There is an old fashioned look to the Labour party now.
As David Shearer was out of NZ from 1989 to 2009 with a short retuen 2000 to 2002, it is understandable that he reference people and reference points are 80s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Shearer
Retaining old codgers like Mike Smith, Mike Williams and Ian Fraser is keeping him in touch with the 80s!.
Being advised on tactic by Aneetee King, Phil Goff and Trevor Mallars. (& Tamahere?)…not exactly the Social Medial Generation….
Keeping back talent like Little, Cunliffe, Wall and Chauvel compounds the problem .
David Shearer is running out of time to make Labour relevant to the 16, 17 , 18, 19 year olds who are voting the first time
David Shearer is running out of time to make Labour relevant to the 800,000 who did not see a reason to vote.
There is some time. David needs to get fresh youthful people (non- parliamentary staffers ffs) experienced in this NOW world.
Sadly, all too true KV. From the outside, the current Labour caucus seems to be drifting with the tide and totally lacking the guts and brains required to lead in Opposition. In contrast, the Greens are making waves with regular displays of analysis and initiative on a number of topics.
Intriguing to compare, on a daily basis, the posts and comments on NZ left wing blogs with actual Labour efforts. No wonder they claim not to read the blogs!
Certainly NZ deserves a better government. But it also deserves a better Labour opposition.
State owned Genesis Energy is being ready for the sales block. Announcing a 85 % rise in profit & a return of $72 million for the last 6 months. So what have their 265,000 customers got to say?
I am a customer and have this to say ” give us customers a rebate since your making such healthy returns, 85 % rise & 72 million says your over charging us.”
“Get rid of Chairwoman Jenny Shipley as I am uncomfortable with her recent failures.”
“I am giving my notice as a & customer & consumer in protest to state assets being sold.”
Genesis Energy have been up dating all their meters so they do not have to come out for a reading or do an estimate. The cost of upgrade would have cut into their profit.
Oh please. If you move to the state owned energy company with the lowest profits, and everyone else does, we would all be using our customer power to lower our power prices.
So which companies made the least profit???
Jackson could do a movie about the Hobbit deal and he could be nominated for an oscar, (best director, best lead male role). Key likes the camera and having the Crown Law emails released would add to the intrigue of the relationship between Key and Jackson.
The Artistic Taxi Driver on the disastrous U$K situation where the banks and the privateers are being bailed out with trillions, but the people especially the disabled, the sick, and unemployed are being screwed with workfare and sanctions. The Tory scum have abandoned ordinary brits in favour of the casino speculating banks. All this has been prepared with a press campaign on scroungers and the like. This is the NeoLiberal scumbag system of profit before people and KeyBoy is following the exact same path here. At this moment they’re taking advice from a Welsh Pommie Toffter on how to reduce the disabled roles here and it won’t be pretty. 🙁
Same crap happening in the U$ which is in depression. The bail out money received by the casino crook banks has been invested for profit in the BRIC countries NOT in the has been U$ economy. Refer Michael Hudson for this. The U$ and the U$K are fighting in the last ditch to avoid the inevitable: a socialist society as the UK had just after the end of WW11.Note that is NOT a communist society. The Market has clearly been shown to be a socially and environmentally a destructive force as a nuclear war.
“Australian corporate chief calls for major welfare cuts” Key’s mates are egging him on:
“The Australian corporate elite’s demands for the government to impose the kind of drastic austerity measures being implemented in Europe and the US were spelt out again on Saturday in a speech by Don Argus, the former chairman of mining conglomerate BHP Billiton and the National Australia Bank. Argus declared that public spending in Australia was “unsustainable” and demanded a “national conversation about our welfare budget and how it could be better calibrated for the challenging period ahead.”
Argus, a multi-millionaire who wants for nothing, stated that his view, which means millions of working people will suffer severe cuts to their living standards, was “common sense.” Government spending, he asserted, had “outpaced income” and therefore had to be reduced. Feigning concern over rising youth unemployment, Argus called for increases in productivity to create jobs. In reality, “productivity” is the corporate code word for lowering wages and working conditions, and destroying jobs in order to boost profits.”
So NZ signed a deal with the US with regards to our food safety. What does that mean? Well, for starters the second guy at the FDA is a Monzanto guy and guess what? We are going to cut some red tape with regards to “potential” regulatory burden: What does that mean? Watch Farmageddon and find out!
Funny how he is happy to accept the story about Muslims conspiring without a real shred of evidence while dissing real questions such as how come a building twice reinforced to withstand a nuclear blast collapsed in 6.5 seconds into its own footprint for the first and last time in history?
Now that awaths of North Island are being declared *state of drought*, this is the perfect opportunity for Monsanto, woops I mean the FDA to to come to rescue of NZ.
Health services in Northland and Manukau are pioneering school-based treatment for children, but they are exposing big gaps in health coverage, particularly rheumatic fever, and highlighting housing issues.
Dr Lance O’Sullivan says he would not see most of Kaitaia’s children with skin infections if he didn’t go into schools to look for them.
“Vulnerable children are not getting into doctors’ surgeries enough,” he says in the general practice clinic that he opened last year at Kaitaia Hospital, from which he visits children in 14 local schools.
“We can sit here in a particular role, or we can take health services to where people live, work and play,” he says.
“This is actually getting out of our rooms, getting off our butts and working through the schools and reaching the kids and getting them early.”
Dr O’Sullivan, until recently one of only two Maori general practitioners in Northland, has taken Health Ministry funding for tackling rheumatic fever and topped it up with money from the food charity KidsCan to put five nurses and health workers into the district’s schools.
A brilliant initiative but surely it is the job of government, not charity?
