All good in defending Ardern, but are those commentators actually wrong?
[lprent: Of course they’re wrong. While there are a lot of dimwits who subscribe to the great all-seeing dictator theory of management, I’ve never ever seen anyone ever managing it. You’d have to be a complete and utter fool to even think that.. This is probably about as close as you’re going to get to it.
Now lets go back and actually hear your ‘opinion’ perhaps you could explain your theory on it so I can explain why I think that you’re wrong, query the source you parroted it from and spit on your intellect in robust debate.
However that will be a week away. Banned for a week so you can figure out the following.
I see you try this standard troll tactic again, I will boot you off the site permanently. This site is here for your opinions, not for you to play dumbarse debating team / trolling tactical games on it.
this whole Inquiry is like the shit they are investigating – so sad they are getting it wrong on such an important area. Time to walk the walk minister
Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin has refused to express confidence in the leadership of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, after it was revealed a convicted child sex offender was involved.
The gang member chosen is I understand someone who has faced up to his own misdeeds and understands the dynamic so is good value. Pity that many politicians who are guilty of bad actions of all sorts don't own up to them, and turn round and try to improve the situation for the people ane the country. People who declare themselves pure of all stain, have never moved from their easy chair.
The problem here is the connection between gangs and sexual assault. It's not simply about whether the gang member has made amends, it's about whether the survivors feel safe. This should be the priority.
In this case, complaints have been made about his current behaviour, so his 'good value' is undermined by that.
Edit:
Uh-huh. Sounds as if his presence may be disturbing at present, and if a young woman has been attacked she isn't going to feel comfortable seeing a similar guy to the attacker in the panel or even in the room.
However he would be useful in later discussions after the victims have given evidence and got some comfort from that. He would be invaluable to give background about the sexual behaviour that he has observed, and why and how it happens that way, and his opinions on improving the situation.
I think NZ is embarrassed about sex and there should be discussions about it on a medical and social discussion level to try and get a balanced view about sexual matters. We need to think about it and progress, it is a public health thing, and we owe it to each other and our children to have clear guidelines that fit our modern world which seems to have past rigid attitudes and prudishness lingering. We need to respectfully treat the matter, as important to all for relationship health, and to mental health and understanding of our drives as humans.
Do people generally know about the way that young people go about their first sexual experience? Is there open discussion about sexual matters, so basic to us all? What do girls think about it, what do boys? There should be discussions as part of sexual education at school, or run by Primary Health nurses, and should be in a mixed group with appropriate professionals or community leaders leading the discussion. There might be a model discussion videoed that parents could watch to see and understand the value of this.
Guidelines for behaviour formed by agreement between the participants after discussion, would go a long way to preventing feelings of being pushed to participate and talking about the misunderstandings that could lead either gender to believe that it was okay to push ahead because it would be enjoyable in the end, or some such reason.
I apologise to anyone who thinks that the whole matter should be screened off and the less said the better. I think that has led us to where we are now, just as I think that being obsessed with sex and talking about it a lot, casually, is also in appropriate. It should be a special personal thing, 'Not Given Lightly'. Balance is all.
Don't know what you are trying to say there, but the inquiry is about the state's responsibility for children in its care who were abused (sexually, physically, emotionally). This isn't about sex and sexuality, it's about abuse. That you conflate the two renders your opinion on what is appropriate in the inquiry irrelevant.
There is a concept of trauma-informed or clinically-informed process. It exists because when put into practice it gives the best wellbeing outcomes for people who have been harmed. The inquiry has failed on that in a number of ways. The complaints against the gang member are about his behaviour and how that has affected the inquiry in a number of roles. His expertise can't trump that.
With regard to the issue of women not trusting a gang member, the inquiry should have managed that so he wasn't in a role where that would be an issue. Again, trauma-informed process matters and creates better outcomes.
I saw your comment and have thought about since it was made.
Try and listen to Insight this Sunday just after 8am on RNZ. Part of the reason is cyber abuse and predatory tourists.
Parents /grandparents needs to be educated on how to keep a child safe and a child needs to known what is grooming and what is unsafe contact from an adult.
Governments need to take sexual exploitation seriously both online and tourism.
I think you need to have a think about why this Inquiry is being set up in the first place – it is about the innocent victims abused and treated like shit – which apparently continues, in the form of the way this Inquiry is going, to date imo
Sorry marty mars – I do understand that I had suggested something inappropriate at the first. It seems the heariang should be divided into two – first the victims and then better approaches to ensure respect of both genders for each other's emotional nature. I have tried to explain how I feel that things could be done afterwards to lead to less of this sort of trauma happening in the future.
I'm sorry too – I know you are engaging with comments and working hard to put stuff up and debate it – I can be a bit 'shoot first ask questions later' type which is irritating I know.
The purpose of the Royal Commission is to give a voice to the now adults who were children in social welfare care and in faith based care. To exclude anyone who is entitled to be there is to do them a disservice, example a convicted pedophile who was sexually assaulted while in social welfare care.
The Royal Commission needs to establish what the outcome/impact is from an individual's experience of being mistreated and harmed.
Everyone appearing before the Royal Commission need to feel secure about the process.
There are some gaps in the Royal Commission which require immediate action.
"The hope is that Labour will adopt it as official party policy and add the Green New Deal proposal to its next manifesto"
The problem is however as Greta said
“….saying that you’re doing enough when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight…”
hmmmm ..solutions are nowhere is sight.
Hey, just a repeat post from last night…if anyone else knows of a group of people pushing for the WEAG recommendations to be implemented can you pls let us know.
What we would all like to know is what WEAG and AAAP mean. Some of us do, and many don't. Will people stop talking in acronyms because you are not going to reach your potential audience to make your point if they don't know what you are talking about?
Horeskin and Garner are Natzi paid shrills trying to destroy Jacinda's reputation by making these types of comparisons, the problem is the RWNJ's will start believing these guys as most New Zealanders are sheep who can not think for themselves and believe MSM ?
What deadbeats – beating up on a kid! No doubt they are put out because all their ranting and raving hasn't had a scratch of the influence of a 15 year old who quietly and respectfully sat outside the Swedish Parliament with a placard on Fridays.
What's new? Not worth the effort to write criticising the 'boys'.
I suggest any outrage you feel uses energy that is precious that could be applied elsewhere. Wallowing in outrage is so satisfying but getting into the support works and the promotion of new ways and the thinking of who and what is being hurt by climate change and political maltreatment is ongoing hard labour.
RNZ are reporting the US Congress leader Nancy Pelosis have announced a formal investigation with a view to impeach the president.
Apparently it is based on an anonymous whistleblower allegations, that link Trump personally gaining political favour, by having investigations in the Ukraine linking Biden to the baddies.
My very amateur hunch is that if this goes ahead, rather than sink trump, it will embolden him and strengthen his voter support. The Dems will think they have their trump card (boom boom!) and Trump can continue to Fake News!, obfuscate and fib.
On one hand, Don of the Deadbrains has been in impeachable violation of his constitutional obligations from the moment of of his inauguration, and has been vigorously adding to his rap sheet ever since. He has made it abundantly clear he's quite happy to betray his country if he thinks there's personal benefit to be had. So if the Dems don't impeach him, they're basically surrendering their oversight and accountability obligations and the power of impeachment becomes meaningless. Also, there may be political benefit in publicising the wrongdoing that's been done and forcing Repugs into a yes or no vote.
On the other hand, removing the Mango Mugabe from office via impeachment simply ain't gonna happen. There's an absolute minimum of 20 Repug senators that would have to vote for conviction. But watching what happened to Mark Sanford, Jeff Flake and the very few other elected Repugs that spoke against the mandarin manutang has dissolved whatever vestigial spines and principles they may have once possessed.
Hell, even after a successful impeachment in the House, Moscow Mitch might just Garland the trial in the Senate and thereby spare Repug senators from having to even cast an uncomfortable vote. I certainly haven't yet seen any language in the constitution compelling the Senate to hold the trial, whereas the language requiring the Senate to consider Merrick Garland's nomination was quite clear, yet Moscow Mitch got away with just blowing off that constitutional obligation.
So yeah, there's the risk that impeaching Hair Furor in the House without a conviction and removal from office by the Senate might be viewed by enough of the electorate as stupid partisan political games and backfire on the Dems.
Great analysis, Adrian. My reckons have a small % following this with enthusiasm, some thinking this will sink the Hysterical Hairdo and for the majority, it will barely register.
BTW do you have a Trump name generator app? The Mango Mugabe caused an involuntary snort.
It looks like the Dems may have evidence yet to be released:
It appears that a lot of additional information about the Ukraine affair is about to come to light. The House intelligence committee has announced that the whistleblower wishes to testify, and could do so as early as this week, meaning that the public could soon learn the details of the allegations against Trump – and see what evidence there is.
Oops: I can’t find the link address. It was a Guardian news item which appears to have disappeared or been incorporated into another story. Sorry.
yep – I can't imagine they have gone this way without some big gotchas – I don't think the teflon turnipturd will be bothered though – he just turns it around by lying
Hi Marty, Anne, things like modern politics have less and less to do with evidence and truth. Witness the British Prime Minister illegally and unlawfully dissolving parliament.
I don't doubt that there is damning evidence but that doesn't matter if the perception of the great unwashed differs from the narrative.
eg CC is no problem because we have 'clean coal', I heard the president say so a few times.
Equally, I have little faith in the Dems making hay from this.
Akin to Hilary being a sure bet, she will win because she is experienced, it's her turn, she is a woman….
Within 24 hrs of the "wonderful" (Trump's words) meeting with Ardern he has:
1) Ruled out any tightening of gun laws in the US.
2) Refused to sign the US up to the Christchurch Call and has made a speech at the UN denouncing the attempt by technological companies to curtail free speech.
Worst case: the terms of the investigation are too narrow, charges go to Senate, and the repugs exonerate him. Re-election 2020.
Best case: he gets investigated, it takes until november 2020 but the dirt getting exposed is so overwhelming that it scuppers his re-election bid. And then federal and state charges are laid January 2021. He spends the last years of his life shafting his lawyers' attempts to have him ruled incompetent to stand trial.
Middle-worst case: senate convicts him, president pence gets elected as a spiritual cleanser.
Middle case: whether or not he gets convicted or re-elected, New York State does him for tax fraud.
So after flailing round for 3 years the Dems think they've finally got their man by saying he's obstructing aid. Oh the irony! Let's see if this has opened the door for Iran, Venuezuela and N Korea to launch their own impeachment proceedings too lol.
A touch cynical, but often correct. The operative word there is "us", though. The national interest, not the personal interest of the officials making the decisions.
The essential difference between realpolitik and personal corruption.
The call is only one red flag. A whistle blower went to the IG with evidence of other wrongdoing, too.
btw, the Senate has unanimously agreed to Schumer's resolution calling for the whistle blower complaint to be turned over to the intelligence committees
Mate is pretending to be too stupid to understand the obvious threat being made. So he can pivot to his one true love, perpetual whining about Dems.
edit: Also interesting is how closely Mate is parroting Repug talking points:
“McConnell also indicated that he hasn’t backed off even an inch from his cover-up for Trump’s criminal behavior, releasing a statement claiming that Democrats have held “a two-and-a-half-year impeachment parade in search of a rationale.” ”
wonderful stuff thank you maui – must be time for a guestpost from you – be great to read all your ideas on this in one post – that will create a forum for debate no doubt
You have a view, shared by many, that tbh I don't agree with AND it would be good to have that difference outlined to see the logic and arguments – I want to really understand why people think the way they think.
A lot of Maori men are in prison, but while a lot is made of the percentage to population, they are still a minority to pakeha and tauiwi extremely unpleasant criminals. Have a look at the s.itheads in this nasty murder case. Should these men when babies have been taken from their parents? What sort of parental methods result in adult outcomes who will never realise their potential to be a great, happy, admirable person? Would parental classes for both young people which would come connected to a fortnightly child assistance payment to them, get them on a positive line of child rearing and understanding how to cope and manage through stresses, and be co-operative.
Those who have worked in the criminal justice system are well aware that there is a massively high probability that the sorts of people you refer to were taken from their parents.
From the "I am not a believer in conspiracy" files.
On Sunday I visited another town in my EV. While having it recharged at a public facility. I went for a walk with my wife for a block a way and went through a car yard I had visited two years ago while searching for an EV to buy. There were no staff as the yard was closed.
Today on Facebook there is a specific ad on my Facebook Home page from the very car yard that I visited.
Coincidence? It's a startling thing.
Is there a possibility that facial recognition technology from a security camera is at play here? That my very basic cell phone is being tracked? That my car rego was noted when I drove past twenty minutes later? That my EV's electronic key in my pocket was somehow 'discovered'?
Or is it just coincidence and some very targeted advertising based on my facebook activity and previous purchase? As the saying goes, coincidence occurs only when we can't see the levers and pulleys.
I guess I am really asking for comment from wiser technology-savvy heads about how deep intrusion in our lives is based on tracking our personal information?
assuming you are in NZ I would guess it's either a semi-coincidence (based on targeted advertising from other activity), or it's your phone or credit card usage.
If your phone is a smart phone you can turn location services off.
FB will be using your IP address to target advertising, so if you have FB on your phone it will know your general area by how you connect to the internet.
I don't know what happens with EVs, but it's worth checking if it's the EV's GPS. You could ask the manufacturer for details on what the tech is in your car and if it's connected to online services.
I would be very surprised if this was facial recognition, we're not there yet in NZ afaik.
