilities into employment: http://www.workbridge.co.nz/?page=121
(this is harmless, the more conventional approach, not covering mental health though)
Some visuals to go with the information on job finding! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or6CwOyx30I
They’ve got pens – The League of Gentlemen – BBC
Pauline turns up for her new start session with the unemployed but is quite shocked to find that the tables have turned. Contains adult humour. Watch more high quality….
Good to check out the prospectus webpages of the ‘Wise’ outfit, especially the cvs of the main players. I’d love to know what sort of salaries they are pulling in for caring so deeply.
There are sharks competing for funding with the little fish in the NGO/charity world.
No prizes for guessing the winners in that particular battle for survival.
Had a lovely experience this morning, knock at the door, and a lovely maori lady from a local iwi social services and education trust, -initiated by a blind maori gentleman, Jim (last name escapes me) – invited me (and every other whanau in the street) to a sausage sizzle and a check out of some surplus winter clothing. They had parked up with a trailer at the end of the street and when I had to go out, most folk had wandered down and were catching up. Excellent after the cold spell.
Organised in cooperation with Kia Ora Gaza, Students For Justice in Palestine (Auckland, Hamilton & Wellington), Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Wellington Palestine Group, and Global Peace & Justice Auckland.
PROGRAMME:
Saturday 22 June 10am to 5pm
Leys Institute Hall
20 St Marys Rd, Three Lamps, Ponsonby.
Including workshops on promoting boycott and divestment campaigns, lobbying for sanctions, political prisoners, other solidarity actions. PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER AT OUR WEBSITE IN ORDER TO ATTEND DAY ONE or registration form available here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vHZw3H-KVD07vECOTilP_t23qH3BjCL3kXY_AwNEPvY/viewform.
Sunday 23 June from 12.30pm
Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, Queen St:
Presentations on Palestine, building support & links from NZ.
4pm: special screening of Oscar-nominated Palestinian documentary “5 Broken Cameras”.
5.30 – 6.30pm: meal break.
6.30pm: talk by Palestinian teacher/blogger Yousef Aljamal on ‘Life under occupation’.
Copies of ‘The General’s Son’ will be available at the conference at $25 (retail price about $30). You can request a copy now by emailing us at: conferenceonpalestine@hotmail.com and send $25 + $4 postage to bank account below.
FREE ADMISSION – donations & pledges welcome.
This important event depends on your generous support.
HOW TO DONATE:
Make a direct payment to our bank account:
Conference on Palestine,
03-0211-0447718-000,
Westpac Bank, Onehunga branch.
Or write a cheque to ‘Conference on Palestine’ & post to:
Conference on Palestine
PO Box 86022, Mangere East,
Auckland 2158, New Zealand.
[Include you email or postal address for a receipt.]
– The amalgamation of Occupied Territories with pre1967 Israel (ie the ‘Two State Solution” is dead on the ground)
– Full citizenship for Palestinians, including per-1967 exiles
– Right of return and compensation for Palestinians
– South African style Truth & Reconciliation process
Here’s a link to Miko Peled’s interview with Kim Hill
There is a great item on Chris Laidlaw Radionz this a.m. on spy-ring etc. Thinking about Edward Snowden et al. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
A couple or more of speakers. The last I heard before putting this was a quip from a Hong Kong dignitary. She said that ‘The reason that the sun never set on the British Empire is because God doesn’t trust the British.’ Good eh!
This is after remembering how Brits organised spying on foreign dignitaries at I think one G8 meeting, even organising special internet cafes that were set up so they could get access to all their emails. Another bit of negative information is that they sent a top diver under a Russian vessel with advanced propeller technology but unfortunately his head was cut off. The comment was made that the English speaking countries were heavily into spying and we have been involved, along with Australia, in the ‘Five Eyes’ system since the Eighties I think.
Yes great interview: “God doesn’t trust the British…… in the dark !”….(end of quote , i think)
Also praise for Winston’s peace making role in Fiji….from previous interview.
( Why does everyone pick on the bugger…..He has always stood for not selling NZ assets!…unlike the two major parties( and he brought National down over selling public assets) …and why is it always assumed he will join with National?…)
Thanks Chooky for FIFY
I was just rereading mine and thought I missed the punchline on that quote. It reads even better when you see the whole thing Olwyn.
And it was interesting to hear how staunch and reliable Winston Peters had been at the Fiji time of change and the high respect of the diplomatic staff for him.
“New Zealand government fast tracks domestic spying laws”
“In an interview with TV3 on June 11, Key fell into step with the international vilification of Snowden, sharply denouncing him as a “criminal”, and saying he should face the “full force of the law.” While Key has flatly refused to comment on any aspect of NSA activities and its links with New Zealand spy agencies, he has not denied that they exist.”
40,000 plus some more perhaps?
Listening to Radio NZ ‘Arts on Sunday’ I learnt that movie film processing will stop shortly at Miramar, Wellington.
The outfit started life in 1941 as a result of a reccomendation to the NZ Govt by John Greirson the British documentary film-maker which had the National Film Unit established. Reputedly the only time the NZ Govt acted on a commissioned report
Later taken over by Television NZ and recently back at Miramar thanks to Peter Jackson but sadly[?] closing due to lack of throughput in the digital age.
Seemingly the last Australasian lab to go under as apparently Aussies are sending last minute film to Miramar and they are very busy in their last days, just next week left before the gear is dismantled.
Don’t quote me on this as it is just what I think I heard from the broadcast and memories, often not very accurate
That’s an easy one to answer – we had governments believing the economists and business people and thus put in place policies that rewarded the business people at everyone else’s expense. This has, quite predictably, resulted in a massive increase in poverty for the many while a few got immeasurably richer.
Much of that would have to do with many ‘homeless’ actually suffering from mental illnesses that manifests for various reasons in homelessness. Once upon a time they would have been institutionalised.
Ms Daly, MP for Dublin North, hit out at the “almost unprecedented slobbering” over the Obama family’s visit. “It’s really hard to know which is worst, whether it’s the outpourings of the Obamas themselves or the sycophantic falling over them by sections of the media and the political establishment,” she said. “We’ve had separate and special news bulletins by the State broadcaster to tell us what Michelle Obama and her daughters had for lunch in Dublin, but very little questioning of the fact that she was having lunch with Mr Tax Exile himself,” she said in reference to U2’s Bono.
She described Mr Obama as a “war criminal”, having “just announced his decision to supply arms to the Syrian opposition, including the jihadists, fuelling the destabilisation of that region, continuing to undermine secularism and knock back conditions for women”.
Ms Daly said: “This is the man who is in essence stalling the Geneva peace talks by trying to broker enhanced leverage for the Syrian opposition by giving them arms – and to hell with the thousands more who’ll lose their lives, or the tens of thousands who will be displaced. This is the man who has facilitated a 200 per cent increase in the use of drones which have killed thousands of people, including hundreds of children.” […]
the GCHQ have been spying on eurozone governenment and private corporations.
In a related thread 😉 , St Johns are continuing to bear the increasing “brunt of an ageing population”, coupled with “increases in minor incident calls” (yes Pop. , including for mental illness, and sheltered villages are much more protective) ; the stress is being piled on the organization, who are losing $15M a year.
These attacks on the elderly in Auckland has the police “very concerned about the escalation of violence”- Malthus.
NZ Parliamentarians should take a long hard look at that link.
