But doesn’t their sacrifice merit thanks? “Patriotic gloss,” responded Mr. O’Brien, an unofficial poet laureate of war who essentially elevates the issue to the philosophical; to him, we’re thanking without having the courage to ask whether the mission is even right.”
“I apologize to you for not doing more to keep our country from unnecessarily rushing into an elective war.” – comment posted in response to the above article
“Hur hur hur hur hur.”
Vanessa Redgrave’s bravery in 1978 amuses Jim Mora and co. The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 23 February 2015
Jim Mora, Stephen Franks, Ella Henry, Noelle McCarthy
Excitement is high this afternoon—the Academy Awards are on!
NOELLE McCARTHY: They still haven’t announced the Best Supporting Actress. I’ve been waiting for this for two hours.
JIM MORA: We’re going to be talking about acceptance speeches on The Panel.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh!
MORA: Is Neil Patrick Harris doing well as the MC?
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh look, he’s having a bit of a SONG and a bit of a DANCE….
MORA: He’s talented!
NOELLE McCARTHY: He did an edgy joke about cross-dressing.
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Which he’s allowed to do of course, ‘cos he’s done a fair amount of that on Broadway. In the meantime, if you want something in the meantime, there’s a quite good round-up of some INFAMOUS Oscar moments in the New York Daily News today, including—talking of acceptance speeches—Vanessa Redgrave’s from 1978—
MORA: Oh yes.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Because of course she got up and gave that famous shout-out to the PLO—
MORA: The PLO!
NOELLE McCARTHY: She gave a shout-out to the PLO and denounced Israel as a fascist state!
MORA: That’s right! And didn’t some—there was a writer who got up and replied to her!
NOELLE McCARTHY: That’s right! He was a three time award-winning screenwriter and he said “I’d like to suggest to Ms Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is NOT a pivotal moment in history, does NOT require a proclamation.”
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY:[archly] “And a simple ‘thank you’ might have sufficed.”
MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! “A simple thank you” Ha ha ha ha ha!
STEPHEN FRANKS: Ha ha ha ha ha!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Elegantly put!
MORA:[heartfelt sigh]….. Back to the real world. …..[heartfelt sigh]…..
NOELLE McCARTHY: Yes. Back to the real world. Back to Bali, in fact. Indonesia is putting fighter jets in place for the transfer of these two Australians who are going to be executed….
…sigh..
i turned the tranny on this morn to hear the end of a monologue from our dear leader, spinning the role of nz troops overseas.
not a whimper from the interviewee.
i may have missed them, but i didnt hear any tough questions eg vote in parliament, is the whole cabinet in support of sending troops etc.
contrast this with what followed when andrew little was interviewed.
he seemed to be there only to acknowledge that he listened to the iraqi minister that visited recently.
ms fergusson hectored and hectored him like a hectoring thing.
i wonder if she pays secondary tax for the work she is doing for the government.
The Ferguson “interview” was a disgrace. A single issue that appeared to have Little conflicted over a remark he made last week. Has she been to Journalism School ?
That’s because he refused to answer the question, or even entertain her line of questioning, and in doing so, neatly illustrated Hager’s point – made later – that we’re already bombing people.
I take it when he handed back the $25,000 donation to Mr Lui, Jamie Lee Ross also gave back the interest the donation earned for National/ the Botany Cabinet Club, for more than twelve months?
Wouldn’t it be “stale” after 6 months? If so, there’d be no need to return it, just destroy the cheque, and I think they’d have described it differently.
A cheque is stale when it’s presented more than six months after the date on which it was drawn (dated). To receive payment, the cheque will need to go back to the Drawer (the person or company that wrote the cheque out) to have the date updated or to issue a replacement cheque.
Why would they say they returned $25,000, fifteen months after the donation was apparently made, if all that is being discussed is a piece of paper representing a dead cheque with no financial value? If the Cabinet Club never deposited the money into Ross’s or National’s campaign funds, what then did they return during the reported assessment of the campaign’s finances? Oh, one more thing – why would John Key be dancing around the topic refusing to answer questions? If it was just a dead cheque he would be stating that consistently. Why would they even mention it? Come on infused, you are better than that 😉
Listening to Sean Plunket on radio live this morning he was very critical of John Key ” deliberately misleading the public over the 25 k donation ” going as far as saying ” he doesn’t trust Key over the role Kiwi troops will play in the Middle East”.
It appears honest Johns teflon is worn out with Sean.
Seems msm’s love affair with the great dictator might be coming to a much awaited end ….. Plunkett, Armstrong …. let’s hope it snowballs and takes hold 🙂
Yes Mary it is refreshing to see the love affair taking a turn for the better. It happened with Helen and now it’s John’s turn. About bloody time too 🙂
So now John Key is sending us off to war and exposing us to retaliation…..
How long until we suffer our own warring in our land? How long until those we are targeting in the middle east decide that attack is the best form of defence to us? How long until a so-called “terrorist” attack is undertaken in NZ? (oh. other than the French, and right wing anti-unionists that is, who have already done so in NZ).
“Our rights are not granted by governments. They are inherent to our nature. But it’s entirely the opposite for governments: their privileges are precisely equal to only that which we suffer them to enjoy.”
” But here and there throughout history, we’ll occasionally come across these periods where governments think more about what they “can” do rather than what they “should” do, and what is lawful will become increasingly distinct from what is moral.
In such times, we’d do well to remember that at the end of the day, the law doesn’t defend us; we defend the law. And when it becomes contrary to our morals, we have both the right and the responsibility to rebalance it toward just ends.”
Edward Snowden, currently answering questions on Reddit
Thanks for link TMM. Snowden’s whole tract is worth reading in your link.
Western Civilization and protection of human rights have emerged from pushing the limits of what is allowed within the (prevailing) law.
This comment from Glenn Greenwald explains why Labour fucked up so bad on the anti-terrorism/surveillance legislation:
The key tactic DC uses to make uncomfortable issues disappear is bipartisan consensus. When the leadership of both parties join together – as they so often do, despite the myths to the contrary – those issues disappear from mainstream public debate.