According to David Spiegelhalter in The Art Of Statistics there is no such thing as coincidence, its just a matter of mathematics. "Connected "people, the sort who talk to others a lot, and I know you are one mate, find more coincidences simply because they have a lot more information and contacts. Yes, it looks suspicious but as you say you have been online looking at EV sites, also you were in this specific town using cards etc which ramps up the coincidence possibilities. If you had not gone there would the pop up have happened the next day. Who knows ? . It may simply be the act of paying for the charge up in the vicinity and the webby thing did the rest.
Its disturbing this bullshit which is why I have stared paying for everything with pebbles.
So Mac1 if I don''t come back from the bar with my round on Friday night its because I've been thrown out on my arse.
Thanks, Weka and Adrian. The EV's GPS still thinks it's in Japan. I’m in NZ as Adrian knows.
My cell has a FB icon but I've never used it or set it up.
I did get e-mail acknowledgements immediately of my use of public chargers but would FB know that? That charger also accessed my bank account and was my only credit card use on that trip.
So as you say, Adrian, it might be a webby thing……. perhaps I should adopt your payment method using the asparagus coming out of my ears at the moment.
When I return to work after 3 days off, I am often prompted to offer a review of my hospitality place of work. I have put it down to the location tracker jobbie in my Whoarewe phone.
This in no way makes me think we are under-survielled and spied upon excessively.
Location services and the apple equivalent is a generic facility on your cell phone. I haven't looked at it too recently, but it uses GPS, wifi, cell towers, and even near field or blue tooth to try to increase the accuracy of its fix – especially when you are indoors and the GPS signal sucks.
It is also something that quite a lot of apps access, everything from google maps to various other systems that read location information and sell it directly or indirectly to advertisers.
If it's capable a 3g net connection google will be following you around. Need to turn that off, also downloaded any apps? Plenty of them capture location data and sell it back for advertising purposes.
Yep they use all of the things you mentioned. Sometimes car yards/shops use beacons which push messages to your phone (if you have this enabled and didn't realise you could turn it off it would freak you out).
I'll be watching you
Every move you make
Every step you take
I'll be watching you
Bluetooth beacons, however, can track your location accurately from a range of inches to about 50 meters. They use little energy, and they work well indoors. That has made them popular among companies that want precise tracking inside a store.
The beacons connect with your phone to gather data.
The Guardian Firewall team has discovered that a growing number of iOS apps have been used to covertly collect precise location histories from tens of millions of mobile devices, using packaged code provided by data monetization firms. In many cases, the packaged tracking code may run at all times, constantly sending user GPS coordinates and other information.
In order to gain initial access to precise data from the mobile device’s GPS sensors, the apps usually present a plausible justification relevant to the app in the Location Services permission dialog, often with little or no mention of the fact that location data will be shared with third-party entities for purposes unrelated to app operation.
All location data monetization firms listed on this page collect one or more of the following data points:
Bluetooth LE Beacon Data
GPS Longitude and Latitude
Wi-Fi SSID (Network Name) and BSSID (Network MAC Address)
In addition, some firms also collect the following types of less sensitive device information:
Accelerometer Information (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis)
Advertising Identifier (IDFA)
Battery Charge Percentage and Status (Battery or USB Charger)
It's used by one of the biggest retailers in the country.
When customers use mobile applications developed by Scentre, or logon to Wi-Fi provided in Westfield shopping centres or third party applications utilising Scentre’s infrastructure (including Bluetooth beacon networks), customers provide Scentre with certain information including their contact details.
The protest took place in the township of Ruawai, at the northern end of Kaipara Harbour.
Between 120 and 150 farmers turned up, most of them by tractor.
They said a suite of measures, zero carbon legislation, the latest water plan and the Billion Trees Programme could force some of them off their land.
The Mayor of Kaipara, Jason Smith, said it was a quiet protest but with a strong message.
"They weren't tooting horns, there was no loud noise, people were standing around in solidarity, just being concerned (about the future)," Dr Smith said.
The Kaipara Harbour is NZ's largest by area. There are many acres of farmland surrounding it and it's tributaries. As more pressure comes to bear against farmers adjacent to waterways, I think the Kaipara region will become a hotbed of discontent.
I think the strongest protest they could mount would revolve around showcasing farmers that are going the extra enviro mile. We all support those guys.
Edit
We do indeed, and should be helping others up by their bootstraps. All is not won though as i have heard of farmers watching their stock eat down the greenery, flaxes, and then stepping past it to get to the stream. So vigilance is required for effectiveness even once measures to remediate pollution are taken.
I understand that Kaipara has had a lot of run off into the estuary? So it is in farmers interest to keep their top soil, and also to keep the estuary water in good health, because I think it is a place for growing spat as a business? Isn't that also where they had the great sewerage fixing bill? It seems there is a lot to do, so just getting together to protest would be not being real men. Getting together to form working groups helping each other for the good of the whole, as well as to meet the government requirements that have been needed for probably two decades or longer. The problems have not shown up suddenly, out of the blue.
And not to be overlooked is the effect of sea rise. I think that it is flat around Kaipara, so the farmers can huddle around a map showing projections of where the sea will rise and how it will affect them. Perhaps dredging and building up sand and mud dunes on which they could plant mangrove or such that would be good fish spawning cover for young fish. That would help to take some of the brunt of waves in storms.
They might get help on their streams from the Environment River Patrol Aotearoa NZ which Milan Ruka has been behind. He has been doing more stuff than the farmers about water and environment health and might have some tips.
I've thought of a word to describe some of the regular commenters here – CAN'T (Carpers and Negative Controllers) and they attempt to shut down discussion, either deliberately or in the nit-picking way they treat others comments.
While it may not be ad hominem comment, it is slanted to give the commenter the feeling that their comment from their mind has nothing to say of relevance and therefore the person is mindless, ignorant, and for many people this is the same as an ad hominem in its effect. Obsessed people may continue to arise despite, but for those concerned for a wider discussion covering all topics it is greatly disheartening.
The reply to the comment will not build on it adding more background, it will not simply correct a mistake. The comment will be dumped on as wrongly quoted, the syntax is wrong, some figures wrong and so the whole comment is useless to consider, and it shows a mind uninformed and with nothing to add to the superior understanding of the person who responds. Wrong, wrong, wrong, so buzz off you inferior person. That's the message and the end result to many, while the lords, mainly I think, of the internet roll on flattening the poppies who might otherwise have got tall before they were attacked.
In other words the message is 'You 'Can't' say anything of importance or helpful – why bother.'
I try to put my comments to the table test before clicking Submit Comment.
'Would I use the same words if I was sitting across the table from the person I'm responding to?'
I wonder if people that feel the need to dominate and seed confrontation in a discussion on an anon message board lead somewhat different lives in the real world.
I wonder. But I get concerned at the lack of participation in this blog from lefties. I wonder if they lose heart. Times are tough and work hours or making do is demanding. But learning while you are going is not wasted time and just raising a query and some ideas and getting response is heartening. If the response is a sneer not. If it is a little query about meaning or the need to put source, or show opinion one way and quote okay. But encouragement is primary rather than scholastic lessons or entrenched opinion coming down on you.
There are some great people out there so those who seem to want to dominate, go schtum. Let it pass, ask for more info. Try to love other people's reaching up for understanding, communication, togetherness. There are some people who I am very wary of, anyone who tries to love and trust all others is unwise, but let's try to find How to get There…?
Since i read about the Exclusive Brethren leader who commented that a young man who was suicidal over the split between the cult and his family, would be better off dead, should take rat poison, I thought that I can't trust these people. And there were other features of their behaviour which when understood showed they can never be trusted and that applies to a number of cults.
Going round being kind to all without wariness, is being naive sorry gsays – and over time you will find they often understand you very well and prefer to remain obscure themselves.
You are starting to sound like a flower child from hippy times. I think loving all is OTT, trying to have goodwill to all with wariness is good, and helping where you can be kind and being friendly. When you find who to trust, and know the small number that you will ever understand the heart of, then love them. Just don't throw it away like tissues or easy tears, it is precious, there isn't a lot of the real thing around.
Love for those who deserve it, good will for those who deserve it, patient tolerance, disdain or disgust for those gone off track or beyond redemption. That says it I think. No need to hang social dictionary tags on it.
I wonder if people that feel the need to dominate and seed confrontation in a discussion on an anon message board lead somewhat different lives in the real world.
Not usually, however that is mostly because I tend to avoid arguing with people outside of online. It is obvious when you look at what happens on these kinds of forums.
Arguing or even discussing things with other people often means that you need to be somewhat on a level playing field to get anything out of it. But conversations are usually one to few in real-life.
Now I’m an extreme case. I have always had a really capacious memory, lots of CPU cycles, and a habit of thinking a lot about everything. Plus I have been continuously on the ‘social’ nets in some form or another since the mid-1980s BBSes and 90s usenet and have no interest in TV, sport, gossip and anything else that is essentially repetitive. And I never bother to compete or dominate with anyone – it is too easy to just leave them holding a some sinking island while I move on to something that is of interest to me. Plus I’m too damn arrogant to be concerned about what anyone else thinks of me.
Which makes it rare for me to find someone who has anything that interesting or new to me. Which also means that there isn’t that much to argue about except work.
But social networks and especially ones like this, you’re effectively talking to thousands of people at once with a bit of a lag. Yesterday on this site with a quiet day there were 2,784 distinct humans visited and read various posts and comments. 9,978 over the last 7 days**.
That gives a much larger selection of people who can provide the grist for interesting disagreements. It is also self-selecting for people who can argue.
So on here, even if I wasn’t having to moderate, my behaviour would change compared to IRL and has ever since I joined argument forums. I learn a hell of a lot just reading these forums. It is also why I’m also willing to expend time stomping on people who try to dilute the good arguments of a robust debate. The returns make it worthwhile.
//————
** there will be some inaccuracy in that due to people not using cookies or having different ‘identities’ on different systems. However when I analysed it a while ago, the maximum inaccuracy on users was less than 10%. Some of them are single reads from search engines. However that is well less than 30% of all of the users. Something like 40% of users read the site multiple times per week.
humans == Unique Users (at least as far as google can see).
You can see this in the analytics summary in the dashboard. But reminds me that I'm on holiday for 5 days starting tonight. Google analytics coming your way.
Yep. You have to look at how google collects the information about users.
If you look in the cookies on your system, you'll find tracking cookies from google and others. These come in if you're on gmail or logged in on chrome or any number of other things.
What they also do is to allow google analytics to track user patterns. They do this by allocating a analytics number to everyone.
You should have access to analytics now. If you look under Audience / User Explorer you can see the anonymised data looking at individual user stats. That gives a better idea of how it is done.
I’m having a 5 day weekend to do some outstanding work at home. Procrastinating on working on web code rather than my favoured hard-core code inevitably results in me becoming more blog-active…
Oh well the weekend boss is dragging me off to lunch, so I’d expect that there will be an expectation of less blog and more work on her site.
Hope you're well. I just aren't for the Labour Party. Since you know when. When they combined with the strong. When I logically knew them to be in the wrong. In my young age.
I fleetingly heard it and it sounded like the guy was saying that gandhi didn't like a group of people because of the colour of their skin – in other words he said and acted like black people were inferior because they were black. If so then that is racism in my book.
The British Supreme Court has ruled that the decision by the British prime minister Boris Johnson to prorogue or suspend parliament for five-weeks was unlawful. Dr Dean Knight is the co-director of the New Zealand Centre of Public Law at Victoria University and spoke to Corin Dann about the case from London.
Trudeau is no monster; he has spent the past few years upholding refugee rights in Canada and should be commended for it. But he has also spent years basking in a progressive image he doesn’t deserve. For too long, too many people have given him too many passes, preferring to focus on his feelgood soundbites rather than interrogate his less-than-feelgood actions. But the current controversy has made the poster boy of progressivism’s ugly side impossible to ignore.
This comment on Mahdawi's opinion article offers an interesting point of view. As I read it I found myself thinking about the political and public reaction to Metiria Turei's 2017 admission of benefit fraud some 25 years earlier at ~22 years of age – NZ lost an excellent MP over that.
I'm not comparing Trudeau to Turei (there are so many differences), but the effects of self-destructive tendencies in the progressive left are worth reflecting on before going full tilt, IMHO.
"At times, it really surprises me how we have any progressive governments at all. The right cheerfully conducts itself with a lack of shame, self awareness and responsibility. The left subjects itself to a neurotic level of self scrutiny and as each historical mistake or social faux pas comes to light, the evil perpetrator is fed to the howling wolves of Twitter. In other words, rightwingers have no need to undermine the left when the left is quite capable of kicking itself in the balls.
Does this mean we stop holding people to account? No – its only through being aware of our flaws that we improve as people. What is *desperately* needed is proportionality and the capacity to forgive. If we keep nailing leftwing politicians up every time they make a mistake then the right will continue to get louder and stronger because they have something the left doesn't – unity. And unity wins votes."
I found this paragraph in the article to be telling
The right gets incredibly worked up about social justice issues when there is an opportunity to use them for political gain. Just look at the bad-faith way in which US Republicans have weaponised antisemitism to attack Ilhan Omar and curtail criticism of the Israeli government, while ignoring or even stoking antisemitism in their own ranks. Look at how outraged about sexual harassment Donald Trump got when the person accused of it was the Democratic senator Al Franken. You almost have to admire the right for being so shamelessly hypocritical.
For me the left reflexive defensive cos someone is a 'good' person or done 'good things' is the real problem. Own it, accept it, try to change it and then get on with it. Defend it or blame the others for being worse and other tactics really do feed the right. They don't need feeding – they need starving and you do that by sorting shit out fast and you do that imo by owning it, being a grown up and doing something about it and then moving on.
"Own it, accept it, try to change it and then get on with it." – good advice, and I wonder what more Trudeau could do now to address the hurt and allay concerns about the choices he made some years before becoming a politician.