I just saw an exchange between two politicians that contained actual information and that wasn’t sliced and diced by bullshit ‘points of order’…I saw an absolute absence of glib ‘one liners’…and I saw speakers allowed to offer their opinion and ask/answer questions without any childish braying from any opposite benches.
Add to that, a politician calling a spade a spade, well…when was the last time I had the pleasure?
Questions are being asked about the advice the government received on the $2.50 offer price and share allocations, considering the drop in Mighty River’s share price and the relatively low target prices in broking firm research reports released on Wednesday – at the end of a research blackout. (Mighty River [NZX:MRP] closed Friday at $2.20).
Market sources suggest the government – on Treasury’s advice – may have over-egged the price based on the possibility of strong international demand which has not materialised.
A senior broking firm source asks: “How does it follow that the Treasury, which had insight and banned the research from public consumption, priced the shares above where the analysts were saying?
“It’s now trading at a level that the local institutions were saying was probably where the good demand was at….
…Questions over the offer price come as documents released to NBR by the Treasury reveal the direct hand cabinet ministers played in setting the price – with one cabinet paper suggesting Prime Minister John Key and cabinet ministers Bill English, Steven Joyce and Tony Ryall all be physically present in the “bookbuild room” in Wellington when key decisions were to be made on May 8.
State-owned Enterprises Minister Mr Ryall’s press secretary Jackie Maher confirms the ministers were present during the “appropriate parts of the bookbuild process” and Mr Key was consulted by phone.
Ghostrider888 mentioned this in another thread. Slingshot are offering a new free Global Mode service for their customers, supposedly for international visitors staying with them, but it really looks like it’s giving NZers access to international content that was previously blocked.
‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveReporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
Peter Dunne writes – I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos Chris Trotter writes – TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction? Gary Judd writes – Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
Open access notablesA Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future:Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
Alwyn Poole writes – After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
Eric Crampton writes – A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
Exhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
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 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
Tara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...
The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...
Its new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...
BusinessNZ is congratulating the Minister of Climate Change for his work in achieving cross-party consensus for a way forward on climate adaptation. ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
Wellington City Council should keep its 34% ownership share in Wellington International Airport, argue Unions Wellington spokespeople Finn Cordwell and Ashok Jacob. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Wellington City Council (WCC) is yet again proposing to dispose ...
New Zealand’s largest book publisher has undergone drastic changes this week, leaving its future role in local publishing uncertain. Two of the most recognisable local publishers in New Zealand are among those restructured out of Penguin Random House, it was announced this week. Head of publishing Claire Murdoch will leave ...
The Black Ferns Sevens appeared to be a mile behind Australia at the halfway point of the 2023-24 SVNS international circuit. Winless in three tournaments, a cup quarter-final exit in Perth was one of their worst results. To add insult to injury, talismanic skipper Sarah Hirini had been ruled out ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 10 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Successive governments have tried, and failed, to count Māori. But with the return of social investment, it’s more important than ever to get good data. The post Government looks for a better way to count Māori appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Experts in financing social investment initiatives say New Zealand is in a prime position to tackle social issues via a social investment approach The post What will Willis’ social investment fund look like? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
In 2021 the Public Interest Journalism Fund launched the Te Rito Journalism project, a $2.4 million initiative to boost diversity in New Zealand’s newsrooms. The initiative was in response to the decades-long shortage of Māori and Pacific journalists in the media industry. It was billed as New Zealand’s ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A former Tuvalu prime minister says while the New Zealand government’s oil and gas plans show it is concerned about its economy, he is more concerned about the livelihoods and survival of the Tuvalu people. Enele Sopoaga — who still serves as an MP ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Many people who follow federal budgets know about the magnificent “budget tree” in a parliamentary courtyard, which turns a glorious red in time for the May event. This week Treasurer Jim Chalmers posed by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Bennett, Professor of Music, Australian National University Richard P J Lambert/flickr, CC BY The future belongs to the analogue loyalists. Fuck digital. As a tsunami of CDs, DAT tapes and samplers swept the recording industry in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate professor, Music Industry, RMIT University This week American rapper Macklemore released a new track, Hind’s Hall, which has gained a lot of attention because of its explicitly political nature. The track is unapologetically pro-Palestine. It declares the artist’s ...
Explainer - The government from 2025 is mandating how state schools teach children to read. But what is structured literacy and how does it compare to other teaching methods? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danica Jenkins, Lecturer in European Studies, University of Sydney On a freezing spring night in March, Georgia’s national soccer team beat Greece in a nail-biter penalty shootout to qualify for the Euro 2024 championships. The atmosphere on the streets of the capital ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam G. Arian, Lecturer (Accounting & Finance), Australian Catholic University Loic Manegarium/Pexels Imagine every ton of carbon dioxide a company emits is slowly inflating its costs — not just in terms of potential fines or fees but in the capital it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Somwrita Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation, University of Sydney The “latte line” is the infamous, invisible boundary that divides Sydney between the more affluent north-east and the south-west. Historically, people north of the line enjoy better access to jobs and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock In media articles about unprecedented flooding, you’ll often come across the statement that for every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture. This ...
The country’s private schools are raking in a big share of taxpayer funding designed to help special needs students sit exams.
The Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand says the system allows wealthy parents at private schools to work the system at the expense of poor parents whose children miss out.
Applications for funding require parents to pay for a report from an educational psychologist to prove their children have special needs – which critics say benefits those who can afford it.
The foundation said that contrast ( facts provided in article) “epitomises the current inequality of access to SAC between the haves and have-nots”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8830344/Private-schools-snare-special-needs-cash
That’s a bit like nicking the change from the Child Cancer jar on the coffee shop counter, isn’t it? – and I bet they laugh about how clever they are to ‘minimise’ their tax bill then rip off the taxpayer by taking money from kids who need access to this resource, but can’t afford to go get it. I mean it’s pennies to them.
Why, also, does the NZQA put a financial barrier to financial aid like this? It doesn’t make any sense at all, increasing the disadvantage of the disadvantaged when this resource is meant to improve their lot.
This is a bit more than the Coffee jar rip off. This is the systematic rip off of to start with the NHS, but how many other countries are getting ripped off ?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10892350
I wish I could say this surprised me, but it’s very much what you’d expect from NACT NZ. Is there some kind of; Rorts of the Month Newsletter, that goes out to their supporters? The near tripling of SAC expenditure in a single year (159 000 to 433 000) is most suspicious. Especially given that a quarter of King’s students got assistance, while Otahahu College got nothing.
If NZQA require educational psychologist assessment before handing over the cash, you’d hope the ministry review will recommend their funding this themself. I suspect it’ll just be a whitewash though, or maybe they’ll even recommend canceling the SAC programme altogether (as the private schools will have gone on to the next scam by then).
this is unfortunate; individuals living with autism and dyslexia are generally gifted in other dimensions, yet if situated in a lower-decile area / school, these qualities are less likely to be revealed, with the children concerned becoming labeled as ‘difficult’. Then there was the revelation on RNZ this week that of the school settings receiving funding to provide a learning environment for ‘difficult’ children, few are meeting Ministry of Education criteria and guidelines. Instead, many children are just warehoused in a holding pattern.
DUM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
No. 1: Steve Hansen
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
“The French definitely turned up to play.”
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
—The All Blacks’ dozy coach Steve Hansen, following yet another abject non-effort by the Tricolors.
