So RNZ has another "crime is out of control" story from, specifically, Puketapu. Quoting a person "RNZ has agreed not to name" we get little more than a sotto voce racist white crime panic. This anonymous source says they saw some people poking about, they were challenged, they left and the police were called and the cops arrived smartly. This level of "crime" is, apparently, enough for the local aspirational squatocracy to think about cos-playing Massey's Cossacks to deliver a bit of vigilante justice.
Now, places like Puketapu are deepest blue right wing country and you'll find a generous helping of groundswell type unreconstructed racists and bigots of all ages who are more than happy to be an agent provocateur if it suits them, so a little less credulity in assessing some of the claims coming out of the regions from our credulous MSM would be nice (although in a era where to paint yourself the victim is to exonerate yourself from any scrutiny in the media that might be a bit to much to expect).
But this little vignette of largely social media inspired (although the MSM is ever keen on amplifying the slightest hint of a verified heaving bosom and/or torn bodice) fear and loathing shows just how deep cooker culture has penetrated into our low information provinces, which no longer have much by the way of local MSM journalism and instead rely on an unrelieved diet of FB groups, rumour, and talkback troll farms for news. To me it is just wild that many people are now so inculcated with bad information sources they more likely to believe cookers on a FB group than they are the police commissioner when discussing crime.
One screamingly obvious learning from the pandemic and these sorts of disasters is there are huge consequences in the death of reliable and well resourced local media in New Zealand. In my youth in Hawkes Bay the region had two well functioning local newspapers with numerous reporters, the generally august and reliable Napier Daily Telegraph and that useless rag from across the way, the Hastings based Hawkes Bay Herald Tribune. Both papers reflected the political traditions of their city, and the whole media eco system was buttressed by the local ZC radio station, which featured frequent interviews with local politicians and reports on the proceedings of the council. All that has vanished. The result has been the flourishing of crony politics and sharp practice, the death of local democracy and the rise of online disinformation, misinformation and downright black propaganda.
Driving past, one of their neighbours had seen the group, who "obviously didn't look like they belonged in our house," she said. When he pulled over and asked what they were doing, they told her neighbour they "were just looking to go for a swim".
The neighbour "politely asked them to leave, which obviously is a pretty common story out there".
Oh well…..but then this?
Rebecca then rang police and a patrol car was there "relatively quickly, and the Eagle helicopter" but with a lack of details, including a number plate, there "wasn't a hell of a lot that they could do," she told RNZ.
So they got Police,Patrol car..and Eagle helicopter. But the so helpful neighbour neglected to get the number plate…or descriptions.
plus if reading it right, stupid Rebecca left a key out if "they managed to get their hands on a key". Certainly an entitled bullhorn of a woman. Having said that, break-ins at this time is even more scummy than at any other time.
The whole story was a heaving unspoken cypher for a whole lot of other issues, including the unspoken informal apartheid that exists in Napier/Hastings, the studiously ignored and well hidden abject poverty, marginalisation and "othering" of poor urban Maori that exists alongside the well heeled white colonies of ex-Aucklanders we large see in our MSM when talking about Hawkes Bay, it's crony class politics, and a post-Douglas era social order than can only be described in many cases as semi-feudal.
Agree, I perceived an unspoken malice in the woman’s allegations. Similar to the US cases where a woman phones the Police because there is a Black Man in the park…
A friend lives in Wairoa and he has two Mobsters as neighbours, while all shovelling silt together he said they laughed at the moral panic stories.
Personally, if people are without communication, petrol, water, sanitation, a usable roading bridge network, health care, access to medicine, cash, banking services, food supply etc. it is ok to help yourself to essentials from businesses–but opportunist thefts from individuals are another matter and reprehensible.
The numbers will hopefully emerge eventually as to whether there has been a crime wave or not.
There is an undercurrent of if you are the right sort of person "borrowing" the water tank from your neighbour's abandoned and wrecked place so you can gather rain water to clean your property is smart, but if you are the wrong sort poking about a red stickered property to claim a half buried bike then you are a looter and a suitable target for vigilante justice.
The bottom line is a lot of people on the right are pre-disposed to believe rumours of looting and social breakdown because their world view is formed by a belief that the “perfect” state of nature is fundamentally Hobbesian, and thus a disaster creates the perfect conditions for uncivilised competition. That, in turn, leads them to logically (for them) conclude they are living in a Hobbesian nightmare and therefore a shoot first, ask questions later mindset prevails.
Luxon and Seymour put out the call that crime is rampant. So we the obedient ones answer the call. We are scared. Crime is everywhere. The police are hopeless. This Government is hopeless. Call in the Army. Careless media repeat the feelings.
Actually I think that the politics of stoking up fear is disgusting. Shame on you Luxon, Seymour and the Mayor of Nappier.
Prime Minister rejects claims he is not taking post cyclone lawlessness seriously [23 February 2023]
“As I [PM Hipkins] have said all week, I acknowledge that when the power is out and the communications are out, there is a heightened degree of anxiety and any criminal offending in that time is going to be of extra concern to a local community. That’s the reason why we have an extra 145 police from outside the district here at the moment helping on the ground.”
…
After the media conference at the Distribution Centre in Hastings, Hipkins was set to fly to Wairoa by helicopter, but this was cancelled due to bad weather.
Cyclone Gabrielle: Govt slams 'climate of hysteria' over crime[22 February 2023] Where crime occurs, police are on the ground to support communities, but, as I [Minister Michael Wood, responding on behalf of the police minister] have also said in the primary answer to this question, police report that levels of crime are within a normal range. No crime is acceptable, and this – this time it is more stressful for communities, so we will continue to work to provide that reassurance.
And I would just urge all members of the house, ah – to support police in doing that job, and not to create a climate of hysteria that will add further to the distress of people in an already difficult situation.
Amen – imho, cynically whipping up a climate of hysteria about a supposed ‘crime wave’ ['They’re' stealing our stuff!] is unhelpful at best – more than enough ‘climate’ to worry about as is.
"“As I [PM Hipkins] have said all week, I acknowledge that when the power is out and the communications are out, there is a heightened degree of anxiety and any criminal offending in that time is going to be of extra concern to a local community."
IOW – the crime you think is happening is not really happening, it's just a 'heightened degree of anxiety'.
Really? Meanwhile, those nice people the government 'requested' pull their heads in just didn't listen.
Imho, cynically whipping up a climate of hysteria about a supposed ‘crime spike’ at this time will pay political dividends, but not in the way you might think.
Reports of looting and a post-cyclone crime spike in the Eastern District have been greatly exaggerated, and are being used as a “political football”, say police officers on the ground.
Incredible how petty the political right of New Zealand are, holding up a single, murky, roadside incident for purposes of distracting away from the huge amount of good work authorities are doing.
Why do the political right of New Zealand always concentrate on the negative?
Nice try, but no cigar. Hipkins called them “unsubstantiated rumours”, i.e., they may or may not have been true. You failed to make your point though because it wasn’t about the PM being ‘slippery’ but about “crime is rampant” in the area as alleged by Luxon and Seymour who are turning this into a political football. They are the slippery ones because they take every single incident reported in the media and blow out of proportion into Armageddon for political gain. Noted.