Yes, it is..but ultimately Northland is lucky to have Dr O’S. IMHO he looks as though he is crossing some boundaries BUT THANK GOD HE IS!
Without him these kids would just be someone else’s problem and would develop life long consequences of the gov’s health neglect.
Once they have a good model of delivering a service at low/no cost they would be in a much better position to obtain government funding (thanks again to Dr O’S and his supporters). Northland is really a crucible for the rest of the country who are following at a less noticeable pace.
Yes, it takes people like Dr O’S to shake the system up a bit. However the MoH should be funding a trial, not relying on a driven GP to seek out charity funding. It’s hard enough doing the work without having to sort out how to fund it.
To me it’s another example of the government’s lack of focus on primary care, population health and prevention of illness.
“but surely it is the job of government, not charity?”
I don’t think what O’Sullivan is doing is charity. It’s the community organising itself. We should all be doing this – it creates more stable communities, and better health services (locals know better than MoH in Welly). It also futureproofs communities in the face of teotwawki.
Yes, govt ‘should’ be providing health services to all NZ kids. But they’re not, and it’s been a long time now since we’ve had a comprehensive, accessible health system. Time to take things into our own hands.
O’Sullivan’s points about how GPs practice are pertinent. Doctors SHOULD be going into the community and making themselves accessible. The whole making people travel to the GP, sit and wait sometimes for a long time, for 10 minutes of the GPs time model… that’s an insane way to run primary health care, and it’s come about because the people with privilege have organised it that way to suit themselves, not the people in need.
As an aside to that, every GP I have had has worked less then full time. I’m sure this varies hugely depending on many factors, but many GPs get paid very well for what they do, and seem to be benefiting greatly from the state subsidy to primary health care. All my GPs trained pre-student loans though, so that’s another factor.
Well, they’d know the local conditions better but the ministry would have better knowledge of drugs and therapies available.
O’Sullivan’s points about how GPs practice are pertinent. Doctors SHOULD be going into the community and making themselves accessible. The whole making people travel to the GP, sit and wait sometimes for a long time, for 10 minutes of the GPs time model… that’s an insane way to run primary health care, and it’s come about because the people with privilege have organised it that way to suit themselves, not the people in need.
Agreed but it still comes down to resources – what resources are available and which option uses less.
Will the ‘HairDo from Ohariu’ Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne make it through to the 2014 election, the ‘skunk’ look has gone in favor of a totally white bouffant and seen yesterday Dunne has lost a hell of a lot of weight,
Perhaps another MP in the grip of vanity fear having had a stomach staple job, or has the piece of string which is the ‘Hairdo’s” lifeline come to an untimely end…
Lockdown’s Pelican Bay, that’s where the killers wanna’ be to “hone their skills”. Southern Mexicans certainly prepared amongst the BRIICS (beware the NLR). Silver Ants are expert at navigating by the sun and proportionately cross the desert at 450km/hr. It’s an Enigma, yet Joyce looked decidedly uncomfortable around The Hobbit.
Daniel Day-Lewis IS the “Greatest Actor of All Time” (Foot Supports Intl. is a registerd Work and Income supplier apparently; better put ya’ best foot forward while special offer lasts.
RNZ- Helen Kelly is Everywhere (spooky).
GB-“Bob the Builder”of Backbenchers seems more like Rob the Gilder and Tolley the smoking gun.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
What IF! What if after the next election National rule alone, Labour have less seats, the greens have more! Will we blame Shearer, will we blame policies or will we blame the poll and the press? just asking!
Greens get a proportion, When Labour voters vote Labour in constituent seats and Greens in the list vote then Labour get a overhang (like the Maori party now) – parliament is now 121 seats.
So if you are say Greens get more seats and Labour less, it means Labours vote has collapsed again!!! Which is what happened at the last election, Goffed.
Labour needs to get back in touch with NZ voters by standing up to and for policies that are good for NZ voters, and it still hasn’t been able to sell a CGT or a tax free threshold on income, why?
Because nobody believes they have rejected Rogernomics.
Hear this; you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel who despise justice and distort all that is right; who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet,
they lean upon the Lord and say “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” (the opening prayer of parliament always cracks me up). Therefore, because of you, Zion will be ploughed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound (interesting)
overgrown with thickets. 😉
Eccl. 5:* : If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things: for one official is engaged by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
10: Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
11: As goods increase, so do those who consume. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them.
12: The sleep of a laborer is sweet whether he eats little or much, yet the abundance of a rich man often permits him no sleep.
I agree, if the Greens are on the ascendancy and Labour on the decline ,it’s not left wing policies that are at fault. It’s got to be that the higherarchy of the party is ineffective.
farewell sweet aotearoa … what a tragedy for us all. then gnats will also approve the destruction of milford sound courtesy of the ‘trusted’ nick smith … wow… miserable day. and the referendum is not binding is it ?
Werewolf is out. The article linked above is particularly interesting:
Its an example of how ingrained the culture of low pay has become in our society: it is now seen as a core duty of government to effectively subsidise corporate profits (and hence the incomes of the wealthy) by compensating for their sub-standard wages. We spend over a billion dollars a year doing this; meanwhile the idea of government regulating for decent wages (or even paying them itself) is apparently now politically unthinkable for the major parties.
“….So….where do we go from here in order to make the Living Wage become a reality? Not to mention to achieve a Universal Basic Income that can address the income/participation needs of the unwaged on benefits who could miss out on the Living Wage, just as they do not qualify for the Working For Families subsidies at present.