Saturday 22 June 2013
In the game I watched, the French led twice, and forced scrum penalties from the All Black scrum. The All Blacks scored a try which a referee could not have allowed without video review and which remained dubious, and prevented a French try only by a professional foul with blatant jersey pulling.
The score could have been AB 17 FR 16! Rugby watching is like political commentating and poll watching, isn’t it?
In the game I watched, the French led twice, and forced scrum penalties from the All Black scrum. The All Blacks scored a try which a referee could not have allowed without video review and which remained dubious, and prevented a French try only by a professional foul with blatant jersey pulling.
In the second minute of the match, France got perfect running ball a few metres from the NZ goal line. Any team, even the least talented, would have at least had a go at passing the ball in such a situation; a team of France’s calibre would be almost guaranteed of scoring. But instead of spinning it, French flyhalf Remi Tales kicked it into the All Black’s in-goal area, and a chance went begging. Tales’ “choice” of squandering possession so grossly was to be repeated by him and his lackadaisacal team-mates throughout the “game”.
You can take Steve Hansen’s lead and pretend that France made an effort if you want, just as the clowns in the Herald on Sunday have done. But please don’t pretend to be doing anything other than talking up a hollow win in a friendly match against a team that made only a token effort.
The score could have been AB 17 FR 16!
Sure it could, if the French had turned up to play. They did not, and it was another disgraceful lack of effort, on a par with last weekend’s horror show in Christchurch.
Rugby watching is like political commentating and poll watching, isn’t it?
Some political pollsters like to pretend things are other than what they actually are. Just like Steve Hansen, actually.
Or maybe like you, Morrissey.
Read your own comments as one who reads them from our side of the internet divide. From what you write in reply, if we disagree with you we are clowns like the Herald or Hansen since we (bad12 and myself) saw that game differently, or pretenders who are dishonest in our commenting.
Morrissey, there is a large problem of how to communicate or argue here. Did you ever wonder why you get commenters’ backs up here- and this is over (choke) an unimportant thing like a game of rugby, where they play the ball and not the man!
Read your own comments as one who reads them from our side of the internet divide. From what you write in reply, if we disagree with you we are clowns like the Herald or Hansen since we (bad12 and myself) saw that game differently, or pretenders who are dishonest in our commenting.
I don’t think you are being dishonest, my friend. But I do think you are not looking at that travesty of a match either sensibly or dispassionately. Of course the All Blacks played well, and deserved to win each of the three friendly games. The All Blacks approached those games seriously; the Tricolors, on the other hand, clearly did not. You saw just as clearly as I did that the French team hardly tried to do anything with the ball during any of those matches; even one of that extraordinarily dimwitted commentary team on Prime TV remarked on Saturday night that the French had done nothing other than boot any possession they got down-field and hope for mistakes from the All Blacks, a “tactic” which was never going to succeed, ever. The French showed no commitment, no passion, and not a hint of creativity, in spite of the TV advertisements blathering about “French flair”. In other words, they hardly made an effort. You can either face up to that fact, and condemn them for it, or you can pretend that the All Blacks won against a French team playing football seriously.
Morrissey, there is a large problem of how to communicate or argue here. Did you ever wonder why you get commenters’ backs up here-
That’s a mighty big statement. I have got people’s backs up now and again, certainly. But we usually reconcile and I get along well with most of my interlocutors, even if we squabble occasionally.
and this is over (choke) an unimportant thing like a game of rugby, where they play the ball and not the man!
Yes, you’re right, mac, I should tone it down a bit. Must try harder….
A non-effort by the French,??? my opinion is that the French turned up at Yarrow stadium last night with a game plan designed to negate the game the All Blacks brought to Christchurch the previous week,
Considering that the French were for most of last nights game in a position were a converted try could have won them the game their game plan could be said to have been superior to that of the previous week,
Obviously the French negating the attacking capabilities of the All Blacks last night gave us more an exhibition of thugby as opposed to the brilliant use of the football of the previous week and the old adage about changing a winning team was once again proved as the line-out failed to adequately compete against the French when compared with the previous week and a rusty number 10 in Dan Carter produced what was a pretty lack-luster game by His own standards….
A non-effort by the French,???
Well at least they actually put warm bodies on the park, even though their hearts were clearly not in it. They did tackle and get in the way, of course, but they tried absolutely nothing on attack, and in fact deliberately squandered chances to score by mindlessly punting away perfect front-foot ball.
…my opinion is that the French turned up at Yarrow stadium last night with a game plan designed to negate the game the All Blacks brought to Christchurch the previous week,
What “game plan”? They showed nothing and did nothing. Except get in the way of the All Blacks.
Considering that the French were for most of last nights game in a position were a converted try could have won them the game their game plan could be said to have been superior to that of the previous week,
Again, WHAT game plan are you talking about? They did nothing. Possibly this was a good tackling practice for them, and I would not put it past them to have treated it as nothing more serious.
Obviously the French negating the attacking capabilities of the All Blacks last night gave us more an exhibition of thugby as opposed to the brilliant use of the football of the previous week
What “brilliant use” of the football? It was virtually an unopposed training run for the All Blacks in Christchurch.
and the old adage about changing a winning team was once again proved as the line-out failed to adequately compete against the French when compared with the previous week and a rusty number 10 in Dan Carter produced what was a pretty lack-luster game by His own standards….
And what about the rustiness of the Tricolors’ No. 10? At least Carter never did anything as grossly irresponsible as his opposite number (Remi Tales) did in the first 90 seconds of last night’s debacle.
A discussion well worth being involved in.
Worldwide, demand for medicines is outstripping governments’ ability to pay for them, as people live longer and expensive new therapies come to market. But Pharmac CEO Steffan Crausaz said unlike similar bodies in other countries, Pharmac has a fixed budget, forcing it to prioritise.
Now, for the first time, the public is being asked to give its opinion on whether those priorities need reform.
Harris told the Sunday Star-Times that funding decisions work best when they are based on a set of principles, rather than ad hoc decisions on what seems reasonable. Deciding just what those principles should be, though, can be tricky.
The New Zealand system attempts to compare and prioritise, “independently of disease-based lobbying, whether it’s from manufacturers or doctors or patient groups”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8830368/The-pills-bills-Its-life-or-death
From Tuesday, Pharmac is hosting a series of free community forums seeking the public’s views on what its decision criteria should be. For details see bit.ly/19m3Jvr
Pharmac’s consultation guidelines:
http://www.bit.ly/12PsGzh
Thanks for raising this really important issue, LynWiper. Pharmac has been under attack from drug companies for some time now because they’ve been holding prices of meds down, and using generics rather than expensive drug company specialities. I think we need to give them as much support as possible, help them work out those priorities, so we continue to get reasonable costs on our medications and not be subject to the prices of those huge multinational drugs manufacturers.
The TPP negotiations loom large on this issue. The Americans have their eye on Pharmac and one wonders what is the real position of our Nact representatives at these talks.
Or indeed their ABC Labour opponents.
I don’t. They’ll sell out to US demands.
For a start they could pay attention to their first 8 decision making criteria and END all funding for the current tranche of Nicotine Replacement Therapies (patches, inhalers, gum etc that all contain nicotine) and save, how many millions of dollars per annum that currently goes to lining the pockets of Big Pharma? Instead, and in line with 1 through 8 of their own criteria, they could provide nicotine in solution to ex-smokers, allowing them to either continue the addiction with far fewer health consequences or to step their dosage down in incremental stages until they were nicotine free.