"Hipkins called them “unsubstantiated rumours”, i.e., they may or may not have been true. "
Hipkin's meaning was very clear. The roadworker knew what he was saying. And Newshub knew when they wrote the headline "Chris Hipkins climbs down from criticised crime claims as roadworker says politicians are 'covering backside'"
And there you have it, the PM should have jumped on the bandwagon of fear mongers and sing from the same sheet as Luxon and Seymour. This is not about the victims at all, it is about playing political football. The Opposition knew exactly what they were doing and so do the media. And since when are headlines accurate reports of the news? Seriously, you’re spinning and you’ve missed your calling as headline-writing chatbot.
Oh the Herald says it, well goodo, it must be true and tell me it isn't so, the fiercely loyal to the Labour Government Rural Community is turning against them. Shocked I say, shocked.
And yesterday, Tairāwhiti Police Area Commander Sam Aberahama – in charge of the region covering Poverty Bay and East Coast – said there had been “instances of people who have exploited this disaster to commit dishonesty offences”…..
“This is disgusting behaviour and we have zero tolerance for it. Our patrols and staff on the ground are ensuring that our community is not seeing a marked increase in criminal activity,” Aberahama said.
“But the facts are that we have had fewer reports of dishonesty offences than in the weeks before this disaster – from seven per day prior to February 14 down to four per day over the past 10 days.
The good folk of the east coast and HB are right in the middle of this. Right now. They won't be on the phone to plod. They are taking their own measures.
Yeah, right! They are too busy looking for that one silver ute with 5 people in it. And the cell towers are not working, are they? Plenty of ‘wet bus tickets’ around there, I guess, but that’s just more slash coming down the barren slopes of your biased brain. You’re on a roll, rolling out the BS.
Adam Pearse didn’t mention anything about the good folk not reporting crime in his latest piece. Quite the opposite rather, Police are coming to meet with concerned and fearful residents to discuss roadblocks etc. Looks like your non-reporting allegations is silt eroding from your barren biased imagination. Get off the grass or better yet, go back to YouTube and watch those many video’s posted by people from the left with which you have a beef.
I know it must be tough being this weeks NACT lickspittle but are you saying the good folk are too busy to call the Police but all the time in the world to talk to the Herald?
Sure, and with the roadblocks they get more traction with the Police, obviously. Unfortunately, the same roadblocks will prevent Police and other emergency services getting through, which could put lives at risk. This is a risky ‘PR strategy’ but it seems to make sense to you. Go figure.
No, exactly, and that’s why I assumed it originated from your imagination. Of course, you can support your BS assertions, but you haven’t done so. So … QED.
So you took one article and dreamed up an entire comment about something the author didn't say. I think you're losing your touch.
[You have made several claims about people not reporting crime now. You have not provided any evidence for this yet other than your own reckons, and now you claim that they are my reckons aka “dreamed up”.
Back up your claims about people not reporting crime now and inferences won’t suffice. And seeing ‘suspicious’ silver utes in the area is not seeing a crime either – Incognito]
Yes, as long as it doesn’t “impede emergency responders” and a few other provisos mentioned in the link, which you left out of your comments, for some reason … They would be supportive if it does indeed deter criminals and looters – prevention is better than cure.
"Yes, as long as it doesn’t “impede emergency responders” and a few other provisos mentioned in the link, "
So what did you base your comment above that "Unfortunately, the same roadblocks will prevent Police and other emergency services getting through," on?
My mistake; I left out a qualifier such as easily or quickly and made clear what risk this could pose to people’s lives. You don’t seem to share this concern with the Police, which was mentioned in the article you linked to. In fact, all you’re interested in is confirming your biased narrative.
"You have made several claims about people not reporting crime now. "
No, I haven't. I have suggested that is a likely scenario given what they are dealing with.
"and now you claim that they are my reckons aka “dreamed up”."
Huh? I think you're losing it.
"Back up your claims about people not reporting crime now "
You want me to prove that people aren't doing something? You're trolling now, inco. Have a strong coffee.
[Nope. You have stated numerous times that people are not reporting crimes. Don’t be dishonest about this.
I didn’t write your claims in your comments nor your ‘scenarios’. Is this some kind of game or film script to you?
Crime stats/numbers are lower, not higher. This doesn’t fit your narrative. Too bad for you. You were (t)asked to provide evidence that people were not reporting and why. You failed on both counts and have wasted a lot of my time.
I’m not trolling, I’m engaging with your BS while you’re being moderated and are in Pre-Mod. Frankly, I’ve seen enough of your BS and it is déjà vu all over again. Take three weeks off – Incognito]
"This is a risky ‘PR strategy’ but it seems to make sense to you. Go figure."
It would appear to be better than waiting for the Minister of Police.
"The Police Minister had no idea how bad it was until Newshub told him this afternoon."
""Whatever the District Commander needs to keep law and order, all she's got to do is ask but I need to get to the bottom of this. It's the first time I've heard it," he said."
If you think this is the reason why people were setting up roadblocks, to get the attention of the Minister of Police, then it was unnecessary and misguided, to say the least. You sound like Luxon and Seymour turning this into a political football at the highest level and you’re certainly playing along with them.
In the NZH article of 19 Feb that you linked to it clearly states that already “[m]ore than 100 additional officers had been brought into the district” and that more would be deployed, “[t]he Police Eagle helicopter will also be flying above the district”, and that the Eastern District commander Superintendent Jeanette Park was on the ball. In fact, as I already said, the article states that Police were talking directly with the people wanting to set up the roadblocks. You’re spinning!
Nope. You claimed that people were too busy setting up roadblocks, talking to the media, and talking to Police in the ground to report crime. It had nothing to do with the Minister being out of touch and people allegedly waiting for him – the PM had visited the area, so why would they wait for the Police Minister? It makes no sense and you are spinning, just like Luxon, Seymour and Mitchell.
You still haven’t provided anything else other than your reckons for your claims about the non-reporting. The Minister and PM are simply red herrings.
You are being moderated, not vetoed. You’re also in Pre-Mod, and your comments are pending until being released by a Mod, usually with a reply associated. This is to control the brown water flow here on this forum. If this takes too long for your liking, I’d suggest you complain to the SYSOP. You’ll find his contact details here: https://thestandard.org.nz/contact-us/.
There were "a lot of people and a lot of cars around out there that we know for sure aren't locals, and they aren't the volunteers that are doing a great job," Rebecca said. "There are people that are out there trying to take advantage of people like us that are already devastated."
Of course there’s people around. – rubber-neckers and people looking at what has been tossed out. One person's rubbish is another's treasure.
In the days when we had inorganic collections in Auckland, it was normal to see cars and vans cruising the streets looking for stuff they could restore either for themselves or to sell on. I was more then happy for them to take what they wanted. Its' called 'private enterprise' which the blue-ribboned among us are supposed to support.
But of course they are the wrong sort of entrepreneurs. They're the poor ones who usually come from the wrong side of the railway tracks.
Another output shock…25% of world beef exports set to be removed from the market.
"- Brazil's beef exports to China will be halted starting Thursday after a case of mad cow disease was confirmed in the northern state of Para, the country's agriculture and livestock ministry said on Wednesday."
The enquiry's findings will be interesting considering the conflict with the likes of Pan Pac, which is owned by Oji Group, a leader in the pulp and paper industry in Japan.
I understand we signed the 'son of TPPA' which largely neuters the state's ability to take measures that may impact on the balance sheet of foreign owned companies.