Could Canada do better than Trudeau as PM – yes (IMHO). But will they?
Hats off to Simon Bridges. I admire the consistency with which he depicts himself as the village idiot and the certainty he has that the rest of us are too.
The news just had him as saying Tracey Martin should have been more hands on in the Royal Commission into historical abuse in state care.
I must admit my disappointment that he hasn't called for the resignation of Jacinda Ardern over the situation which has arisen with the Commission. Oh well, maybe tomorrow or when she gets back in the country he'll be singing that tune.
The whipping Bridges has been receiving from all quarters must be taking a toll. The most confident of battlers eventually gets driven to stepping aside.
Bridges' repeated deadpan delivery of the same answered question in the house yesterday was the work of a broken man.
Martin answered his 'What are you doing about a pedo on the board?' question straight out of the gate.
"You're a lawyer, you know it's illegal for an MP to have any influence over a Royal Commission."
On and on Bridges went with his prepared supps. I thought Martin was masterful…mistressful?? The temptation to say "I've already answered that." must of been strong. She went into the rare circumstances under which an MP could influence the Royal Enquiry. She had obviously studied the situation closely.
Still Bridges ground on with questions she had answered in finite detail.
I guess they're stuck with him for the 2020 election but crikey.
One of his Bridges' bridge promises has come true. The new Taipa bridge will be open in the next month or so and it's looking great. They have also hopefully solved issues with the largest school in the district flooding. The guys that built it will move onto the Kaeo bridge, that was always their intention. I see Robertson has begun calling the Kaeo job a Labour party win. Gosh they're amusing the way they all try to pin their brand on the wins, anyone's win.
Gosh they're amusing the way they all try to pin their brand on the wins, anyone's win.
So true. I remember the Nats making a big deal out of the completion of the Waterview tunnel when it was the previous Labour govt, who did all the hard yards.
Canadian feminist Meghan Murphy is coming to New Zealand and will be speaking at the Feminism2020 event in Wellington on November 13th along with Dr Holly Lawford-Smith, Dr Melissa Derby, and SUFW spokeswoman Ani O’Brien. These are the feminists they don’t want you to hear. Banned, deplatformed, censored, and harassed, nonetheless these are women on the frontline of feminism.
Ta. She really understood the role of the UN well, compared with the buffoon who spoke earlier.
Ms Ardern spoke of the need for countries to work together to combat crises like the 15 March terror attack. "Experiences in recent years should lead us to all question whether any of us ever truly operate in isolation anymore."
…
In contrast, Mr Trump's speech was a celebration of unbridled nationalism.
"Wise leaders always put the good of their own people and their own country first," he said. "The future does not belong to globalists. It belongs to patriots."
…
"If you want democracy, hold on to your sovereignty. And if you want peace, love your nation."
Ardern’s liberal supporters see her as the polar opposite of the US president, and she has even been labelled the “anti-Trump”. They expected her in some way to speak truth to power when meeting the man who has become synonymous with the most reactionary problems in politics today. More than anything, Ardern might have been expected to use the opportunity to push Trump hard on the issue of climate change.
Does Edwards really expect the PM to trade in her dignity, authority, diplomacy skills and self-respect by having a slanging match with a Trump, who lacks all three of those qualities. The Guardian should engage better commentators.
Mike Hosking's latest effort "Hyperbole and hot air – Greta Thunberg's the new Jacinda" was a bit much, even for him. It read as though he was trying to comfort himself with nonsense instead of fact – exactly what he's accusing Greta of doing, ironically enough.
…
I won't mince words; you are on the wrong side of history and you are wrong.
"Twyford says the claim the Government was missing $3.8 billion of new transport projects had "no factual basis"
It seems that Treasury was writing reports based on wishful thinking from NZ National
"Treasury has been left with egg on its face for the second time this year after Transport Minister Phil Twyford slammed the ministry for missing out billions of dollars from its calculations.
Based on wishful thinking from the Infrastructure Council, I read somewhere. Can just imagine the neolibs in Treasury giving it a free pass cos not govt.
In part it's Twyford's own fault. He failed to clear out NZTA's Board or refresh its objectives as a Board. Instead he presumed that tilting the NLTP would be sufficient.
Also he forgot to clean out Ministry of Transport, who have guided him about as poorly as it's possible for a Ministry to do so. This is one of the results. Another is the entire regulatory debacle. Another is the light rail strategy disaster and light rail procurement mess.
But the suspicion I have is that Robertson decided to kick Twyford while he was down – ready to be reshuffled – and get another of Robertson's wieners replacing him in Cabinet.
Maybe the entire transport portfolio needs clear felling. OIA suggests that there are problems in Wellington with the LGWM ,the mayors recollection of what he told councillors,and did JAG threaten to hold her breath.
"Justin's advice to us was that this was the best he could do. There was also talk about the Green's/JAG [Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter] influence on the package," the documents say.
ACC chair Dame Paula Rebstock said the record deficit was an accounting measure, and in its day to day dealings the corporation had a cash surplus of $570 million.
"The cash operating surplus demonstrates ACC's robust funding structure that enables the scheme to withstand volatility, including falling interest rates."
She said the deficit would not affect ACC's ability to pay claims and it's too early to say what effect it might have on levies, which would be set by the middle of next year….
However, Dame Paula said in the medium term levies would have to rise to cover increasing costs such as medical treatments and rehabilitation.
ACC had a record 2 million claims in the past year, which adds to the financial demands on its funds.
The value of its outstanding claims liability (OCL) rose by $10.8b because of the fall in interest rates to $53b. ACC operates on the basis of having to cover the lifetime cost of all claims already made, and extends that out 100 years to 2119. (Should that be 3119? And why ahead so long, pay as we go plus have some reserves, would be practical but not pure enough for Treasury no doubt.)
ACC operates on the basis of having to cover the lifetime cost of all claims already made, and extends that out 100 years to 2119. (Should that be 3119?
Next year is 2020, so 100 yrs later is 2119. No need add another 1000 yrs.
Seems to me to be silly to go out 100 yrs , 50 yrs should be fine for almost all claimants and the few after that are inconsequential in terms of their reserves of $43.8 bill.
An increase of $5 bill this year alone- not sure why thay should highlight the 'balance sheet future costs'
Labour kept ACC on its full pre-funding trajectory after 1999 partly to build a handy nest egg they could plunder just like the Nats have, but the main reason Shipley et al made the shift in the first place was to prepare for privatisation. Sadly for English, Joyce and chums the Aussie insurance industry were not keen enough in 2009.
Returning the scheme to annual pay-as-you-go instead would remove the prospect.
I'm looking forward to Air New Zealand being regulated by the Commerce Commission as a monopoly on most New Zealand domestic routes, now that Jetstar is pulling out.
It needs a lot more that Shane Jones to actually regulate price from a company that totally dominates one entire sector of the country. It's akin to every New Zealand motorway being tolled with no alternative route, and no one to hold them to legally hold them to account for the price they charge or how often you're allowed to drive on it.
Or maybe the government can provide stronger scrutiny as the major shareholder.
Government as usual hasn't the guts to run it's commercial businesses for the advantage of the whole country. There will be an opportunity to charge more for the main flights and subsidise to some extent the regions. And Jetstar shouldn't get the red carpet if they want to come here and get some of the cream.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said it was a shame to lose airline competition in the regions, but the government won't be telling Air New Zealand not to raise its prices.
Mr Robertson was hopeful another airline would emerge.
"We've had times in the past in New Zealand where we haven't had other operators on those regional routes and we'll have to see whether another one emerges but those decisions are entirely for Air New Zealand to make," he said.
"Clearly there's an expectation from New Zealanders that there are fair prices paid, and we'll keep an eye on that."
62 year old man abducts and sexually violates a 16 year old girl. There is a frame around his face from a CCTV picturte. Would that be for facial recognition tech?
I haven't heard lately of any 62 year old woman abducting a teenage boy and sexually violating him. Seems that it is time we had a better approach to enable people to sort out their sex urges without invading someone else's self and respect. There have been some teachers however, so it's not quite black and white.
Thought you might have some ideas seeing as you were the one who bought it up like you knew what you were talking about, so apart from precogs and precrime units like in Minority report, or chemical castration for all men and mandatory bromide in our tea just in case, unless you're on a sex offender list where you can be monitored and directed accordingly, there's not really much else you can do for individuals apart from keep pushing the message not to do it and punish those who do, is there?
there's not really much else you can do for individuals apart from keep pushing the message not to do it and punish those who do, is there?
and in the 'punish those who do' is where we fail utterly . We do not treat this particular crime as the crime it is. 'their sex urges' – heck of an urge there.
is that when i steal a car i have uncontrolled 'drive urges'?
I agree, Sabine. When I saw Al1en's comment, I thought it askew with that standard punishment bit. Punishment (known as negative reinforcement in the 60s when I was training to be a teacher) works (in my experience) only in the shallowest way for activities to which people are NOT emotionally inclined at a deep level, in which case punishment does next to nothing.
I always liked the film 'A Clockwork Orange' because it deals with this issue.. but gives no solution.
throw the darn law book at them, lock em up – no matter how bright their future – and keep them locked up until time served.
or else lets stop with the pretense that we are a nation of laws and simply abolish all laws as there will always be offenders and really what can be done?
Isocrates in Areopagiticus, (some 25 centuries ago) suggested that excess laws was a sign of poor government.
Written laws do not increase virtue, but quotidian customs. Most men tend to take up the customs as moral of the place in which they were brought up. More so, it is evident that where there is a large number of defined laws, it is a signal that the state is badly governed. There are cases in which men try to build barriers against delinquency decreeing large numbers of norms. But well-governed men do not need to fill the porticos with written laws, but simply fix justice in the spirits, and those poorly educated will try to break the laws accurately produced. By contrast, well-educated men will be in good disposition to respect even the simplest codes.
You are so wet Allen always spoiling for an argument. I show example, express concern and say something should be done. And that starts you off with a demand that I delineate a policy to deal with it. Are you becoming an ambush troll I hope not? Well I have given you something to bother about – I have spelt your pseudo wrongly. What's your cunning plan?
To be honest, the way you write leaves me bemused, and often I'm left thinking wtf is that all about, not to mention thoughts about quality over quantity. Tell you what, if you're responding to me in future, I'd consider it a courtesy if you'd make your arguments and points in plain English and help me out a bit. Though it has to be said, to completely shoot it down, in the exchange here you haven’t once given examples of how to deal with the issue you yourself raised, in fact you answered “Don’t know at present”. If you’re going to lie, at least look at the previous posts first.
As for not using my chosen login name correctly, well, that's just a failing on your part you wilfully advertise to the membership here. I don't mind that at all. 😉
Check We are stuffing there future so Our Rangatahi deserve to vote to protect their future but I say move the goal post a bit closer and go for 17 years old to vote.
That is a great discription of Aotearoa Prime Minister she is genuine and is using her Mana to make other tangata lives better.
More putea being invested into our Rangatahi sports programme is great I hope some of that putea get to the Regions.
Tutai shonkys only minute on the Papatuanuku stage was the golf game.
Our change to a green future will boost our Papatuanuku economy and leave Our futures A Clean and Green environment we all know that's a bit had for unintelligent people to Grasp?????????.
Great interview Rangatahi don't worry about the neanderthal they will be rolled into our history books.
The idea of Rangatahi being able to vote has just started. Opinions will change I have seen polls change quite rapidly on some subjects
Yes our farmers are putting them selves under a lot pressure they are isolated with no one to talk to. I tau toko this big barbecue initiative to help farmers who are on a low at the minute Ma Te Wa thing will get better that's the way of life ups and downs tangata just have to stay look for the positive side of every situation Ka kaha.
That's is a huge Strike for Our Climate in Aotearoa Ka pai Ka kaha keep up the good mahi
Shaun Eco Maori won't be flying any time soon not until air travel has cleaned up there act.
Wow that's a big drop for NZ post yes online shopping is takeing off for them it's replaceing posted letters.
The Takia promise of our Aotearoa quest leaving behind only foot prints and not rubbish is great everyone knows they have to get on the Clean and Green WAKA or they will sink.
Our Strikes for Our Climate makes Eco Maori so proud. It is a emergency Our way of living has to change we are only on Papatuanuku for a very small finite time it's not on that our generation is making such a big mess that it will make living in the future extremely hard for the common poor tangata to live a healthy life. The climate change deniers are making out that mitergateing Global warming will make Tawhirimate fall on Our heads YEA RIGHT mitergateing global warming will be the best thing for us all.
I….Eco Maori tipuna new this Phenomenon people power is stronger than people in power he made a Haka
Te tangata Te tangata its the people that count in Te Papatuanuku
Climate crisis: 6 million people join latest wave of global protests
Week of strikes and demonstrations is ‘only the beginning’, say organisers
Six million people have taken to the streets over the past week, uniting across timezones, cultures and generations to demand urgent action on the escalating ecological emergency
“This week was a demonstration of the power of our movement,” said a spokesperson for the FridaysForFuture group which has helped coordinate the demonstrations. “People power is more powerful than the people in power. It was the biggest ever climate mobilisation, and it’s only the beginning. The momentum is on our side and we are not going anywhere
The day of protests began in New Zealand, where an open letter was delivered to parliament on Friday morning calling on the government to declare a climate emergency – following the lead of numerous councils around the country
On Friday there were huge protests in Italy – where more than 1 million people were reported to have taken part – Spain, the Netherlands and New Zealand, where more than 3.5% of the country’s population joined the demonstrations.
Organisers said they were expecting more people to join as the day progressed. High turnouts were expected in Canada, where Greta Thunberg – who kickstarted the school strike movement with a solo protest in Sweden 12 months ago – was due to join demonstrators in Montreal.