I’m hoping to see an interest in what people think about quality of life concerns in Pharmac’s decision-making process.
From my point of view, decisions are too focused on a narrow medical benefit and cost to the health system. For example there are relatively rare disabling conditions that can prevent people taking part in society. Standard drugs can keep them as functioning invalids, prevent hospitalisation, and slow the course of the disease, but may not allow the patient to resume a life without assistance – financial (including invalid benefit for those who don’t have a partner to rely on) and/or physical – due to disabilities resulting from the illness.
However, newer, very expensive drugs can allow the ill person to function at the same level as a person without the condition – interacting with family, having a social life, and crucially (in term of other societal/taxpayer costs), able to work and pay tax, play, and physically look after their families. However in Pharmac’s view the new drug does nothing more than the older, cheaper drugs in the reduction of health system costs so is heavily restricted.
And yet, (for my personal pet rant) Pharmac pay a fortune in omeprazole (Losec) (due to the number of people who are prescribed it) so people can eat spicy chicken (queue Losec ad) when a green prescription may have a greater impact. Rant exceptions, of course, for people with little choice – I don’t intend to dismiss need – e.g. those with stomach ulcers, IBDs or taking anti-inflammatories for a condition that the above example incorporates.
United States to charge Snowden with Spying.
Who said the Americans don’t do irony?
The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation.
The charges against ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden include espionage and….
Read more, if you can bear it….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23012317
I posted this link last night: USA Today did a great interview with 3 former NSA whistleblowers who say Snowden has succeeded where they have failed. Some of the things they reveal about attitudes in the US govt since 9-11 are very scary. But kudos to them and to USA today for doing this piece.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/06/16/snowden-whistleblower-nsa-officials-roundtable/2428809/
I should not laugh but …
The SST is reporting Truth’s escort service website has been hacked and the phone numbers of escorts replaced by Cam Slater’s number. Imagine the surprised calls he must be receiving …
The irony is strong as cammy has an interesting moral compass when it comes to the provision of his services
*funny*. And no, it wasn’t me.
Note to myself – might have to buy the SST this morning.
There is an online version of the main article: “The Truth Was Out There”. pp A11-12 of the hard copy.
on pA3, there’s a small article, “Official: Truth a bunch of Hacks” about the website hack. SLater says he put his phone on silent, and wasn’t very bothered by “the childish games people play”.
Slater says he hasn’t heard from the Truth’s owners since the closure was announced, and that he’s now “exploring a digital-only newspaper venture”.
Should be fun – *yawn*.
I should not laugh…
Why not. That’s hilarious. Wish we knew who it was…
Rather than the work of a super duper hacker I suspect it was an inside job by an employee who does not hold Cameron in the highest of regard.
might be cameron himself looking for alternative employment
Perhaps a black-hearted Crow?
That is very funny
Q + A………to be renamed “Qeue + Adore” (ShonKey Python and National that is).
In the first 20 minutes:
– Key given full novelistic reign on QE with nothing from Norman.
– Big ups to National for protecting vulnerable immigrant workers (oh how
marvellous……everyone else is implacably opposed to that of course, yeah right).
– Miller, Mapp and Mei waxing lyrical how wonderful is “Minister” Woodhouse for militating
against immigrant worker exploitation. Mapp……..the embarrassingly pompous pedant former National Party cabinet minister. On the show to lead the cheering by and for “Woody” ?
– Oh wow……..Palestine……..thank you lawyer Mei…….”this is a very important matter for which a
solution must be found…..”. Strangely, no addressing “justice the seed, peace the
flower”. To do so I guess would be too challenging for the Susan (thick as a piece of) Wood.
– And on the question of workers rights no mention during the acclaimation for “Minister”
Woodhouse of the attack on New Zealand workers’ rights promoted by that sleaze the slightly
cleverer than Gilmore, Jamie-Lee Ross. Parallel to the startlingly innovative focus of
“Minister ” Woodhouse in boldly enforcing law already on the statute book.
Qeue + Adore not worth watching I’m afraid. Why not just can it and toss production costs into National Party coffers.
Yes, migrant labour exploitation equivalent to NAct labour law exploitation.
After a few token prosecutions, where will the resourcing come from to follow up notifications.
And on New Zealanders returning from overseas? from Tracey Lee , ‘Brand Strategist’ and wastage of a sociology education, “we must smooth the hardship of their transition” (paraphrased) …I shake my head in despair! Lord give us strength, strewth!
Did I say, I’m feeling disgust about now…
+1 The bit about Kiwis returning back to New Zealand was particularly naive. Not once was our low waged economy, which is the main reason for the mass-exodus, mentioned. All we had was propaganda about a supposed 25,000 Kiwis returning each year, which morphed into a puff piece with claims that most Kiwis only left for a little while anyway.
Meanwhile in the real world there’s approximately a million Kiwis permanently living abroad, and the mass exodus continues unabated.
But whatever, John Key promising that people would waive goodbye to higher taxes and not their loved ones is a distant memory, especially it seems for the deluded spin doctors over at Q+A.
a dearth of balanced, objective pundits on the local current faire, yet there is always Colin James and Jon Johanssen 😎
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/q-a-a-review-7/
(excerpt..)
“….next subject:..returning expats..
.a ‘brand-strategist’ is up first..(ed::..no..!..really..!..good grief..!’)
..who does a ‘brand-strategist’/cliche-stringing-together tour-de-force..
..then some returning ice-cream-maker..(!)..
(ed:..q & a veers into ‘good morning’ territory..again..)
(ed:..we are halfway thru this show now..and not a moment of that first half would be worth getting up off the couch for..)
..(the ‘brand-strategist’ talks of the stigmas from being a returning expat..(!)..(ed:..who the fuck knew..?..)
..then her and compere woods seriously camp out in ‘good morning’ territory..both getting over–excited/comfortable with/over ‘connecting’-talk..”
phillip ure..
Its good theres a counter-balance to the blatantly left Campbell Live
Glad you accept it was the National Campaigning Show through and through.
Just like Campbell is anti-National, I mean fairs fair right
Is Campbell blatantly left and anti-National, or just challenging whatever government is in power?
Campbell’s sucking up to Helen Clark obviously proves Chris’ point. Oh, wait…
John Campbell speaks up for disadvantaged people and points out social inequality.
I suspect that is why you label him “anti National”
Spot on CV, Helping the disadvantaged = Anti National. Sums it up!
Reality has a left-wing bias.
I well remember the time when John Campbell broke the investigation by Nicky Hager into Corngate. Senior Labour Party activists I spoke to were ropeable. The air was blue. And the abuse they showered on Campbell and Hager. “They were close friends”, “They were working together to discredit the Labour Party”, “They are rats”, “anti-Labour” etc. etc
Yeah I near vomited at the sycophancy that was shown. Shit it’s another program that’s on the why bother list, as it’s been dumbed down, and is at the level of 7 sharp now. and it’s getting worse, the MSM is hopeless. And the so called Current Affairs shows are either dumbed down, or are on at such weird times that the stories are lost to the main stream.
Q + A is part of the NACT spin machine. The nats know how to make the SOE’s do their bidding, it’s all too easy when you stack the board/management and have that mafia style approach to the ‘funding ‘
Susan Wood as on of the attack dogs..says it all really, just a revolving door of hacks and has beens.