Listening to people in communities like Tolaga bay can hear they are really cautious in their wording of crfiticism of logging companies, even after all the slash and debris has visited ruin upon their transport networks.
Put simply, these companies are the only jobs in town and no one want to lose that.
Same in the Far North, few like the rats and mice forestry operators, a number of peoples health and lives have suffered for years because of their exploitation.
Helen Kelly NZCTU ran a great campaign to try and sort them out. It is in the mists of time now that before Rogernomics there was a Govt. Forestry dept. that significantly existed to employ people on reasonable conditions!
I see ZB and others are moaning like their life is under threat, when we want to Tax excess greed.
As a Christian, the removal of tax on excess greed has been the most vial aspect of the last 40 odd years of liberal economics. That and flat taxes like GST.
Time to help these people, because greed is a condition that can't be curbed without help.
And talking about mmmmmm ('number needs to be blank') Waters here is an link to a piece on Neighbourly about Christchurch City Council introducing water fees.
'The Christchurch City Council's new water billing system went live on Sunday night and the first invoices for ratepayers using excess water are due to be sent out over the coming days.
The council introduced an excess water charge in October after making the decision to push ahead with the scheme in 2021.
It is not yet known how many people will get a bill, but the average charge is likely to be $83 and the maximum about $400.
Under the new rules, people will be charged a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes.'
Part of our discussion revolved around the inherent unfairness of this. KCDC charges for every drop used. There has been no attempt to mitigate these charges so the homeowner futilely trying to change nature by growing bowling green type grass on sand pays the same as someone looking after a family member who needs care involving the use of lots of water.
The phrase about 'treating unequal people equally does not mean you are treating them fairly' seems to apply.
Regular readers of this blog would know that I have no love for ACT, and I constantly point out their many hypocrisies on matters, their blatant populist pandering and their general disinterest in the economically disadvantaged.
My latest example of the latter was an article by Richard Prebble in yesterdays Wairarapa Times Age. I am unable to provide a link for it because I don't think it is on-line in any case. In this article he argues that government should back off and leave the cyclone recovery to local government and organisations.
In Prebble's finance-obssessed world he doesn't seem to realize that the scale of damage is way way beyond local government being able to fix it and government intervention is essential. ACT's idea of government is apparently non-government.
Just another example of why people in Hawkes Bay should be thankful that, for all the damage caused, at least the government is getting involved and helping to repair the damage. If ACT was government they would probably be told to raise the money through hangis and gala days.
If someone could find and post a link to this article I would be grateful.
If ACT was government they would probably be told to raise the money through hangis and gala days.
Well I for one am happy that ACT have moved on from the cake stalls idea.
My concern really is that ACT has been missing in action during both Cyclones. While I have no truck with disaster tourism, politicians need to see things in person, be seen being present at official briefings or even pass on straight empathy, when it is needed and relevant. I wouldn't even mind Seymour saying he had donated or supports the Red Cross & Stuff fundraiser.
Yes Let the motor mouth leader of act get a bloody shovel and help move the shite rather than flinging it about. He is a first class dork. He grinds my gears with his petty posturing.
Unfortunately, for many autogynephiliac men – those who are sexually aroused by the thought of themselves as women – the ultimate validation of their claimed identity as a woman and as a "lesbian" – (because they are the same straight boy they were before they put on a frock) – is to bully, bamboozle or blackmail some actual lesbian into a sexual relationship. The validation is just not there with another "transbian" because they actually do know what a woman is – and what one is not.
What you describe Visubversa is in my eyes is rape. Probably not a legal definition, but every lesbian I've known, do not like men in any way sexually. To "bully, bamboozle or blackmail" is coercion, meaning, ultimately it not consensual at a really core level.
So Lesbians are left once again cleaning up the mess. In this case the psychology, spiritual, and emotional damage from people who are suppose to be in the Rainbow community. Maybe their not, maybe they are just misogynistic little curs.
Unfortunately it is rainbow support organisations that say that lesbians should consider sex with males – if they claim they have a women's gender identity.
The pernicious homophobia shaming taking place is unconscionable.
The definitions of lesbian and gay have been redefined to suit a certain perspective, and the impact of this – ignored. (Sound familiar?)
As apparent with previous Standard discussions on this very topic, and this link sent to me by a NZ psychologist when I asked what support he would give to a young lesbian who was coming to terms with her sexuality and finding pressure to sleep with men:
In addition to what Molly said, even for TW that have had genital removal and reconstruction, they've still male. For many women, sex is a whole body event. Lesbians have the right to say no to sex, dating, and sharing female spaces with male bodied people irrespective of what body modifications that person has done.
The Hugo award-winning Science Fiction-focused Clarkesworld Magazine can receive over 12,000 submissions in just one year. Of course, that was before the proliferation of free online AI models that can write a dull, monotonous, though technically legible piece of fiction.
On Monday, Clarkesworld Magazine editor Neil Clarke tweeted that the company had closed all submissions, writing “It shouldn’t be hard to guess why.” Looking back over the past few weeks, it’s clear that fake spam submissions made using AI-based large language models has inundated the magazine’s editors with nearly 35 times the number of fake submissions as the same time last year. Clarke wrote that his magazine received 50 of these AI-generated submissions before noon on Presidents’ Day.
[…]
On Tuesday, Clarke said they do plan to eventually open up submissions again, but he elaborated that “We don’t have a solution for the problem. We have some ideas for minimizing it, but the problem isn’t going away.”
Something admirably humorous about this woman designer's posting of her stolen clothes and jewellery items being displayed by Sam Brinton on his social media posts without any shred of conscience:
Sam Brinton, was hired by Biden – as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy for the Department of Energy.
Critiques regarding Brinton's public posts regarding his fetishes were defended and considered immaterial to his employment. Which I agree with to an extent, but depending on the role, character does play a part and ability to maintain control over those aspects – whether it be alcohol or kink play are relevant. As well as the credibility of the organisation in regards to their role. I would suggest that his enthusiastic public posting of his pup-play and active membership of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence would have indicated that the necessary discipline was not going to be maintained to the level required.
The only comment I can find on this man, is one from Sabine in 2022. But many of us will know that he was first investigated for the theft of a women's bag from an airline carousel a couple of months after being appointed, and no public statement or censure was made.
It was only when he was caught – again – and prosecution was undertaken – that he was deemed unsuitable for the position.
It would be also good, if we can have a serious discussion about his targeted theft of women's clothes.
Where do Standardista's fall here in regards to possible motivations for this larceny?
Despite his financial situation, he stole women's clothes because that was his only method of getting women's clothes?
He stole luggage that he knew belonged to women – and part of his fetish was wearing clothes that had been worn by women?
Something else?
And an analysis of the likelihood of such public displays of kinks, – which suggest to me that further sexual kinks will be present and less likely to be able to be controlled?
Hmmm, Im guessing he stole luggage belonging to women because he wanted to wear their used clothes. He did that because it excited him. Those are my quick reckons.
I have no interest, to be honest, in his motivations. ( apart from regarding him as a tosser)
He is a simply a thief of other peoples property and hopefully is fined/punished for the crime. Lipstick or suit wearing or being a tosser is beside the point. Just another tedious thief.
ohh now theres a thought and difficult question Molly
Some random thoughts: Some of my best contributions have been through a slightly gin impaired haze. A reread the following day usually confirms that.
