I see that two of the soldier’s families that were killed in Afghanistan have called on Key to return the troops immediately because of the danger.
Which is being ignored!
Yet NZ troops in Syria part of the UN mission are being pulled out for the very same reason, even though none of them have been killed, or even injured.
Though reportedly, they have had little effect in stemming the violence. The UN contingent is the only constitutional body on the ground, that are a witness to the events in Syria. With the UN gone, any remaining restraint the regime may have felt by having the UN witness there will be gone.
Despite what all the leftist apologists for Assad claim.
This shows the interest that the West have for Syria.
As usual Jenny you are gravely mistaken in your information and your assumptions.
The pull out of NZ (and UN) troops/observers signals an imminent escalation in the invasion of Syria as it safely clears the way for NATO airpower to be used against Assad in the overthrow of the Syrian government.
Any claims that this is a “civil war” should be refuted. This is a foreign sponsored invasion of Syria.
BTW you want to fight against oppression and government violence against their own citizens…ever wonder why the US doesn’t ever act against its good mates Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, but keeps propping them up instead?
The pull out of NZ (and UN) troops/observers signals an imminent escalation in the invasion of Syria as it safely clears the way for NATO airpower to be used against Assad in the overthrow of the Syrian government.
Colonial Viper
What a crazy fantasist you are CV. An idiot can see that the Assad regime is already done for. It does not need a Western military invasion to “overthrow the Syrian government”.
Any invasion by the West will be with the aim to subjugate the Syrian people and suppress their revolution. With the exit of the UN observer mission, the West has effectively turned it’s back on the Syrian revolution leaving Assad free to kill as many of the opposition democratic forces as possible. If Western forces enter Syria it will be to finish the job. The Syrian people are aware of this threat. And are not ignorant of the games being played.
Any claims that this is a “civil war” should be refuted. This is a foreign sponsored invasion of Syria.
Colonial Viper
If the West do invade Syria it won’t be done to depose Assad. It will be done to defeat the Syrian People’s genuine struggle for democracy and freedom from autocracy and tyranny. Which is threat to all autocrats and dictators and racist states in the region.
A full meeting of the Israeli cabinet met to discuss the Arab Spring which they refer to as a growing “ring around Israel”.
If this all a US plot and not a genuine democratic uprising why would US client state the United Arab Emirates expel Syrian residents from the country when they dared to hold a rally in support of their brothers and sisters back home?
Refusing to recognise the democratic nature of the Arab revolutions. And attacking the Arab Spring and the Syrian uprising as a creation of the US and their client Middle Eastern states consciously or not, CV you are actually helping to create the conditions for the right wing argument for Western intervention to attack the revolutionaries.
And as such Colonial Viper you are an open enemy of all people who desire and value democracy and freedom.
You should be ashamed of yourself. (It is incredible to me that you aren’t, and persist in supporting a proven torturer and mass murderer)
The pull out of NZ (and UN) troops/observers signals an imminent escalation in the invasion of Syria as it safely clears the way for NATO airpower to be used against Assad in the overthrow of the Syrian government.
Colonial Viper
What a crazy fantasist you are CV. An idiot can see that the Assad regime is already done for. It does not need a Western military invasion to “overthrow the Syrian government”.
Any invasion by the West will be with the aim to subjugate the Syrian people and suppress their revolution. With the exit of the UN observer mission, the West has effectively turned it’s back on the Syrian revolution leaving Assad free to kill as many of the opposition democratic forces as possible. If Western forces enter Syria it will be to finish the job. The Syrian people are aware of this threat. And are not ignorant of the games being played.
Any claims that this is a “civil war” should be refuted. This is a foreign sponsored invasion of Syria.
Colonial Viper
If the West do invade Syria it won’t be done to depose Assad. It will be done to defeat the Syrian People’s genuine struggle for democracy and freedom from autocracy and tyranny. Which is threat to all autocrats and dictators and racist states in the region.
A full meeting of the Israeli cabinet met to discuss the Arab Spring which they refer to as a growing “ring around Israel”.
If this all a US plot and not a genuine democratic uprising why would US client state the United Arab Emirates expel Syrian residents from the country when they dared to hold a rally in support of their brothers and sisters back home?
Refusing to recognise the democratic nature of the Arab revolutions. And attacking the Arab Spring and the Syrian uprising as a creation of the US and their client Middle Eastern states consciously or not, CV you are actually helping to create the conditions for the right wing argument for Western intervention to attack the revolutionaries.
And as such Colonial Viper you are an open enemy of all people who desire and value democracy and freedom.
You should be ashamed of yourself. (It is incredible to me that you aren’t, and persist in supporting a proven torturer and mass murderer)
In a sign of respect FSA freedom fighters provide an escort to take her body to Turkey where she is received by the Japanese embassy in Istanbul to be returned to her family.
Her husband and colleague Kazutaka Sato describes how despite being unarmed and easily recognised as a woman and a reporter she was shot down in cold blood.+
In a sign of respect FSA freedom fighters provide an escort to take her body to Turkey where she is received by the Japanese embassy in Istanbul to be returned to her family.
How easily the FSA move to and from Syria through the border of NATO controlled Turkey.
Obama and Cameron are now positioning for the official western invasion of Syria. “Chemical weapons” will again be the pretext, exactly as it was with Saddam.
I am simply making it clear that you are supporting an ongoing foreign invasion of Syria. First by Saudi, Turkish and Qatar sponsored fighters, and now the Great Western Powers are taking their own angle.
Civilian correspondents with no diplomatic immunity, armed with nothing more than cameras are bravely trying to document what is happening in Syria.
While the UN observers with State of the art body armour and diplomatic status, with access to the authorities and entitled to carry arms for personal protection, and presumably, with far more freedom of movement than any civilian correspondent, have departed Syria. Leaving the regime to it’s own devices.
Immediately after the UN’s departure, reports are coming in, that the regime is currently staging a nazi style pogrom in Damascus. Conducting house to house raids, dragging men and boys out of their homes and executing them in the street.
In tactics reminiscent of the Nazi assault on the Warsaw ghetto, columns of soldiers hiding behind tanks entered Damascus suburbs and began raiding houses summarily executing those they captured.
If the the UN observers were there they could demand the right to investigate this war crime, instead, they have high tailed it.