Q + A is part of the NACT spin machine. The nats know how to make the SOE’s do their bidding, it’s all too easy when you stack the board/management and have that mafia style approach to the ‘funding ‘
Susan Wood as one of the attack dogs says it all really, just a revolving door of hacks and has beens who know how to keep the paymasters happy.
lol @ Petey George getting fisked by David Fisher on his twitter machine:
https://twitter.com/DFisherJourno
Is that conversation intelligible to people who use twitter regularly? (couldn’t quite follow it myself).
Labour is planning to ‘ take the fight to National’, and will announce new policy imminently, on what it says is one of the most pressing issues facing New Zealand. It asks:
What are we doing to make Herne Bay housing more
affordable for young professional first-home buyers?
Labour leader, David Shearer says he expects this to be one of the key election issues in 2014 and Labour will ‘terrorise’ its National Party opponents in the ferocity with which they will fight for the “hard working children of our own hard working families, who work very hard”.
http://www.imperatorfish.com/2013/06/i-get-it-now.html
Its just lazy making fun of Shearer and Labour…wheres the challenge?
Can’t argue with that.
It’s just that sometimes I need an outlet to express my ongoing anger.
” imminently” Is that like Soon? or Sometime Soon?, or Could Be Soon?
That information is not contained on the auto-cue and will therefore remain unknown.
The Herald this morning – front page online – elderly lady attacked and assaulted in her own home – surveillance camera style photograph of a capped and hoodied young brown guy:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Go to the article – photograph of a police car. No picture of the young brown guy and no mention of him.
Why no mention of him Herald ? Oh I see, the photograph of the young brown guy is unrelated to the article.
So why then is there a photo of a capped and hoodied young brown guy on your front page under the headline “Elderly victims targeted” ?
No No I’m not complaining…….racial profiling is just fine with me.
The photo is from a cash machine where one of the elderly victims cards was trying to be used by the hoodied young brown guy.
Its not racial profiling when its a picture of someone using a stolen ATM card.
Get over yourself.
I will try Andy. Where’s the Herald at leaving the photo completely unexplained in the article.
Sensible to link surely ? Oh hang on, maybe the stereoptype is so established as to obviate the link.
I think they modified the article to make it clearer.
The police have given the Herald footage from a crime to help solve it, evil fucker robbing old folk. Jeeebus they aint perfect (teh herald) but cut them some slack on this.
Oh look, more photos.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892362
Fuck you and your ‘established stereotype’ nonsense. There is some dangerous dude robbing old people with increasing violence. Colour of perpetrator and old folk not important.
Dick!!
The police have given footage……..
Dead right Angry Andy as I now know. But who was to know that without any explanation of the photo ? Just in case you blow a fuse Dick !!, give a thought to this: the article has been updated as CV says. My comment was posted at about 11.00 am, before the update.
If you wanna stay Angry Andy I’ll falsely state “Good on ya young brown fulla, bash those old ladies and steal their money”, just to prove your point and invigorate your strawman
You who needs a life.
I give the herald a little bit of credit. Not much but, some. Jumping to conclusions on a Sunday when they have the least staff on board still makes you a dick, when proven wrong by further updates.
Yeah, I’m angry. Angry at your stupid and angry that some douche bag is robbing old people.
Press F5 on your keyboard, its called ‘refresh’. Makes you less of a dick sometimes.
You can falsely state whatever you want, but your still wrong and will not, withdraw and apologise.
There is no strawman, just facts.
Dick!!!
Edit: was updated at 10.40am ish with attribution on photo.
Yeah, facts, as presented by the Herald at 11.00 am, and crucially, differently and more instructively, some hours later.
Careful with your fuse Andy. Happy to cut the Herald some slack aye ? Fair enough. How about some for me since I commented on the appearance of the earlier set of Herald “facts”, not the later set of Herald “facts”.
Highly unreasonable of you to keep up the insistence that I approve of the criminality and cowardice we mutually detest when you know full well I do not.
No strawman you reckon ? Huh !
Again, it’s for you to get a life.
Tried to edit the above comment after reading your edit. Understand Andy, not facts that I saw. I read and reread the article, surprised there was no explanation as to the guy’s connection. Then spent 10-15 minutes writing a comment in response to the article as first presented by the Herald which response I submitted at 10.50 am.
Still not satisfied ? Tough. Be obtuse.
Yeah right. I applaud the bastard responsible. Of course I do ! Happy now ? How’s the fuse ?
You mean this one?
In scenes reminiscent of the early days of the Syrian protests. Turkish police break up peaceful demonstrations with unprovoked violence.
Though he didn’t state who they were, following Basher Assad’s lead, Turkish leader Tayip Erdogan blamed Turkey’s enemies.
Maybe Colonial Viper could help Erdogan out here. And put a name to these unnamed enemies of Turkey
This shouldn’t be to hard for CV. As CV doesn’t need to have any knowledge at all of conditions on the ground in Turkey. Or even take note of those who do. All he has to do is pull out his tired old Marxist dogmatic script which reliably informed him that the Yankee Imperialists were behind every other Middle Eastern revolt.
Maybe CV could helpfully suggest to Erdogan, as he did for Assad, that the use of deadly nerve gas against the enemies of his country wouldn’t be a war crime.
maybe Jenny could stop wasting bait on the Viper, and set sights on other fish 😀
You are probably right. I will stop wasting my time and energy on this supporter of fascism when he stops provoking me.
What I was responding to was his attack on me.
I posted a statement in support of Edward Snowden. Which Colonial Viper took exception to. And which I replied to by trying to keep it light. To which Colonial Viper launched an unwarranted attack on me for supporting the Syrian people’s struggle to free themselves of a murderous dictatorship.
See the exchange here
I have never used CV’s support for the fascist regime of Basher Assad against him. Preferring to argue the merit of the issue at hand. I had also hoped that CV’s support for the Assad regime, indeed his whole racist dismissal of the validity of the Arab Spring, was some sort of grotesque mistake. Everyone can make mistakes. And so out of politeness I have never used it to beat him up, when discussing other issues.
However I feel that I would be remiss in not responding to CV’s unprovoked attack. IMHO to allow CV’s sick support for the facist style Bashar Assad regime to go unchallenged would be tantamount to agreeing not to challenge this sort of repression anywhere. If he thinks he can bring this up in an attempt to embarrass me every time he disagrees with me, then he is mistaken
I make no apology for supporting the struggle of the people of Syria fighting for democracy. That that struggle has become brutal and fratracidal, in the nature of all civil wars, was not of their choice but of the dictator Bashar Assad. Bashar Assad could have agreed to grant the protesters the minor democratic reforms that they originally sought. Instead he decided to gun them down instead.
What I take from CV’s attack on me over the comment on Edward Snowden, is that Colonial Viper hates the sort of political activism that the citizens of Hong Kong are famous for. The courageous political activism that has seen the people of Hong Kong openly defy the Beijing communist regime, and that Snowden has put his faith in, to protect him, from both the Chinese communist and the American capitalist governments.
And I might add, also the same sort of political activism that New Zealanders too can also rightly lay claim to as a proud tradition of protest practiced here.
I believe this argument has relevance to what happens here.
Colonial Viper dismisses the power and the success and validity of all grass roots citizen protest movements protesting against authority and injustice.
Though it can be seriously argued that such movements have achieved more for human progress and human rights than all the pragmatic top table horse trading that political parties spend their time on.
I believe that Colonial Viper is of the opinion that we should leave everything up to the high ups in the Labour Party and the Greens.