Ive worked for a number of CEO's , mainly female, who were certifiable nutters, or at the very least sociopaths. Notwithstanding that they were very effective and exactly the sort of CEO to deliver the results needed.
I was actually in the room when the US state department informed Clark via Cullen what their legislation would be re patent protection laws ( think Pfizer) and saw the clarity of thought of the various sociopaths on both sides in action. As for character , on both sides total excreble slimeball misfits that you certainly wouldnt want to have anything to do with socially. But no denying their effectiveness.
So, what role should character play? Well theres the sort of character we probably all respect and admire. However if you want things done for the good of all, perhaps other attributes are more worthy. And yes i realise thats probably rather unpalatable.
Actually agree with you – as far as I think I understand what you've written – with or without gin haze.
I've read a lot about the personality types of surgeons, and remember reading an article years ago outlining where sociopathic traits in cetain roles and occupations benefitted society. I think it may have been this person, interviewed recently on Triggernometry:
Some of the most honorable people I know, are/were relied on by the rest of society to do the things that most of us are uncomfortable or incapable of doing. However their self-discipline was also exceptional.
I think in this particular role, a cursory look at Sam Brinton's social media could have indicated an obvious problem with impulse control. It should have eliminated him from consideration.
Sam Brinton certainly had the means to buy women's clothes for himself. However, that is obviously not the way his fetish works. He gets off on the thrill of stealing women's clothes because they are part of his fantasy of becoming the woman who owned and wore the clothing. The fact that he does it so obviously by wearing stolen clothing where it will be likely to be photographed is also part of the thrill. We are seeing fetishised behaviour here, and with much fetishised behaviour (like drug use) more and more stimulation is required to get the same effect. The word is "autogynephilia" and that is what drives most of the gender identity movement today.
Public displays of kink can be a live sexual act that doesn't have the consent of people who see it. This is one of the concerns about AGP males. There's plenty of evidence of AGP males doing their kink in obvious ways in public, so I think it's reasonable to assume that there are more subtle forms going on as well. It's not going to be a surprise of both the theft of women's clothes and the later wearing in public at high profile events are part of the fetish.
I agree about the character and employment issue. The problem isn't that he wears women's clothes to work. It's how he does that. I suspect far more men than women can see there's a problem, but we're not allowed to talk about it because liberals increasingly think there should be no boundaries and women who talk about boundaries are prudes.
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Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
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 ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Wansolwara The news media’s crucial role in climate change and environment journalism was the focus of The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna were the chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Adams, Professor of Corporate Law & Academic Director of UNE Sydney campus, University of New England Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
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 I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
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So RNZ has another "crime is out of control" story from, specifically, Puketapu. Quoting a person "RNZ has agreed not to name" we get little more than a sotto voce racist white crime panic. This anonymous source says they saw some people poking about, they were challenged, they left and the police were called and the cops arrived smartly. This level of "crime" is, apparently, enough for the local aspirational squatocracy to think about cos-playing Massey's Cossacks to deliver a bit of vigilante justice.
Now, places like Puketapu are deepest blue right wing country and you'll find a generous helping of groundswell type unreconstructed racists and bigots of all ages who are more than happy to be an agent provocateur if it suits them, so a little less credulity in assessing some of the claims coming out of the regions from our credulous MSM would be nice (although in a era where to paint yourself the victim is to exonerate yourself from any scrutiny in the media that might be a bit to much to expect).
But this little vignette of largely social media inspired (although the MSM is ever keen on amplifying the slightest hint of a verified heaving bosom and/or torn bodice) fear and loathing shows just how deep cooker culture has penetrated into our low information provinces, which no longer have much by the way of local MSM journalism and instead rely on an unrelieved diet of FB groups, rumour, and talkback troll farms for news. To me it is just wild that many people are now so inculcated with bad information sources they more likely to believe cookers on a FB group than they are the police commissioner when discussing crime.
One screamingly obvious learning from the pandemic and these sorts of disasters is there are huge consequences in the death of reliable and well resourced local media in New Zealand. In my youth in Hawkes Bay the region had two well functioning local newspapers with numerous reporters, the generally august and reliable Napier Daily Telegraph and that useless rag from across the way, the Hastings based Hawkes Bay Herald Tribune. Both papers reflected the political traditions of their city, and the whole media eco system was buttressed by the local ZC radio station, which featured frequent interviews with local politicians and reports on the proceedings of the council. All that has vanished. The result has been the flourishing of crony politics and sharp practice, the death of local democracy and the rise of online disinformation, misinformation and downright black propaganda.
Was this ?
Oh well…..but then this?
So they got Police,Patrol car..and Eagle helicopter. But the so helpful neighbour neglected to get the number plate…or descriptions.
Huh?
That is the one!
plus if reading it right, stupid Rebecca left a key out if "they managed to get their hands on a key". Certainly an entitled bullhorn of a woman. Having said that, break-ins at this time is even more scummy than at any other time.
That was meant for Airbnb guests only
I agree indeed. Just this story is so ..random. AND she got an Eagle Helicopter to boot.
What more is on her want list?…Martial law? Open season on people "Rebecca" (and similar) dont like the..look of? A real Clean Up as it were…
A worry….
agree, they should have called her "Judith" as in …
Judith Collins
https://youtu.be/NxcjE8iI4Cc
The whole story was a heaving unspoken cypher for a whole lot of other issues, including the unspoken informal apartheid that exists in Napier/Hastings, the studiously ignored and well hidden abject poverty, marginalisation and "othering" of poor urban Maori that exists alongside the well heeled white colonies of ex-Aucklanders we large see in our MSM when talking about Hawkes Bay, it's crony class politics, and a post-Douglas era social order than can only be described in many cases as semi-feudal.
Agree, I perceived an unspoken malice in the woman’s allegations. Similar to the US cases where a woman phones the Police because there is a Black Man in the park…
A friend lives in Wairoa and he has two Mobsters as neighbours, while all shovelling silt together he said they laughed at the moral panic stories.
Personally, if people are without communication, petrol, water, sanitation, a usable roading bridge network, health care, access to medicine, cash, banking services, food supply etc. it is ok to help yourself to essentials from businesses–but opportunist thefts from individuals are another matter and reprehensible.
The numbers will hopefully emerge eventually as to whether there has been a crime wave or not.
There is an undercurrent of if you are the right sort of person "borrowing" the water tank from your neighbour's abandoned and wrecked place so you can gather rain water to clean your property is smart, but if you are the wrong sort poking about a red stickered property to claim a half buried bike then you are a looter and a suitable target for vigilante justice.
The bottom line is a lot of people on the right are pre-disposed to believe rumours of looting and social breakdown because their world view is formed by a belief that the “perfect” state of nature is fundamentally Hobbesian, and thus a disaster creates the perfect conditions for uncivilised competition. That, in turn, leads them to logically (for them) conclude they are living in a Hobbesian nightmare and therefore a shoot first, ask questions later mindset prevails.
The truth – and all the evidence of disasters backs this up – is that humans pull together in a catastrophe and looting is actually rare.
pearl clutchers
Luxon and Seymour put out the call that crime is rampant. So we the obedient ones answer the call. We are scared. Crime is everywhere. The police are hopeless. This Government is hopeless. Call in the Army. Careless media repeat the feelings.