Unconfirmed reports claim a prominent Syrian journalist Mohamad Saeed al Odeh who had expressed sympathy for the anti-Assad revolt has been executed in the round up.
Journalists are a particular threat to the regime because they expose the regime’s propaganda that the revolt is all Western and/or Al Qaida plot.
The Reuters report carried by Yahoo.com directly links the raids to the exit of the UN observer mission.
The army has this week used tanks and helicopter gunships in an offensive around Damascus that coincided with the departure of U.N. military observers…..
Activists in the southwestern Damascus suburb of Mouadamiya said Assad’s forces had killed 86 people there since Monday, half of them by execution. It was not possible to verify that report….
….One of the dead was named as Mohammad Saeed al Odeh, a journalist employed at a state-run newspaper who was sympathetic to the anti-Assad revolt. Activists said he had been executed in Nahr Eisha….
If apologists for the Assad regime like Colonial Viper had their way this sort of atrocity would be carried out right across Syria and not just the small area that Assad controls at present.
Civilian correspondents with no diplomatic immunity, armed with nothing more than cameras are bravely trying to document what is happening in Syria.
New Zealander Anita McNaught is one of those risking their life to get the facts. Assad apologist, Colonial Viper in a disgusting personal attack on McNaught suggested that she had sold her journalistic integrity to her current employer, Al Jazeera. He even suggested that she could have staged an explosion while she was interviewing a FSA soldier on the front line in Aleppo.
I am bewildered by Colonial Viper’s dirty tactics and the motives behind his support for this murderous regime.
McNaught’s current employer was founded and funded by Qatari aristocracy.
Who happen to be funding and supporting the FSA to take down Assad. And who also happen to host a major US military presence in their country. Connecting the dots too much for you Jenny?
Just like your hero you continue to attack the messenger.
Where Assad murders them, while you have to be content to murder their reputation.
I imagine you will not be satisfied until Anita is added to the list of journalists killed in Syria, then you and your dictator will have both achieved your common aim.
Jenny do you actually bother to try and cover various possibilities which might assist in explaining how things are in the ME, or are you too busy on the crusade to understand that you are being lied to!
As previously stated, it is not possible for anyone angle to be right or wrong entirely, but in the case of Syria, its really just take a look at the ME and so called “arab spring”, read some of the many links you have been provided with, read some history, and understand the support that “leaders” in the ME have had from the west over the past decades, then look at what those same leaders have had happen to them, recently. Notice that the same people behind the scenes in the US administration are the same folk who have been there for decades, or perhaps you don;t know that!
The ME is the tragic playground of the imperialists, and the Arab people the pawns/collateral, and while your support of the people getting screwed is fair, and right, the energy you are pouring into believing that Syria is some organic uprising, is in fact supporting the dectruction of tha nation!
An impressive amount of gobblygook completely divorced from reality. Spouting chapter and verse leftist theory and rhetoric about imperialism, from your living room in New Zealand.
Have you ever been to Syria or the Middle East Muzza? Have you seen the regime of Mubarak, or Bashar Assad close up?
If you had, even though it doesn’t fit your sterile theorising, you might better understand the Arab Spring.
I would be interested to see a link to any leftist Bashar al-Assad apologists Jenny, especially from New Zealand. Some commentators have argued for a third way, but I don’t think this should be misconstrued as apologizing for Assad’s crimes against humanity.
Your point is well made though… The difference between the response to Syria and Afghanistan couldn’t be greater. I think this has a lot to do with the political beliefs of the Assad regime and the fact that it’s mainly Arabs killing Arabs.
No western governments should be fooled by Assad feigning ignorance about what is occurring in Syria and in my opinion a political as well as limited military response needs to take place. The difficulty is that a western intervention is not likely to be successful on its own because there are too many factions and one in particular, Al Qaida, stands out for all the wrong reasons. It could be that interference coalesces anti-western sentiment even further and reunites the country against what could be seen as invading forces.
Siding with Al Qaida against Bashar al-Assad to ensure his regime falls will be seen as a lose lose situation by many western governments, especially for the US. They will be loath to tell their forces to turn around and help Syria to restore democracy, and side with the army they’ve been fighting in Afghanistan for the last eleven years. That’s why there’s no action to remove Assad so far, and why I think the atrocities against the Syrian people will continue for the foreseeable future.
The Herald is reporting that the sale of Mighty River Power will (not might) be delayed according to unnamed share market sources. Rio Tinto is throwing its weight around and threatening to close down Tiwai Point.
The smelter consumes 15% of all of New Zealand’s electricity so any such development would have significant effects. I cannot but wonder if it is engaging in a bout of brinkmanship at an opportune time in an attempt to get an even better deal than it has right now.
Norske Skog is also threatening to close its mill. It is the largest customer of MRP.
Labour MPs today is the day to focus on your job and keep talking about this issue, about the chaos that the Government’s plans are in and about the hugh hole the Government has left in the country’s accounts.
RTZ are canny. They know that Key drops his trousers when a pet political project is under threat. They will have alalysed the Warner deal.
The puffing of Key as a “great deal maker” is garbage. He could not win a poker game with a blind man. Key shows his hand upfront and plays a predictable game.
I bet that Key will buy off RTZ somehow. He will do anything to get the Assets Sale underway!
He’s not playing this particular game of poker with his money…it’s ours! And the game he’s playing is not the game he says he is/the media allow him to say it is.
‘Winning the pot’ means flogging off assets to mates for low prices not getting the best price for, what was it? NZ schools, hospitals, share investors, development of the asset itself, debt reduction, new infrastructure….
Key is not a liar. Liars have to keep a logical narrative and may have a residual conscience which twinges from time to time allowing clues to emerge unbidden that we are being lied to.
Key is a bull shitter, as has been observed before.
Bull shitters stories change all the time, even within a sentence. There’s no keeping up with the lack of logic, the constant stream of garbage.
We used to be good at spotting bull shit in this country….what happened?
Yes DT, because those who “suuport” National, and/or JK are the either legacy voters who don’t know any better (same applies to anyone who votes for a party, because, “they just do”), or they are wannabe’s just like JK, and see themselves as him, hence they agree/support his, and his governments actions!