One way forward would be to vote for political parties who promise to regulate for a Living Wage and to increase the benefit levels. (Good luck with convincing the Labour Party to do either.) There is another avenue however. The political parties could be pressured to amend the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, in order to put social, cultural and economic rights on the same legal footing as the civil and political rights that we already recognize under BORA. That way, people would have a legal mechanism to seek a decent standard of living as a fundamental right, and not as an act of charity bestowed by employers and/or by benevolent governments. It would also mean that all future legislation would have to be vetted for its impact on the standard of living – and for the extent, for instance, to which it may contribute to economic hardship and income inequality. Any retrogressive socio-economic legislation would then need to justify its existence.
This may sound like airy-fairy stuff. It isn’t. It might be the only way to escape from the whims and expediency of the government of the day. And luckily, the intellectual spadework has already been done. Wellington-based lawyer Joss Opie wrote his law thesis on the subject, and that’s available online (click item 6 on the list here.)…”
I trust the link at the top of the page meets the requirements of all site regulations regarding linkage, Draco.
Hey Xtasy,
I saw this note from Gordon Campbell in today’s ‘Werewolf’ and thought of you*
Thanks to Lyndon for helping me post this online. And thanks to everyone who’s got this far, and shown an interest in reading Werewolf and keeping it going. Thanks a lot. If you want to be involved and want to talk over some story ideas, contact me at gordon@scoop.co.nz
just saying: I invite Gordon to read the Standard and get inspired! Thanks for the suggestion though. I have as of recent been a bit nocturnal, I am afraid, I have my bizarre “cycles” of activity.
Had a thought last night re getting NZ out of debt…
Would like to know if this is feasable…
This all needs to be relatively top secret if it were to be done
Have a series of SOEs. lets say 5 for good measure
Have a govt owned bank. (Reserve Bank)
Have a Govt owned bank that is customer facing
Set up a long list of fictitious customers via a data entry upload into SOE systems
Have the Reserve Bank secretly generate more money than National debt.
Funnel Money through SOEs via ficticious customers.
That money is then returned clean and clear to the Govt via dividend payments
Pay off overseas debt.
And yes I know what it is. 🙂
The question is, is it feasible at least in principle without tanking the dollar.
If not are there any tweaks that could be made so that it is.
To start off, perhaps do it the Argentine way, simply default and have it written off, to start anew? That is always a last option solution. But then the debt collectors inside and outside of NZ do not like this, do they?
RN: “Does the minister think it’s a laughing matter when a minister of the crown comes to this house and misleads this house, directly misleads this house by telling the house that there had been no pressure from Warner bros when the email traffic released just yesterday proves that there was very significant pressure from Warner bros to change our law?”
SJ: “Well Mr Speaker I think that what is a laughing matter is that this member talks constantly about creating jobs in the NZ economy, but opposes every hands on measure in which to do that.”
Norman objects that the question was not answered, and the Speaker denies him saying he should re-read his question and that Joyce answered the question “very adequately.” Is “Does the minister think…” not a good way to frame the question perhaps? Or am I missing something?
Anyway the whole 14 odd minutes is Joyce dodging Norman’s questions with responses like “I wasn’t the minister at the time,” “I haven’t read that speech,” “I’m not aware of the details of that question, but blah blah blah about something else.”
At one point the speaker agrees that Joyce hasn’t answered a question and asks Norman to repeat it. Joyce gives more of the same bollocks, and Norman is allowed to repeat the question again. Another non-answer. Norman objects, but the speaker rules that it’s simply time to move on. Cosgrove asks whether one can now ‘get off the hook’ to a question if one simply repeats a BS answer three times. The Speaker answers that it’s now for the public to judge Joyce’s answer. I’m so sure it will be all over Seven Sharp.
Thank goodness we have parliament’s ‘robust’ debates to keep our politicians in check in this perceived least corrupt country.
Perhaps the Speaker has been reminded ‘just who’s side He is on’, yesterday on a point of order from NZFirst’s Winston Peters who accused Slippery the Prime Minister of giggling like a school boy instead of answering a question from the Labour Benches the Speaker angrily directed Slippery to answer the question,
Slippery certainly didn’t look to happy about the rebuke…
No sorry i didn’t take note of the questions, it may have even have been a question asked by Russell Norman that had Winston telling the Speaker that Slippery’s answer was ”giggling like a schoolboy”,
That was yesterday’s question time just in case your confused…
Found it, near the end of question 2. The calmly speaker said it would be helpful if the PM could give concise answers, but equally helpful if the the opposition could cut out the loud interjections. Not much of a win for the left. I didn’t see Slippery bat an eyelid either.
The present “speaker” of the House is also a “speaker” for his favoured government, it sounds more and more like. I could not believe the crap that man came up with over recent days. He now so often asks opposition questioners to repeat their questions, frustrating the whole process, and then he lets off most of the government ministers with the slack comment, that he believed the question was answered totally satisfactorily.
This is the worst speaker in the House that I can remember. NO bias, yeah right, pull out yet another TUI board, thanks.
The dipshit from dipton, aka bill english, has just given the reserve bank the ability to make banks require larger deposits for mortgages. So now it’ll be even harder for kiwis to get into their first home.
If he doesn’t provide other complementary policies to go with this then he’s just screwed over NZers even more.
Those responsible for Labour’s 2011election defeat should be identified and make a “dignified exit’’ from the caucus, Charles Chauvel said in his valedictory speech today.
Chauvel said he wished to make public two thoughts he had shared privately with Labour Party Leader David Shearer
First – He sincerely wished Shearer would be the next Prime Minister and regretted he would not be the Attorney General.
Second – In an apparent reference to the recent reshuffle which had seen many of those supportive to David Cunliffe’s leadership aspirations demoted, he said it was unproductive to keep seeking the “supposed’’ enemy within.