If the Greens and Labour decide in their coalition discussions that Deep Sea Oil drilling is OK. Then we must accept it. If these “leaders” decide on our behalf that there is nothing we here in New Zealand can do about climate change, we must accept that too. In fact we must accept everything that the political bureaucracies shove down our throats even if it is killing us.
I believe that the sort of activism that I talk about, makes people like Colonial Viper uneasy, because it holds mainstream parties to account and decreases the amount of wriggle room that the mainstream politicians have to make compromises and sellouts.
But it is the tradition that made New Zealand become nuclear free and left no room for compromise for the Lange government. It is the tradition that saw New Zealand reject racially selected sports teams.
It is the same proud tradition of protest that keeps democracy alive in Hong Kong while surrounded by a communist dictatorship.
Finally it is the same spirit that moved the people of Syria to take up arms against the state in response to the violence unleashed against them by the regime. (A lesson that Erdogan of Turkey, indeed all autocratic leaders where ever they are, should take note of.)
Lol.
That’s good advice from the Ghostrider, Jenny
Not all reptiles are dragons
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/04/16/uk-syria-crisis-turkey-idUKBRE93F0PG20130416
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/06/14/syria-rebels-weapons-logistics/2423185/
Turkey allowed itself to be used by the USA/UK/France, imperialists in their desire to upend the ME, to control the resources on that region, as well as the continued resource theft in Africa.
Turkey, has played its part very poorly, and alienated Muslim sects, by being used as an imperialist puppet, and is now feeling the fallout of the administrations corrupted actions!
Not to hard to understand where these, *enemies* might come from, Jenny!
The subject of the ME/Africa, is clearly beyond your ability to comprehend, Jenny. Perhaps its a good time to re-focus on those areas you might consider to be, strenghts!
Maybe CV could helpfully suggest to Erdogan, as he did for Assad, that the use of deadly nerve gas against the enemies of his country wouldn’t be a war crime.
Maybe we should introduce some facts,which tend to get in the way of Jenny’s story books.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/05/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE94409Z20130505
Cheers guys, much appreciated.
You guys must be kidding?
Is this some sort of black comedy?
In your your deadly serious campaign to support mass murder and torture CV you and your mates are so out of touch with reality that you have completely lost your sense of the ridiculous.
Do you guys seriously expect us to believe this rubbish?
What you are trying to tell us is that the rebels who can’t even build a safe field hospital. Assembled all the chemical ingredients to make sarin. Not to mention, putting in place all the high tech containment and safety procedures that need to be at the very least a PC1 level containment. According to wikipedia, a task even the nazis couldn’t fully complete in time before the end of the war.
And having achieved all that, loaded it into a specialised artillery shell. Or did they deliver it in the back of a bread van?
Maybe you guys have got your scripts mixed up?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-hD3w_VdTG30/john_smiths_bachelor_party/
Got a little nazi frat boy thing going on here CV?
that is funny.
Jenny, I think your overwrought witterings are the problem. eg Assad and CV are not fascists and not liking the makeup of parts of the Syrian opposition does not make one a fascist. And you are dreaming if you think anyone much is fighting for ‘democracy’. One of the reasons the West has been slow to get involved is exactly that question; is there any point in replacing Assad when an even worse regime will be taking over?
We went through that scenario in Iraq and look how that turned out.
TRP Your defence of Colonial Viper’s support for the brutal Basha Assad regime falls down on the fact that from the beginning CV has claimed that the whole thing is an American plot. Including the Arab Spring itself.
This is not just factually wrong but is actually a racist slur on the Arab people.
I don’t think that any party that calls itself democratic can long tolerate in their ranks an Islamaphobic racist who openly admires a fascist style dictatorial regime that indulges in mass murder and torture.
you forgot to add in climate change denialist and proxy for the fossil fuel industry, for gods sakes can you get my credentialling right
No I got it right. You have consistently argued in the past to do nothing about climate change. I have never called you a “climate change denialist“. What I did term you as, and I think I was being accurate at the time, was a “climate change ignorer“. (something you share in common with David Shearer). However on saying that I have noticed of late, a positive change in your position. It just goes to shows me that no one is irredeemable. I play rough but you are learning.
What have you got right exactly, Jenny? Your Arab Spring working out for ordinary people in Egypt and Libya is it? Your Syrian “popular revolt” still importing a lot of foreign Islamic fighters just to keep going? Green party coming around to your way of looking at the world?
What exactly is it that you have got right?
You’re not a valkyrie, Jenny, just mistaken.
Thankyou for the back handed compliment. I may take up Voice of Reason AKA Te Reo Putake’s suggestion that I change my call sign after all.
Hey you’re very welcome.
And having achieved all that, loaded it into a specialised artillery shell. Or did they deliver it in the back of a bread van?
Mr Whippy would be a reasonable delivery mechanism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin_gas_attack_on_the_Tokyo_subway
Also there have been plenty of defections from the Syrian armed forces as well as break-ins to military armouries by rebels.
Do tell. So they stole the sarin off Assad.
And used it, yes.
New information about the drive to place sick and incapacitated WINZ beneficiaries with mental health issues into employment:
Learn a bit about some of the possibly leading “pigs at the government trough”, who are likely contenders for MSDs contracts to outsource employment services for getting mentally ill (and other incapacitated) WINZ beneficiaries into work, for nice fees paid that will be based on referrals, duration of employment and so forth (more to come):
Press Release – Wise Group, 10:15 May 16, 2013:
http://business.scoop.co.nz/2013/05/16/employment-and-mental-health/
describing a new “tool” for doctors and mental health service providers, to “assist” and “motivate” clients to move back into work, developed by ‘The Wise Group’ – more on them further below!!!
See what was already done last year to prepare for the push to get mentally ill assisted back into work in last year:
“Engage Aotearoa”:
http://www.engagenz.co.nz/?tag=employment-support-as-a-mental-health-intervention-forum
Employment Support as a Mental Health Intervention Forum: 9 March 2012
Quote:
“This is your invitation to a forum for clinicians and others that will focus on this developing field of practice. International research andthe experience of practitioners, signals that evidence-based supported employment is emerging as a significant intervention to help people into paid competitive work.This symposium with is focus on employment is timely as the Government has indicated a comprehensive review of the benefit system.”