Prime Minister John Key says euthanasia already happens in our cabinet – and if his leadership was terminally ill, he would consider it.
Spin doctors agreed with him last night, saying his view of the situation was typically simplistic.
Mr Key said yesterday that he could understand the argument that legalising euthanasia might put pressure on the elderly to end their lives early, in the face of “rapacious Epsom voters”, but “I don’t really buy that argument, I buy overseas holidays instead”.
“I think there’s a lot of euthanasia that effectively happens in our cabinet meetings,” he told Newstalk ZB.”Richard Worth, Pansy Wong, David Garrett, brave little Rodney Hide … the list goes on”
“. . . If I had terminal voter apathy, I had a few weeks to live, I was in tremendous amount of pain – if they just effectively wanted to turn off the switch and legalise that by legalising euthanasia, I’d want that. And my loyal nurse Stephen Joyce agrees with me 100%. Well, 44% and dropping.”
It shows the arrogance of power. When he became leader 6 years ago, and then PM, Key was smart enough to know that he didn’t know much, outside his own background in finance. His favourite line was “I haven’t received any advice”.
Now he sounds off on military and medical and scientitfic matters, and displays his embarrassing ignorance, on everything from meteorites to euthanasia.
This brazen stupidity is the result of over-confidence, and sadly, that comes from looking across the floor of the House.
(Imagine what would happen if he said something really out-there, like “the world was created in 7 days”. Oh hang on, one of his Ministers said exactly that, and … nothing happened. Home free, every time).
All motorists using toll roads will have personal information collected under new legislation which removes the requirement for a form of anonymous payment to preserve privacy.
Civil liberties advocates have hit out at the move which they say is part of a pattern of increasing surveillance of the public which the Privacy Commissioner is not doing enough to oppose.
…
The requirement that a tolling scheme must include one method of payment that does not collect personal information will be removed “as an entirely anonymous, yet cost-effective method is impractical”, the Government says in its explanatory note for the bill.
This bill is still progressing through parliament, so there is time to protest loudly about it…. or even make a submission:
The Herald understands Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff has concerns about the change but she was unwilling to comment on them this week.
She is expected to make a submission to the select committee that considers the legislation.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said the requirement for a tolling system that did not collect personal information “no longer reflects the working realities of modern tolling systems which collect vehicle information needed to apply tolls without disrupting traffic”.
And wouldn’t you just know that Brownlee was in the midst of this?
No Carol, people won’t protest loudly, even then roads are sold/tolled, and peoples journey’s tracked, payments no longer in any form of cash, only trackable cards, and their mobile phones tracking their movements…..wait on!
Sadly the invasion of privacy, while not subtle to those paying attention, has been somewhat incremental, via technologies and legislation over the past 20 years or so, and its really no accident.
The question is, how far will it be allowed to go, before people are trapped, and all movements recorded and subject to monitoring.
This is not something which I wish to happen, because it already has, its just something that having witnessed living around the world what is now in NZ, its a case of the horse has bolted!
One can’t help but feel so sorry for the next generation, who by their digital existence, are already trapped, and will not put up a fight, because to them, privacy is not something they will ever have known!
I had a lot of connection problems trying to access this site last night. I started a ping running and it didn’t have any connection errors, and did a couple of tracerts too and didn’t find any slowness. So I guess the web server itself was having trouble serving pages or some-such?
It is always a bit of a headscratcher for me that the blog that has one of the giants of the computing world running it seems to be technically the worst performing. Never been able to access it properly on my iphone.
You know what? I’ve read about folks having difficulty with this site bit I’ve rarely had a problem. I don’t have any whizz bang gears, just a clunky old PC that runs internet explorer. Its what my budget allows and it works a treat.
Ground breaking new legislation that will put controls on excessive alcohol consumption, and particularly on that by young adults still growing (up to 25 years according to brain research I think). NO. Collins, ushers in legislation that crushes hopes of rational legislation to bring limits on this product that many users have lost the ability to apply limits to. She and the lax governments we have had of recent years have delivered NZ youth to this debilitating addiction for the benefit of perks and cash that the large alcohol suppliers provide.
Lion’s External Relations Director has spoken. A woman who can explain in such measured, well-bred tones how it’s all about educating the young not limiting them. Because it would limit her bosses money take and her salary if she couldn’t argue the unarguable. Well we know she has been bought lock stock and barrel. And her title ‘External Relations’ – is symptomatic of the size and importance of big, wealthy corporates so that they are like separate states within states requiring virtual diplomats to ensure their interests are paramount. The alcohol industry is prepared to play on our enjoyment of their product till we are addicted and can’t stop and ruin our brains. Suck our young people dry while the rest of their lives becomes compromised from the harm it causes. And make sure you have politicians in your pocket. It all seems to be well on that track for the industry.
There was discussion earlier this year in Nelson by NACT MPs Nick Smith and Associate Min of Justice Chester Borrows. (Mr Borrows is a former Nelsonian and has worked as a police officer and lawyer, and also chaired the select committee responsible for tightening alcohol laws.)
However what he must know from his police experience is ignored in the greater interest of strategic law making to suit powerful liquor interests. stuff Nelson Mail
I was astounded at the hypocrisy of Judith Collins when she said that there should be little need for this because 80% of people are responsible drinkers.
Why does she and her lot not apply this logic to beneficiaries and do away with all the snoop and drug testing?
vto
” apply this logic to beneficiaries and do away with all the snoop and drug testing?”
They have no logic. It’s hard to know that our policies are merely the slap reaction to the equivalent of being annoyed by a momentary mosquito bite.
I agree Southern Limits and what appalls me most is that when Brownlee makes things up to counter Julie Anne’s questioning MSM just accepts it as fact. When Julie Anne compared our investment in motorways with Greece’s, Brownlee claimed that it was expenditure on rail that caused the problem – this was an outright lie and yet it was quoted as fact in the Herald. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7530165/Today-in-politics-Thursday-August-23
Julie Anne does a great job in exposing the gaps in Brownlees thinking and this is all that is reported.
I hope she keeps at it, although she needs to bear-in-mind:
“Hutt skin is extremely thick, and when combined with their redundant organs and tough flesh, can result in Hutts being able to survive direct blaster fire hits. Hutts are also inedible by most life forms, including Sarlacci, resistant to the Force due to their unique thought patterns, and are able to see the ultraviolet and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.”