May Boeve from 350.org, which has helped organise the demonstrations, said: “We will keep fighting until the politicians stop ignoring the science, and the fossil fuel companies are held responsible for their crimes against our future, as they should have been decades ago.”
Condolences to Careys whanau for their loss of their mother.
There you go people not respecting Tangaroa mokopuna by driving heavy machinery over them to gather mussels spat
FOMA is a awesome initiative way to encourage Maori tangata to get into business It takes a lot of courage to make the leap into business in Aotearoa for tangata whenua as some will try and put us off our mission of building a moanga for Te mokopuna.
Ngāti pikiao culture is looking strong that is great for mokopuna to carry on with their culturel identity kia kaha.
Ka pai to the Papatuanuku waka free day that is what everyone can do to easily drop our Carbon footprint walk and ride a bike for smaller journeys. I don't burn nowhere as much carbon as I use to. I have plans to lower my carbon footprint even more Ma Te Wa.
Pollutionwatch: how does World Car-free Day affect emissions?
Though air quality appeared to improve, measuring the precise impact of car-less days is difficult
Last Sunday peace and tranquillity descended on city centres across the world as many went car-free for the day.
This annual event started in the UK, in Bath, in 1994 with a road closure and street party for the Environmental Transport Association’s Green Transport Week. In 1997 it spread to France with En Ville Sans Ma Voiture (In Town Without My Car) in La Rochelle, and by 2007 it spanned 2,000 cities in 35 countries Ka kite Ano link below.
Ka pai to the people who are backing Wahine and giving them opportunity to have clean and green energy in their own whare. Mana Wahine. I have also read that whaine are making sure that there retirement savings is invest in companies that care for our future generations environment Wahine toa
Jaipur, India (CNN Business)India is trying to bring electricity to hundreds of millions of its citizens who live off the grid. And it's trying to ensure that the power comes from clean and renewable sources.
Frontier Markets is helping to achieve both those goals in the Western desert state of Rajasthan, selling solar-powered products to hundreds of villages. The company is thriving by turning its customers into salespeople.
The company employs women to sell products like lamps, stoves, and even TVs that run on solar power through a program called Solar Sahelis (Solar Friends). Each woman is in charge of selling products to hundreds of rural households
We learned that while the customer — the person paying for the product — was a man, the person using the product was a woman," Frontier Markets CEO Ajaita Shah said in an interview with CNN Business. "In fact, 70% of our users were women and that is when we realized that in order to properly serve the right households needs, women had to be at the center of that value chain," she added.
Shah founded Frontier Markets in 2011, with the goal of providing clean energy to millions of rural Indians while also giving women a source of employment and income. The goals encapsulate some of India's most urgent issues.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made rural electrification a big priority, announcing last year that 100% of the country's villages now have access to power. But the government considers a village electrified if just 10% of its houses are on the grid, meaning over 200 million people still don't have access to electricity.
The Modi government has also set aggressive targets to increase solar energy capacity, and it has succeeded in going from less than four gigawatts in 2015 to nearly 30 gigawatts — about 8% of India's total energy capability. The government wants to increase that to 100 gigawatts by 2022.
The 3,000 women that Shah employs have helped to provide energy to more than half a million village houses in Rajasthan, she said. The women communicate the benefits of clean energy to rural households, but also help Frontier Markets understand the kind of innovations that those households need most, she added.
Another pressing need that Frontier Markets is helping to solve is getting more women into work. Only 22% of India's workforce is female, according to the latest data from the World Bank, one of the lowest rates in the world. India lags behind countries such as Sudan, El Salvador and Afghanistan.
"As India starts growing and moving and changing and evolving, especially with the digital revolution, women are still being left behind," Shah said. "It's really important for us to continuously invest in our women's skills and their education to be able to catch up."
Te atea college is a great organisation that has helped tangata whenua get greater education its sad that they are facing problems I hope they can sort it out and keep the school open.
Kamo school is having problems to we need to taonga all our Maori based education centres.
Te tangata whenua of Alask are going to get a ap to help keep their culture going strong its a great way to use social media to help keep their historical culture Mana Ka kaha.
Yes there was a big celebration in Japan this Rugby World Cup is quite exciting
TL;DR: Here’s six links that stood out to me in the last day in Aotearoa’s political economy to 6:06am on Sunday, May 19:Aotearoa-NZ is the seventh worst in the OECD’s homelessness rankings, just behind the United States and just ahead of Australia. BlackRock thinks rate hikes actually worsen inflation because ...
Halfway up a historic tower in York, we are neither up nor down. At the top you will have views of a city steeped in antiquity, made and remade by Romans, Normans, Vikings, Tescos. Below, you will find a retired minister happy to tell you all about this most astonishing ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does breathing contribute to CO2 ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: KiwiRail’s seemingly endless requests for more money is damning. At one point, KiwiRail assured Robertson when he was the Finance Minister that the worst-case scenario would be an extra $300 million before requesting $1.2 billion a few months later. Not what most people ...
No one knows what it's likeTo be the bad manTo be the sad manBehind blue eyesNo one knows what it's likeTo be hatedTo be fatedTo telling only liesHave you ever wondered what life must be like for Mike Hosking? Seeing things in black and white through blue tinted specs? In ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two week’s editions.Share More Than A FeildingBike bling, London Read more ...
Hi,I think we all made it through another week — congratulations. I’ve been digesting the new Arab Strap record, which is astonishing. In other news, I’m going to be doing a Webworm popup in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday July 13. I’ll bring a bunch of merch, and some other ...
The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am going to explore the Bill from the perspective of its proponents with their ...
New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be shooting the proposal in the foot. ...
Buzz from the Beehive Associate Education Minister David Seymour is urging the PostPrimary Teachers Association to put learning ahead of ideology. He wants the union leaders to call off their teachers meetings around the country where they hope to muster the strength to undo the government’s plans to establish several ...
What are police for? "Fighting crime" is the obvious answer. If there's a burglary, they should show up and investigate. Ditto if there's a murder or sexual assault. Speeding or drunk or dangerous driving is a crime, so obviously they should respond to that. And obviously, they should respond to ...
Michael Reddell writes – I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...
Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a ...
This is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...
I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...
Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...
With an election due in less than nine months, Britain’s embattled PM, Rishi Sunak, gave a useful speech earlier this week. He made a substantial case for his government, perhaps as compelling as is possible in the current environment. Quite an achievement. His overall theme was security, first pulling ...
Open access notablesPublicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions, Pearson et al., Climatic Change:We analysed a recently released corpus of climate-related tweets to examine the macro-level factors associated with public declarations of climate change scepticism. Analyses of over 2 million geo-located tweets in the U.S. showed that climate ...
You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...
Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...
Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...
The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...
When National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants:On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...
Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point. Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...
How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...
“Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
Henry Ergas writes – When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision Michael Reddell writes – When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
Muriel Newman writes – Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
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 ...
“The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
David Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
RNZ reports – It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
Buzz from the BeehiveTolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
Arawata Shane Arawata Shane had wandered long In the wild tangled hills of the West Coast. He came to a stop on the mighty range And looked down at the wide river flats. He breathed in the clean air, And he took in the shadows playing across The face of ...
SPECIAL REPORT:Islands Business in Suva Today is the 24th anniversary of renegade and failed businessman George Speight’s coup in 2000 Fiji. The elected coalition government headed by Mahendra Chaudhry, the first and only Indo-Fijian prime minister of Fiji, was held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days in the country’s ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist and Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific digital journalist Police have used tear gas and stun grenades on rioters at an airport near Nouméa as the chaos in New Caledonia stretched into its sixth day. Five people, including two police officers, have died and hundreds of ...
Asia Pacific ReportThe global human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on France to not “misuse” a crackdown in the ongoing unrest in the non-self-governing French Pacific territory of Kanaky New Caledonia in the wake of a controversial vote by the French Parliament to adopt a bill changing the territory’s ...
A major provider of school lunches fears the government's new $3 limit for most students will see them eating more pre-packaged and processed food. ...
The star of Dark City: The Cleaner takes us through his life in TV, including the VHS revolution and the John Campbell impression that started it all. Best known for his comedic roles, Cohen Holloway says he struggled at times to maintain the stone cold facade of serial killer on ...
David Hill remembers an old friend, who you’ve probably never heard of. My friend Doug never travelled; he had little interest in the world beyond his own tiny rural town. I’ve rarely known anyone who radiated such contentment. Doug (I’ll call him that) died in March. You won’t know him. ...
Some of the earliest photos of life in Aotearoa are on display at Auckland Museum right now – but the identities of some of the people in them are a mystery.What was it like to be one of the first people in New Zealand to have their photo taken? ...
Since its founding almost a decade ago, Featherston Booktown has grown into one of the country’s most interesting and idiosyncratic literary events. Erin Banks reports from the audience. “Come in, have you had lunch? I’m about to make a cheese toastie.” Mary Biggs, operations manager of Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival, ...
After 33 years abroad, Loveni Enari recently returned to Aotearoa and Samoa in what a friend joked was an “existential crisis”. He learnt and re-learnt so much about his family, friends and both countries. Almost as an afterthought, he got a Samoan tatau. This is his story. (Accompanying it are ...
Nearly 30 years ago, two people told me they’d killed a woman they knew. I thought the truth would come out, that others would tell it. In the end, I had to. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Fact: in 1995, Angela Blackmoore ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at the week and shines a light on some increasingly rare longform journalism. Mōrena and welcome to The Weekend where there will sadly be no aurora to see. After a busy week last week of short, sharp pieces, this week we swung the other way, ...
ANALYSIS:By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a revered Kanak visionary, was inspirational to indigenous Pacific political activists across Oceania, just like Tongan anthropologist and writer Epeli Hao’ofa was to cultural advocates. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1989 by an opponent within the independence movement during ...
Forget thin is in, apparently now bigger is better … or is it? After over a decade of body positivity, girls, teens and women are even more confused about what body positivity actually is. The movement began with women confronting unrealistic expectations of how their bodies should look. But sub-strands ...
Grace always sat at the bar at the back of The Cambridge, where she could watch who came in. A huge mirror ran the length of the pub, so you could sometimes watch people without them knowing. The mirror made the place seem a lot bigger than it really was. ...
MONDAY Sheriff Mark Mitchell rose at dawn. He had a long day’s ride ahead of him. He was headed for Waikeria. Waikeria! Even the name itself stirred his blood, and set root in his imagination. There was nothing and no one in Waikeria. But he would bend it to his ...
The first phase of the inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones finished this week, turning up plenty of revelations and few answers. But through all the confusion, heartbreak and antipathy on display, the simple fact at the heart of this case remains: if little Lachie’s body had ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Benjamin, Professor in Art History, University of Sydney “She’s no oil painting”. Those were the unkind words of a colleague commenting on the subject of Vincent Namatjira’s acrylic painting, Gina. Every one of the prominent Australians and cultural heroes in Namatjira’s ...
Government plans to require local councils hold a referendum on whether to have Māori wards breaches the Treaty of Waitangi, a Waitangi Tribunal report has found. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney This year the National Rugby League (NRL) opened its season in Las Vegas. It was an audacious move by the league’s ambitious head honcho Peter V’Landys to showcase the game in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University Leading music organisations have praised the federal budget for its investment in the live music sector. The budget includes A$8.6 million for a program called Revive Live: to provide essential support to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marnee Shay, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, The University of Queensland The 2024 federal budget contains A$110 million for Indigenous education. This includes funding for various different organisations to represent and help Indigenous people as well as scholarships in a bid to ...
Air New Zealand has confirmed Nouméa’s Tontouta International airport in New Caledonia is closed until Tuesday. The airline earlier told RNZ it would update customers as soon as it could. Earlier today, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Morning Report government officials had been working on an “hourly basis” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Linley, PhD Candidate in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Grant Linley Australia’s unprecedented Black Summer bushfires in 2019–20 created ideal conditions for misinformation to spread, from the insidious to the absurd. It was within this context that a bizarre story ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marcel Scharth, Lecturer in Business Analytics, University of Sydney OpenAI executive Mira Murati launching GPT-4o.OpenAI Earlier this week OpenAI launched GPT-4o (“o” for “omni”), a new version of the artificial intelligence (AI) system powering the popular ChatGPT chatbot. GPT-4o is promoted ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treasure McGuire, Assistant Director of Pharmacy, Mater Health SEQ in conjoint appointment as Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Bond University and as Associate Professor (Clinical), The University of Queensland Speedkingz/Shutterstock Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a ...
A new poem by Hannah Patterson. Xiāng There’s a pear tree in our backyard And Xiāng tells me She can’t eat them anymore Not after some things that have happened in her life. She tells me, in Mandarin The word for pear sounds the same as the word for disassociation ...
‘Cycling Works’ aims to show business support for citywide cycle infrastructure. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, supermarket giant Foodstuffs lost its attempt to block the construction of a cycle lane outside Thorndon New World in Wellington. The Spinoff’s Wellington editor ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Slow Productivity by Cal Newport (Penguin, $40)Taking out the top spot in Auckland this ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University For decades, Australia has exported uranium – but not used it, other than in the Lucas Heights research reactor. But change is coming. We now face a rapidly deepening commitment to ...
"In future I should walk away," Green MP Julie Anne Genter says after complaints over an exchange in Parliament and from two members of the public. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Graffam, PhD Candidate in Theatre, Monash University Gianna Rizzo/Malthouse Music pumps; lights pulsate; two sweaty bodies sway together, touching, breathing in each other’s scent. A male body framed by downlight restlessly shifts between stances and gestures. He undresses. The intensity ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra van der Laan, Professor of Accounting, University of Sydney Mtaya/Shutterstock At some point, you or someone else will need to make a decision about your “send-off”. Most Australians die in an institution, such as a hospital or aged care facility. ...