Thanks One Anonymous Bloke, as I’ve given up on national radio.
Silly question I know – but doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome – after ten years. Whose the crazed killers here again?
Internationalism and open borders are not simply nice ideas, but vital things to fight for in order to advance the interests of workers as a class. The bosses unite across borders to exploit us more effectively; we need to unite across borders to defend our interests more effectively. The bosses also try to put workers against each other, based on nationality and country of origin, we need to avoid falling into the trap they try to set for us. Moreover, workers’ migration tends to lead to the sharing of experience which is in our interests – whether it’s food that’s new or different to us or whether it’s the fighting experience migrant workers often have and can usefully share with us. . . https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/workers-rights-internationalism-and-open-borders/
Everything else is globalised and so too must workers groups like unions.
Oh, but what about tax? and police and other laws? where does it end – at a new world order? Is that sustainable or even possible? nope. but we are going there pretty steadily..
I didn’t take Philip’s comment to be in any way referring to nomadic peoples. Nomadic peoples (eg the Kalahari) aren’t transient, they’re nomadic. In fact the Kalahari example supports my point. Nomadic people exist within specific territories and relationships with people from outside those territories is based around the existience of the territory ie before nation states we as humans still had ways of understanding geographical boundaries and relationships based on how the humans living there related with those boundaries. It wasn’t a free for all. Ignorance of those territories and boundaries has impacted hugely on many peoples.
And leaving aside a debate about sovereignty, yes nomadic peoples are a good example of how that works (not transient populations).
The point can be made that it’s farming peoples who are transient, always with the need for more land to expand their empire, whereas nomadic peoples tend to have very long (and I mean very long*) relationships with specific places.
Is it possible that we could have workers (and others) moving globally in truly nomadic ways? Maybe, but I’m pretty sure that’s not what was meant in the opening comment.
(not going to comment on the Romani because that’s a complex kete of ika).
*The San people have lived in the Kalahari for 20,000 years as hunter-gatherers
Blip might record this from Key under “You Misunderstood Me.” “Mr Key, who has previously said involvement in Iraq was “the price of the club”, said that his comments had been misinterpreted and that by “the club”, he had meant the 60 or so countries that were helping in the coalition against Isis.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11406714 (Last lines.)
Seem to remember his context being that we are members of the 5 Eyes Club so as members of the Club we must get involved as it is “the price of the club.”
My, even John Armstrong thinks it is an ‘outrage’ !!!!! Must be so ….
“Key’s insistence that he was referring to all of the members of the multi-national force as the “club” defies logic. How could contributing to that club be the price of being a member of that club when New Zealand has yet to become a member of that club?
Key’s desperate attempt to rewrite history is something of an outrage. But it is also a measure of his discomfort with the deployment which could well turn out to bite him severely politically.”
I hope AT LEAST now more of the right wing inclined people will SEE/REALISE what a lying, untrustworthy and dishonest disgraceful bull-shitter of a Prime Minister we have running our Government and leading our good country!
It just begins to make one wonder whether the SFO were showered with bullshit and lies all those years ago. This man must struggle to lie straight in bed even …
I don ‘t even wonder. I just know he lied again and again. The evidence is all there and one day some brave MSM writer will front a story on it. We have all been conned from the very beginning.
There are three great omnivores in the world – rats, cockroaches and humans. I heard that on Radionz talk this a.m. I thought you might like to know that.
But they are not as mighty as humans or as small and sneaky as rats and cockroaches. Or perhaps, with future cataclysmic changes in our environment, the cocroaches and rats might be mighty, and humans reverting to small and sneaky to survive. Sort of like those Star Wars scavengers Jawas. Some trivia – http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jawa
And some mindless fun for star wars fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAXg0wdNsGs
6 mins of action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sa3Q-9Wt2k
I see all the Ma & Pa investors in Mighty River have suffered a blow with their share price about to tumble down after MR announce a much lower performance.
You mean it has slumped below the $2.50 they paid????? Nup. Currently paying $3.28 with an increased dividend. Do you not understand the share market or just jealous because you failed to get your share.s
$3.28 and heading downwards, back to $2.50 by Friday. Far better returns for my money thanks. Like most Kiwi’s I don’t trust the boom and bust cycle of the share market, especially with the insider trading and ponzi schemes that the National govt sollict.
Unlike you Wewege and your side kick Plucked Duck I have a moral compass. How would I wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror knowing I was profiteering off the honest toil of my fellow men and women. Anyway you enjoy your paper gains but please don’t start howling when the bubble bursts and ya get dealt a hiding by the Gorillas of Wall Street. Little bit players such as yourselves are the ones I take pity on, all ya life savings burnt on a black Friday. Tho I guess in your case its a karma thing.
It’s finally vanished up its own arse. It probably did so long ago.
Honestly, it was one of the great New Zealand blogs, a site full of lively and informed discussion. Now it’s just a few posts now and again plugging Russel Brown’s media ventures, music dads dance to at wedding receptions and parochial Grey Lynn/Pt Chev matters.
When journalism is in such dire straits, we need some energetic investigation and debate. PA once provided that, but everyone interesting has been driven away and the posts are utterly anodyne. I miss its spirit.
Andrew Little is asking the first question today and will skewer John Key. John Key will break down and cry and ask Andrew to lay off.
In the real world we will see the Prime Minister being Prime Minister and Andrew Little trying and failing again.
John Key will 1. lie, then 2. deflect. then 3. blame the opposition. then 4. refer to Helen Clark’s time then 5. rub his nose. Warning: the order and timing may vary according to how many lies.
All of this while looking sideways with an arrogant grin.
Are you proud of being a moral vacuum, or do you just not notice when you show everyone your emotional disability?
Most people would regard winning by unethical means to be cheating, and reprehensible. You probably still wear Lance Armstrong bracelets and call him a 7-time tour de france champion.
No, no, no, it is in fact a brave repurposing of words. “Win” can now be used to denote anything. “Lie” equals “win”. “I think I’ve got the flu” becomes “I’m winning!” “You have cancer” becomes “Congratulations you’re a winner!” If we extend the principle, anything can mean “win” in a grand situationist-dadaist enterprise. “Fish” equals “win”. “Spaghetti bolognese” equals “win”. Everything equals “win”.