Instead in order to stop history repeating there needed to be an open and honest look at why Labour suffered its worst ever defeat in 2011
“Those responsible for it should make dignified exits and all the undoubted talent and diversity should be included in the shadow Cabinet, Chauvel said’’.
True and i think Labour need look no further than having Phill Goff kick off the 2011 election campaign with the ‘raising of the age for super policy’ as the number one culprit,
What a thing to tell the 40 odd % of workers who struggle every day to pay the bills while at the same time expecting their vote…
Just trying to find out where the problem is. Just ignore it whilst I do work on it. Problem only seems to happen on the production platform so I have to test it here.
FOUR ANTI-CORRUPTION ‘WHISTLE-BLOWERS’ – WILL BE TAKING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT ALLEGED CORRUPT AUCKLAND COUNCIL ‘COVER-UPS’ DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR AND ALL COUNCILLORS – 10 AM THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2013:
Speaking Rights at Public Forum, Governing Body meeting of Auckland Council, Thursday 28 February 2013 have been confirmed for Penny Bright, (and other ‘anti-corruption whistle-blowers’, Grace Haden, Gary Osbourne, and Lisa Prager).
Time: 10.00am
Venue: Council Chamber
Manukau Civic Building
31-33 Manukau Station Road
Manukau
_____________________________________________________________________________
(25 February 2013)
Good afternoon Penny
Your request to be heard in the Public Input section of the 28 February Governing Body meeting at Manukau has been accepted. You will be allocated five minutes in which to make your presentation.
Should you wish to distribute any material in support of your presentation, please provide 25 copies.
The Public Input section is at the beginning of the meeting so I would advise that you should be in attendance from 10.00am.
The Mayor’s Office has noted reference in your request to variously the Serious Fraud Office or fraud. It would be appreciated if you do have concerns in this area to forward them to the relevant authorities via proper formal complaint processes. The Mayor’s Office cautions against making statements that impugn the reputation of individuals in a public forum.
Penny Bright’s subject matter will be: “WHO IS RUNNING AUCKLAND COUNCIL?”
This is, in my considered opinion, of SIGNIFICANT ‘Public Interest’, and needs to be dealt with by the Governing Body, because it appears that the Auckland Mayor and Councillors are NOT in control of Auckland Council.
As an ‘Anti-corruption whistle-blower’ – I wish to raise directly with the Mayor and ALL Councillors:
1) Their statutory duties arising from the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990; the Local Government Act 2002, and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, regarding the lawful rights of citizens to directly communicate with their elected representatives.
2) I also wish to cover, not only the lack of protection for ‘whistle-blowing’ citizens and ratepayers, trying to raise alleged corrupt ‘conflicts of interest directly with elected representatives, but the attempts by unelected Council staff to ‘block’ this information from getting directly to elected representatives.
3) Given there is evidence which confirms that the ‘blocking’ / ‘filtering’ of such information, has come directly from the ‘the top’, I also wish to request a ‘Special’ / ‘Extraordinary’ meeting of the CEO Strategy Review Committee, where the actions and performance of the CEO of Auckland Council, Doug McKay are reviewed directly by the Mayor and Councillors, who, in my considered opinion, should request independent legal advice from competent, legal professionals who specialise in ‘human rights’ law – unlike – ( in my considered opinion), the current General Counsel for Auckland Council).
4) For your information, I shall be requesting the attendance of representatives of the NZ Police and Serious Fraud Office (the ‘lead agency’ dealing with alleged corruption) at this, and any subsequent meetings on this matter.
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Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
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A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
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There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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There is an old fashioned look to the Labour party now.
As David Shearer was out of NZ from 1989 to 2009 with a short retuen 2000 to 2002, it is understandable that he reference people and reference points are 80s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Shearer
Retaining old codgers like Mike Smith, Mike Williams and Ian Fraser is keeping him in touch with the 80s!.
Being advised on tactic by Aneetee King, Phil Goff and Trevor Mallars. (& Tamahere?)…not exactly the Social Medial Generation….
Keeping back talent like Little, Cunliffe, Wall and Chauvel compounds the problem .
David Shearer is running out of time to make Labour relevant to the 16, 17 , 18, 19 year olds who are voting the first time
David Shearer is running out of time to make Labour relevant to the 800,000 who did not see a reason to vote.
There is some time. David needs to get fresh youthful people (non- parliamentary staffers ffs) experienced in this NOW world.
Sadly, all too true KV. From the outside, the current Labour caucus seems to be drifting with the tide and totally lacking the guts and brains required to lead in Opposition. In contrast, the Greens are making waves with regular displays of analysis and initiative on a number of topics.
Intriguing to compare, on a daily basis, the posts and comments on NZ left wing blogs with actual Labour efforts. No wonder they claim not to read the blogs!
Certainly NZ deserves a better government. But it also deserves a better Labour opposition.
State owned Genesis Energy is being ready for the sales block. Announcing a 85 % rise in profit & a return of $72 million for the last 6 months. So what have their 265,000 customers got to say?
I am a customer and have this to say ” give us customers a rebate since your making such healthy returns, 85 % rise & 72 million says your over charging us.”
“Get rid of Chairwoman Jenny Shipley as I am uncomfortable with her recent failures.”
“I am giving my notice as a & customer & consumer in protest to state assets being sold.”
Genesis Energy have been up dating all their meters so they do not have to come out for a reading or do an estimate. The cost of upgrade would have cut into their profit.
while we are on the subject of water (Hint: it’s not oil)
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/25/the-coming-water-wars/
as in the Days of Noah (who needs to be able to swim on The Beach? shoot!)