Asia Pacific Report Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai — who is also Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group — has reaffirmed MSG’s support of the pro-independence umbrella group Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) stance opposing the French government’s constitutional bill “unfreezing” the New Caledonia Electoral Roll. It is ...
Producer Susan Leonard remembers her father Ernie, a pioneer of Māori television, and how his legacy lives on in Pathfinders.My father was a fabulous man. His name was Ernie Leonard and he started in TV in the 1970s when it was still glamorous – when TVNZ made behind the ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The suspected ringleaders of the unrest in New Caledonia have been placed in home detention and the social network TikTok has been banned as French security forces struggle to restore law and order. The French ...
Multi-year appropriations - which give the government authority to spend money without reapplying annually - are loosening Parliament's control of the public purse, auditor-general says. ...
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Here we go again: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116055224/jacinda-ardern-feted-abroad-but-emissions-trading-scheme-extension-in-trouble-at-home. The PM is trying to sell NZ agricultural products to the world by praising the progressive element of the farming sector who are working to reduce GH gasses in the production chain. Meanwhile, she is being stymied by naysayers, intransigents, vote grabbers and a media and opposition that depict her as a proxy sexual abuser.
All good in defending Ardern, but are those commentators actually wrong?
[lprent: Of course they’re wrong. While there are a lot of dimwits who subscribe to the great all-seeing dictator theory of management, I’ve never ever seen anyone ever managing it. You’d have to be a complete and utter fool to even think that.. This is probably about as close as you’re going to get to it.
Now lets go back and actually hear your ‘opinion’ perhaps you could explain your theory on it so I can explain why I think that you’re wrong, query the source you parroted it from and spit on your intellect in robust debate.
However that will be a week away. Banned for a week so you can figure out the following.
I see you try this standard troll tactic again, I will boot you off the site permanently. This site is here for your opinions, not for you to play dumbarse debating team / trolling tactical games on it.
I don’t like trolls ]
this whole Inquiry is like the shit they are investigating – so sad they are getting it wrong on such an important area. Time to walk the walk minister
The gang member chosen is I understand someone who has faced up to his own misdeeds and understands the dynamic so is good value. Pity that many politicians who are guilty of bad actions of all sorts don't own up to them, and turn round and try to improve the situation for the people ane the country. People who declare themselves pure of all stain, have never moved from their easy chair.
It's pretty basic stuff imo – you don't get it.
I am not sure that you do either. You are just so sure that you know it all there is no room for any other thought to circulate.
The problem here is the connection between gangs and sexual assault. It's not simply about whether the gang member has made amends, it's about whether the survivors feel safe. This should be the priority.
In this case, complaints have been made about his current behaviour, so his 'good value' is undermined by that.
Edit:
Uh-huh. Sounds as if his presence may be disturbing at present, and if a young woman has been attacked she isn't going to feel comfortable seeing a similar guy to the attacker in the panel or even in the room.
However he would be useful in later discussions after the victims have given evidence and got some comfort from that. He would be invaluable to give background about the sexual behaviour that he has observed, and why and how it happens that way, and his opinions on improving the situation.
I think NZ is embarrassed about sex and there should be discussions about it on a medical and social discussion level to try and get a balanced view about sexual matters. We need to think about it and progress, it is a public health thing, and we owe it to each other and our children to have clear guidelines that fit our modern world which seems to have past rigid attitudes and prudishness lingering. We need to respectfully treat the matter, as important to all for relationship health, and to mental health and understanding of our drives as humans.
Do people generally know about the way that young people go about their first sexual experience? Is there open discussion about sexual matters, so basic to us all? What do girls think about it, what do boys? There should be discussions as part of sexual education at school, or run by Primary Health nurses, and should be in a mixed group with appropriate professionals or community leaders leading the discussion. There might be a model discussion videoed that parents could watch to see and understand the value of this.
Guidelines for behaviour formed by agreement between the participants after discussion, would go a long way to preventing feelings of being pushed to participate and talking about the misunderstandings that could lead either gender to believe that it was okay to push ahead because it would be enjoyable in the end, or some such reason.
I apologise to anyone who thinks that the whole matter should be screened off and the less said the better. I think that has led us to where we are now, just as I think that being obsessed with sex and talking about it a lot, casually, is also in appropriate. It should be a special personal thing, 'Not Given Lightly'. Balance is all.
Don't know what you are trying to say there, but the inquiry is about the state's responsibility for children in its care who were abused (sexually, physically, emotionally). This isn't about sex and sexuality, it's about abuse. That you conflate the two renders your opinion on what is appropriate in the inquiry irrelevant.
There is a concept of trauma-informed or clinically-informed process. It exists because when put into practice it gives the best wellbeing outcomes for people who have been harmed. The inquiry has failed on that in a number of ways. The complaints against the gang member are about his behaviour and how that has affected the inquiry in a number of roles. His expertise can't trump that.
With regard to the issue of women not trusting a gang member, the inquiry should have managed that so he wasn't in a role where that would be an issue. Again, trauma-informed process matters and creates better outcomes.
I saw your comment and have thought about since it was made.
Try and listen to Insight this Sunday just after 8am on RNZ. Part of the reason is cyber abuse and predatory tourists.
Parents /grandparents needs to be educated on how to keep a child safe and a child needs to known what is grooming and what is unsafe contact from an adult.
Governments need to take sexual exploitation seriously both online and tourism.
I have not commented on the safety of adults.
A complex subject.
Could not save changes.
I think you need to have a think about why this Inquiry is being set up in the first place – it is about the innocent victims abused and treated like shit – which apparently continues, in the form of the way this Inquiry is going, to date imo
Sorry marty mars – I do understand that I had suggested something inappropriate at the first. It seems the heariang should be divided into two – first the victims and then better approaches to ensure respect of both genders for each other's emotional nature. I have tried to explain how I feel that things could be done afterwards to lead to less of this sort of trauma happening in the future.
I'm sorry too – I know you are engaging with comments and working hard to put stuff up and debate it – I can be a bit 'shoot first ask questions later' type which is irritating I know.
The purpose of the Royal Commission is to give a voice to the now adults who were children in social welfare care and in faith based care. To exclude anyone who is entitled to be there is to do them a disservice, example a convicted pedophile who was sexually assaulted while in social welfare care.
The Royal Commission needs to establish what the outcome/impact is from an individual's experience of being mistreated and harmed.
Everyone appearing before the Royal Commission need to feel secure about the process.
There are some gaps in the Royal Commission which require immediate action.
From the link above
I was not being specific.
Did your hear what Sonja Cooper said on Morning Report?
Read my last paragraph 2.2
no I haven't
I just wish the focus was REALLY on the victims and their trauma and not some process which may or may not be – but certainly will be traumatic.
This abuse and terror is happening today in this country – it has to fucken stop.
Many many people are going to feel the affects of the Royal Commission.
Being accountable to a person (especially a child) for behaviour which was condoned and should never have been, is a starting point.
british labour party conference has just pledged to 'de-carbonise' britain by 2030..
which makes that local carbon neutral by 2050 ambition – look kinda underwhelming..eh..?
Too soon
"The hope is that Labour will adopt it as official party policy and add the Green New Deal proposal to its next manifesto"
The problem is however as Greta said
“….saying that you’re doing enough when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight…”
hmmmm ..solutions are nowhere is sight.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/24/labour-set-to-commit-to-net-zero-
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/09/23/greta-thunberg-vows-that-if-un-doesnt-tackle-climate-change-we-will-never-forgive-you/emissions-by-2030
Hey, just a repeat post from last night…if anyone else knows of a group of people pushing for the WEAG recommendations to be implemented can you pls let us know.
I think for now we have given up on AAAP
What we would all like to know is what WEAG and AAAP mean. Some of us do, and many don't. Will people stop talking in acronyms because you are not going to reach your potential audience to make your point if they don't know what you are talking about?
WEAG = welfare working group
AAAP = Auckland action against poverty
ta – the outer world needs to know, and join in with you to help so need to know these things.
Who is 'we'?
A has been trying to contact them I think.
Ah, we as in I.
a small group https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-24-09-2019/#comment-1657157
You know even one person can make a difference 🙂
But yes, more than one of us and we recognised we need bigger national networks to push for change.
I do 🙂
Thanks. How come your gravatar is different?
My gravitar? Idk.
Weka's.
different IP does it I think. Or different email address.
So Hoskins and Garner think Greta is “hot air and the new Jacinda" and "over played her hand at the un" well that's all okay then 🙄
Garner says if climate change is so bad, why aren't adults doing anything about it? Well wasn't that the point the kid was making?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12270668
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/09/duncan-garner-dramatic-greta-thunberg-sends-counterproductive-message.html
What arseharts, the pair of them.
Horeskin and Garner are Natzi paid shrills trying to destroy Jacinda's reputation by making these types of comparisons, the problem is the RWNJ's will start believing these guys as most New Zealanders are sheep who can not think for themselves and believe MSM ?
Horeskin and Garner are not adults IMHO ?
You can add Sean Plunkett to your list of backside bowler-hats.
Greta says she is a very happy young girl,looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.
She will be when climate change deniers don't run the White house
She updated her profile to say she was now.
https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg
I know, I read the papers. Turned Trump's dig into a quality reverse troll.
What deadbeats – beating up on a kid! No doubt they are put out because all their ranting and raving hasn't had a scratch of the influence of a 15 year old who quietly and respectfully sat outside the Swedish Parliament with a placard on Fridays.
yep they disgrace themselves so effortlessly – their behaviour shows why they need to go – bullythickshakes with the emphasis on thick
What's new? Not worth the effort to write criticising the 'boys'.
I suggest any outrage you feel uses energy that is precious that could be applied elsewhere. Wallowing in outrage is so satisfying but getting into the support works and the promotion of new ways and the thinking of who and what is being hurt by climate change and political maltreatment is ongoing hard labour.
Thanks for your concern, but no thanks.
RNZ are reporting the US Congress leader Nancy Pelosis have announced a formal investigation with a view to impeach the president.
Apparently it is based on an anonymous whistleblower allegations, that link Trump personally gaining political favour, by having investigations in the Ukraine linking Biden to the baddies.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/399542/trump-ukraine-row-democrats-launch-trump-impeachment-inquiry
My very amateur hunch is that if this goes ahead, rather than sink trump, it will embolden him and strengthen his voter support. The Dems will think they have their trump card (boom boom!) and Trump can continue to Fake News!, obfuscate and fib.
Yeah, it's quite the conundrum for the Dems.
On one hand, Don of the Deadbrains has been in impeachable violation of his constitutional obligations from the moment of of his inauguration, and has been vigorously adding to his rap sheet ever since. He has made it abundantly clear he's quite happy to betray his country if he thinks there's personal benefit to be had. So if the Dems don't impeach him, they're basically surrendering their oversight and accountability obligations and the power of impeachment becomes meaningless. Also, there may be political benefit in publicising the wrongdoing that's been done and forcing Repugs into a yes or no vote.
On the other hand, removing the Mango Mugabe from office via impeachment simply ain't gonna happen. There's an absolute minimum of 20 Repug senators that would have to vote for conviction. But watching what happened to Mark Sanford, Jeff Flake and the very few other elected Repugs that spoke against the mandarin manutang has dissolved whatever vestigial spines and principles they may have once possessed.
Hell, even after a successful impeachment in the House, Moscow Mitch might just Garland the trial in the Senate and thereby spare Repug senators from having to even cast an uncomfortable vote. I certainly haven't yet seen any language in the constitution compelling the Senate to hold the trial, whereas the language requiring the Senate to consider Merrick Garland's nomination was quite clear, yet Moscow Mitch got away with just blowing off that constitutional obligation.
So yeah, there's the risk that impeaching Hair Furor in the House without a conviction and removal from office by the Senate might be viewed by enough of the electorate as stupid partisan political games and backfire on the Dems.
Andre
That was beautifully written – a triumph of good political analysis in popular slang and malapropisms?
Great analysis, Adrian. My reckons have a small % following this with enthusiasm, some thinking this will sink the Hysterical Hairdo and for the majority, it will barely register.
BTW do you have a Trump name generator app? The Mango Mugabe caused an involuntary snort.
Sorry Andre, got yr name wrong…
Great comment; informative and entertaining – particularly liked this, which might be more widely applicable:
It looks like the Dems may have evidence yet to be released:
Oops: I can’t find the link address. It was a Guardian news item which appears to have disappeared or been incorporated into another story. Sorry.
yep – I can't imagine they have gone this way without some big gotchas – I don't think the teflon turnipturd will be bothered though – he just turns it around by lying
Hi Marty, Anne, things like modern politics have less and less to do with evidence and truth. Witness the British Prime Minister illegally and unlawfully dissolving parliament.
I don't doubt that there is damning evidence but that doesn't matter if the perception of the great unwashed differs from the narrative.
eg CC is no problem because we have 'clean coal', I heard the president say so a few times.
Equally, I have little faith in the Dems making hay from this.
Akin to Hilary being a sure bet, she will win because she is experienced, it's her turn, she is a woman….
Yes.
Within 24 hrs of the "wonderful" (Trump's words) meeting with Ardern he has:
1) Ruled out any tightening of gun laws in the US.
2) Refused to sign the US up to the Christchurch Call and has made a speech at the UN denouncing the attempt by technological companies to curtail free speech.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/399543/donald-trump-warns-about-social-media-platforms-acquiring-immense-power
Maybe not, a yougov poll has 55% in favour of impeachment over this, if true.