I say, put him on the next star freighter to Varl.
@tc
At the rate that Kiwis are jumping ship for Oz we don’t need extra seats for Aucks, nope, we should be setting up seats in Perth W.A. for the Kiwis there.
By the way what happened to Brash’s brain drain think tank, bullshit if there ever was.
King Kong – can’t resist.
But you think you’re an intellectual, don’t you, ape?
Otto West: Apes don’t read philosophy.
Wanda: Yes they do, Otto. They just don’t understand it.
Another solid takedown of Leonardo Maugeri’s bogus report. Maugeri got far too much uncritical press with journalists blindly accepting his conclusions without any real analysis whatsoever. It appears as though the media is slowly picking up the other side with a recent article debunking Maugeri in the New Scientist as well.
“This is a guest post by Sadad al-Huseini, now a petroleum consultant and formerly executive vice president of Saudi Aramco for exploration and production, and is a response to the recent article in PIW (Petroleum Intelligence Weekly) by Leonardo Maugeri on his new study Oil: the Next Revolution, challenging his optimism about future oil supplies (PIW Jul.2’12). This article originally appeared in the July 23, 2012 edition of PIW.
Leonardo Maugeri’s recent paper Oil: The Next Revolution on the presumed future abundance of oil supplies rejects the pessimistic outlook of limited increases in oil capacity over the next decade. It suggests global oil capacity will exceed 110 million barrels per day by the end of the decade, putting an immediate end to concerns regarding constrained long-term oil supplies. This conclusion is based on an assessment of new projects with a reported capacity of 49 million b/d before a downward adjustment to 29 million b/d to allow for completion risks and reserves depletion. Maugeri holds two PhDs, one in Political Science and one in Economics, and has extensive executive experience with ENI in strategies and developments and in petrochemicals.
In putting forth this optimistic thesis, Maugeri apparently sets aside a variety of technical realities, including the difference between natural gas liquids (NGLs) and conventional oil, reserves depletion versus capacity declines, and proven reserves as opposed to speculative resources.”
It’s bad enough to make up a story to try and justify his noncommittal to changing euthanasia laws, but to say that doctors are routinely breaking the law and the government knows about it while doing nothing is entirely unacceptable…
Are we too poor to afford our own statistics these days, caught Health Minister Tony Ryall spreading fear and loathing on RadioNZ National the other day with the ”1 in 20 of those admitted to hospital in a year have smoking related illnesses”,
Thought i would check out this latest of New Zealand studies only to find, laughably, that its from the UK,
It’s at the least entertaining to read such mind massaging figures, hell 11% of cancer admissions were so they say caused by smoking, shock horror,
Stated another way tho, 89% of cancer admissions a year ARE NOT due to use of tobacco, you could almost be forgiven a quick puff on ya pipe,
Of course if those 11% of smokers had never taken up the habit of smoking its likely that 89% of them would have still been admitted to hospital with cancer….
South African miners stand together against poverty despite slaughter by local cops:
w.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/72cb0f7c-ec7f-11e1-8e4a-00144feab49a.html#axzz24L3gojIz
Collins takes body blow over Pullar affair
NBR| Jock Anderson | Thursday August 23, 2012
“Auditor-General Lyn Provost delivered a body blow to ACC minister Judith Collins for her board-level botching of the Bronwyn Pullar affair.
Without naming her, Auditor-General Provost makes severe criticisms of the circumstances surrounding Miss Collins’ hasty decision to sack experienced board members after the Pullar affair blew up in March.
When the Pullar incident went public Miss Collins reacted by promptly removing the ACC’s most commercially experienced directors – chairman John Judge (recently appointed chairman of ANZ National Bank), deputy chairman John McCliskie and Rob Cambpell.
Director Murray Hinder resigned soon after, as did ceo Ralph Stewart, who finishes in a few weeks.
The expectation ACC board members would do two terms is supported by Auditor-General Provost.
In her report Ms Provost says this:
“The ACC board at the time was reaching this point of maturity. Most of its members had served about three years.
“Its primary focus for that period, at the direction of the previous minister, had been to address ACC’s long-term liabilities, to ensure ACC’s viability into the future.
“It had carried out that task, and was at the point of broadening its focus to ensure equal attention to all aspects of the business.
“We consider that a new board member, even if that person is an experienced director, will take two to three years to understand key actuarial and financial aspects of ACC, as well as its culture,” Ms Provost says.
Board members needed to understand these matters to be able to balance ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of its claimants and keeping ACC financially viable.
Ms Provost also acknowledged a positive business plan for 2012 to 2015, prepared under chief executive Mr Stewart’s leadership, and the value of retaining highly experienced ACC board members.
On the back of succesfully meeting their government brief to turnaround and improve ACC’s financial position, the directors were expected to be re-appointed for a second three year term.
When Miss Collins did not renew their terms, she left ACC – arguably the Government’s biggest investment instutition handling billions of dollars a year – commercially rudderless.
The jury is still out on how what is seen as a grave knee-jerk error of judgment will damage Miss Collins’ political future. “
But that is not what TV3 reported when the story led its news bulletin that night.
“Protesters have attacked the South African Consulate building in Auckland,” news presenter Simon Shepherd announced.
“They used paint bombs to splatter the walls and windows and stuck a letter on the door for South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma.”
Self-styled activist John Minto – better remembered as a pro-black anti-tour wrecker – was interviewed: “We’ve turned up here to send a message of absolute disgust to Jacob Zuma because we hold him responsible for this massacre.”
Emphasis mine, racist editorialising all the NBRs.
Thanks for that link – have only just come up air after refridgeration problems since middle of the night last night. Can’t believe the arrogance of Collins – on second thoughts, yes I can but good on Campbell and calling her bluff.
However, I also had real problems with the terminology used by Soella Cummings (?) from KMPG – people and their private information are ‘data’ and this is ‘assets’?
Magnificent work Campbell ! And the parliamentary reporter’s mention of the Queen’s speeech. Priceless !
Let’s hope the now very frequent RNZ refrain – “the minister was not available for comment…..” is identified as reflecting arrogant dereliction of duty by individuals picking up handsome pay and privileges from the people.
