If you want to know what is happening ask a taxi driver…..Max Keiser does in the funniest clip for a while. The man is on fire with justifiable rage against the kleptocrats, John Key needs to ride with this man.
Notice this ‘Give us our waterfront campaign’ getting column inches in grannyoid….who are these people?
Coincidental timing with POAL refusing OI requests, gov’t not interested in allowing citizens to see details on the assets they own etc etc
Also Crusher getting ‘tough’ on parole hearings with the mother of murdered girl woodman some years back in wellington being put out their by the media.
Divert, delay, distract, dogwhistle they’ve got it all going on.
And could the opposition ask a direct question on the last day of parliament please…..FFS enough material to light a bonfire and those clowns can’t even get a BBQ underway.
Key on the back foot as Opposition leaders twist knife
By Adam Bennett
5:30 AM Thursday Sep 27, 2012
Mr Key appeared to become confused when asked by NZ First leader Winston Peters when his chief of staff was first told of the Ministerial Certificate issued in Mr Key’s absence last month by his deputy Bill English.
Mr English issued the certificate to prevent details of the GCSB’s involvement in the Dotcom case emerging in court.
“I do not exactly know, but to the best of my knowledge it was on Monday the 17th when I knew,” Mr Key said. He later returned to the House and made a personal statement saying it was only this week that he learned of the document.
Labour deputy leader Grant Robertson last night said Mr Key “looked incredibly uncertain” in answering questions about the involvement in the Dotcom case by organisations of which he had oversight.
Also not so sure tc. Just watched replay of question time and with ShonKey getting so frustrated he starts blaspheming (Colin Craig will be clutching his pearls with disgrace) seems to me they are having quiet a success at scraping off the Teflon.
Opposition? A few minor items from the Dotcom saga to begin with…police apparently lying under oath…’misstatements’ from PM & deputy…US influence in NZ…but will we see any pointed questions from Labour on all this?
Labour, and the other opposition parties have had a great couple of days poking the borax at National in the house and in the media. If you haven’t noticed, that’s not their problem, RR, its yours.
‘But Labour, wah wah …’ is getting pretty tired, particularly when polling such as the latest Roy Morgan shows they are on track to lead the next Government.
Opposition have had a great couple of days and yet I still hear Mr Key get away with saying
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
and I don’t hear any objection. I don’t hear the question posed “….of what”
He is just allowed to go on his merry way confusing the issue and transmitting his spin.
Mr Key and other National members get to grandstand for minutes on end
Where is the objection to this?
It is obvious when he is about to do it.
Why do the opposition not cut him off with an objection?
This is now a public channel and I consistently see National getting unreasonable airtime for their half-baked notions and spin tactics. I am sorry that our opposition don’t appear to factor in the powerful effect of spin because it makes me furious every time this Government gets time to grandstand in the way they regularly do in parliament when there are sound rules in place to disallow this.
no…I wasn’t being sarky…can see why you thought I was though and there was a little facetiousness involved in employing our Prime Spin Junkie’s favourite saying…
Thanks, your comment makes more sense now that you’ve mentioned the decline.
I am a tad averse to anyone mentioning all Governments are the same because this may be so for the middle section of NZers, but in the least economically endowed the different Governments make quite a bit of difference (or even a small difference means a lot when one doesn’t have much)…also a different atmosphere when we have smug contemptuous types in charge…also tend to hear …and therefore there is no point in voting after it…which admittedly is a serious condition…hearing voices and all….
Take your point though about those at the very bottom, and the differences that even a slower journey with the same co-ordinates could make for them.
If only the middle would stop to think that they too are in the firing line, just a little further along the schedule. If they understood this, then they would be not be pouring scorn on those less off, and they would certainly not be backing the corporate takeover we in NZ are laying witness to.
“If only the middle would stop to think that they too are in the firing line, just a little further along the schedule. If they understood this, then they would be not be pouring scorn on those less off, and they would certainly not be backing the corporate takeover we in NZ are laying witness to.”
I second that-thoroughly agree. If they would think about direction rather than here and now, or look at what has happened to America (as I understand it there are many who used to be comfortably off now sharing houses or without a house at all).
And…needing a distraction from the Kim Dotcom circus the government makes an announcement around welfare recipients. This one is a little weaker than usual. Guess what? MSD is now information sharing with the IRD. Not the best distraction. Perhaps half a million in fireworks would distract the media pack better than the few beneficiaries (and how many is that exactly? 1%? 20%? Perhaps half?) who exploit the system.
I did a quick run through of the numbers yesterday and it ends up, assuming ACT, UF and the MP all retain their current electorate seats, with the Gov’t 58 vs Lab/Greens 55. Winston has 6 seats. So a L/G/NZF coalition would have a reasonable majority. However, if Labour cuts Nationals direct lead over them by a further 2 pts (ie down to a single figure gap), then Winston becomes less relevant and a minority Lab/Green Gov’t is just as likely an outcome.
This poll heaps real pressure on the Maori party, who need to be in Government to be effective. Mana get two seats, btw.