Think of the money saved printing dictionaries!
(Personally, I prefer “Malkovich”, but there you have it.)
Rhinocrates, it’s more a brave ‘re-porpoising’ of words where like a school of porpoises words dip in and out of the water, popping up somewhere else meaning something else and then ducking under the surface again before a lexicon can draw a bead.
Childish and clumsy as fisiani is, they do, in their “innocent” way, reveal the kind of thinking that goes on in Nat and CT offices and what kind of people populate them – the unintelligent and emotionally shallow who think cynicism is virile.
Polished performance today by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Why does Angry Andy think he will win when Clark, Goff Shearer and The Cunliffe were all thrashed by John Key?
Let’s see if your still swinging your silk undies wildy above your head cheerleading for John Key the day the shit hits the fan and a number of the troops get wasted by some crazy terrorist attack. Key’s name will be mud with every man and his dog in this country. If there is a torrorist attack in the country I will join in and riot on the streets throwing bricks through Bank windows for starters.
Mr Little needs to moderate his anger. It will serve him well in the future.
At the moment, when baited by journolists like P. Gower, he unleashes and shows his angry side. Patience, Mr Little.
Abby Martin spent the day with CIA torture whistleblower John Kiriakou fresh out of prison, stay tuned for the interview which should be broadcast tonight on RT http://rt.com/shows/breaking-set-summary/
Also, for those who don’t follow RT, Abby Martin is leaving their network soon to go out and do her own thing -which will no doubt be well worth keeping tabs on
Not sure if this is a ‘win’ as it was their money all along, but good on the Meatworkers Union for taking the case. The company concerned had claimed that they weren’t making 180 workers redundant, they just had no work to offer them:
If a country like China is going to join the fight against ISIS
(http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-about-declare-war-against-isis-12201)
then which countries are not standing up to these scum bags ? If ISIS is left unchecked ie others do nothing, then the spread of ISIS will continue. At what point is enough “enough” ? At what point does NZ say we will no longer sit on the sidelines ?
Nearly three-quarters of people living in the Wellington Region oppose being part of the proposed Super-City according to a new Nielsen Poll.
Support
All 26%
Wellington City 30%
Porirua and Kapiti 29%
Hutt Valley 18%
Wairarapa 17%
Will the horrendous Fran Wilde (Wellington Regional Council Chair and leading advocate of the super-city) listen to the democratic will ? Will our own local Mayor, the equally-horrendous Nick Leggett (Close confidante of Wilde), feel humble enough to concede ? Doubt it.
Just a few days ago, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint about a misleading Wellington Regional Council (WRC) pro-Super City newspaper advertisement which breached the advertising code of ethics.
The ad – which the ASA said presented assumptions and opinions as fact, was misleading and likely to exploit reader’s lack of knowledge and thus had not been prepared with a due sense of social responsibility – focussed on a non-existent problem with water pipes in Lower Hutt, using this to argue that residents should support a super-city so the wider region could help foot the bill.
Hutt City Council’s chief executive said the WRC’s Super-City campaign was “a shambolic con”, that “the single reason the Regional Council gives Hutt residents for joining….is a complete fabrication” and that the WRC “has tried to fool the public into supporting a super-city.”
Tragically, Fran has taken the whole episode very badly indeed, implying that the ASA decision may herald the end of democracy as we know it.
Having a squizz at the LGC “super city” pamphlet which states:
“…….The Commission will hold public hearings, and then decide whether to issue a final proposal or remain within the existing council arrangements.
If the Commission issues a final proposal, voters can then demand a poll. A poll will be held if ten percent of any voters in any affected council area sign a petition. The vote would be held across the whole region and the result would be binding”.
If the Commission does go ahead and issues a final proposal then we’ll need to rally together and give them the big thumbs down.
@ Rosie
That’s a great little icon with its moving alert eyes. A suitable symbol for anyone involved in political observing these days. Any blink must be short or something of importance will be missed.
The Supercity model is designed to undermine democracy (i.e. local government for the people). In Auckland the POAL, a supposedly council controlled organisation, regularly thumbs its nose at directions from the Council. The local “boards” don’t really have power they are just advisers. Maybe it’s more efficient, or maybe it’s privatisation by stealth.
I thought they were quite up front about the privatisation part of the project. Kinda have been in Auckland – Water Care ,AT, etc, money for the mates.
Personally what worries me about it is it’s a front for austerity by stealth. Water charges, increased in fares, and other costs passed onto the people who already paid for these services.
It seems hard to believe that this is the same person who introduced into the house the Homosexual Law Reform Act and the Adoption Reform Act. Frankly her local government career has been disappointing. Chris Laidlaw is another ostensibly left politician in Wellington that I find less than impressive.
Does beg the question if business is so good, why does it need hand outs all the time? Is not asking for a hand out bad under these Tory scum rules of engagement? So why do they keep making structures to give business a hand out of tax payers money?
Interesting to note the difference between Andrew Little’s solid speech in the House this afternoon about sending troops to fight ISIS and the whining, nasty, personal, vindictive diatribe that Russel Norman thinks passes for intelligent debate.
No wonder support for the Greens is so quickly transferring to Labour. The Greens will be well rid of Mr Norman as co-leader.
Really? Russel Norman systematically dismantled all of the flimsy justifications for war, showing exactly why the whole idea just won’t work. He was clear and articulate. Did you even watch that, or just tune out because the EVIL GREENS was speaking?
reposting in Open Mike as it goes to the wider issues facing our Parliament
Parliament is a theatre. One whose performances relay a script driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
Solidarity is also driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
To all members of all Parties who sit in the House in opposition to the Government’s decision to send our nation to war, I have a question –
Would it have been so terrible for your Party’s Elected Representatives to applaud at the conclusion of all the statements opposing the Prime Ministers Statement?
When Journalists get things wrong is deliberate or just journalistic incompetence?