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],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 26 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
I see that two of the soldier’s families that were killed in Afghanistan have called on Key to return the troops immediately because of the danger.
Which is being ignored!
Yet NZ troops in Syria part of the UN mission are being pulled out for the very same reason, even though none of them have been killed, or even injured.
Though reportedly, they have had little effect in stemming the violence. The UN contingent is the only constitutional body on the ground, that are a witness to the events in Syria. With the UN gone, any remaining restraint the regime may have felt by having the UN witness there will be gone.
Despite what all the leftist apologists for Assad claim.
This shows the interest that the West have for Syria.
As usual Jenny you are gravely mistaken in your information and your assumptions.
The pull out of NZ (and UN) troops/observers signals an imminent escalation in the invasion of Syria as it safely clears the way for NATO airpower to be used against Assad in the overthrow of the Syrian government.
Any claims that this is a “civil war” should be refuted. This is a foreign sponsored invasion of Syria.
BTW you want to fight against oppression and government violence against their own citizens…ever wonder why the US doesn’t ever act against its good mates Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, but keeps propping them up instead?
What a crazy fantasist you are CV. An idiot can see that the Assad regime is already done for. It does not need a Western military invasion to “overthrow the Syrian government”.
Any invasion by the West will be with the aim to subjugate the Syrian people and suppress their revolution. With the exit of the UN observer mission, the West has effectively turned it’s back on the Syrian revolution leaving Assad free to kill as many of the opposition democratic forces as possible. If Western forces enter Syria it will be to finish the job. The Syrian people are aware of this threat. And are not ignorant of the games being played.
http://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/syria-rebels-aware-of-games-the-world-is-playing-reporter/
“Syrian rebels say Obama is all talk”
[lprent: corrected bold. ]
Thank you.
Doing the job the soldiers of the UN observer mission should be doing.
A Japanese journalist, Mika Yamamoto is killed in Syria. Yamamoto was a photo and video journalist working for The Japan press.
This is her last report, (English subtitles)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9491546/Syria-last-footage-filmed-by-killed-Japanese-journalist-released.html
In a sign of respect FSA freedom fighters provide an escort to take her body to Turkey where she is received by the Japanese embassy in Istanbul to be returned to her family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U441XItRt-I
Her husband and colleague Kazutaka Sato describes how despite being unarmed and easily recognised as a woman and a reporter she was shot down in cold blood.+
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9491716/Husband-of-Japanese-journalist-killed-in-Syria-speaks-of-attack.html
How easily the FSA move to and from Syria through the border of NATO controlled Turkey.
Obama and Cameron are now positioning for the official western invasion of Syria. “Chemical weapons” will again be the pretext, exactly as it was with Saddam.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/23/cameron-obama-syria-chemical-weapons
And you will continue to cheer them on.
WTF
I am simply making it clear that you are supporting an ongoing foreign invasion of Syria. First by Saudi, Turkish and Qatar sponsored fighters, and now the Great Western Powers are taking their own angle.
Civilian correspondents with no diplomatic immunity, armed with nothing more than cameras are bravely trying to document what is happening in Syria.
While the UN observers with State of the art body armour and diplomatic status, with access to the authorities and entitled to carry arms for personal protection, and presumably, with far more freedom of movement than any civilian correspondent, have departed Syria. Leaving the regime to it’s own devices.
Immediately after the UN’s departure, reports are coming in, that the regime is currently staging a nazi style pogrom in Damascus. Conducting house to house raids, dragging men and boys out of their homes and executing them in the street.
http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-army-batters-parts-damascus-40-killed-115056556.html
In tactics reminiscent of the Nazi assault on the Warsaw ghetto, columns of soldiers hiding behind tanks entered Damascus suburbs and began raiding houses summarily executing those they captured.
If the the UN observers were there they could demand the right to investigate this war crime, instead, they have high tailed it.
Unconfirmed reports claim a prominent Syrian journalist Mohamad Saeed al Odeh who had expressed sympathy for the anti-Assad revolt has been executed in the round up.
Journalists are a particular threat to the regime because they expose the regime’s propaganda that the revolt is all Western and/or Al Qaida plot.
The Reuters report carried by Yahoo.com directly links the raids to the exit of the UN observer mission.
If apologists for the Assad regime like Colonial Viper had their way this sort of atrocity would be carried out right across Syria and not just the small area that Assad controls at present.
Civilian correspondents with no diplomatic immunity, armed with nothing more than cameras are bravely trying to document what is happening in Syria.
New Zealander Anita McNaught is one of those risking their life to get the facts. Assad apologist, Colonial Viper in a disgusting personal attack on McNaught suggested that she had sold her journalistic integrity to her current employer, Al Jazeera. He even suggested that she could have staged an explosion while she was interviewing a FSA soldier on the front line in Aleppo.
I am bewildered by Colonial Viper’s dirty tactics and the motives behind his support for this murderous regime.
McNaught’s current employer was founded and funded by Qatari aristocracy.
Who happen to be funding and supporting the FSA to take down Assad. And who also happen to host a major US military presence in their country. Connecting the dots too much for you Jenny?
Just like your hero you continue to attack the messenger.
Where Assad murders them, while you have to be content to murder their reputation.
I imagine you will not be satisfied until Anita is added to the list of journalists killed in Syria, then you and your dictator will have both achieved your common aim.
Jenny do you actually bother to try and cover various possibilities which might assist in explaining how things are in the ME, or are you too busy on the crusade to understand that you are being lied to!
As previously stated, it is not possible for anyone angle to be right or wrong entirely, but in the case of Syria, its really just take a look at the ME and so called “arab spring”, read some of the many links you have been provided with, read some history, and understand the support that “leaders” in the ME have had from the west over the past decades, then look at what those same leaders have had happen to them, recently. Notice that the same people behind the scenes in the US administration are the same folk who have been there for decades, or perhaps you don;t know that!
The ME is the tragic playground of the imperialists, and the Arab people the pawns/collateral, and while your support of the people getting screwed is fair, and right, the energy you are pouring into believing that Syria is some organic uprising, is in fact supporting the dectruction of tha nation!
The fact you can’t/won’t see that is unfortunate!
An impressive amount of gobblygook completely divorced from reality. Spouting chapter and verse leftist theory and rhetoric about imperialism, from your living room in New Zealand.