Actually I think that the politics of stoking up fear is disgusting. Shame on you Luxon, Seymour and the Mayor of Nappier.
Aye, yes. The Fear mongers…they are the real "lovers of disaster politics". Truly despicable….
Listening to locals (like the mayor of the actual city itself) is always going to create more light than politicians.
Hipkins 'out of touch' on security risks in flood zone (newsroom.co.nz)
Roadworkers who had guns pulled on them in Hawkes Bay dispute Prime Minister’s ‘third-hand’ information claim – NZ Herald
Cyclone Gabrielle: Chris Hipkins climbs down from criticised crime claims as roadworker says politicians are 'covering backside' | Newshub
Looting, becoming common in town, is spreading into rural areas, putting already traumatised residents further on edge.
Puketapu was among the first of these areas to install roadblocks or checkpoints at access points into their village, and others appear to be following suit.
Those quotes are taken from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/opinion-the-government-risks-losing-rural-new-zealand-who-were-left-to-fight-cyclone-gabrielle-on-their-own/WGWO6VWYJVEOZEHEIMFRGMSOUA/, which is behind a paywall.
I watched news hubs hit pieces on Hipkins last night,
Blatant misrepresenting of what he said backed up by the reckons of a thcko rd worker.
It's either that or the reporter failed basic comprehension
Well if the reporter misunderstood what Hipkins said, so did a load of people on the ground in the regions.
There’s so much misunderstanding around, it’s almost like some are deliberately spreading misinformation, but fortunately you cleared it all up.
Sarcasm is mostly wasted on the braindead.
Amen – imho, cynically whipping up a climate of hysteria about a supposed ‘crime wave’ ['They’re' stealing our stuff!] is unhelpful at best – more than enough ‘climate’ to worry about as is.
"“As I [PM Hipkins] have said all week, I acknowledge that when the power is out and the communications are out, there is a heightened degree of anxiety and any criminal offending in that time is going to be of extra concern to a local community."
IOW – the crime you think is happening is not really happening, it's just a 'heightened degree of anxiety'.
Really? Meanwhile, those nice people the government 'requested' pull their heads in just didn't listen.
Cash, guns and drugs seized after gang incident in cyclone-affected Napier | Stuff.co.nz
Really Liberty Belle? "IOW", or in your words?
Imho, cynically whipping up a climate of hysteria about a supposed ‘crime spike’ at this time will pay political dividends, but not in the way you might think.
Carry on
No, Liberty is not being cynical, they are being satirical 😉
I'll believe the people actually being affected. Like the workers who had guns pulled on them, although not according to the PM, eh.
[Provide evidence that the PM denied that workers had pulled guns on them.
What is your argument with citing this incident?
You’re in Pre-Mod because I’m fed up with your BS reckons and knowing you, you will simply continue with it – Incognito]
Mod note
Incredible how petty the political right of New Zealand are, holding up a single, murky, roadside incident for purposes of distracting away from the huge amount of good work authorities are doing.
Why do the political right of New Zealand always concentrate on the negative?
People certainly are being affected. Mind you, we're still in a state of National Emergency. Best Kiwis pull together for now, don't you think?
https://www.hbemergency.govt.nz/
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/02/24/live-images-shows-rising-floodwaters-in-west-auckland/
"[Provide evidence that the PM denied that workers had pulled guns on them."
Happily.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said earlier this week that there was no first-hand account of the incident. “The reports of guns pulled at checkpoints, so far there have only third or fourth-hand accounts of it,” Hipkins said during a press conference.
and
"After earlier this week calling some reports of crime in cyclone-hit regions "unsubstantiated rumours", the Prime Minister has climbed down from those claims. Newshub's spoken to a roadworker whose crews were held at gunpoint and said Chris Hipkins doesn't know what's happening on the ground."
"The very next day, the Prime Minister addressed the nation, saying he wanted to be "careful on the issues around law and order that we're not just responding to unsubstantiated rumours". Not that he'd admit it on Thursday. When it was put to him that he dismissed crime on the ground as unsubstantiated rumour, Hipkins said "that's not true" and "that isn't actually what I said". At that Monday press conference, Hipkins said he was aware of one instance of someone being threatened with a firearm. Newshub's spoken to a roadworker whose crews were held up twice in one night. "The first staff member had a firearm pointed at him, then everything seemed alright. So then they carried on going through putting out road cones and that. And that's when the second firearm was then pointed at a second staff member." Both were reported to police in the weekend."
"But the roadworker said Hipkins' "unsubstantiated rumours" comment stung. "I was thinking it's quite a dag though because in a politician's point of view, it's all about them covering their backside. They're not here, they're not amongst it, they're not here firsthand.""
He's slippery, and he was caught out.
Nice try, but no cigar. Hipkins called them “unsubstantiated rumours”, i.e., they may or may not have been true. You failed to make your point though because it wasn’t about the PM being ‘slippery’ but about “crime is rampant” in the area as alleged by Luxon and Seymour who are turning this into a political football. They are the slippery ones because they take every single incident reported in the media and blow out of proportion into Armageddon for political gain. Noted.
"Hipkins called them “unsubstantiated rumours”, i.e., they may or may not have been true. "
Hipkin's meaning was very clear. The roadworker knew what he was saying. And Newshub knew when they wrote the headline "Chris Hipkins climbs down from criticised crime claims as roadworker says politicians are 'covering backside'"
In fact, Newshub nailed it when they said "The Prime Minister sprung too quickly into defensive politician mode on Monday with his "unsubstantiated rumours" comment. Hipkins was talking to the Opposition and went on the attack when he should have been responding to real fears in the community."
And there you have it, the PM should have jumped on the bandwagon of fear mongers and sing from the same sheet as Luxon and Seymour. This is not about the victims at all, it is about playing political football. The Opposition knew exactly what they were doing and so do the media. And since when are headlines accurate reports of the news? Seriously, you’re spinning and you’ve missed your calling as headline-writing chatbot.
She must be as bright as you then
Oh the Herald says it, well goodo, it must be true and tell me it isn't so, the fiercely loyal to the Labour Government Rural Community is turning against them. Shocked I say, shocked.
Must not let facts get in the way:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/cyclone-gabrielle-looting-mayor-says-lowlifes-should-be-jailed-forever/YQ76I3SBXRD47MXFRMYVYB5LTQ/
Do you seriously think, for one moment, that people fighting for everything they own are reporting crime right now?
Get off the grass! It’s BAU, mostly.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/131325133/claims-of-cyclone-crime-spike-a-political-football-cops-at-coalface-say
You’ve found one of National’s old tricks when crime stats/numbers are down: the reporting is down, so the real numbers must be up!
What were you saying again about confirmation bias this morning? I think you’re missing a pearl.
The good folk of the east coast and HB are right in the middle of this. Right now. They won't be on the phone to plod. They are taking their own measures.
Right now as in 5 days ago according to your link.
How do the good folk of the east coast and HB expect to see justice if they can't even be bothered reporting crime?
"Right now as in 5 days ago according to your link."
That's when they started taking measures. The crime hasn't stopped.
"How do the good folk of the east coast and HB expect to see justice if they can't even be bothered reporting crime?"
The good people of the HM and Easy Coast are rather preoccupied. And frankly, given the 'wet bus ticket' treatment criminals get, I don't blame them.