Brook Sabin reporting on TV3 tonight about the Lui/ Cunliffe/Key issue, said,
“Cunliffe denied he’d supported his residency bid when a letter emerged proving he did.”
No Mr Sabin-he didn’t. He sent a letter 11 years ago simply making an inquiry.
It was not a letter of support for anybody’s residency bid.
The cumulative effect of these small fabrications which surely happen too often to be unintentional mean that the Cunliffe’s of this world still have to battle the small lies that our media tries to convince us is news.
Alex Coleman retweeted
Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish 3 hrs3 hours ago
Prime Minister Abbott says civil liberties must be sacrificed, as we enter a new ‘dark’ age. http://aje.io/b3td
Meanwhile the sleepy hobbits fire up the barbie and have another beer.
Talk about letting the terrorists win. The 0.1% are battening down the hatches because they know the living conditions for the 99% are going to greatly deteriorate.
No particular reason for sharing this except for a bit of reflection perhaps.
SPEAKING: THE HERO
Felix Pollak
I did not want to go.
They inducted me.
I did not want to die.
They called me yellow.
I tried to run away,
They court-martialed me.
I did not shoot.
They said I had no guts.
They ordered the attack.
A shrapnel tore my guts.
I cried in pain.
They carried me to safety.
In safety I died.
They blew Taps over me.
They crossed out my name,
And buried me under a cross.
They made a speech in my hometown.
I was unable to call them liars.
They said I gave my life,
I had struggled to keep it.
They said I set an example.
I had tried to run.
They said they were proud of me.
I had been ashamed of them.
They said my mother should also be proud.
My mother cried.
I wanted to live.
They called me a coward.
I died a coward.
They called me a hero.
Greek government has released a summary of reforms,
The main points of the summary of the proposals include:
Creating a fairer tax system
Combating tax evasion
Tackling corruption
Targeting fuel and tobacco smugglers
Implementing labour reforms on collective contracts and bargaining agreements.
Tackling Greece’s “humanitarian crisis” with housing guarantees and free medical care for the uninsured unemployed.
Greece’s creditors – the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund – are expected to deliver their verdict on the proposals later on Tuesday, before the reforms are discussed in a conference call with eurozone finance ministers.
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
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Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
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Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
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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 ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
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This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
One of the strongest narratives about "our" spy agencies is that they are basically institutional traitors, working for foreign powers (or just themselves), without any control or oversight by the elected government. And today, we have yet another report from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security which explicitly confirms this. ...
“It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April to meet the Prime Minister’s ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
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 A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
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happy happy daze 4 trp…eh..?
..the boys are off to war..!
the canadian tory prime minister promised canadians that their troops wd be non-combatant/’trainers’..
..as it turns out..
..that was just another pile of tory-lies..
..(does any of that sound familiar..?..)
the tv3 breakfast interview with key (online later..) is worth watching for an episode of peak-hubris from him..
..after his war-mongering ‘training-only!’ lies/bullshit..he is asked why he didn’t come clean about that fundraising dinner @ lius’ home..
..and that is when the peak-hubris kicks in..
..sneering-contempt-on-a-stick…
..’contempt’ for all of us..
..a rare glimpse behind the mask..
‘..i’m not gonna tell you..’..(he spat out..)
“..The Top 10 Bogus ISIS Stories..
..It’s important to note that much of the ISIS threat –
– has been habitually overstated by an uncritical media..”
(cont..)
http://www.alternet.org/media/top-10-bogus-isis-stories
Note that Australian PM said over a 100 have left Australia to join ISIS.
R.I.P. New Zealand’s once proud independent foreign policy.
John-we-were-missing-in-action-2003-speech-Key now has fulfilled his wish.
they were so jonesing for war then..
..that’s where/when simon power made his defining-political-statement..
..his ‘all the way with george w!’..
(not only gagging-inducing..but also a crib..)
Interesting
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/sunday-review/please-dont-thank-me-for-my-service.html
But doesn’t their sacrifice merit thanks? “Patriotic gloss,” responded Mr. O’Brien, an unofficial poet laureate of war who essentially elevates the issue to the philosophical; to him, we’re thanking without having the courage to ask whether the mission is even right.”
“I apologize to you for not doing more to keep our country from unnecessarily rushing into an elective war.” – comment posted in response to the above article
Granny earns her keep with an online edition filled with crashes, celebrity fluff, JK spin about not going to war and greens out spending labour etc
no sabin, skycity, lui ….no surprises there.
Prostituting politicians are not unique to NZ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11406677
“Hur hur hur hur hur.”
Vanessa Redgrave’s bravery in 1978 amuses Jim Mora and co.
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 23 February 2015
Jim Mora, Stephen Franks, Ella Henry, Noelle McCarthy
Excitement is high this afternoon—the Academy Awards are on!
NOELLE McCARTHY: They still haven’t announced the Best Supporting Actress. I’ve been waiting for this for two hours.
JIM MORA: We’re going to be talking about acceptance speeches on The Panel.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh!
MORA: Is Neil Patrick Harris doing well as the MC?
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh look, he’s having a bit of a SONG and a bit of a DANCE….
MORA: He’s talented!
NOELLE McCARTHY: He did an edgy joke about cross-dressing.
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Which he’s allowed to do of course, ‘cos he’s done a fair amount of that on Broadway. In the meantime, if you want something in the meantime, there’s a quite good round-up of some INFAMOUS Oscar moments in the New York Daily News today, including—talking of acceptance speeches—Vanessa Redgrave’s from 1978—
MORA: Oh yes.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Because of course she got up and gave that famous shout-out to the PLO—
MORA: The PLO!
NOELLE McCARTHY: She gave a shout-out to the PLO and denounced Israel as a fascist state!
MORA: That’s right! And didn’t some—there was a writer who got up and replied to her!
NOELLE McCARTHY: That’s right! He was a three time award-winning screenwriter and he said “I’d like to suggest to Ms Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is NOT a pivotal moment in history, does NOT require a proclamation.”
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY: [archly] “And a simple ‘thank you’ might have sufficed.”
MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! “A simple thank you” Ha ha ha ha ha!