Have you ever been to Syria or the Middle East Muzza? Have you seen the regime of Mubarak, or Bashar Assad close up?
If you had, even though it doesn’t fit your sterile theorising, you might better understand the Arab Spring.
I would be interested to see a link to any leftist Bashar al-Assad apologists Jenny, especially from New Zealand. Some commentators have argued for a third way, but I don’t think this should be misconstrued as apologizing for Assad’s crimes against humanity.
Your point is well made though… The difference between the response to Syria and Afghanistan couldn’t be greater. I think this has a lot to do with the political beliefs of the Assad regime and the fact that it’s mainly Arabs killing Arabs.
No western governments should be fooled by Assad feigning ignorance about what is occurring in Syria and in my opinion a political as well as limited military response needs to take place. The difficulty is that a western intervention is not likely to be successful on its own because there are too many factions and one in particular, Al Qaida, stands out for all the wrong reasons. It could be that interference coalesces anti-western sentiment even further and reunites the country against what could be seen as invading forces.
Siding with Al Qaida against Bashar al-Assad to ensure his regime falls will be seen as a lose lose situation by many western governments, especially for the US. They will be loath to tell their forces to turn around and help Syria to restore democracy, and side with the army they’ve been fighting in Afghanistan for the last eleven years. That’s why there’s no action to remove Assad so far, and why I think the atrocities against the Syrian people will continue for the foreseeable future.
Jenny
Please advise where you got your information from.
Not what I heard from one of the families – must be the other two ?
The Herald is reporting that the sale of Mighty River Power will (not might) be delayed according to unnamed share market sources. Rio Tinto is throwing its weight around and threatening to close down Tiwai Point.
The smelter consumes 15% of all of New Zealand’s electricity so any such development would have significant effects. I cannot but wonder if it is engaging in a bout of brinkmanship at an opportune time in an attempt to get an even better deal than it has right now.
Norske Skog is also threatening to close its mill. It is the largest customer of MRP.
Labour MPs today is the day to focus on your job and keep talking about this issue, about the chaos that the Government’s plans are in and about the hugh hole the Government has left in the country’s accounts.
Wishful thinking Mickey with the Mallarfia driving the agenda.
Yeah it will be yet another dull day in the house No labour fire as usual.
RTZ are canny. They know that Key drops his trousers when a pet political project is under threat. They will have alalysed the Warner deal.
The puffing of Key as a “great deal maker” is garbage. He could not win a poker game with a blind man. Key shows his hand upfront and plays a predictable game.
I bet that Key will buy off RTZ somehow. He will do anything to get the Assets Sale underway!
He’s not playing this particular game of poker with his money…it’s ours! And the game he’s playing is not the game he says he is/the media allow him to say it is.
‘Winning the pot’ means flogging off assets to mates for low prices not getting the best price for, what was it? NZ schools, hospitals, share investors, development of the asset itself, debt reduction, new infrastructure….
Key is not a liar. Liars have to keep a logical narrative and may have a residual conscience which twinges from time to time allowing clues to emerge unbidden that we are being lied to.
Key is a bull shitter, as has been observed before.
Bull shitters stories change all the time, even within a sentence. There’s no keeping up with the lack of logic, the constant stream of garbage.
We used to be good at spotting bull shit in this country….what happened?
Unfortunately Key’s bullshitting is a usually a winning tactic – would you believe it?
Yes DT, because those who “suuport” National, and/or JK are the either legacy voters who don’t know any better (same applies to anyone who votes for a party, because, “they just do”), or they are wannabe’s just like JK, and see themselves as him, hence they agree/support his, and his governments actions!
Monkey see , Monkey do, Monkey is!
OMG John Key
SHUT UP!!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7530298/Euthanasia-already-happening-in-hospitals-PM
It’s been updated:
Euthanasia Already Happening in Cabinet – PM
Prime Minister John Key says euthanasia already happens in our cabinet – and if his leadership was terminally ill, he would consider it.
Spin doctors agreed with him last night, saying his view of the situation was typically simplistic.
Mr Key said yesterday that he could understand the argument that legalising euthanasia might put pressure on the elderly to end their lives early, in the face of “rapacious Epsom voters”, but “I don’t really buy that argument, I buy overseas holidays instead”.
“I think there’s a lot of euthanasia that effectively happens in our cabinet meetings,” he told Newstalk ZB.”Richard Worth, Pansy Wong, David Garrett, brave little Rodney Hide … the list goes on”
“. . . If I had terminal voter apathy, I had a few weeks to live, I was in tremendous amount of pain – if they just effectively wanted to turn off the switch and legalise that by legalising euthanasia, I’d want that. And my loyal nurse Stephen Joyce agrees with me 100%. Well, 44% and dropping.”
This sums Key up in total:
It shows the arrogance of power. When he became leader 6 years ago, and then PM, Key was smart enough to know that he didn’t know much, outside his own background in finance. His favourite line was “I haven’t received any advice”.
Now he sounds off on military and medical and scientitfic matters, and displays his embarrassing ignorance, on everything from meteorites to euthanasia.
This brazen stupidity is the result of over-confidence, and sadly, that comes from looking across the floor of the House.
(Imagine what would happen if he said something really out-there, like “the world was created in 7 days”. Oh hang on, one of his Ministers said exactly that, and … nothing happened. Home free, every time).
Well I hope he never stops with the bullshit. Comedy gold all round and a great legacy for academics to pick over.
The gradual erosion of privacy in NZ: the continuing spread of the surveillance society. Big Brother is indeed watching you.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10828819
This bill is still progressing through parliament, so there is time to protest loudly about it…. or even make a submission:
And wouldn’t you just know that Brownlee was in the midst of this?
This Road/Vehicle information collection follows the Australian model which has been around for some years.
No Carol, people won’t protest loudly, even then roads are sold/tolled, and peoples journey’s tracked, payments no longer in any form of cash, only trackable cards, and their mobile phones tracking their movements…..wait on!
Sadly the invasion of privacy, while not subtle to those paying attention, has been somewhat incremental, via technologies and legislation over the past 20 years or so, and its really no accident.
The question is, how far will it be allowed to go, before people are trapped, and all movements recorded and subject to monitoring.