Even among republicans it's 38%. The tide could well be changing.
https://mobile.twitter.com/YouGovUS/status/1176597972659970048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1176602161750450177&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fworld-us-canada-49819346
Worst case: the terms of the investigation are too narrow, charges go to Senate, and the repugs exonerate him. Re-election 2020.
Best case: he gets investigated, it takes until november 2020 but the dirt getting exposed is so overwhelming that it scuppers his re-election bid. And then federal and state charges are laid January 2021. He spends the last years of his life shafting his lawyers' attempts to have him ruled incompetent to stand trial.
Middle-worst case: senate convicts him, president pence gets elected as a spiritual cleanser.
Middle case: whether or not he gets convicted or re-elected, New York State does him for tax fraud.
I cant figure out what the dems think will happen here
They cant seriously think impeachment will fly so it must be a set up for the next election. its just crazy,, this will solidify Trumps support
The only rational explanation is that they are completely irrational
It still hasn't occurred to them that they could use a democratic process to get the best candidate and then actually win on merit!…
or is that idea just too radical
So after flailing round for 3 years the Dems think they've finally got their man by saying he's obstructing aid. Oh the irony! Let's see if this has opened the door for Iran, Venuezuela and N Korea to launch their own impeachment proceedings too lol.
Giuliani seems to know what this is all about…
No. It's about tRump allegedly using public money in an attempt to coerce a foreign power into investigating a political opponent.
That is diplomacy – we will withhold money until you do this for us in return.
A touch cynical, but often correct. The operative word there is "us", though. The national interest, not the personal interest of the officials making the decisions.
The essential difference between realpolitik and personal corruption.
Using public money to stitch up a a political rival isn't diplomacy.
edit:
https://twitter.com/tomwatson/status/1176578447134613506
Political rival.. hehe.. "tui". Man, that letter is a barrel of lol's.
There's just so much irony in the Dems carry on. Years have been spent on investigating Trump, and when he recipricates they completely lose it.
The call is only one red flag. A whistle blower went to the IG with evidence of other wrongdoing, too.
btw, the Senate has unanimously agreed to Schumer's resolution calling for the whistle blower complaint to be turned over to the intelligence committees
Essentially more innuendo…
https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1176930298124107776
Aaron should stick to what he's good at; defending war criminals.
You'll like this one then Joe… from another one you called a "war criminal defender"…
https://twitter.com/henryrodgersdc/status/1176957062959521795
It’s not about the transcript of a call. It’s about his ongoing abuse of the powers of the presidency.
And Gabbard? She's a Republican so of course she's going to defend the yam.
Mate is pretending to be too stupid to understand the obvious threat being made. So he can pivot to his one true love, perpetual whining about Dems.
edit: Also interesting is how closely Mate is parroting Repug talking points:
“McConnell also indicated that he hasn’t backed off even an inch from his cover-up for Trump’s criminal behavior, releasing a statement claiming that Democrats have held “a two-and-a-half-year impeachment parade in search of a rationale.” ”
https://www.salon.com/2019/09/25/will-republicans-dump-trump-nope-theyll-cover-up-for-him-until-the-bitter-end/
wonderful stuff thank you maui – must be time for a guestpost from you – be great to read all your ideas on this in one post – that will create a forum for debate no doubt
Thank you marty. I have been sort of waiting for someone like Bill to step in though, he's much better at analysing and writing than moi.
You have a view, shared by many, that tbh I don't agree with AND it would be good to have that difference outlined to see the logic and arguments – I want to really understand why people think the way they think.
Horeskin and Garner are not adults IMHO ?
A lot of Maori men are in prison, but while a lot is made of the percentage to population, they are still a minority to pakeha and tauiwi extremely unpleasant criminals. Have a look at the s.itheads in this nasty murder case. Should these men when babies have been taken from their parents? What sort of parental methods result in adult outcomes who will never realise their potential to be a great, happy, admirable person? Would parental classes for both young people which would come connected to a fortnightly child assistance payment to them, get them on a positive line of child rearing and understanding how to cope and manage through stresses, and be co-operative.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/399497/murderers-told-victim-to-dig-his-own-grave
Those who have worked in the criminal justice system are well aware that there is a massively high probability that the sorts of people you refer to were taken from their parents.
Are you thinking of pakeha who I was referring to?
Yes.
Well lets hope neither of these two ever get out of jail as it's hard to imagine them reforming and becoming valuable members of society.
From the "I am not a believer in conspiracy" files.
On Sunday I visited another town in my EV. While having it recharged at a public facility. I went for a walk with my wife for a block a way and went through a car yard I had visited two years ago while searching for an EV to buy. There were no staff as the yard was closed.
Today on Facebook there is a specific ad on my Facebook Home page from the very car yard that I visited.
Coincidence? It's a startling thing.
Is there a possibility that facial recognition technology from a security camera is at play here? That my very basic cell phone is being tracked? That my car rego was noted when I drove past twenty minutes later? That my EV's electronic key in my pocket was somehow 'discovered'?
Or is it just coincidence and some very targeted advertising based on my facebook activity and previous purchase? As the saying goes, coincidence occurs only when we can't see the levers and pulleys.
I guess I am really asking for comment from wiser technology-savvy heads about how deep intrusion in our lives is based on tracking our personal information?
assuming you are in NZ I would guess it's either a semi-coincidence (based on targeted advertising from other activity), or it's your phone or credit card usage.
If your phone is a smart phone you can turn location services off.
FB will be using your IP address to target advertising, so if you have FB on your phone it will know your general area by how you connect to the internet.
I don't know what happens with EVs, but it's worth checking if it's the EV's GPS. You could ask the manufacturer for details on what the tech is in your car and if it's connected to online services.
I would be very surprised if this was facial recognition, we're not there yet in NZ afaik.
According to David Spiegelhalter in The Art Of Statistics there is no such thing as coincidence, its just a matter of mathematics. "Connected "people, the sort who talk to others a lot, and I know you are one mate, find more coincidences simply because they have a lot more information and contacts. Yes, it looks suspicious but as you say you have been online looking at EV sites, also you were in this specific town using cards etc which ramps up the coincidence possibilities. If you had not gone there would the pop up have happened the next day. Who knows ? . It may simply be the act of paying for the charge up in the vicinity and the webby thing did the rest.
Its disturbing this bullshit which is why I have stared paying for everything with pebbles.
So Mac1 if I don''t come back from the bar with my round on Friday night its because I've been thrown out on my arse.
Thanks, Weka and Adrian. The EV's GPS still thinks it's in Japan. I’m in NZ as Adrian knows.
My cell has a FB icon but I've never used it or set it up.
I did get e-mail acknowledgements immediately of my use of public chargers but would FB know that? That charger also accessed my bank account and was my only credit card use on that trip.
So as you say, Adrian, it might be a webby thing……. perhaps I should adopt your payment method using the asparagus coming out of my ears at the moment.
When I return to work after 3 days off, I am often prompted to offer a review of my hospitality place of work. I have put it down to the location tracker jobbie in my Whoarewe phone.
This in no way makes me think we are under-survielled and spied upon excessively.
you dont use google maps?
you can delete FB off your phone.
"I did get e-mail acknowledgements immediately of my use of public chargers but would FB know that?"
Was that a gmail account?
Might want to check the TOS for the charger.
Location services and the apple equivalent is a generic facility on your cell phone. I haven't looked at it too recently, but it uses GPS, wifi, cell towers, and even near field or blue tooth to try to increase the accuracy of its fix – especially when you are indoors and the GPS signal sucks.
It is also something that quite a lot of apps access, everything from google maps to various other systems that read location information and sell it directly or indirectly to advertisers.
If it's capable a 3g net connection google will be following you around. Need to turn that off, also downloaded any apps? Plenty of them capture location data and sell it back for advertising purposes.
Hi there,
Yep they use all of the things you mentioned. Sometimes car yards/shops use beacons which push messages to your phone (if you have this enabled and didn't realise you could turn it off it would freak you out).
who is using face recognition that they sell to FB?
I'll be watching you
Every move you make
Every step you take
I'll be watching you
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html
paywalled out for this month. Are the beacons the bluetooth tracking or something separate?
Alternative link to the article.
http://archive.li/6sbMl
The beacons connect with your phone to gather data.
The Guardian Firewall team has discovered that a growing number of iOS apps have been used to covertly collect precise location histories from tens of millions of mobile devices, using packaged code provided by data monetization firms. In many cases, the packaged tracking code may run at all times, constantly sending user GPS coordinates and other information.
In order to gain initial access to precise data from the mobile device’s GPS sensors, the apps usually present a plausible justification relevant to the app in the Location Services permission dialog, often with little or no mention of the fact that location data will be shared with third-party entities for purposes unrelated to app operation.
All location data monetization firms listed on this page collect one or more of the following data points:
In addition, some firms also collect the following types of less sensitive device information:
https://guardianapp.com/research/ios-app-location-report-sep2018/
"The beacons connect with your phone to gather data."
Wasn't sure the beacon was bluetooth only, or using a range of tech (bluetooth, wifi, mobile network).
I have location services turned off, usually bluetooth is off, but wifi is often on when I am in town.
not sure how relevant the beacons are to NZ. Yet.
Those free apps you install on your phone?
Well, if its free, you're the product.
edit: they’re here alright
https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/87241219/beacons-making-a-comeback
that's about the US?
If I have bluetooth turned off, how do the apps send data?
It's used by one of the biggest retailers in the country.
When customers use mobile applications developed by Scentre, or logon to Wi-Fi provided in Westfield shopping centres or third party applications utilising Scentre’s infrastructure (including Bluetooth beacon networks), customers provide Scentre with certain information including their contact details.
https://www.westfield.co.nz/privacy-policy
I saw a tweet recently about how Uber and others can use that information to jack up their prices when you're desperate. Joy.
as in the car driver has a device that reads the customer's phone data?
The phone app communicates it to Uber's platform directly. Driver not involved.
Uber determines price rather than teh driver?
Correct. Drivers basically underpaid slaves.
Most likely to be location services on your cellphone is turned on.
The Australian government, along with the RW of Australians, will steal the gold fillings from our teeth if they find they need them.
At present we are defending the manuka honey business that we have been working to build.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/399537/millions-poured-to-ensure-manuka-honey-is-a-nz-only-product
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/399398/tractor-protest-farmers-concerned-by-rush-of-reforms
The protest took place in the township of Ruawai, at the northern end of Kaipara Harbour.
Between 120 and 150 farmers turned up, most of them by tractor.
They said a suite of measures, zero carbon legislation, the latest water plan and the Billion Trees Programme could force some of them off their land.
The Mayor of Kaipara, Jason Smith, said it was a quiet protest but with a strong message.
"They weren't tooting horns, there was no loud noise, people were standing around in solidarity, just being concerned (about the future)," Dr Smith said.
Another Dr Smith!
The Kaipara Harbour is NZ's largest by area. There are many acres of farmland surrounding it and it's tributaries. As more pressure comes to bear against farmers adjacent to waterways, I think the Kaipara region will become a hotbed of discontent.
I think the strongest protest they could mount would revolve around showcasing farmers that are going the extra enviro mile. We all support those guys.
Edit
We do indeed, and should be helping others up by their bootstraps. All is not won though as i have heard of farmers watching their stock eat down the greenery, flaxes, and then stepping past it to get to the stream. So vigilance is required for effectiveness even once measures to remediate pollution are taken.
I understand that Kaipara has had a lot of run off into the estuary? So it is in farmers interest to keep their top soil, and also to keep the estuary water in good health, because I think it is a place for growing spat as a business? Isn't that also where they had the great sewerage fixing bill? It seems there is a lot to do, so just getting together to protest would be not being real men. Getting together to form working groups helping each other for the good of the whole, as well as to meet the government requirements that have been needed for probably two decades or longer. The problems have not shown up suddenly, out of the blue.
And not to be overlooked is the effect of sea rise. I think that it is flat around Kaipara, so the farmers can huddle around a map showing projections of where the sea will rise and how it will affect them. Perhaps dredging and building up sand and mud dunes on which they could plant mangrove or such that would be good fish spawning cover for young fish. That would help to take some of the brunt of waves in storms.
They might get help on their streams from the Environment River Patrol Aotearoa NZ which Milan Ruka has been behind. He has been doing more stuff than the farmers about water and environment health and might have some tips.
I've thought of a word to describe some of the regular commenters here – CAN'T (Carpers and Negative Controllers) and they attempt to shut down discussion, either deliberately or in the nit-picking way they treat others comments.
While it may not be ad hominem comment, it is slanted to give the commenter the feeling that their comment from their mind has nothing to say of relevance and therefore the person is mindless, ignorant, and for many people this is the same as an ad hominem in its effect. Obsessed people may continue to arise despite, but for those concerned for a wider discussion covering all topics it is greatly disheartening.
The reply to the comment will not build on it adding more background, it will not simply correct a mistake. The comment will be dumped on as wrongly quoted, the syntax is wrong, some figures wrong and so the whole comment is useless to consider, and it shows a mind uninformed and with nothing to add to the superior understanding of the person who responds. Wrong, wrong, wrong, so buzz off you inferior person. That's the message and the end result to many, while the lords, mainly I think, of the internet roll on flattening the poppies who might otherwise have got tall before they were attacked.
In other words the message is 'You 'Can't' say anything of importance or helpful – why bother.'
I try to put my comments to the table test before clicking Submit Comment.
'Would I use the same words if I was sitting across the table from the person I'm responding to?'
I wonder if people that feel the need to dominate and seed confrontation in a discussion on an anon message board lead somewhat different lives in the real world.