Oh please. If you move to the state owned energy company with the lowest profits, and everyone else does, we would all be using our customer power to lower our power prices.
So which companies made the least profit???
Time to change suppliers.
I wonder if peter jackson will be brave enough to admit he decieved the country
Sociopaths never admit to doing wrong.
Jackson could do a movie about the Hobbit deal and he could be nominated for an oscar, (best director, best lead male role). Key likes the camera and having the Crown Law emails released would add to the intrigue of the relationship between Key and Jackson.
The Artistic Taxi Driver on the disastrous U$K situation where the banks and the privateers are being bailed out with trillions, but the people especially the disabled, the sick, and unemployed are being screwed with workfare and sanctions. The Tory scum have abandoned ordinary brits in favour of the casino speculating banks. All this has been prepared with a press campaign on scroungers and the like. This is the NeoLiberal scumbag system of profit before people and KeyBoy is following the exact same path here. At this moment they’re taking advice from a Welsh Pommie Toffter on how to reduce the disabled roles here and it won’t be pretty. 🙁
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpctuA5OtLs&list=UUGThM-ZZBba1Zl9rU-XeR-A&index=2
Same crap happening in the U$ which is in depression. The bail out money received by the casino crook banks has been invested for profit in the BRIC countries NOT in the has been U$ economy. Refer Michael Hudson for this. The U$ and the U$K are fighting in the last ditch to avoid the inevitable: a socialist society as the UK had just after the end of WW11.Note that is NOT a communist society. The Market has clearly been shown to be a socially and environmentally a destructive force as a nuclear war.
“Australian corporate chief calls for major welfare cuts” Key’s mates are egging him on:
“The Australian corporate elite’s demands for the government to impose the kind of drastic austerity measures being implemented in Europe and the US were spelt out again on Saturday in a speech by Don Argus, the former chairman of mining conglomerate BHP Billiton and the National Australia Bank. Argus declared that public spending in Australia was “unsustainable” and demanded a “national conversation about our welfare budget and how it could be better calibrated for the challenging period ahead.”
Argus, a multi-millionaire who wants for nothing, stated that his view, which means millions of working people will suffer severe cuts to their living standards, was “common sense.” Government spending, he asserted, had “outpaced income” and therefore had to be reduced. Feigning concern over rising youth unemployment, Argus called for increases in productivity to create jobs. In reality, “productivity” is the corporate code word for lowering wages and working conditions, and destroying jobs in order to boost profits.”
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/02/26/aust-f26.html Key is trying to work up the nerve to serve his kleptocratic masters, you better believe it, he doesn’t serve ordinary kiwis who don’t exist to him! 🙁
So NZ signed a deal with the US with regards to our food safety. What does that mean? Well, for starters the second guy at the FDA is a Monzanto guy and guess what? We are going to cut some red tape with regards to “potential” regulatory burden: What does that mean? Watch Farmageddon and find out!
Perhaps Monsanto was behind the WTC attack?
Perhaps you’re a dickhead who likes his GMO breakfast cereals. Who knows! In the mean time
Contrario doesn’t think that human beings conspire. It has never happenned. It doesn’t happen.
Nope, never happened and never will!
What a silly strawman. Of course people conspire. Why some Islamic terrorist conspired to bring down the WTC centre
How do you decide when there has been a conspiracy? And how do you determine whether you would know or not?
Funny how he is happy to accept the story about Muslims conspiring without a real shred of evidence while dissing real questions such as how come a building twice reinforced to withstand a nuclear blast collapsed in 6.5 seconds into its own footprint for the first and last time in history?
Now that awaths of North Island are being declared *state of drought*, this is the perfect opportunity for Monsanto, woops I mean the FDA to to come to rescue of NZ.
Just think of the possibilities!
Say no to GM dope
What, no earthquakes.
http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2013/nrl-scientists-produce-densest-artificial-ionospheric-plasma-clouds-using-haarp
locally, could be the “worst drought in 50 years” though.
Whereabouts RT?
Here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8359060/Northland-in-drought-Government-declares
Would there be a drought if all the ground cover had not been burned off last century?
No Joe, no earthquakes…What was your comment about!
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/25/world/asia/japan-earthquake
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/02/us-quake-japan-idUSBRE91107T20130202
GPs rely on charity to ensure the basic health needs of children are met.
A brilliant initiative but surely it is the job of government, not charity?
Yes, it is..but ultimately Northland is lucky to have Dr O’S. IMHO he looks as though he is crossing some boundaries BUT THANK GOD HE IS!
Without him these kids would just be someone else’s problem and would develop life long consequences of the gov’s health neglect.
Once they have a good model of delivering a service at low/no cost they would be in a much better position to obtain government funding (thanks again to Dr O’S and his supporters). Northland is really a crucible for the rest of the country who are following at a less noticeable pace.
Yes, it takes people like Dr O’S to shake the system up a bit. However the MoH should be funding a trial, not relying on a driven GP to seek out charity funding. It’s hard enough doing the work without having to sort out how to fund it.
To me it’s another example of the government’s lack of focus on primary care, population health and prevention of illness.
Agree.
God this government makes me sick.
The New Zealand people have tasked the government with providing health care to all, regardless of wealth. But that just aint happening.
Perhaps that $400 million for businessmen farmers could go to looking after these children.
Bleeaaarrgh, vomit spew, cough splutter croak.
I have nothing but contempt for this government and even more so for their supporters.
“but surely it is the job of government, not charity?”
I don’t think what O’Sullivan is doing is charity. It’s the community organising itself. We should all be doing this – it creates more stable communities, and better health services (locals know better than MoH in Welly). It also futureproofs communities in the face of teotwawki.