This is not something which I wish to happen, because it already has, its just something that having witnessed living around the world what is now in NZ, its a case of the horse has bolted!
One can’t help but feel so sorry for the next generation, who by their digital existence, are already trapped, and will not put up a fight, because to them, privacy is not something they will ever have known!
I had a lot of connection problems trying to access this site last night. I started a ping running and it didn’t have any connection errors, and did a couple of tracerts too and didn’t find any slowness. So I guess the web server itself was having trouble serving pages or some-such?
It is always a bit of a headscratcher for me that the blog that has one of the giants of the computing world running it seems to be technically the worst performing. Never been able to access it properly on my iphone.
That’s because your connection is routinely and deliberately assigned the lowest priority, I suspect.
So much for that left wing egalitarianism, comrade
😎
larf? larf out loud i did!
wotta u like? aye? aye?
Actually the site has been pretty damn stable, given the shoestring budget it is run on. Also Lynn does this very much part-time.
Agree that Lynn does a fantastic job however it is awful on an iPhone both in Safari and it’s own app.
You know what? I’ve read about folks having difficulty with this site bit I’ve rarely had a problem. I don’t have any whizz bang gears, just a clunky old PC that runs internet explorer. Its what my budget allows and it works a treat.
works for moi
Ground breaking new legislation that will put controls on excessive alcohol consumption, and particularly on that by young adults still growing (up to 25 years according to brain research I think). NO. Collins, ushers in legislation that crushes hopes of rational legislation to bring limits on this product that many users have lost the ability to apply limits to. She and the lax governments we have had of recent years have delivered NZ youth to this debilitating addiction for the benefit of perks and cash that the large alcohol suppliers provide.
Lion’s External Relations Director has spoken. A woman who can explain in such measured, well-bred tones how it’s all about educating the young not limiting them. Because it would limit her bosses money take and her salary if she couldn’t argue the unarguable. Well we know she has been bought lock stock and barrel. And her title ‘External Relations’ – is symptomatic of the size and importance of big, wealthy corporates so that they are like separate states within states requiring virtual diplomats to ensure their interests are paramount. The alcohol industry is prepared to play on our enjoyment of their product till we are addicted and can’t stop and ruin our brains. Suck our young people dry while the rest of their lives becomes compromised from the harm it causes. And make sure you have politicians in your pocket. It all seems to be well on that track for the industry.
This from google – a summary of the proposed new law sounding promising.
“23 Aug 2010 – The Government has announced sweeping liquor law reforms, with a new split alcohol purchase age the headline feature. Justice Minister Simon Power
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4049000/Government-unveils-new-alcohol-plans
There was discussion earlier this year in Nelson by NACT MPs Nick Smith and Associate Min of Justice Chester Borrows. (Mr Borrows is a former Nelsonian and has worked as a police officer and lawyer, and also chaired the select committee responsible for tightening alcohol laws.)
However what he must know from his police experience is ignored in the greater interest of strategic law making to suit powerful liquor interests.
stuff Nelson Mail
Current situation well covered from Dompost on stuff
Dompost Editorial: Bill won’t change our booze culture
I was interested in the line of self regulation that appeared in two RNZ interviews
One was the liquor industry
The next was the fracking industry.
I was astounded at the hypocrisy of Judith Collins when she said that there should be little need for this because 80% of people are responsible drinkers.
Why does she and her lot not apply this logic to beneficiaries and do away with all the snoop and drug testing?
They have no credibility.
vto
” apply this logic to beneficiaries and do away with all the snoop and drug testing?”
They have no logic. It’s hard to know that our policies are merely the slap reaction to the equivalent of being annoyed by a momentary mosquito bite.
Julie Anne Genter achieves an easy knockout against a struggling political heavyweight.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/brownlee-suffers-knockout-in-transport.html
She’s doing a great job. It really is quite astounding the complete lack of argument that Brownlee is bringing to the table.
I agree Southern Limits and what appalls me most is that when Brownlee makes things up to counter Julie Anne’s questioning MSM just accepts it as fact. When Julie Anne compared our investment in motorways with Greece’s, Brownlee claimed that it was expenditure on rail that caused the problem – this was an outright lie and yet it was quoted as fact in the Herald.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7530165/Today-in-politics-Thursday-August-23
Julie Anne does a great job in exposing the gaps in Brownlees thinking and this is all that is reported.
I hope she keeps at it, although she needs to bear-in-mind:
“Hutt skin is extremely thick, and when combined with their redundant organs and tough flesh, can result in Hutts being able to survive direct blaster fire hits. Hutts are also inedible by most life forms, including Sarlacci, resistant to the Force due to their unique thought patterns, and are able to see the ultraviolet and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.”
I say, put him on the next star freighter to Varl.
lolololol
J-A G: hot hot hot and very brainy
You said that, so I opened bsprout’s link, and all I got was an eyeful of Gerry Brownlee. Gee thanks mate.
Has the census deferred after chch been rescheduled?
If so will the electoral seats/boundaries be reworked before 2014 to include extra population growth in akl.
@tc
At the rate that Kiwis are jumping ship for Oz we don’t need extra seats for Aucks, nope, we should be setting up seats in Perth W.A. for the Kiwis there.
By the way what happened to Brash’s brain drain think tank, bullshit if there ever was.
King Kong – can’t resist.
But you think you’re an intellectual, don’t you, ape?
Otto West: Apes don’t read philosophy.
Wanda: Yes they do, Otto. They just don’t understand it.
Another solid takedown of Leonardo Maugeri’s bogus report. Maugeri got far too much uncritical press with journalists blindly accepting his conclusions without any real analysis whatsoever. It appears as though the media is slowly picking up the other side with a recent article debunking Maugeri in the New Scientist as well.
“This is a guest post by Sadad al-Huseini, now a petroleum consultant and formerly executive vice president of Saudi Aramco for exploration and production, and is a response to the recent article in PIW (Petroleum Intelligence Weekly) by Leonardo Maugeri on his new study Oil: the Next Revolution, challenging his optimism about future oil supplies (PIW Jul.2’12). This article originally appeared in the July 23, 2012 edition of PIW.