STEPHEN FRANKS: Ha ha ha ha ha!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Elegantly put!
MORA: [heartfelt sigh]….. Back to the real world. …..[heartfelt sigh]…..
NOELLE McCARTHY: Yes. Back to the real world. Back to Bali, in fact. Indonesia is putting fighter jets in place for the transfer of these two Australians who are going to be executed….
….ad nauseam….
Vanessa Redgrave 1978 Oscar speech…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeGWxHvKs48
…sigh..
i turned the tranny on this morn to hear the end of a monologue from our dear leader, spinning the role of nz troops overseas.
not a whimper from the interviewee.
i may have missed them, but i didnt hear any tough questions eg vote in parliament, is the whole cabinet in support of sending troops etc.
contrast this with what followed when andrew little was interviewed.
he seemed to be there only to acknowledge that he listened to the iraqi minister that visited recently.
ms fergusson hectored and hectored him like a hectoring thing.
i wonder if she pays secondary tax for the work she is doing for the government.
The Ferguson “interview” was a disgrace. A single issue that appeared to have Little conflicted over a remark he made last week. Has she been to Journalism School ?
I’ve heard in-house primary school radio that had more professional interviews
@gsays
Yep Ferguson hasn’t come across the word “balance” and seems to be in thrall to FJK……..”like a hectoring thing”…. LOL
PM: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20168410
Litlte: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20168412
That’s because he refused to answer the question, or even entertain her line of questioning, and in doing so, neatly illustrated Hager’s point – made later – that we’re already bombing people.
She loves Key because he lets her have more rental properties
I take it when he handed back the $25,000 donation to Mr Lui, Jamie Lee Ross also gave back the interest the donation earned for National/ the Botany Cabinet Club, for more than twelve months?
Where did they say they banked it?
Wouldn’t it be “stale” after 6 months? If so, there’d be no need to return it, just destroy the cheque, and I think they’d have described it differently.
ASB
I know, but they could have just returned it, regardless.
I don’t actually know the answer. Just haven’t seen anyone say they banked the money.
Why would they say they returned $25,000, fifteen months after the donation was apparently made, if all that is being discussed is a piece of paper representing a dead cheque with no financial value? If the Cabinet Club never deposited the money into Ross’s or National’s campaign funds, what then did they return during the reported assessment of the campaign’s finances? Oh, one more thing – why would John Key be dancing around the topic refusing to answer questions? If it was just a dead cheque he would be stating that consistently. Why would they even mention it? Come on infused, you are better than that 😉
Listening to Sean Plunket on radio live this morning he was very critical of John Key ” deliberately misleading the public over the 25 k donation ” going as far as saying ” he doesn’t trust Key over the role Kiwi troops will play in the Middle East”.
It appears honest Johns teflon is worn out with Sean.
@ Skinny –
And it appears Key’s popularity is also wearing thin with John Armstrong NZH’s chief political reporter, judging by his comments in today’s edition –
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11407096
Seems msm’s love affair with the great dictator might be coming to a much awaited end ….. Plunkett, Armstrong …. let’s hope it snowballs and takes hold 🙂
Yes Mary it is refreshing to see the love affair taking a turn for the better. It happened with Helen and now it’s John’s turn. About bloody time too 🙂
if they never cashed it, would it even count as a donation, or just an offer/promise of a donation?
So now John Key is sending us off to war and exposing us to retaliation…..
How long until we suffer our own warring in our land? How long until those we are targeting in the middle east decide that attack is the best form of defence to us? How long until a so-called “terrorist” attack is undertaken in NZ? (oh. other than the French, and right wing anti-unionists that is, who have already done so in NZ).
This will go down as John Key’s legacy
A valid concern vto. Who knows what may happen! A busy Lambton Quay on a Friday lunch time? Close enough to the seat of government?………….
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
Q and A with the Citizen Four
“Our rights are not granted by governments. They are inherent to our nature. But it’s entirely the opposite for governments: their privileges are precisely equal to only that which we suffer them to enjoy.”
Edward Snowden.
This is part of a very thoughtful answer in the q and a currently taking place on redditt following the Oscar win by Laura Poitras.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
Hearing that Citizen Four won an Oscar for best documentary has cheered me up a little.
+1 SC.
” But here and there throughout history, we’ll occasionally come across these periods where governments think more about what they “can” do rather than what they “should” do, and what is lawful will become increasingly distinct from what is moral.
In such times, we’d do well to remember that at the end of the day, the law doesn’t defend us; we defend the law. And when it becomes contrary to our morals, we have both the right and the responsibility to rebalance it toward just ends.”
Edward Snowden, currently answering questions on Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
Thanks for link TMM. Snowden’s whole tract is worth reading in your link.
Western Civilization and protection of human rights have emerged from pushing the limits of what is allowed within the (prevailing) law.
This comment from Glenn Greenwald explains why Labour fucked up so bad on the anti-terrorism/surveillance legislation:
+1CR
“The sad truth is that societies that demand whistleblowers be martyrs often find themselves without either, and always when it matters the most.”
More from Snowden on the redditt discussion
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
+2
As Key and Little compete to see who can be a bigger hawk, Hager drops the elephant on them.
Short version: intelligence is the bloodiest part of this conflict, and we’re donkey deep in it.
Thanks One Anonymous Bloke, as I’ve given up on national radio.
Silly question I know – but doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome – after ten years. Whose the crazed killers here again?
RNZ, your cut ‘n’ paste is showing.
Across the channel France is now confiscating passports from those believed to be home grown jihadists.
🙄
Tahiti perhaps.
Or Hao.
Isn’t that a segue? Was the previous item about something in Britain?
“Updates on movements in the financial sector”.
Perhaps it worked in the audio.
Internationalism and open borders are not simply nice ideas, but vital things to fight for in order to advance the interests of workers as a class. The bosses unite across borders to exploit us more effectively; we need to unite across borders to defend our interests more effectively. The bosses also try to put workers against each other, based on nationality and country of origin, we need to avoid falling into the trap they try to set for us. Moreover, workers’ migration tends to lead to the sharing of experience which is in our interests – whether it’s food that’s new or different to us or whether it’s the fighting experience migrant workers often have and can usefully share with us. . .