Yeah, right! They are too busy looking for that one silver ute with 5 people in it. And the cell towers are not working, are they? Plenty of ‘wet bus tickets’ around there, I guess, but that’s just more slash coming down the barren slopes of your biased brain. You’re on a roll, rolling out the BS.
You must be Right and missing a few pearls.
Adam Pearse didn’t mention anything about the good folk not reporting crime in his latest piece. Quite the opposite rather, Police are coming to meet with concerned and fearful residents to discuss roadblocks etc. Looks like your non-reporting allegations is silt eroding from your barren biased imagination. Get off the grass or better yet, go back to YouTube and watch those many video’s posted by people from the left with which you have a beef.
I know it must be tough being this weeks NACT lickspittle but are you saying the good folk are too busy to call the Police but all the time in the world to talk to the Herald?
Rebecca has the Eagle helicopter on speed-dial.
"are you saying the good folk are too busy to call the Police but all the time in the world to talk to the Herald?"
The media are pro-actively providing an opportunity. And right now, the locals likely feel they'll get more traction through the media.
Sure, and with the roadblocks they get more traction with the Police, obviously. Unfortunately, the same roadblocks will prevent Police and other emergency services getting through, which could put lives at risk. This is a risky ‘PR strategy’ but it seems to make sense to you. Go figure.
Potential Puketapu FB page:
Has a Maori stolen your washing machine?
Don’t call the police, call The Herald!
"Adam Pearse didn’t mention anything about the good folk not reporting crime in his latest piece. "
I didn't claim he did.
No, exactly, and that’s why I assumed it originated from your imagination. Of course, you can support your BS assertions, but you haven’t done so. So … QED.
"No, exactly,"
So you took one article and dreamed up an entire comment about something the author didn't say. I think you're losing your touch.
[You have made several claims about people not reporting crime now. You have not provided any evidence for this yet other than your own reckons, and now you claim that they are my reckons aka “dreamed up”.
Back up your claims about people not reporting crime now and inferences won’t suffice. And seeing ‘suspicious’ silver utes in the area is not seeing a crime either – Incognito]
Mod note
"Unfortunately, the same roadblocks will prevent Police and other emergency services getting through, which could put lives at risk. "
The police seemed quite supportive of the roadblocks.
Yes, as long as it doesn’t “impede emergency responders” and a few other provisos mentioned in the link, which you left out of your comments, for some reason … They would be supportive if it does indeed deter criminals and looters – prevention is better than cure.
"Yes, as long as it doesn’t “impede emergency responders” and a few other provisos mentioned in the link, "
So what did you base your comment above that "Unfortunately, the same roadblocks will prevent Police and other emergency services getting through," on?
My mistake; I left out a qualifier such as easily or quickly and made clear what risk this could pose to people’s lives. You don’t seem to share this concern with the Police, which was mentioned in the article you linked to. In fact, all you’re interested in is confirming your biased narrative.
"You have made several claims about people not reporting crime now. "
No, I haven't. I have suggested that is a likely scenario given what they are dealing with.
"and now you claim that they are my reckons aka “dreamed up”."
Huh? I think you're losing it.
"Back up your claims about people not reporting crime now "
You want me to prove that people aren't doing something? You're trolling now, inco. Have a strong coffee.
[Nope. You have stated numerous times that people are not reporting crimes. Don’t be dishonest about this.
I didn’t write your claims in your comments nor your ‘scenarios’. Is this some kind of game or film script to you?
Crime stats/numbers are lower, not higher. This doesn’t fit your narrative. Too bad for you. You were (t)asked to provide evidence that people were not reporting and why. You failed on both counts and have wasted a lot of my time.
I’m not trolling, I’m engaging with your BS while you’re being moderated and are in Pre-Mod. Frankly, I’ve seen enough of your BS and it is déjà vu all over again. Take three weeks off – Incognito]
Mod note
"This is a risky ‘PR strategy’ but it seems to make sense to you. Go figure."
It would appear to be better than waiting for the Minister of Police.
"The Police Minister had no idea how bad it was until Newshub told him this afternoon."
""Whatever the District Commander needs to keep law and order, all she's got to do is ask but I need to get to the bottom of this. It's the first time I've heard it," he said."
Cyclone Gabrielle: Tensions escalate in Hawke's Bay as thieves and looters target vulnerable | Newshub
Fighting a few fires today, Libertarian Smell?
If you think this is the reason why people were setting up roadblocks, to get the attention of the Minister of Police, then it was unnecessary and misguided, to say the least. You sound like Luxon and Seymour turning this into a political football at the highest level and you’re certainly playing along with them.
In the NZH article of 19 Feb that you linked to it clearly states that already “[m]ore than 100 additional officers had been brought into the district” and that more would be deployed, “[t]he Police Eagle helicopter will also be flying above the district”, and that the Eastern District commander Superintendent Jeanette Park was on the ball. In fact, as I already said, the article states that Police were talking directly with the people wanting to set up the roadblocks. You’re spinning!
"If you think this is the reason why people were setting up roadblocks, to get the attention of the Minister of Police,"
No, never claimed that. I pointed out how out of touch the Minister was, and the people on the ground would be better not waiting for him.
"You’re spinning!"
You're clearly having cognitive issues tonight. Take more time to read the comments.
BTW – if you’re going to reply to my comments, or ask for a response by way of the moderators veto, at least be honest enough to publish my reply.
Nope. You claimed that people were too busy setting up roadblocks, talking to the media, and talking to Police in the ground to report crime. It had nothing to do with the Minister being out of touch and people allegedly waiting for him – the PM had visited the area, so why would they wait for the Police Minister? It makes no sense and you are spinning, just like Luxon, Seymour and Mitchell.
You still haven’t provided anything else other than your reckons for your claims about the non-reporting. The Minister and PM are simply red herrings.
You are being moderated, not vetoed. You’re also in Pre-Mod, and your comments are pending until being released by a Mod, usually with a reply associated. This is to control the brown water flow here on this forum. If this takes too long for your liking, I’d suggest you complain to the SYSOP. You’ll find his contact details here: https://thestandard.org.nz/contact-us/.
From Pl.A's link@1.1
Of course there’s people around. – rubber-neckers and people looking at what has been tossed out. One person's rubbish is another's treasure.
In the days when we had inorganic collections in Auckland, it was normal to see cars and vans cruising the streets looking for stuff they could restore either for themselves or to sell on. I was more then happy for them to take what they wanted. Its' called 'private enterprise' which the blue-ribboned among us are supposed to support.
But of course they are the wrong sort of entrepreneurs. They're the poor ones who usually come from the wrong side of the railway tracks.
Another output shock…25% of world beef exports set to be removed from the market.
"- Brazil's beef exports to China will be halted starting Thursday after a case of mad cow disease was confirmed in the northern state of Para, the country's agriculture and livestock ministry said on Wednesday."
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-para-state-confirms-mad-cow-disease-case-2023-02-22/
Luckily, I own a soon to be ex-cow.
Boggles at "ex-cow." Eat it or have a sex change?
I steer away from that debate.
Look in this time of gender/sex etc politics I am not going to heifer myself into this debate
Look OK I'll laugh for everyone, it's no problem…..I always get my own jokes!
Is Luxon using Judith Collins as a stopbank to keep Willis away from withering his whimsical leadership position?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/luxons-puzzling-brainfade
In the words of the old blues song, "W stands for woman, woman keeps worrying me." Bald Lemon Luxon preachin' the Blues.