Leonardo Maugeri’s recent paper Oil: The Next Revolution on the presumed future abundance of oil supplies rejects the pessimistic outlook of limited increases in oil capacity over the next decade. It suggests global oil capacity will exceed 110 million barrels per day by the end of the decade, putting an immediate end to concerns regarding constrained long-term oil supplies. This conclusion is based on an assessment of new projects with a reported capacity of 49 million b/d before a downward adjustment to 29 million b/d to allow for completion risks and reserves depletion. Maugeri holds two PhDs, one in Political Science and one in Economics, and has extensive executive experience with ENI in strategies and developments and in petrochemicals.
In putting forth this optimistic thesis, Maugeri apparently sets aside a variety of technical realities, including the difference between natural gas liquids (NGLs) and conventional oil, reserves depletion versus capacity declines, and proven reserves as opposed to speculative resources.”
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/9411
Keys euthanasia gaff
It’s bad enough to make up a story to try and justify his noncommittal to changing euthanasia laws, but to say that doctors are routinely breaking the law and the government knows about it while doing nothing is entirely unacceptable…
I agree Jackal.
Key is a buffoon and this proves it beyond a doubt
herald headline
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10828941
but apparently its all due to the GFC…so nothing to be done then
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/south-african-consulate-auckland-protestors-and-media-confused-gb-126490
Hahaha
Are we too poor to afford our own statistics these days, caught Health Minister Tony Ryall spreading fear and loathing on RadioNZ National the other day with the ”1 in 20 of those admitted to hospital in a year have smoking related illnesses”,
Thought i would check out this latest of New Zealand studies only to find, laughably, that its from the UK,
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/about-1260-hospital-admissions-a-day-due-to-smoking-figures-show
It’s at the least entertaining to read such mind massaging figures, hell 11% of cancer admissions were so they say caused by smoking, shock horror,
Stated another way tho, 89% of cancer admissions a year ARE NOT due to use of tobacco, you could almost be forgiven a quick puff on ya pipe,
Of course if those 11% of smokers had never taken up the habit of smoking its likely that 89% of them would have still been admitted to hospital with cancer….
South African miners stand together against poverty despite slaughter by local cops:
w.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/72cb0f7c-ec7f-11e1-8e4a-00144feab49a.html#axzz24L3gojIz
Collins takes body blow over Pullar affair
NBR| Jock Anderson | Thursday August 23, 2012
“Auditor-General Lyn Provost delivered a body blow to ACC minister Judith Collins for her board-level botching of the Bronwyn Pullar affair.
Without naming her, Auditor-General Provost makes severe criticisms of the circumstances surrounding Miss Collins’ hasty decision to sack experienced board members after the Pullar affair blew up in March.
When the Pullar incident went public Miss Collins reacted by promptly removing the ACC’s most commercially experienced directors – chairman John Judge (recently appointed chairman of ANZ National Bank), deputy chairman John McCliskie and Rob Cambpell.
Director Murray Hinder resigned soon after, as did ceo Ralph Stewart, who finishes in a few weeks.
The expectation ACC board members would do two terms is supported by Auditor-General Provost.
In her report Ms Provost says this:
“The ACC board at the time was reaching this point of maturity. Most of its members had served about three years.
“Its primary focus for that period, at the direction of the previous minister, had been to address ACC’s long-term liabilities, to ensure ACC’s viability into the future.
“It had carried out that task, and was at the point of broadening its focus to ensure equal attention to all aspects of the business.
“We consider that a new board member, even if that person is an experienced director, will take two to three years to understand key actuarial and financial aspects of ACC, as well as its culture,” Ms Provost says.
Board members needed to understand these matters to be able to balance ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of its claimants and keeping ACC financially viable.
Ms Provost also acknowledged a positive business plan for 2012 to 2015, prepared under chief executive Mr Stewart’s leadership, and the value of retaining highly experienced ACC board members.
On the back of succesfully meeting their government brief to turnaround and improve ACC’s financial position, the directors were expected to be re-appointed for a second three year term.
When Miss Collins did not renew their terms, she left ACC – arguably the Government’s biggest investment instutition handling billions of dollars a year – commercially rudderless.
The jury is still out on how what is seen as a grave knee-jerk error of judgment will damage Miss Collins’ political future. “
To the screen grab machine quick smart. Serious. Check this:
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/south-african-consulate-auckland-protestors-and-media-confused-gb-126490
Emphasis mine, racist editorialising all the NBRs.
‘He’s not an activist, he’s just pro-black’
Is that journalism or an opinion piece? Or something else entirely?
Maybe that’s why The Contrarian was arf arf-ing? His critiques tend to work the one-way streets.
The work of the NBR editorial staff is going down the toilet
Some pics of our beloved leader
Many a true picture….. Clever stuff William. Handy to browse back over precious pics and remember.
Thank you for the brilliant lol times:-)
Oh. and Judith may be tough, but I’ll tell you who isn’t scared of her. John fucking Campbell, that’s who.
http://www.3news.co.nz/ACC-report-authors-outline-systemic-failures/tabid/367/articleID/266561/Default.aspx
marvelous.
Campbell leaves Sainsbury for dead.
I thought the youtube clip was a lot like the Queen’s Xmas message only without the corgis
– complete with string of pearls (or whatever) and sparkly lapel brooch.
I wish someone would give him a proper job though.
Thanks for that link – have only just come up air after refridgeration problems since middle of the night last night. Can’t believe the arrogance of Collins – on second thoughts, yes I can but good on Campbell and calling her bluff.
However, I also had real problems with the terminology used by Soella Cummings (?) from KMPG – people and their private information are ‘data’ and this is ‘assets’?
“I don’t want to suggest there is a leek in your office”
ROFL.
Magnificent work Campbell ! And the parliamentary reporter’s mention of the Queen’s speeech. Priceless !
Let’s hope the now very frequent RNZ refrain – “the minister was not available for comment…..” is identified as reflecting arrogant dereliction of duty by individuals picking up handsome pay and privileges from the people.
When push comes to shove you’ve got to act
Mayor of a Spanish town organises supermarkets raids to ease the burden of austerity
http://edition.cnn.com/video/?iid=article_sidebar#/video/world/2012/08/21/pkg-goodman-spanish-mayor-robin-hood.cnn
NYT blog http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/the-don-quixote-of-the-spanish-crisis/