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/workers-rights-internationalism-and-open-borders/
Phil
I couldn’t agree more.
Everything else is globalised and so too must workers groups like unions.
Oh, but what about tax? and police and other laws? where does it end – at a new world order? Is that sustainable or even possible? nope. but we are going there pretty steadily..
transient populations can destroy community.
open borders can be at odds with sovereignty.
Ironically, open borders can fuel the rise of the anti-immigrant right wing. Plenty of examples in the EU.
Transient populations can also be community/culture etc. eg – Romani, Kalahari San (Bush People).
They (transient populations) can also embody sovereignty – a thing we don’t have, no matter how loudly some liberals may protest to the contrary.
I didn’t take Philip’s comment to be in any way referring to nomadic peoples. Nomadic peoples (eg the Kalahari) aren’t transient, they’re nomadic. In fact the Kalahari example supports my point. Nomadic people exist within specific territories and relationships with people from outside those territories is based around the existience of the territory ie before nation states we as humans still had ways of understanding geographical boundaries and relationships based on how the humans living there related with those boundaries. It wasn’t a free for all. Ignorance of those territories and boundaries has impacted hugely on many peoples.
And leaving aside a debate about sovereignty, yes nomadic peoples are a good example of how that works (not transient populations).
The point can be made that it’s farming peoples who are transient, always with the need for more land to expand their empire, whereas nomadic peoples tend to have very long (and I mean very long*) relationships with specific places.
Is it possible that we could have workers (and others) moving globally in truly nomadic ways? Maybe, but I’m pretty sure that’s not what was meant in the opening comment.
(not going to comment on the Romani because that’s a complex kete of ika).
*The San people have lived in the Kalahari for 20,000 years as hunter-gatherers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalahari_Desert#Population
Blip might record this from Key under “You Misunderstood Me.”
“Mr Key, who has previously said involvement in Iraq was “the price of the club”, said that his comments had been misinterpreted and that by “the club”, he had meant the 60 or so countries that were helping in the coalition against Isis.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11406714 (Last lines.)
Seem to remember his context being that we are members of the 5 Eyes Club so as members of the Club we must get involved as it is “the price of the club.”
The cheek of that man!
oh, he meant this club
The club we are such a valued member of, they forgot to include us on their map. 🙂
My, even John Armstrong thinks it is an ‘outrage’ !!!!! Must be so ….
“Key’s insistence that he was referring to all of the members of the multi-national force as the “club” defies logic. How could contributing to that club be the price of being a member of that club when New Zealand has yet to become a member of that club?
Key’s desperate attempt to rewrite history is something of an outrage. But it is also a measure of his discomfort with the deployment which could well turn out to bite him severely politically.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11406716
I hope AT LEAST now more of the right wing inclined people will SEE/REALISE what a lying, untrustworthy and dishonest disgraceful bull-shitter of a Prime Minister we have running our Government and leading our good country!
It just begins to make one wonder whether the SFO were showered with bullshit and lies all those years ago. This man must struggle to lie straight in bed even …
I don ‘t even wonder. I just know he lied again and again. The evidence is all there and one day some brave MSM writer will front a story on it. We have all been conned from the very beginning.
There are three great omnivores in the world – rats, cockroaches and humans. I heard that on Radionz talk this a.m. I thought you might like to know that.
Possums are omnivores as well.
Don’t forget the awe-inspiring bear and the intelligent Kea and Pig
But they are not as mighty as humans or as small and sneaky as rats and cockroaches. Or perhaps, with future cataclysmic changes in our environment, the cocroaches and rats might be mighty, and humans reverting to small and sneaky to survive. Sort of like those Star Wars scavengers Jawas. Some trivia –
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jawa
And some mindless fun for star wars fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAXg0wdNsGs
6 mins of action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sa3Q-9Wt2k
I see all the Ma & Pa investors in Mighty River have suffered a blow with their share price about to tumble down after MR announce a much lower performance.
unlike Meridian who are returning nearly $1 billion in capital over the next five years !!
Meh, I’m in it for the long term performance and dividend return so its all good
Why do you think you should get to own those shares and not New Zealand?
NZ has the controlling share of the company so not sure where you’re coming from but the other option is for people to purchase shares
Just because I bought shares doesn’t mean you can’t (in case you didn’t know)
you received stolen property – it was sold against the wishes of its owners
but we all know you not so thick that you dont understand what people are saying.
Please dont start that game again
hi pr, i know its none of my business, but i will ask anyhows.
do you have a property portfoloio?
You mean it has slumped below the $2.50 they paid????? Nup. Currently paying $3.28 with an increased dividend. Do you not understand the share market or just jealous because you failed to get your share.s
Jealous sounds about right
do you actually think people opposed to asset sales are jealous?
nah – of course you dont.
Sure some are balanced, human nature and all that
umm.. does that even make sense?
$3.28 and heading downwards, back to $2.50 by Friday. Far better returns for my money thanks. Like most Kiwi’s I don’t trust the boom and bust cycle of the share market, especially with the insider trading and ponzi schemes that the National govt sollict.
I don’t trust the boom and bust either but power companies are a different matter entirely
Unlike you Wewege and your side kick Plucked Duck I have a moral compass. How would I wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror knowing I was profiteering off the honest toil of my fellow men and women. Anyway you enjoy your paper gains but please don’t start howling when the bubble bursts and ya get dealt a hiding by the Gorillas of Wall Street. Little bit players such as yourselves are the ones I take pity on, all ya life savings burnt on a black Friday. Tho I guess in your case its a karma thing.
RELIABILITY OF EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS:
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/VIDEO-Hilarys-viral-video—The-Oscars-Lie-Witness-News/tabid/439/articleID/71990/Default.aspx
Is the internet destroying juries? Guardian article.
Now this is interesting:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/02/2014_spend_per_vote.html
National and Labour were quite low, lower then I’d have thought
Farrar has found another way to lie with statistics, what else is new?