Yes, govt ‘should’ be providing health services to all NZ kids. But they’re not, and it’s been a long time now since we’ve had a comprehensive, accessible health system. Time to take things into our own hands.
O’Sullivan’s points about how GPs practice are pertinent. Doctors SHOULD be going into the community and making themselves accessible. The whole making people travel to the GP, sit and wait sometimes for a long time, for 10 minutes of the GPs time model… that’s an insane way to run primary health care, and it’s come about because the people with privilege have organised it that way to suit themselves, not the people in need.
As an aside to that, every GP I have had has worked less then full time. I’m sure this varies hugely depending on many factors, but many GPs get paid very well for what they do, and seem to be benefiting greatly from the state subsidy to primary health care. All my GPs trained pre-student loans though, so that’s another factor.
Well, they’d know the local conditions better but the ministry would have better knowledge of drugs and therapies available.
Agreed but it still comes down to resources – what resources are available and which option uses less.
“They started it!” http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/national-needs-to-grow-up.html
Ha, ha, good one.
Will the ‘HairDo from Ohariu’ Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne make it through to the 2014 election, the ‘skunk’ look has gone in favor of a totally white bouffant and seen yesterday Dunne has lost a hell of a lot of weight,
Perhaps another MP in the grip of vanity fear having had a stomach staple job, or has the piece of string which is the ‘Hairdo’s” lifeline come to an untimely end…
form Echo Beach; (Rose, Maria and Time grow Where The Wild Things Are)
http://gwend0lynleigh.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/susanna-and-the-elders-4452-mid.jpg
O Susanna, don’t you cry for me, better wormwood than Wormtongue
Hotere (2001) http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hotere-2001 may be our greatest artist Ever without doubt Francis
Lockdown’s Pelican Bay, that’s where the killers wanna’ be to “hone their skills”. Southern Mexicans certainly prepared amongst the BRIICS (beware the NLR). Silver Ants are expert at navigating by the sun and proportionately cross the desert at 450km/hr. It’s an Enigma, yet Joyce looked decidedly uncomfortable around The Hobbit.
Daniel Day-Lewis IS the “Greatest Actor of All Time” (Foot Supports Intl. is a registerd Work and Income supplier apparently; better put ya’ best foot forward while special offer lasts.
RNZ- Helen Kelly is Everywhere (spooky).
GB-“Bob the Builder”of Backbenchers seems more like Rob the Gilder and Tolley the smoking gun.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
**Same sex marriage bill recommended to be passed into law by committee**
What IF! What if after the next election National rule alone, Labour have less seats, the greens have more! Will we blame Shearer, will we blame policies or will we blame the poll and the press? just asking!
Greens get a proportion, When Labour voters vote Labour in constituent seats and Greens in the list vote then Labour get a overhang (like the Maori party now) – parliament is now 121 seats.
So if you are say Greens get more seats and Labour less, it means Labours vote has collapsed again!!! Which is what happened at the last election, Goffed.
Labour needs to get back in touch with NZ voters by standing up to and for policies that are good for NZ voters, and it still hasn’t been able to sell a CGT or a tax free threshold on income, why?
Because nobody believes they have rejected Rogernomics.
forMicah:
Hear this; you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel who despise justice and distort all that is right; who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet,
they lean upon the Lord and say “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” (the opening prayer of parliament always cracks me up). Therefore, because of you, Zion will be ploughed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound (interesting)
overgrown with thickets. 😉
fro Living In the FuTure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esp_hOlFqiM
Eccl. 5:* : If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things: for one official is engaged by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
10: Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
11: As goods increase, so do those who consume. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them.
12: The sleep of a laborer is sweet whether he eats little or much, yet the abundance of a rich man often permits him no sleep.
WOW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Wayne%27s_Musical_Version_of_The_War_of_the_Worlds#Track_listing
(’cause you’re not here)
I’ll blame Shearer and those who selected him as leader. If the greens have more seats than Labour I think I’d be right to do so.
I agree, if the Greens are on the ascendancy and Labour on the decline ,it’s not left wing policies that are at fault. It’s got to be that the higherarchy of the party is ineffective.
Doesn’t have to be just the hierarchy, the entire party could be out of touch with the majority of the populace and reality.
Getting people to vote is what has to happen. There has to be a good reason for people to vote. A policy for under 30s, those age 30 – 65 and over 65.
Shearer will not be the leader this time next year if Labour do not improve by at least 5%.
English admits there is a problem, and LVR will be used.( or maybe as it will become wheelers problem)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8358864/House-buyers-may-need-bigger-deposit
The first option should be the low hanging fruit ie taxing non resident housing investments.
The Bewitched, The Beguyled and The Bewildered Nichol in the palm is worth two in the Bush.
LPRENT: Have you fixed the mobile version? Page scrolling works sweetly for me now.
New Air NZ saftey video, this time with Bear G!
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/bear-grylls-stars-in-air-new-zealands-new-safety-video/story-e6frfq80-1226586455323
No it doesn’t, i was just using the full version on my phone.
Via Twitter:
Vernon Small @VernonSmall
Chief justice Sian Elias says court unanimous on all issues and held crown actions are reviewable
Retweeted by Idiot/Savant
Via Twitter:
Adam Bennett @AdDeville
The Supreme Court has upheld the Maori Council’s legal challenge to the Government’s flagship asset sales policy.
Update:
Adam Bennett @AdDeville
Sorry, got that wrong!!!!
______________
Aw, stink.
Twitter is saying the Supreme Court has ruled against the Government and granted Maori’s application for an injunction …
Hold that …
Appeal dismissed …
Share float can go ahead.