Old political adage: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer!
Liability Luxon hopes to stave off the inevitable coup by rewarding one of the undeserving unworthies!
I caught the end of this interview:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018879241/eastland-wood-council-supports-inquiry-into-forestry-slash
The enquiry's findings will be interesting considering the conflict with the likes of Pan Pac, which is owned by Oji Group, a leader in the pulp and paper industry in Japan.
https://www.panpac.co.nz/about/
I understand we signed the 'son of TPPA' which largely neuters the state's ability to take measures that may impact on the balance sheet of foreign owned companies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Partnership
Who would be a politician?
Listening to people in communities like Tolaga bay can hear they are really cautious in their wording of crfiticism of logging companies, even after all the slash and debris has visited ruin upon their transport networks.
Put simply, these companies are the only jobs in town and no one want to lose that.
Same in the Far North, few like the rats and mice forestry operators, a number of peoples health and lives have suffered for years because of their exploitation.
Helen Kelly NZCTU ran a great campaign to try and sort them out. It is in the mists of time now that before Rogernomics there was a Govt. Forestry dept. that significantly existed to employ people on reasonable conditions!
True that and had an expertise at managing forests planted for soilcon purposes.
This expertise seems to have been washed away by thoughts of the mighty $$$$$$$$
Toby Morris at the Spinoff has a piece about Frogs and Sandbags:
… worth reading the whole thing but the takeaway is important:
I see ZB and others are moaning like their life is under threat, when we want to Tax excess greed.
As a Christian, the removal of tax on excess greed has been the most vial aspect of the last 40 odd years of liberal economics. That and flat taxes like GST.
Time to help these people, because greed is a condition that can't be curbed without help.
Help them to do better. Good one Adam.
Perhaps stronger than I would express Sanctuary but I agree.
And in addition these 'incomers' often call it 'the Hawkes Bay' which 'grinds my gears'.
I yell at Stuff links 'it's not the HB, its Hawkes Bay'
"I am going up to HB this weekend", I last said in 2019.
Actually it was called Hawke Bay. Not sure when/if it was officially renamed Hawkes Bay.
I understood from ages ago that it was the Bay, the geographical ocean feature that was called Hawke Bay and the province was Hawkes Bay.
Could have got that the wrong way round but there was one called Hawke and one called Hawkes (I wonder was that originally Hawke's bay?)
And talking about mmmmmm ('number needs to be blank') Waters here is an link to a piece on Neighbourly about Christchurch City Council introducing water fees.
https://www.neighbourly.co.nz/publication/the-press
'The Christchurch City Council's new water billing system went live on Sunday night and the first invoices for ratepayers using excess water are due to be sent out over the coming days.
The council introduced an excess water charge in October after making the decision to push ahead with the scheme in 2021.
It is not yet known how many people will get a bill, but the average charge is likely to be $83 and the maximum about $400.
Under the new rules, people will be charged a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes.'
Part of our discussion revolved around the inherent unfairness of this. KCDC charges for every drop used. There has been no attempt to mitigate these charges so the homeowner futilely trying to change nature by growing bowling green type grass on sand pays the same as someone looking after a family member who needs care involving the use of lots of water.
The phrase about 'treating unequal people equally does not mean you are treating them fairly' seems to apply.
Regular readers of this blog would know that I have no love for ACT, and I constantly point out their many hypocrisies on matters, their blatant populist pandering and their general disinterest in the economically disadvantaged.
My latest example of the latter was an article by Richard Prebble in yesterdays Wairarapa Times Age. I am unable to provide a link for it because I don't think it is on-line in any case. In this article he argues that government should back off and leave the cyclone recovery to local government and organisations.
In Prebble's finance-obssessed world he doesn't seem to realize that the scale of damage is way way beyond local government being able to fix it and government intervention is essential. ACT's idea of government is apparently non-government.
Just another example of why people in Hawkes Bay should be thankful that, for all the damage caused, at least the government is getting involved and helping to repair the damage. If ACT was government they would probably be told to raise the money through hangis and gala days.
If someone could find and post a link to this article I would be grateful.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/richard-prebble-government-must-stand-back-and-let-locals-guide-recovery-from-cyclone-gabrielle/F3WAERFNINERBKFDBC7ZKZ7G2U/ [behind pay-wall]
Thanks.
Well I for one am happy that ACT have moved on from the cake stalls idea.
My concern really is that ACT has been missing in action during both Cyclones. While I have no truck with disaster tourism, politicians need to see things in person, be seen being present at official briefings or even pass on straight empathy, when it is needed and relevant. I wouldn't even mind Seymour saying he had donated or supports the Red Cross & Stuff fundraiser.
PS No charge for this political advice David!
Yes Let the motor mouth leader of act get a bloody shovel and help move the shite rather than flinging it about. He is a first class dork. He grinds my gears with his petty posturing.
Test post
Lipstick and a skirt makes you a woman? I don't think so – and neither do most lesbians.
Just nonsense – and homophobic with it.
This is what young people are being encouraged to believe these days.
so many things wrong with that. Including the use of child-esque imagery for adults.
Those transwomen who say they
are lesbians can have lesbian sex with other transwomen .If not why not?
The fact is they seem to prefer biological women
Did anyone ask lesbians (in the true sense of same sex attraction)whether they wanted to have sex with a penis haver?
No amount of bullying and attempted conversion is going to swing it .
Unfortunately, for many autogynephiliac men – those who are sexually aroused by the thought of themselves as women – the ultimate validation of their claimed identity as a woman and as a "lesbian" – (because they are the same straight boy they were before they put on a frock) – is to bully, bamboozle or blackmail some actual lesbian into a sexual relationship. The validation is just not there with another "transbian" because they actually do know what a woman is – and what one is not.
what's wrong with bisexual women?
What you describe Visubversa is in my eyes is rape. Probably not a legal definition, but every lesbian I've known, do not like men in any way sexually. To "bully, bamboozle or blackmail" is coercion, meaning, ultimately it not consensual at a really core level.
So Lesbians are left once again cleaning up the mess. In this case the psychology, spiritual, and emotional damage from people who are suppose to be in the Rainbow community. Maybe their not, maybe they are just misogynistic little curs.
Re the damage, cue apology from a young lesbian for being taken in by a TERF:
https://twitter.com/terfalicious/status/1290087860675072002?s=20
Unfortunately it is rainbow support organisations that say that lesbians should consider sex with males – if they claim they have a women's gender identity.
The pernicious homophobia shaming taking place is unconscionable.
Rainbow Youth
Inside Out
The definitions of lesbian and gay have been redefined to suit a certain perspective, and the impact of this – ignored. (Sound familiar?)
As apparent with previous Standard discussions on this very topic, and this link sent to me by a NZ psychologist when I asked what support he would give to a young lesbian who was coming to terms with her sexuality and finding pressure to sleep with men:
https://eveywinters.com/genital-preferences-or-bigotry/
I consider this to be a politically sanctioned return of homophobia and a form of gay conversion.
An excerpt from Hannah Barnes "Time to Think" – Guardian review
https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1628854693022830592?s=20
Yes, I was a foundation member of Rainbow Labour and I am desolated at what has happened to it today.
Not all transgender women …many have had bottom half surgery (esp those transitioning before self ID).