RIP Public Address. It was great once.
http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/sunday-in-the-city/
what?
It’s finally vanished up its own arse. It probably did so long ago.
Honestly, it was one of the great New Zealand blogs, a site full of lively and informed discussion. Now it’s just a few posts now and again plugging Russel Brown’s media ventures, music dads dance to at wedding receptions and parochial Grey Lynn/Pt Chev matters.
When journalism is in such dire straits, we need some energetic investigation and debate. PA once provided that, but everyone interesting has been driven away and the posts are utterly anodyne. I miss its spirit.
” it was one of the great New Zealand blogs”
That was a long, long time ago. And there weren’t that many blogs.
Andrew Little is asking the first question today and will skewer John Key. John Key will break down and cry and ask Andrew to lay off.
In the real world we will see the Prime Minister being Prime Minister and Andrew Little trying and failing again.
@ Fisiani.
John Key will 1. lie, then 2. deflect. then 3. blame the opposition. then 4. refer to Helen Clark’s time then 5. rub his nose. Warning: the order and timing may vary according to how many lies.
All of this while looking sideways with an arrogant grin.
In other words The Prime Minister will win again
Are you proud of being a moral vacuum, or do you just not notice when you show everyone your emotional disability?
Most people would regard winning by unethical means to be cheating, and reprehensible. You probably still wear Lance Armstrong bracelets and call him a 7-time tour de france champion.
If you call being a liar a winner……… If you’re happy that the PM is a liar…… If his being a winner means that the rest of NZ loses………
No, no, no, it is in fact a brave repurposing of words. “Win” can now be used to denote anything. “Lie” equals “win”. “I think I’ve got the flu” becomes “I’m winning!” “You have cancer” becomes “Congratulations you’re a winner!” If we extend the principle, anything can mean “win” in a grand situationist-dadaist enterprise. “Fish” equals “win”. “Spaghetti bolognese” equals “win”. Everything equals “win”.
Think of the money saved printing dictionaries!
(Personally, I prefer “Malkovich”, but there you have it.)
Rhinocrates, it’s more a brave ‘re-porpoising’ of words where like a school of porpoises words dip in and out of the water, popping up somewhere else meaning something else and then ducking under the surface again before a lexicon can draw a bead.
Malkovich!
Or plusgood.
Childish and clumsy as fisiani is, they do, in their “innocent” way, reveal the kind of thinking that goes on in Nat and CT offices and what kind of people populate them – the unintelligent and emotionally shallow who think cynicism is virile.
Six year old boys in other words.
Polished performance today by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Why does Angry Andy think he will win when Clark, Goff Shearer and The Cunliffe were all thrashed by John Key?
Because he sees the cold sweat on your forehead, and senses the desperation in your words. And can smell the puddle that has gathered at your feet.
Let’s see if your still swinging your silk undies wildy above your head cheerleading for John Key the day the shit hits the fan and a number of the troops get wasted by some crazy terrorist attack. Key’s name will be mud with every man and his dog in this country. If there is a torrorist attack in the country I will join in and riot on the streets throwing bricks through Bank windows for starters.
So you missed that he doesn’t actually understand anything about the situation in the Middle East?
Why don’t you just fuck off fisiani. I believe in opposing opinions and points of view, but your juvenile posts are an insult to peoples intelligence.
fisiani, you idiot.
Enough said.
Yeah. He and Paula Bennett (yesterday on Garner’s show with Grant Robertson) constantly refer to Helen Clark as a way of deflecting pointed questions.
She left office seven years ago.
In the real world we get this.
Mr Little needs to moderate his anger. It will serve him well in the future.
At the moment, when baited by journolists like P. Gower, he unleashes and shows his angry side. Patience, Mr Little.
That might be gold for Mr Little, if that’s the way it is. Keep those positive hints coming.
Just a reminder from Abby Martin on how far the media have fallen…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK_q5OGfYW8
Abby Martin spent the day with CIA torture whistleblower John Kiriakou fresh out of prison, stay tuned for the interview which should be broadcast tonight on RT
http://rt.com/shows/breaking-set-summary/
Also, for those who don’t follow RT, Abby Martin is leaving their network soon to go out and do her own thing -which will no doubt be well worth keeping tabs on
Not sure if this is a ‘win’ as it was their money all along, but good on the Meatworkers Union for taking the case. The company concerned had claimed that they weren’t making 180 workers redundant, they just had no work to offer them:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/334044/meat-workers-win-payments
If a country like China is going to join the fight against ISIS
(http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-about-declare-war-against-isis-12201)
then which countries are not standing up to these scum bags ? If ISIS is left unchecked ie others do nothing, then the spread of ISIS will continue. At what point is enough “enough” ? At what point does NZ say we will no longer sit on the sidelines ?
If China is involved, they have abundant capability to destroy every military in the region. We’d just get in the way.
Nearly three-quarters of people living in the Wellington Region oppose being part of the proposed Super-City according to a new Nielsen Poll.
Support
All 26%
Wellington City 30%
Porirua and Kapiti 29%
Hutt Valley 18%
Wairarapa 17%
Will the horrendous Fran Wilde (Wellington Regional Council Chair and leading advocate of the super-city) listen to the democratic will ? Will our own local Mayor, the equally-horrendous Nick Leggett (Close confidante of Wilde), feel humble enough to concede ? Doubt it.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/66575300/wellington-region-largely-rejects-supercity-poll
Just a few days ago, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint about a misleading Wellington Regional Council (WRC) pro-Super City newspaper advertisement which breached the advertising code of ethics.
The ad – which the ASA said presented assumptions and opinions as fact, was misleading and likely to exploit reader’s lack of knowledge and thus had not been prepared with a due sense of social responsibility – focussed on a non-existent problem with water pipes in Lower Hutt, using this to argue that residents should support a super-city so the wider region could help foot the bill.
Hutt City Council’s chief executive said the WRC’s Super-City campaign was “a shambolic con”, that “the single reason the Regional Council gives Hutt residents for joining….is a complete fabrication” and that the WRC “has tried to fool the public into supporting a super-city.”