Bugger !
farewell sweet aotearoa … what a tragedy for us all. then gnats will also approve the destruction of milford sound courtesy of the ‘trusted’ nick smith … wow… miserable day. and the referendum is not binding is it ?
Appeal dismissed.
Now on to the referendum.
http://werewolf.co.nz/2013/02/bringing-the-living-wage-to-life/
Werewolf is out. The article linked above is particularly interesting:
Its an example of how ingrained the culture of low pay has become in our society: it is now seen as a core duty of government to effectively subsidise corporate profits (and hence the incomes of the wealthy) by compensating for their sub-standard wages. We spend over a billion dollars a year doing this; meanwhile the idea of government regulating for decent wages (or even paying them itself) is apparently now politically unthinkable for the major parties.
I trust the link at the top of the page meets the requirements of all site regulations regarding linkage, Draco.
Damn, still no edit function. The first paragraph after its first sentence should be part of the block quote
[lprent: Tonight’s build at work is the production release. I start having time again. ]
Hey Xtasy,
I saw this note from Gordon Campbell in today’s ‘Werewolf’ and thought of you*
(emboldening mine)
*I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to follow this up in the middle of the night – just saying.
just saying: I invite Gordon to read the Standard and get inspired! Thanks for the suggestion though. I have as of recent been a bit nocturnal, I am afraid, I have my bizarre “cycles” of activity.
Had a thought last night re getting NZ out of debt…
Would like to know if this is feasable…
This all needs to be relatively top secret if it were to be done
Have a series of SOEs. lets say 5 for good measure
Have a govt owned bank. (Reserve Bank)
Have a Govt owned bank that is customer facing
Set up a long list of fictitious customers via a data entry upload into SOE systems
Have the Reserve Bank secretly generate more money than National debt.
Funnel Money through SOEs via ficticious customers.
That money is then returned clean and clear to the Govt via dividend payments
Pay off overseas debt.
And yes I know what it is. 🙂
The question is, is it feasible at least in principle without tanking the dollar.
If not are there any tweaks that could be made so that it is.
To start off, perhaps do it the Argentine way, simply default and have it written off, to start anew? That is always a last option solution. But then the debt collectors inside and outside of NZ do not like this, do they?
Question time:
RN: “Does the minister think it’s a laughing matter when a minister of the crown comes to this house and misleads this house, directly misleads this house by telling the house that there had been no pressure from Warner bros when the email traffic released just yesterday proves that there was very significant pressure from Warner bros to change our law?”
SJ: “Well Mr Speaker I think that what is a laughing matter is that this member talks constantly about creating jobs in the NZ economy, but opposes every hands on measure in which to do that.”
Norman objects that the question was not answered, and the Speaker denies him saying he should re-read his question and that Joyce answered the question “very adequately.” Is “Does the minister think…” not a good way to frame the question perhaps? Or am I missing something?
Anyway the whole 14 odd minutes is Joyce dodging Norman’s questions with responses like “I wasn’t the minister at the time,” “I haven’t read that speech,” “I’m not aware of the details of that question, but blah blah blah about something else.”
At one point the speaker agrees that Joyce hasn’t answered a question and asks Norman to repeat it. Joyce gives more of the same bollocks, and Norman is allowed to repeat the question again. Another non-answer. Norman objects, but the speaker rules that it’s simply time to move on. Cosgrove asks whether one can now ‘get off the hook’ to a question if one simply repeats a BS answer three times. The Speaker answers that it’s now for the public to judge Joyce’s answer. I’m so sure it will be all over Seven Sharp.
Thank goodness we have parliament’s ‘robust’ debates to keep our politicians in check in this perceived least corrupt country.
is the speaker elected by simple majority? 2/3 majority might be in order, given such shameless corruption described in your comment…
Where did I describe corruption?
Maybe think first next time.
Perhaps the Speaker has been reminded ‘just who’s side He is on’, yesterday on a point of order from NZFirst’s Winston Peters who accused Slippery the Prime Minister of giggling like a school boy instead of answering a question from the Labour Benches the Speaker angrily directed Slippery to answer the question,
Slippery certainly didn’t look to happy about the rebuke…
Ah Winnie… I don’t suppose you can remember which question that was bad12?
No sorry i didn’t take note of the questions, it may have even have been a question asked by Russell Norman that had Winston telling the Speaker that Slippery’s answer was ”giggling like a schoolboy”,
That was yesterday’s question time just in case your confused…
Found it, near the end of question 2. The calmly speaker said it would be helpful if the PM could give concise answers, but equally helpful if the the opposition could cut out the loud interjections. Not much of a win for the left. I didn’t see Slippery bat an eyelid either.
The present “speaker” of the House is also a “speaker” for his favoured government, it sounds more and more like. I could not believe the crap that man came up with over recent days. He now so often asks opposition questioners to repeat their questions, frustrating the whole process, and then he lets off most of the government ministers with the slack comment, that he believed the question was answered totally satisfactorily.
This is the worst speaker in the House that I can remember. NO bias, yeah right, pull out yet another TUI board, thanks.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/129230/reserve-bank-deal-on-house-price-controls-pending
The dipshit from dipton, aka bill english, has just given the reserve bank the ability to make banks require larger deposits for mortgages. So now it’ll be even harder for kiwis to get into their first home.
If he doesn’t provide other complementary policies to go with this then he’s just screwed over NZers even more.
From Scoop.co.nz …
Those responsible for Labour’s 2011election defeat should be identified and make a “dignified exit’’ from the caucus, Charles Chauvel said in his valedictory speech today.