Data is not easy to come by in NZ, but overseas studies place your "many" at 5 – 13%.
Demographic and temporal trends in transgender identities and gender confirming surgery – 2019:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6626314/
Link to table: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6626314/table/t1/?report=objectonly
Now, I'd consider that *a few" or "a small percentage" but I am aware that clear definitions are difficult for some at the moment.
However, we can probably agree that Self-ID will reduce your "many" to an even smaller percentage.
… and besides…
https://twitter.com/salltweets/status/1627098582154350592?s=20
In addition to what Molly said, even for TW that have had genital removal and reconstruction, they've still male. For many women, sex is a whole body event. Lesbians have the right to say no to sex, dating, and sharing female spaces with male bodied people irrespective of what body modifications that person has done.
Thanks Weka.
This is it in a nutshell.
Nice and simple.
Perhaps we are going back to that stereotype of male bodied people focussing on appearances more than female bodied people do.
Perhaps it is not a stereotype but true.
But I couldn't possibly comment.
The spammers win.
https://twitter.com/clarkesworld/status/1628059492486115328
The Hugo award-winning Science Fiction-focused Clarkesworld Magazine can receive over 12,000 submissions in just one year. Of course, that was before the proliferation of free online AI models that can write a dull, monotonous, though technically legible piece of fiction.
On Monday, Clarkesworld Magazine editor Neil Clarke tweeted that the company had closed all submissions, writing “It shouldn’t be hard to guess why.” Looking back over the past few weeks, it’s clear that fake spam submissions made using AI-based large language models has inundated the magazine’s editors with nearly 35 times the number of fake submissions as the same time last year. Clarke wrote that his magazine received 50 of these AI-generated submissions before noon on Presidents’ Day.
[…]
On Tuesday, Clarke said they do plan to eventually open up submissions again, but he elaborated that “We don’t have a solution for the problem. We have some ideas for minimizing it, but the problem isn’t going away.”
https://gizmodo.com/ai-chatgpt-sci-fi-clarkesworld-magazine-fiction-1850140486
Something admirably humorous about this woman designer's posting of her stolen clothes and jewellery items being displayed by Sam Brinton on his social media posts without any shred of conscience:
https://twitter.com/asyakhamsin1/status/1627541483245936642?s=20
Sam Brinton, was hired by Biden – as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy for the Department of Energy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10523529/Bidens-pick-nuclear-waste-job-Southern-Baptists-son-turned-drag-queen-Sister-Ray-Dee-OActive.html
Critiques regarding Brinton's public posts regarding his fetishes were defended and considered immaterial to his employment. Which I agree with to an extent, but depending on the role, character does play a part and ability to maintain control over those aspects – whether it be alcohol or kink play are relevant. As well as the credibility of the organisation in regards to their role. I would suggest that his enthusiastic public posting of his pup-play and active membership of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence would have indicated that the necessary discipline was not going to be maintained to the level required.
https://www.exchangemonitor.com/sam-brintons-credibility-is-not-an-issue-desire-to-serve-commendable/?printmode=1
The only comment I can find on this man, is one from Sabine in 2022. But many of us will know that he was first investigated for the theft of a women's bag from an airline carousel a couple of months after being appointed, and no public statement or censure was made.
It was only when he was caught – again – and prosecution was undertaken – that he was deemed unsuitable for the position.
https://nypost.com/2022/12/12/non-binary-biden-nuclear-official-sam-brinton-fired-after-multiple-luggage-theft-charges-reports/
It is notable that he attended court soberly dressed in a suit – (perhaps no women were on his previous flight…)
https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/sam-brinton-released-without-bail-on-luggage-theft-charges/video/5f7784d5898006e4f19362b0c72a32e7
It would be also good, if we can have a serious discussion about his targeted theft of women's clothes.
Where do Standardista's fall here in regards to possible motivations for this larceny?
And an analysis of the likelihood of such public displays of kinks, – which suggest to me that further sexual kinks will be present and less likely to be able to be controlled?
Hmmm, Im guessing he stole luggage belonging to women because he wanted to wear their used clothes. He did that because it excited him. Those are my quick reckons.
I have no interest, to be honest, in his motivations. ( apart from regarding him as a tosser)
He is a simply a thief of other peoples property and hopefully is fined/punished for the crime. Lipstick or suit wearing or being a tosser is beside the point. Just another tedious thief.
Thanks, hetzer.
What considerations do you think character should play in roles of significant authority and responsibility?
ie. talking about the likelihood of impairment, or reducing public confidence. As a parallel, high alcohol consumption posts on social media.
Um, it's America. Considerations of character in roles of significant authority and responsibility?
Donald J Trump, President #45. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Etc.
ohh now theres a thought and difficult question Molly
Some random thoughts: Some of my best contributions have been through a slightly gin impaired haze. A reread the following day usually confirms that.
Ive worked for a number of CEO's , mainly female, who were certifiable nutters, or at the very least sociopaths. Notwithstanding that they were very effective and exactly the sort of CEO to deliver the results needed.
I was actually in the room when the US state department informed Clark via Cullen what their legislation would be re patent protection laws ( think Pfizer) and saw the clarity of thought of the various sociopaths on both sides in action. As for character , on both sides total excreble slimeball misfits that you certainly wouldnt want to have anything to do with socially. But no denying their effectiveness.
So, what role should character play? Well theres the sort of character we probably all respect and admire. However if you want things done for the good of all, perhaps other attributes are more worthy. And yes i realise thats probably rather unpalatable.
Actually agree with you – as far as I think I understand what you've written – with or without gin haze.
I've read a lot about the personality types of surgeons, and remember reading an article years ago outlining where sociopathic traits in cetain roles and occupations benefitted society. I think it may have been this person, interviewed recently on Triggernometry:
https://youtu.be/GL4PyLEi8jY
Some of the most honorable people I know, are/were relied on by the rest of society to do the things that most of us are uncomfortable or incapable of doing. However their self-discipline was also exceptional.
I think in this particular role, a cursory look at Sam Brinton's social media could have indicated an obvious problem with impulse control. It should have eliminated him from consideration.
Sam Brinton certainly had the means to buy women's clothes for himself. However, that is obviously not the way his fetish works. He gets off on the thrill of stealing women's clothes because they are part of his fantasy of becoming the woman who owned and wore the clothing. The fact that he does it so obviously by wearing stolen clothing where it will be likely to be photographed is also part of the thrill. We are seeing fetishised behaviour here, and with much fetishised behaviour (like drug use) more and more stimulation is required to get the same effect. The word is "autogynephilia" and that is what drives most of the gender identity movement today.
Interesting insight….however speaking of personality types the following (mis?) quote may be worth consideration
"It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so."
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-para-state-confirms-mad-cow-disease-case-2023-02-22/
haha yes indeed!
Public displays of kink can be a live sexual act that doesn't have the consent of people who see it. This is one of the concerns about AGP males. There's plenty of evidence of AGP males doing their kink in obvious ways in public, so I think it's reasonable to assume that there are more subtle forms going on as well. It's not going to be a surprise of both the theft of women's clothes and the later wearing in public at high profile events are part of the fetish.
I agree about the character and employment issue. The problem isn't that he wears women's clothes to work. It's how he does that. I suspect far more men than women can see there's a problem, but we're not allowed to talk about it because liberals increasingly think there should be no boundaries and women who talk about boundaries are prudes.