Tragically, Fran has taken the whole episode very badly indeed, implying that the ASA decision may herald the end of democracy as we know it.
From Scoop:
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=75695
Lols. Yes, saw that. Reaction is:
http://www.freeallimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/grumpy-cat-good-1.jpg
Having a squizz at the LGC “super city” pamphlet which states:
“…….The Commission will hold public hearings, and then decide whether to issue a final proposal or remain within the existing council arrangements.
If the Commission issues a final proposal, voters can then demand a poll. A poll will be held if ten percent of any voters in any affected council area sign a petition. The vote would be held across the whole region and the result would be binding”.
If the Commission does go ahead and issues a final proposal then we’ll need to rally together and give them the big thumbs down.
Super City 🙄 It’s all so Rodney Hide
@ Rosie
That’s a great little icon with its moving alert eyes. A suitable symbol for anyone involved in political observing these days. Any blink must be short or something of importance will be missed.
The Supercity model is designed to undermine democracy (i.e. local government for the people). In Auckland the POAL, a supposedly council controlled organisation, regularly thumbs its nose at directions from the Council. The local “boards” don’t really have power they are just advisers. Maybe it’s more efficient, or maybe it’s privatisation by stealth.
I thought they were quite up front about the privatisation part of the project. Kinda have been in Auckland – Water Care ,AT, etc, money for the mates.
Personally what worries me about it is it’s a front for austerity by stealth. Water charges, increased in fares, and other costs passed onto the people who already paid for these services.
Fran Wilde at a public meeting last night successfully antagonised the majority present with her condescending and “I know best” demeanour.
It seems hard to believe that this is the same person who introduced into the house the Homosexual Law Reform Act and the Adoption Reform Act. Frankly her local government career has been disappointing. Chris Laidlaw is another ostensibly left politician in Wellington that I find less than impressive.
I don’t want to say they’ve sold out but…
Look on the bright side swordfish. You too could get your own cock and balls out of the supercity.
It’s what New Lynn got as it’s membership of the failed, waste of rate payers money – to prop up Nationals mates – we call a city council in Auckland.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11397385
Does beg the question if business is so good, why does it need hand outs all the time? Is not asking for a hand out bad under these Tory scum rules of engagement? So why do they keep making structures to give business a hand out of tax payers money?
Interesting to note the difference between Andrew Little’s solid speech in the House this afternoon about sending troops to fight ISIS and the whining, nasty, personal, vindictive diatribe that Russel Norman thinks passes for intelligent debate.
No wonder support for the Greens is so quickly transferring to Labour. The Greens will be well rid of Mr Norman as co-leader.
Really? Russel Norman systematically dismantled all of the flimsy justifications for war, showing exactly why the whole idea just won’t work. He was clear and articulate. Did you even watch that, or just tune out because the EVIL GREENS was speaking?
aye
reposting in Open Mike as it goes to the wider issues facing our Parliament
Parliament is a theatre. One whose performances relay a script driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
Solidarity is also driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
To all members of all Parties who sit in the House in opposition to the Government’s decision to send our nation to war, I have a question –
Would it have been so terrible for your Party’s Elected Representatives to applaud at the conclusion of all the statements opposing the Prime Ministers Statement?
When Journalists get things wrong is deliberate or just journalistic incompetence?
Brook Sabin reporting on TV3 tonight about the Lui/ Cunliffe/Key issue, said,
“Cunliffe denied he’d supported his residency bid when a letter emerged proving he did.”
No Mr Sabin-he didn’t. He sent a letter 11 years ago simply making an inquiry.
It was not a letter of support for anybody’s residency bid.
The cumulative effect of these small fabrications which surely happen too often to be unintentional mean that the Cunliffe’s of this world still have to battle the small lies that our media tries to convince us is news.
What a disgraceful decision by the Catholic Church.
NZ Catholic Bishops welcome decision to send troops to Iraq
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11407194
Alex Coleman retweeted
Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish 3 hrs3 hours ago
Prime Minister Abbott says civil liberties must be sacrificed, as we enter a new ‘dark’ age. http://aje.io/b3td
Meanwhile the sleepy hobbits fire up the barbie and have another beer.
Talk about letting the terrorists win. The 0.1% are battening down the hatches because they know the living conditions for the 99% are going to greatly deteriorate.
No particular reason for sharing this except for a bit of reflection perhaps.
SPEAKING: THE HERO
Felix Pollak
I did not want to go.
They inducted me.
I did not want to die.
They called me yellow.
I tried to run away,
They court-martialed me.
I did not shoot.
They said I had no guts.
They ordered the attack.
A shrapnel tore my guts.
I cried in pain.
They carried me to safety.
In safety I died.
They blew Taps over me.
They crossed out my name,
And buried me under a cross.
They made a speech in my hometown.
I was unable to call them liars.
They said I gave my life,
I had struggled to keep it.
They said I set an example.
I had tried to run.
They said they were proud of me.
I had been ashamed of them.
They said my mother should also be proud.
My mother cried.
I wanted to live.
They called me a coward.
I died a coward.
They called me a hero.
Citizenfour has been made available for download (free and presumably legal).
https://archive.org/details/LauraPoitrasCitizenfour
I’m so glad that they won the Oscar…and were able to attend the ceremonies and speak on stage!
Greek government has released a summary of reforms,
The main points of the summary of the proposals include:
Creating a fairer tax system
Combating tax evasion
Tackling corruption
Targeting fuel and tobacco smugglers
Implementing labour reforms on collective contracts and bargaining agreements.
Tackling Greece’s “humanitarian crisis” with housing guarantees and free medical care for the uninsured unemployed.
Greece’s creditors – the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund – are expected to deliver their verdict on the proposals later on Tuesday, before the reforms are discussed in a conference call with eurozone finance ministers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31597181
It’s going to be a very big 72 hours. Greek banks are supposedly going to run out of liquidity this week…
hi cr, must be time to fire up the photocopier.
🙂
Can Greece afford to buy the ink?
😀
its only 20c a copy at the feilding library.
i’ll shout a few reams of paper.