Chauvel said he wished to make public two thoughts he had shared privately with Labour Party Leader David Shearer
First – He sincerely wished Shearer would be the next Prime Minister and regretted he would not be the Attorney General.
Second – In an apparent reference to the recent reshuffle which had seen many of those supportive to David Cunliffe’s leadership aspirations demoted, he said it was unproductive to keep seeking the “supposed’’ enemy within.
Instead in order to stop history repeating there needed to be an open and honest look at why Labour suffered its worst ever defeat in 2011
“Those responsible for it should make dignified exits and all the undoubted talent and diversity should be included in the shadow Cabinet, Chauvel said’’.
(I can only add – well said).
Burn him! He’s a witch!! etc.
True and i think Labour need look no further than having Phill Goff kick off the 2011 election campaign with the ‘raising of the age for super policy’ as the number one culprit,
What a thing to tell the 40 odd % of workers who struggle every day to pay the bills while at the same time expecting their vote…
Good on him, for being so civilised and so forthright. We have lost a fine mind with him going.
“Chauvel said he wished to make public two thoughts he had shared privately with Labour Party Leader David Shearer”
I would LOVE to the thoughts he that he shared with Shearer that he did not make public….today.
“A Party needs both wings to fly”
Charles Chauvel has made an excellent valedictory speech in Parliament:
Have a look here. http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/SeeHear/PTV/
Full text later:
http://thestandard.org.nz/charles-valedictory/
There is a discussion stream under another stream elsewhere.
Test the re-edit 3
Looking good!
But not for me … lol.
Just trying to find out where the problem is. Just ignore it whilst I do work on it. Problem only seems to happen on the production platform so I have to test it here.
Looks like a conflict in JQuery versions to sort out. That appears to be the problem.
Test the re-edit 7 – RSS Feed off
FOUR ANTI-CORRUPTION ‘WHISTLE-BLOWERS’ – WILL BE TAKING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT ALLEGED CORRUPT AUCKLAND COUNCIL ‘COVER-UPS’ DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR AND ALL COUNCILLORS – 10 AM THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2013:
Speaking Rights at Public Forum, Governing Body meeting of Auckland Council, Thursday 28 February 2013 have been confirmed for Penny Bright, (and other ‘anti-corruption whistle-blowers’, Grace Haden, Gary Osbourne, and Lisa Prager).
Time: 10.00am
Venue: Council Chamber
Manukau Civic Building
31-33 Manukau Station Road
Manukau
_____________________________________________________________________________
(25 February 2013)
Good afternoon Penny
Your request to be heard in the Public Input section of the 28 February Governing Body meeting at Manukau has been accepted. You will be allocated five minutes in which to make your presentation.
Should you wish to distribute any material in support of your presentation, please provide 25 copies.
The Public Input section is at the beginning of the meeting so I would advise that you should be in attendance from 10.00am.
The Mayor’s Office has noted reference in your request to variously the Serious Fraud Office or fraud. It would be appreciated if you do have concerns in this area to forward them to the relevant authorities via proper formal complaint processes. The Mayor’s Office cautions against making statements that impugn the reputation of individuals in a public forum.
Regards
Elaine Stephenson | Democracy Advisor |
Governance Support I Democracy Services
Ph 09 301 0101 | DDI 373 6328 | Fax 09 301 0100
Auckland Council, Level 14, Civic Building,
1 Greys Ave, Auckland 1142_
__________________________________________________________
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/governingbody/governingbodyag20130228.pdf
Penny Bright’s subject matter will be: “WHO IS RUNNING AUCKLAND COUNCIL?”
This is, in my considered opinion, of SIGNIFICANT ‘Public Interest’, and needs to be dealt with by the Governing Body, because it appears that the Auckland Mayor and Councillors are NOT in control of Auckland Council.
As an ‘Anti-corruption whistle-blower’ – I wish to raise directly with the Mayor and ALL Councillors:
1) Their statutory duties arising from the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990; the Local Government Act 2002, and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, regarding the lawful rights of citizens to directly communicate with their elected representatives.
2) I also wish to cover, not only the lack of protection for ‘whistle-blowing’ citizens and ratepayers, trying to raise alleged corrupt ‘conflicts of interest directly with elected representatives, but the attempts by unelected Council staff to ‘block’ this information from getting directly to elected representatives.
3) Given there is evidence which confirms that the ‘blocking’ / ‘filtering’ of such information, has come directly from the ‘the top’, I also wish to request a ‘Special’ / ‘Extraordinary’ meeting of the CEO Strategy Review Committee, where the actions and performance of the CEO of Auckland Council, Doug McKay are reviewed directly by the Mayor and Councillors, who, in my considered opinion, should request independent legal advice from competent, legal professionals who specialise in ‘human rights’ law – unlike – ( in my considered opinion), the current General Counsel for Auckland Council).
4) For your information, I shall be requesting the attendance of representatives of the NZ Police and Serious Fraud Office (the ‘lead agency’ dealing with alleged corruption) at this, and any subsequent meetings on this matter.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’.
http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OCCUPY-AUCKLAND-APPEAL-APPLICATION-BY-APPELLANT-BRIGHT-TO-ADDUCE-NEW-EVIDENCE-pdf.pdf
(2013 Auckland Mayoral Candidate).
THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARLY 2013 – LAST DAY FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT REFORM BILL!
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/SC/MakeSub/2/4/d/50SCLGE_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL11932_1-Resource-Management-Reform-Bill.htm
(Thanks for the ‘heads up’ Mels! )
Penny Bright
Awesome speech by Mr David Cunliffe about generations and fairness. I hope Trevor watches it. Real Labour.
http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/17360