I wonder. But I get concerned at the lack of participation in this blog from lefties. I wonder if they lose heart. Times are tough and work hours or making do is demanding. But learning while you are going is not wasted time and just raising a query and some ideas and getting response is heartening. If the response is a sneer not. If it is a little query about meaning or the need to put source, or show opinion one way and quote okay. But encouragement is primary rather than scholastic lessons or entrenched opinion coming down on you.
There are some great people out there so those who seem to want to dominate, go schtum. Let it pass, ask for more info. Try to love other people's reaching up for understanding, communication, togetherness. There are some people who I am very wary of, anyone who tries to love and trust all others is unwise, but let's try to find How to get There…?
I replied to your question about comment formatting here https://thestandard.org.nz/the-climate-action-momentum/#comment-1656997
Thanks weka I have copied that and rushed off with it to my lair to study.
"There are some people who I am very wary of, anyone who tries to love and trust all others is unwise,…"
I am curious, why do you think it is unwise to try and love all?
So often I find, first needing to understand the other before I can hope to be understood by them.
Since i read about the Exclusive Brethren leader who commented that a young man who was suicidal over the split between the cult and his family, would be better off dead, should take rat poison, I thought that I can't trust these people. And there were other features of their behaviour which when understood showed they can never be trusted and that applies to a number of cults.
Going round being kind to all without wariness, is being naive sorry gsays – and over time you will find they often understand you very well and prefer to remain obscure themselves.
You are starting to sound like a flower child from hippy times. I think loving all is OTT, trying to have goodwill to all with wariness is good, and helping where you can be kind and being friendly. When you find who to trust, and know the small number that you will ever understand the heart of, then love them. Just don't throw it away like tissues or easy tears, it is precious, there isn't a lot of the real thing around.
ahh.. conditional love.
Love for those who deserve it, good will for those who deserve it, patient tolerance, disdain or disgust for those gone off track or beyond redemption. That says it I think. No need to hang social dictionary tags on it.
That's some pretty pecksniffian stuff there grayzy.
Not usually, however that is mostly because I tend to avoid arguing with people outside of online. It is obvious when you look at what happens on these kinds of forums.
Arguing or even discussing things with other people often means that you need to be somewhat on a level playing field to get anything out of it. But conversations are usually one to few in real-life.
Now I’m an extreme case. I have always had a really capacious memory, lots of CPU cycles, and a habit of thinking a lot about everything. Plus I have been continuously on the ‘social’ nets in some form or another since the mid-1980s BBSes and 90s usenet and have no interest in TV, sport, gossip and anything else that is essentially repetitive. And I never bother to compete or dominate with anyone – it is too easy to just leave them holding a some sinking island while I move on to something that is of interest to me. Plus I’m too damn arrogant to be concerned about what anyone else thinks of me.
Which makes it rare for me to find someone who has anything that interesting or new to me. Which also means that there isn’t that much to argue about except work.
But social networks and especially ones like this, you’re effectively talking to thousands of people at once with a bit of a lag. Yesterday on this site with a quiet day there were 2,784 distinct humans visited and read various posts and comments. 9,978 over the last 7 days**.
That gives a much larger selection of people who can provide the grist for interesting disagreements. It is also self-selecting for people who can argue.
So on here, even if I wasn’t having to moderate, my behaviour would change compared to IRL and has ever since I joined argument forums. I learn a hell of a lot just reading these forums. It is also why I’m also willing to expend time stomping on people who try to dilute the good arguments of a robust debate. The returns make it worthwhile.
//————
** there will be some inaccuracy in that due to people not using cookies or having different ‘identities’ on different systems. However when I analysed it a while ago, the maximum inaccuracy on users was less than 10%. Some of them are single reads from search engines. However that is well less than 30% of all of the users. Something like 40% of users read the site multiple times per week.
Is the 40% return users over the long term, or just the period you are looking at (eg a week)?
"2,784 distinct humans visited and read various posts"
Is the Unique Views, Users, Page Views, or something else?
That is the long-term average for a week.
humans == Unique Users (at least as far as google can see).
You can see this in the analytics summary in the dashboard. But reminds me that I'm on holiday for 5 days starting tonight. Google analytics coming your way.
Sweet!
The graph I'm looking at has Unique Views or Users (not Unique Users). Which one are you looking at?
hmm, ok, it's the Users then I think. Unique views might be some Users looking more than once.
Yep. You have to look at how google collects the information about users.
If you look in the cookies on your system, you'll find tracking cookies from google and others. These come in if you're on gmail or logged in on chrome or any number of other things.
What they also do is to allow google analytics to track user patterns. They do this by allocating a analytics number to everyone.
You should have access to analytics now. If you look under Audience / User Explorer you can see the anonymised data looking at individual user stats. That gives a better idea of how it is done.
😎 That should keep me busy.
That is just play… 🙂
Just don't let it interfere with the serious business of writing posts. 🙁
lol, ok.
So many posts up today!
Yep. That happens.
I’m having a 5 day weekend to do some outstanding work at home. Procrastinating on working on web code rather than my favoured hard-core code inevitably results in me becoming more blog-active…
Oh well the weekend boss is dragging me off to lunch, so I’d expect that there will be an expectation of less blog and more work on her site.
You're a strange man, lprent. Though magisterial about computer shit. For which I thank you.
I'd agree and I have known this for many years.
Hope you're well. I just aren't for the Labour Party. Since you know when. When they combined with the strong. When I logically knew them to be in the wrong. In my young age.
Ghandi a racist? Wouldn't he actually be a nationalist or a patriot/
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018714782/racist-gandhi-should-not-be-honoured-at-un-event-researcher
I fleetingly heard it and it sounded like the guy was saying that gandhi didn't like a group of people because of the colour of their skin – in other words he said and acted like black people were inferior because they were black. If so then that is racism in my book.
His own words condemn him.
https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/03/31/not-all-peaceful-13-racist-quotes-gandhi-said-about-black-people/
This academic gets his points across well and is interesting on Brit and the unlawful decision against Boorish's pro-rogueing.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018714767/supreme-court-biggest-constitutional-mic-drop-in-50-yrs
The British Supreme Court has ruled that the decision by the British prime minister Boris Johnson to prorogue or suspend parliament for five-weeks was unlawful. Dr Dean Knight is the co-director of the New Zealand Centre of Public Law at Victoria University and spoke to Corin Dann about the case from London.
A good read and nuance regarding trudeau. Worth noting for our progressives here I'd say
This comment on Mahdawi's opinion article offers an interesting point of view. As I read it I found myself thinking about the political and public reaction to Metiria Turei's 2017 admission of benefit fraud some 25 years earlier at ~22 years of age – NZ lost an excellent MP over that.
I'm not comparing Trudeau to Turei (there are so many differences), but the effects of self-destructive tendencies in the progressive left are worth reflecting on before going full tilt, IMHO.
I found this paragraph in the article to be telling
For me the left reflexive defensive cos someone is a 'good' person or done 'good things' is the real problem. Own it, accept it, try to change it and then get on with it. Defend it or blame the others for being worse and other tactics really do feed the right. They don't need feeding – they need starving and you do that by sorting shit out fast and you do that imo by owning it, being a grown up and doing something about it and then moving on.
"Own it, accept it, try to change it and then get on with it." – good advice, and I wonder what more Trudeau could do now to address the hurt and allay concerns about the choices he made some years before becoming a politician.
Could Canada do better than Trudeau as PM – yes (IMHO). But will they?
Hats off to Simon Bridges. I admire the consistency with which he depicts himself as the village idiot and the certainty he has that the rest of us are too.
The news just had him as saying Tracey Martin should have been more hands on in the Royal Commission into historical abuse in state care.
I must admit my disappointment that he hasn't called for the resignation of Jacinda Ardern over the situation which has arisen with the Commission. Oh well, maybe tomorrow or when she gets back in the country he'll be singing that tune.
The whipping Bridges has been receiving from all quarters must be taking a toll. The most confident of battlers eventually gets driven to stepping aside.
Bridges' repeated deadpan delivery of the same answered question in the house yesterday was the work of a broken man.
Martin answered his 'What are you doing about a pedo on the board?' question straight out of the gate.
"You're a lawyer, you know it's illegal for an MP to have any influence over a Royal Commission."
On and on Bridges went with his prepared supps. I thought Martin was masterful…mistressful?? The temptation to say "I've already answered that." must of been strong. She went into the rare circumstances under which an MP could influence the Royal Enquiry. She had obviously studied the situation closely.
Still Bridges ground on with questions she had answered in finite detail.
I guess they're stuck with him for the 2020 election but crikey.
One of his Bridges' bridge promises has come true. The new Taipa bridge will be open in the next month or so and it's looking great. They have also hopefully solved issues with the largest school in the district flooding. The guys that built it will move onto the Kaeo bridge, that was always their intention. I see Robertson has begun calling the Kaeo job a Labour party win. Gosh they're amusing the way they all try to pin their brand on the wins, anyone's win.
https://www.dealsonwheels.co.nz/trucks/news/1908/new-bridge-brings-benefits-to-taipa
So true. I remember the Nats making a big deal out of the completion of the Waterview tunnel when it was the previous Labour govt, who did all the hard yards.
At least one of Bridges promised bridges has come to fruition.
Yet the troubled waters remain?
Bugger – Simon 'No' Bridges has a ring to it. Simon 'One' Bridges won't work.
Roll on Simon 'Two' Bridges, right up there with Arthur 'Two Sheds' Jackson I reckon.
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2019/09/24/iconic-feminists-to-speak-at-new-zealand-event/
Canadian feminist Meghan Murphy is coming to New Zealand and will be speaking at the Feminism2020 event in Wellington on November 13th along with Dr Holly Lawford-Smith, Dr Melissa Derby, and SUFW spokeswoman Ani O’Brien. These are the feminists they don’t want you to hear. Banned, deplatformed, censored, and harassed, nonetheless these are women on the frontline of feminism.
Sanders won New Hampshire in 2016.
https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1176526908235878400
Seems like she's building that movement she was on about at her 20,000 attended rally.
PM Jacinda Ardern speaking at the UN.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/399573/jacinda-arden-tells-un-words-and-actions-have-immeasurable-consequences
Ta. She really understood the role of the UN well, compared with the buffoon who spoke earlier.
We have always been at war with Eurasia..
Naturally his Bryceness cannot resist fluffing a strawman based on his superior knowing of the NZ public's wishes:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/25/ardern-was-supposed-to-be-the-anti-trump-but-she-failed-to-speak-truth-to-power
Does Edwards really expect the PM to trade in her dignity, authority, diplomacy skills and self-respect by having a slanging match with a Trump, who lacks all three of those qualities. The Guardian should engage better commentators.
And Victoria University should employ smarter lecturers.
Talking of "the buffoon"… he's reached out to Nancy Pelosi wanting to… wait for it… negotiate a settlement with her over the impeachment:
https://i.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/116088298/donald-trump-tried-to-negotiate-his-way-out-when-he-heard-of-impeachment-inquiry
Unbelievable.
To head off a flood of Press Council complaints about bias, The Harold rushes out a response by one of its travel writers to another's most recent silly rantings: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12270749
Media Council doesnt review bias in Opinion columns. They are .. well opinions but rely on a 'foundation of fact' which means no easily provable lies.
Neither are they expected to provide balance for opinions
Twyford has torn strips off the bumblers in Treasury who botched the financial numbers in a report on Road infrastructure spending
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/116076628/phil-twyford-hits-back-at-treasury-for-misleading-wrong-briefings-that-leave-out-billions-of-spending
"Twyford says the claim the Government was missing $3.8 billion of new transport projects had "no factual basis"
It seems that Treasury was writing reports based on wishful thinking from NZ National
"Treasury has been left with egg on its face for the second time this year after Transport Minister Phil Twyford slammed the ministry for missing out billions of dollars from its calculations.
Based on wishful thinking from the Infrastructure Council, I read somewhere. Can just imagine the neolibs in Treasury giving it a free pass cos not govt.
In part it's Twyford's own fault. He failed to clear out NZTA's Board or refresh its objectives as a Board. Instead he presumed that tilting the NLTP would be sufficient.
Also he forgot to clean out Ministry of Transport, who have guided him about as poorly as it's possible for a Ministry to do so. This is one of the results. Another is the entire regulatory debacle. Another is the light rail strategy disaster and light rail procurement mess.
But the suspicion I have is that Robertson decided to kick Twyford while he was down – ready to be reshuffled – and get another of Robertson's wieners replacing him in Cabinet.
Maybe the entire transport portfolio needs clear felling. OIA suggests that there are problems in Wellington with the LGWM ,the mayors recollection of what he told councillors,and did JAG threaten to hold her breath.
"Justin's advice to us was that this was the best he could do. There was also talk about the Green's/JAG [Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter] influence on the package," the documents say.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/116084129/documents-reveal-claims-green-party-agreement-used-by-mayor-as-leverage-for-transport-deal-in-wellington
ACC posts 8.7$ billion deficit.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/399579/acc-posts-8-point-7-billion-deficit
ACC chair Dame Paula Rebstock said the record deficit was an accounting measure, and in its day to day dealings the corporation had a cash surplus of $570 million.
"The cash operating surplus demonstrates ACC's robust funding structure that enables the scheme to withstand volatility, including falling interest rates."
She said the deficit would not affect ACC's ability to pay claims and it's too early to say what effect it might have on levies, which would be set by the middle of next year….
However, Dame Paula said in the medium term levies would have to rise to cover increasing costs such as medical treatments and rehabilitation.
ACC had a record 2 million claims in the past year, which adds to the financial demands on its funds.
The value of its outstanding claims liability (OCL) rose by $10.8b because of the fall in interest rates to $53b. ACC operates on the basis of having to cover the lifetime cost of all claims already made, and extends that out 100 years to 2119. (Should that be 3119? And why ahead so long, pay as we go plus have some reserves, would be practical but not pure enough for Treasury no doubt.)