…with information on a forum last year, at the Ko Awatea Centre for Education & Innovation, Otahuhu
attended by speakers:
Rob Warriner, CEO of Walsh Trust: http://www.walsh.org.nz;
Warren Elwin, CEO of Workwise, Employment Agency: http://www.workwise.org.nz;
Helen Lockett, Strategic Development, Wise Group: http://www.wisegroup.co.nz;
Clive Bensemann, Director of Mental Health, Auckland District Health Bd;
David Codyre, Clinical Director/ Consultant Psychiatrist, ProCare Psychological Services …
And –
John Zonnevylle, Capital Coast DHB
Magdel Hammond, Edge Employment,
Dale Rook, Occupational Therapist, Auckland District Health Board
More information: http://www.engagenz.co.nz/?p=1677
Main website: http://www.engagenz.co.nz/
Also to take note of:
http://grow.co.nz/real-value-helen-lockett/
(another “UK expert”, but I am a bit unsure whether she is one of those supporting Prof. Mansel Aylward’s and Dr David Bratt’s particularly hardline philosophies on “work capacity” and the “health benefits of work”)
See Workwise’s “information” on “evidence based supported employment”:
http://www.workwise.org.nz/about-us/EBSE
http://www.workwise.org.nz/news/2012/02/27/new-zealands-first-primary-care-partnership-in-evidence_based-supported-employment
http://www.workwise.org.nz/news/2012/02/27/analysis-shows-strong-financial-returns-from-employment
The Wise Group – a major player, who own/operate ‘Workwise’:
http://www.wisegroup.co.nz/page/5-Home
http://www.wisegroup.co.nz/page/24-The-Wise-family
http://www.wisegroup.co.nz/page/14-who-we-are+our-history
http://www.socialangels.org.nz/about
(see ‘The Wise Group’ being a “charitable trust” and “Social Angels” a registered “charity”)
Workwise on the Charities Register:
http://www.register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=8f8b356e-320f-dd11-99cd-0015c5f3da29&searchId=291abede-5d72-4bbc-a693-165e621a71ce
Workwise Trust Group on the Charities Register:
http://www.register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=8febe8e5-290d-dd11-99cd-0015c5f3da29&searchId=291abede-5d72-4bbc-a693-165e621a71ce
Charities Register – last filed return:
http://www.register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/PublicAnnualReturn?nocId=797d3395-4749-e211-84ab-00155d0d1916&charityRef=WOR18206&accountId=8f8b356e-320f-dd11-99cd-0015c5f3da29&searchId=291abede-5d72-4bbc-a693-165e621a71ce&nocRef=WIS18147AR005
So there we have it – more “corporate welfare” in the form of generous employment schemes for the well paid running of such services, and for perhaps a bit less generously paid bulk of the remaining “staff”. All likely to be part of the planned outsourcing and privatisation of welfare.
One thing is sure for the Wise Group:
$ 61,277,236 government grants and contract payments, out of $ 65,412,195 total income of that “charity”!!! Not bad really, especially for the ones running it.
I had some personal experiences with “Workwise” some time ago, as a former flatmate with some mental health issues tried to find work through the help of two of their staff. She got “stuff all” in real, effective support, and was rather disappointed by the “service” delivered by at times very unreliable and not all that motivated staff!
***When thinking of “charities” “Sanitarium” comes to mind again, owned by a church that can run the business as a “charity”, paying no tax on earnings. ***
See other organisations and agencies involved in this approach:
http://www.platform.org.nz/
http://www.tepou.co.nz/
http://www.tepou.co.nz/news/2013/06/13/employment-is-a-health-intervention
http://www.tepou.co.nz/story/2011/01/01/supporting-people-with-mental-health-issues-to-return-to-and-stay-at-work
http://www.pathways.co.nz/page/21-support-services+real-jobs+real-jobs
http://carenz.co.nz/
http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1003540
(Dr David Bratt, one of the directors at Care NZ Ltd!!! Only indirectly involved, but participating in the same “drive” to get sick back into work the “Bratt way”)
Remember also:
The whole agenda is being pushed strongly, and familiar people are behind it:
http://www.wellnz.co.nz/about_us/press_release_details.asp?pressID=36&bhcp=1
Paula Bennett’s speech to medical professionals in Sept. 2012, indicating work capacity assessments UK style (remember ATOS, DWP and the scandalous developments):
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-medical-professionals
I presume much is just “illness belief” (e.g. imagination), I suppose:
http://awdpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Models-of-Sickness-Disability-Waddell-and-Aylward-2010-2.pdf
(Publication by Prof. M. Aylward from 2010: ‘Models of Sickness and Disability’, or perhaps rather “blurring the lines, to open up attack lines on sick and disabled with incapacities – for state welfare agencies or insurance companies to dis-entitle beneficiaries and claimants”)
In contrast the more widely known and well-established agency used by MSD and Work and Income to place people with physical disabilities into employment:
http://www.workbridge.co.nz/?page=121
(this is harmless, the more conventional approach, not covering mental health though)
Some visuals to go with the information on job finding!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or6CwOyx30I
They’ve got pens – The League of Gentlemen – BBC
Pauline turns up for her new start session with the unemployed but is quite shocked to find that the tables have turned. Contains adult humour. Watch more high quality….
Good to check out the
prospectuswebpages of the ‘Wise’ outfit, especially the cvs of the main players. I’d love to know what sort of salaries they are pulling in for caring so deeply.There are sharks competing for funding with the little fish in the NGO/charity world.
No prizes for guessing the winners in that particular battle for survival.
Had a lovely experience this morning, knock at the door, and a lovely maori lady from a local iwi social services and education trust, -initiated by a blind maori gentleman, Jim (last name escapes me) – invited me (and every other whanau in the street) to a sausage sizzle and a check out of some surplus winter clothing. They had parked up with a trailer at the end of the street and when I had to go out, most folk had wandered down and were catching up. Excellent after the cold spell.
Arbeit macht frei
WHO’S COMING to “Presentations on Palestine, building support & links from NZ?”
It’s FREE, VERY informative and ABOUT TIME!
Sunday 23 June from 12.30pm
Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, Queen St:
Presentations on Palestine, building support & links from NZ.
4pm: special screening of Oscar-nominated Palestinian documentary “5 Broken Cameras”.
5.30 – 6.30pm: meal break.
6.30pm: talk by Palestinian teacher/blogger Yousef Aljamal on ‘Life under occupation’.
7.30pm – 8.30pm: powerpoint presentation by author Miko Peled (“The General’s Son”).
_____________________________________________________
http://www.conferenceonpalestine.co.nz
Organised in cooperation with Kia Ora Gaza, Students For Justice in Palestine (Auckland, Hamilton & Wellington), Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Wellington Palestine Group, and Global Peace & Justice Auckland.
PROGRAMME:
Saturday 22 June 10am to 5pm
Leys Institute Hall
20 St Marys Rd, Three Lamps, Ponsonby.
Including workshops on promoting boycott and divestment campaigns, lobbying for sanctions, political prisoners, other solidarity actions. PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER AT OUR WEBSITE IN ORDER TO ATTEND DAY ONE or registration form available here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vHZw3H-KVD07vECOTilP_t23qH3BjCL3kXY_AwNEPvY/viewform.
Sunday 23 June from 12.30pm
Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber, Queen St:
Presentations on Palestine, building support & links from NZ.
4pm: special screening of Oscar-nominated Palestinian documentary “5 Broken Cameras”.
5.30 – 6.30pm: meal break.
6.30pm: talk by Palestinian teacher/blogger Yousef Aljamal on ‘Life under occupation’.
7.30pm – 8.30pm: powerpoint presentation by author Miko Peled (“The General’s Son”).
Copies of ‘The General’s Son’ will be available at the conference at $25 (retail price about $30). You can request a copy now by emailing us at: conferenceonpalestine@hotmail.com and send $25 + $4 postage to bank account below.
FREE ADMISSION – donations & pledges welcome.
This important event depends on your generous support.
HOW TO DONATE:
Make a direct payment to our bank account:
Conference on Palestine,
03-0211-0447718-000,
Westpac Bank, Onehunga branch.
Afterwards, send an email to: conferenceonpalestine@hotmail.com with your deposit details so we can send you an e-receipt.
Or write a cheque to ‘Conference on Palestine’ & post to:
Conference on Palestine
PO Box 86022, Mangere East,
Auckland 2158, New Zealand.
[Include you email or postal address for a receipt.]
Or paypal via our website:
http://www.conferenceonpalestine.co.nz
Miko Peled’s an interesting guy.