No
Next year is 2020, so 100 yrs later is 2119. No need add another 1000 yrs.
Seems to me to be silly to go out 100 yrs , 50 yrs should be fine for almost all claimants and the few after that are inconsequential in terms of their reserves of $43.8 bill.
An increase of $5 bill this year alone- not sure why thay should highlight the 'balance sheet future costs'
Crikey, 100 years?
Labour kept ACC on its full pre-funding trajectory after 1999 partly to build a handy nest egg they could plunder just like the Nats have, but the main reason Shipley et al made the shift in the first place was to prepare for privatisation. Sadly for English, Joyce and chums the Aussie insurance industry were not keen enough in 2009.
Returning the scheme to annual pay-as-you-go instead would remove the prospect.
I'm looking forward to Air New Zealand being regulated by the Commerce Commission as a monopoly on most New Zealand domestic routes, now that Jetstar is pulling out.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12270903
It needs a lot more that Shane Jones to actually regulate price from a company that totally dominates one entire sector of the country. It's akin to every New Zealand motorway being tolled with no alternative route, and no one to hold them to legally hold them to account for the price they charge or how often you're allowed to drive on it.
Or maybe the government can provide stronger scrutiny as the major shareholder.
Or something.
+100
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/399566/jetstar-to-pull-out-of-regional-flying-in-nz-at-end-of-november
Government as usual hasn't the guts to run it's commercial businesses for the advantage of the whole country. There will be an opportunity to charge more for the main flights and subsidise to some extent the regions. And Jetstar shouldn't get the red carpet if they want to come here and get some of the cream.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said it was a shame to lose airline competition in the regions, but the government won't be telling Air New Zealand not to raise its prices.
Mr Robertson was hopeful another airline would emerge.
"We've had times in the past in New Zealand where we haven't had other operators on those regional routes and we'll have to see whether another one emerges but those decisions are entirely for Air New Zealand to make," he said.
"Clearly there's an expectation from New Zealanders that there are fair prices paid, and we'll keep an eye on that."
62 year old man abducts and sexually violates a 16 year old girl. There is a frame around his face from a CCTV picturte. Would that be for facial recognition tech?
I haven't heard lately of any 62 year old woman abducting a teenage boy and sexually violating him. Seems that it is time we had a better approach to enable people to sort out their sex urges without invading someone else's self and respect. There have been some teachers however, so it's not quite black and white.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/399589/police-hunt-man-after-teenager-abducted-and-sexually-violated
” Seems that it is time we had a better approach to enable people to sort out their sex urges without invading someone else’s self and respect.”
What do you suggest?
Don't know at present what do you suggest.
Thought you might have some ideas seeing as you were the one who bought it up like you knew what you were talking about, so apart from precogs and precrime units like in Minority report, or chemical castration for all men and mandatory bromide in our tea just in case, unless you're on a sex offender list where you can be monitored and directed accordingly, there's not really much else you can do for individuals apart from keep pushing the message not to do it and punish those who do, is there?
and in the 'punish those who do' is where we fail utterly . We do not treat this particular crime as the crime it is. 'their sex urges' – heck of an urge there.
is that when i steal a car i have uncontrolled 'drive urges'?
I agree, Sabine. When I saw Al1en's comment, I thought it askew with that standard punishment bit. Punishment (known as negative reinforcement in the 60s when I was training to be a teacher) works (in my experience) only in the shallowest way for activities to which people are NOT emotionally inclined at a deep level, in which case punishment does next to nothing.
I always liked the film 'A Clockwork Orange' because it deals with this issue.. but gives no solution.
So what are the options if punishment fails?
a truly novel approach.
throw the darn law book at them, lock em up – no matter how bright their future – and keep them locked up until time served.
or else lets stop with the pretense that we are a nation of laws and simply abolish all laws as there will always be offenders and really what can be done?
Isocrates in Areopagiticus, (some 25 centuries ago) suggested that excess laws was a sign of poor government.
Written laws do not increase virtue, but quotidian customs. Most men tend to take up the customs as moral of the place in which they were brought up. More so, it is evident that where there is a large number of defined laws, it is a signal that the state is badly governed. There are cases in which men try to build barriers against delinquency decreeing large numbers of norms. But well-governed men do not need to fill the porticos with written laws, but simply fix justice in the spirits, and those poorly educated will try to break the laws accurately produced. By contrast, well-educated men will be in good disposition to respect even the simplest codes.
yes dear.
and thus we get raped.
He didn't have 2500 years of documented government to put paid to that wishful thinking. Doesn't stop business cabals demanding deregulation, though.
You are so wet Allen always spoiling for an argument. I show example, express concern and say something should be done. And that starts you off with a demand that I delineate a policy to deal with it. Are you becoming an ambush troll I hope not? Well I have given you something to bother about – I have spelt your pseudo wrongly. What's your cunning plan?
To be honest, the way you write leaves me bemused, and often I'm left thinking wtf is that all about, not to mention thoughts about quality over quantity. Tell you what, if you're responding to me in future, I'd consider it a courtesy if you'd make your arguments and points in plain English and help me out a bit. Though it has to be said, to completely shoot it down, in the exchange here you haven’t once given examples of how to deal with the issue you yourself raised, in fact you answered “Don’t know at present”. If you’re going to lie, at least look at the previous posts first.
As for not using my chosen login name correctly, well, that's just a failing on your part you wilfully advertise to the membership here. I don't mind that at all. 😉
The UK bookies on Johnson and Brexit.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/24/bookies-slash-odds-boris-johnson-leaving-office-year-10799358/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Check We are stuffing there future so Our Rangatahi deserve to vote to protect their future but I say move the goal post a bit closer and go for 17 years old to vote.
That is a great discription of Aotearoa Prime Minister she is genuine and is using her Mana to make other tangata lives better.
More putea being invested into our Rangatahi sports programme is great I hope some of that putea get to the Regions.
Tutai shonkys only minute on the Papatuanuku stage was the golf game.
Our change to a green future will boost our Papatuanuku economy and leave Our futures A Clean and Green environment we all know that's a bit had for unintelligent people to Grasp?????????.
Great interview Rangatahi don't worry about the neanderthal they will be rolled into our history books.
The idea of Rangatahi being able to vote has just started. Opinions will change I have seen polls change quite rapidly on some subjects
Yes our farmers are putting them selves under a lot pressure they are isolated with no one to talk to. I tau toko this big barbecue initiative to help farmers who are on a low at the minute Ma Te Wa thing will get better that's the way of life ups and downs tangata just have to stay look for the positive side of every situation Ka kaha.
Ka kite Ano
Some Eco Maori Music For The Minute.
https://youtu.be/Z0lufcRgZlA
Kia Ora Newshub.
That's is a huge Strike for Our Climate in Aotearoa Ka pai Ka kaha keep up the good mahi
Shaun Eco Maori won't be flying any time soon not until air travel has cleaned up there act.
Wow that's a big drop for NZ post yes online shopping is takeing off for them it's replaceing posted letters.
The Takia promise of our Aotearoa quest leaving behind only foot prints and not rubbish is great everyone knows they have to get on the Clean and Green WAKA or they will sink.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Our Strikes for Our Climate makes Eco Maori so proud. It is a emergency Our way of living has to change we are only on Papatuanuku for a very small finite time it's not on that our generation is making such a big mess that it will make living in the future extremely hard for the common poor tangata to live a healthy life. The climate change deniers are making out that mitergateing Global warming will make Tawhirimate fall on Our heads YEA RIGHT mitergateing global warming will be the best thing for us all.
Ka kite Ano
https://youtu.be/QAB6aXOfUmU
Ma Te Wa
I….Eco Maori tipuna new this Phenomenon people power is stronger than people in power he made a Haka
Te tangata Te tangata its the people that count in Te Papatuanuku
Climate crisis: 6 million people join latest wave of global protests
Week of strikes and demonstrations is ‘only the beginning’, say organisers
Six million people have taken to the streets over the past week, uniting across timezones, cultures and generations to demand urgent action on the escalating ecological emergency
“This week was a demonstration of the power of our movement,” said a spokesperson for the FridaysForFuture group which has helped coordinate the demonstrations. “People power is more powerful than the people in power. It was the biggest ever climate mobilisation, and it’s only the beginning. The momentum is on our side and we are not going anywhere
The day of protests began in New Zealand, where an open letter was delivered to parliament on Friday morning calling on the government to declare a climate emergency – following the lead of numerous councils around the country
On Friday there were huge protests in Italy – where more than 1 million people were reported to have taken part – Spain, the Netherlands and New Zealand, where more than 3.5% of the country’s population joined the demonstrations.
Organisers said they were expecting more people to join as the day progressed. High turnouts were expected in Canada, where Greta Thunberg – who kickstarted the school strike movement with a solo protest in Sweden 12 months ago – was due to join demonstrators in Montreal.
May Boeve from 350.org, which has helped organise the demonstrations, said: “We will keep fighting until the politicians stop ignoring the science, and the fossil fuel companies are held responsible for their crimes against our future, as they should have been decades ago.”
Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/27/climate-crisis-6-million-people-join-latest-wave-of-worldwide-protests
Kia Ora Newshub
Condolences to the whanau who lost their pepi to a idiot on a dirt bike in Palmerston North. Dirt bike should be only riden on farms or tracks.
A big scrub fire near Queens Town let's hope they can get it under control before to much damage is caused.
That's good that the girl has been found whom got swept out to Tangaroa while white baiting.
Cool Aotearoa first Tamariki building academy that's innovation at its best from Our Government Ka pai.
War is for idiots.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Condolences to Careys whanau for their loss of their mother.
There you go people not respecting Tangaroa mokopuna by driving heavy machinery over them to gather mussels spat
FOMA is a awesome initiative way to encourage Maori tangata to get into business It takes a lot of courage to make the leap into business in Aotearoa for tangata whenua as some will try and put us off our mission of building a moanga for Te mokopuna.
Ngāti pikiao culture is looking strong that is great for mokopuna to carry on with their culturel identity kia kaha.
Ka kite Ano
https://youtu.be/qQfetkoGrpU
Ka pai to the Papatuanuku waka free day that is what everyone can do to easily drop our Carbon footprint walk and ride a bike for smaller journeys. I don't burn nowhere as much carbon as I use to. I have plans to lower my carbon footprint even more Ma Te Wa.
Pollutionwatch: how does World Car-free Day affect emissions?
Though air quality appeared to improve, measuring the precise impact of car-less days is difficult
Last Sunday peace and tranquillity descended on city centres across the world as many went car-free for the day.
This annual event started in the UK, in Bath, in 1994 with a road closure and street party for the Environmental Transport Association’s Green Transport Week. In 1997 it spread to France with En Ville Sans Ma Voiture (In Town Without My Car) in La Rochelle, and by 2007 it spanned 2,000 cities in 35 countries Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/26/pollutionwatch-how-does-world-car-free-day-affect-emissions
Ka pai to the people who are backing Wahine and giving them opportunity to have clean and green energy in their own whare. Mana Wahine. I have also read that whaine are making sure that there retirement savings is invest in companies that care for our future generations environment Wahine toa
Jaipur, India (CNN Business)India is trying to bring electricity to hundreds of millions of its citizens who live off the grid. And it's trying to ensure that the power comes from clean and renewable sources.
Frontier Markets is helping to achieve both those goals in the Western desert state of Rajasthan, selling solar-powered products to hundreds of villages. The company is thriving by turning its customers into salespeople.
The company employs women to sell products like lamps, stoves, and even TVs that run on solar power through a program called Solar Sahelis (Solar Friends). Each woman is in charge of selling products to hundreds of rural households
We learned that while the customer — the person paying for the product — was a man, the person using the product was a woman," Frontier Markets CEO Ajaita Shah said in an interview with CNN Business. "In fact, 70% of our users were women and that is when we realized that in order to properly serve the right households needs, women had to be at the center of that value chain," she added.
Shah founded Frontier Markets in 2011, with the goal of providing clean energy to millions of rural Indians while also giving women a source of employment and income. The goals encapsulate some of India's most urgent issues.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made rural electrification a big priority, announcing last year that 100% of the country's villages now have access to power. But the government considers a village electrified if just 10% of its houses are on the grid, meaning over 200 million people still don't have access to electricity.
The Modi government has also set aggressive targets to increase solar energy capacity, and it has succeeded in going from less than four gigawatts in 2015 to nearly 30 gigawatts — about 8% of India's total energy capability. The government wants to increase that to 100 gigawatts by 2022.
The 3,000 women that Shah employs have helped to provide energy to more than half a million village houses in Rajasthan, she said. The women communicate the benefits of clean energy to rural households, but also help Frontier Markets understand the kind of innovations that those households need most, she added.
Another pressing need that Frontier Markets is helping to solve is getting more women into work. Only 22% of India's workforce is female, according to the latest data from the World Bank, one of the lowest rates in the world. India lags behind countries such as Sudan, El Salvador and Afghanistan.
"As India starts growing and moving and changing and evolving, especially with the digital revolution, women are still being left behind," Shah said. "It's really important for us to continuously invest in our women's skills and their education to be able to catch up."
ka kite Ano link below.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/01/business/india-solar-frontier-markets/index.html
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Te atea college is a great organisation that has helped tangata whenua get greater education its sad that they are facing problems I hope they can sort it out and keep the school open.
Kamo school is having problems to we need to taonga all our Maori based education centres.
Te tangata whenua of Alask are going to get a ap to help keep their culture going strong its a great way to use social media to help keep their historical culture Mana Ka kaha.
Yes there was a big celebration in Japan this Rugby World Cup is quite exciting
Ka kite Ano