Argues for:
– The amalgamation of Occupied Territories with pre1967 Israel (ie the ‘Two State Solution” is dead on the ground)
– Full citizenship for Palestinians, including per-1967 exiles
– Right of return and compensation for Palestinians
– South African style Truth & Reconciliation process
Here’s a link to Miko Peled’s interview with Kim Hill
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/remote-player?id=2559559
There is a great item on Chris Laidlaw Radionz this a.m. on spy-ring etc. Thinking about Edward Snowden et al.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
A couple or more of speakers. The last I heard before putting this was a quip from a Hong Kong dignitary. She said that ‘The reason that the sun never set on the British Empire is because God doesn’t trust the British.’ Good eh!
This is after remembering how Brits organised spying on foreign dignitaries at I think one G8 meeting, even organising special internet cafes that were set up so they could get access to all their emails. Another bit of negative information is that they sent a top diver under a Russian vessel with advanced propeller technology but unfortunately his head was cut off. The comment was made that the English speaking countries were heavily into spying and we have been involved, along with Australia, in the ‘Five Eyes’ system since the Eighties I think.
I just love that quote!
Yes great interview: “God doesn’t trust the British…… in the dark !”….(end of quote , i think)
Also praise for Winston’s peace making role in Fiji….from previous interview.
( Why does everyone pick on the bugger…..He has always stood for not selling NZ assets!…unlike the two major parties( and he brought National down over selling public assets) …and why is it always assumed he will join with National?…)
Hah! If only my father and grandfather were alive to hear that quote with that punchline!
Thanks Chooky for FIFY
I was just rereading mine and thought I missed the punchline on that quote. It reads even better when you see the whole thing Olwyn.
And it was interesting to hear how staunch and reliable Winston Peters had been at the Fiji time of change and the high respect of the diplomatic staff for him.
“New Zealand government fast tracks domestic spying laws”
“In an interview with TV3 on June 11, Key fell into step with the international vilification of Snowden, sharply denouncing him as a “criminal”, and saying he should face the “full force of the law.” While Key has flatly refused to comment on any aspect of NSA activities and its links with New Zealand spy agencies, he has not denied that they exist.”
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/06/22/nzin-j22.html
40,000 plus some more perhaps?
Listening to Radio NZ ‘Arts on Sunday’ I learnt that movie film processing will stop shortly at Miramar, Wellington.
The outfit started life in 1941 as a result of a reccomendation to the NZ Govt by John Greirson the British documentary film-maker which had the National Film Unit established. Reputedly the only time the NZ Govt acted on a commissioned report
Later taken over by Television NZ and recently back at Miramar thanks to Peter Jackson but sadly[?] closing due to lack of throughput in the digital age.
Seemingly the last Australasian lab to go under as apparently Aussies are sending last minute film to Miramar and they are very busy in their last days, just next week left before the gear is dismantled.
Don’t quote me on this as it is just what I think I heard from the broadcast and memories, often not very accurate
“Economic Reform Necessary”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10892298
-Bernard Hickey
“When I first came to New Zealnd there were hardly any homeless people but now there are heaps, so where have we gone wrong?”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892330
-Simon Buckingham, Lawyer.
That’s an easy one to answer – we had governments believing the economists and business people and thus put in place policies that rewarded the business people at everyone else’s expense. This has, quite predictably, resulted in a massive increase in poverty for the many while a few got immeasurably richer.
Much of that would have to do with many ‘homeless’ actually suffering from mental illnesses that manifests for various reasons in homelessness. Once upon a time they would have been institutionalised.
Supermoon , again. 😀
Saw it!
“Almost unprecedented slobbering”
Irish parliamentarian speaks out against fawning treatment of war criminal
http://xrepublic.tv/node/3893
Ms Daly, MP for Dublin North, hit out at the “almost unprecedented slobbering” over the Obama family’s visit. “It’s really hard to know which is worst, whether it’s the outpourings of the Obamas themselves or the sycophantic falling over them by sections of the media and the political establishment,” she said. “We’ve had separate and special news bulletins by the State broadcaster to tell us what Michelle Obama and her daughters had for lunch in Dublin, but very little questioning of the fact that she was having lunch with Mr Tax Exile himself,” she said in reference to U2’s Bono.
She described Mr Obama as a “war criminal”, having “just announced his decision to supply arms to the Syrian opposition, including the jihadists, fuelling the destabilisation of that region, continuing to undermine secularism and knock back conditions for women”.
Ms Daly said: “This is the man who is in essence stalling the Geneva peace talks by trying to broker enhanced leverage for the Syrian opposition by giving them arms – and to hell with the thousands more who’ll lose their lives, or the tens of thousands who will be displaced. This is the man who has facilitated a 200 per cent increase in the use of drones which have killed thousands of people, including hundreds of children.” […]
http://xrepublic.tv/node/3893
Shit she’s definitely on the GCHQ monitoring list now.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/22/gchq-spying-catastrophe-german-politicans
the GCHQ have been spying on eurozone governenment and private corporations.
In a related thread 😉 , St Johns are continuing to bear the increasing “brunt of an ageing population”, coupled with “increases in minor incident calls” (yes Pop. , including for mental illness, and sheltered villages are much more protective) ; the stress is being piled on the organization, who are losing $15M a year.
These attacks on the elderly in Auckland has the police “very concerned about the escalation of violence”- Malthus.
NZ Parliamentarians should take a long hard look at that link.
I just saw an exchange between two politicians that contained actual information and that wasn’t sliced and diced by bullshit ‘points of order’…I saw an absolute absence of glib ‘one liners’…and I saw speakers allowed to offer their opinion and ask/answer questions without any childish braying from any opposite benches.
Add to that, a politician calling a spade a spade, well…when was the last time I had the pleasure?
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/questions-surround-mrp-float-price-ck-141888
$1.7b raised @ $2.50 = 680m shares. If the shares had been sold at $2.20 it would have raised slightly less than $1.5b
At what point, if there was such a point, would the government not have sold?
More importantly though, do NZers in general feel that they got a good price for the sale?
meanwhile, farmers request “armies of volunteers” to help clear snow-trapped stock in the Maniopoto and Millers Flat areas. sigh.
I thought that’s what woofers are for 😉 (‘cept you have to be organic-ish).
I’d tell them to plant some shelter belts
I’d just tell them to fuck off. It’s their problem that they can’t plan for perfectly reasonable expectations such as inclement weather.
Unfortunately you are speaking with the ignorance of a townie.
Ghostrider888 mentioned this in another thread. Slingshot are offering a new free Global Mode service for their customers, supposedly for international visitors staying with them, but it really looks like it’s giving NZers access to international content that was previously blocked.
Anyone tried it?
http://www.slingshot.co.nz/products/global-mode/support/
ta, getting weary-eyed.
BREAKING NEWS
Snowden is on a plane to Moscow.
http://www.scmp.com/
US are powerless to stop him having recently lost Maxwell Smart.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-15/accused-u-s-spy-s-tools-get-a-laugh-from-russians.html
ooooh, Ice ice baby.
Holy Frak: HK Govt allows Snowden to leave for Moscow
https://twitter.com/KimDotcom
And further afield…. .
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/snowden-says-us-targets-included-china-cell-phones
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/23/us-usa-security-flight-idUSBRE95M02H20130623
Massive crackdown on leakers in all US gov agencies; employees to inform on each other or face penalties themselves
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/20/194513/obamas-crackdown-views-leaks-as.html#.Ucbhp9hU1d3