“So a L/G/NZF coalition would have a reasonable majority.”
Am I the only person who remembers Winston Peters categorically refusing to be part of any government that included the Greens. Is there any evidence that this has changed?
Even if NZF were willing, it’s pretty hard to see how that could work.
He did say that he wouldn’t work with the Greens, either in 2002 or 2005, but things have moved on since then. I imagine 3 years in the wilderness may have changed Winston’s stance a little and the Greens are not the same party either in terms of both policy and leadership. And I note Key has switched from ruling NZF out 4 years ago to realizing he won’t be PM without them, so its clearly a dynamic situation!
I think Shearer will have his work cut out keeping unity, but its worth remembering that’s the work he used to do in his earlier job. As long as he can stop them stepping on each other’s toes, then it’s got a chance of success. Giving WP his old Foreign Minister role should keep him happy (and out of the country for long periods). A couple of other NZFers will need associate roles, too. Defence? Revenue?
The Greens would be looking for senior roles, though not the Deputy PM’s job I think, because of the shared leadership system they have. It would cut across that to have one of the two leaders in a clearly senior role to the other. Environment, Education, Social Develeopment?
Labour will want total control over the checkbook and the affairs of state, of course.
And, as I suggested yesterday, I wouldn’t rule out the Maori Party making a pitch to be in the Shearer waka, too. That might give Shearer just enough votes to form a minority Government without Winston or at least play hard ball with him in the negotiations.
One other option that is almost viable on the Roy Morgan numbers is L/G/Mana. The most left wing Government since the Alliance fell apart!
Sleepwalking to victory. I’m not entirely convinced about that as a Labour Party tactic.
What’s needed right now with this massive scandal involving Messrs Key and English and a perjuring policeman, is decisive, resolute leadership. We are seeing that from Mr Kim Dotcom, who is without a doubt the most impressive and lucid speaker involved in this scandal.
The official Leader of the Opposition, on the other hand, when interviewed on the radio yesterday, began by saying: “Ummmmm…”
TRP
I tried to get meaning of putake and looked up the Maori Dictionary on google and it seems the ‘source’ is one of its variants. I thought then that you might be referring to the pure source of reason and truth in the language, and what’s purer and less unsullied than what comes out of the mouths of babes.
Perhaps what you say about Shearer comes from this direct source to truth and wisdom?
Bit convoluted eh. I think it would be simpler to ask what does your pseudonym means?
I switched from ‘The Voice of Reason’ on Waitangi day. TVOR was confusing people, who didn’t get the joke, so I thought I’d celebrate the day by changing to the maori translation. I wasn’t alone, ‘one anonymous bloke’ became ‘kotahi tane huna’ at the same time. We’ve both been accused of being the blogging equivalent of bl00dy maaris by knuckle draggers since then!
ps, prism, you’re not alone in trying to work out the meaning. Check out my stalker! 🙄
(it’s the maori language post, not the go at Micky S. Tellingly, Pete knew what the correct translation was when he wrote the post, but he pretended otherwise)
My understanding of the MMP review is that if National does change the law, the changes will be in place for the 2014 election. One of the proposals is the abolishment of electorate coat-tailing. So unless you can show that Mana is going to win 2 electorate seats, I don’t think it’s wise to suggest they’ll get 2 seats.
If they win Hone’s electorate seat and gain 1.5% of the party vote, they will be allocated another seat, whcih will be an overhang, bringing the total number of MP’s to 121.
That’s the situation now, Lanth, under current law, and that’s what I based my comment on. Yes, it may change, but my analysis is based on currently known facts. I’ve also assumed that the MP, ACT and UF will retain their 5 seats for the same reason. That is also a future unknown, but its the current fact.
Polling was from 10-23rd September so covered the Banks donation scandal but none of the Dotcom spying scandal. Next Roy Morgan will be interesting, often the Govt suffers a dip only to recover in the next poll? But another poll that suggests a centre left coalition at the next election is good news.
Full effect is unlikely to be fully through until late October. I’ve observed on average about a 6 week delay between events and when they start hitting the Morgan polls.
One is reminded of the England Rugby team doing a lap of honour at Old Trafford after being beaten 25-8 by the All Blacks back in 1997.
A L/G government may be a possility, but it is only a mathematical one. The gap between Labour and National is still very large. Were there an election held today, National will still win comfortably, and even if L/G manged to cobble together a coalition, it would be undermined at every corner by the opposition, business and the like. Past (and present) Labor governments with precarious majorites in Australia are a glaring example.
“One is reminded of the England Rugby team doing a lap of honour at Old Trafford after being beaten 25-8 by the All Blacks back in 1997.”
That actually embarrassed many of the England players and supporters. The ridiculous “losers’ lap of honour” sprang from the fertile mind of the egregious Clive Woodward.
Years later, he foisted the disgraced war criminal Alistair Campbell on the British and Irish Lions as a “manager” for their disastrous 2005 tour of New Zealand. Some of the Irish players in particular were incensed by this, and on one memorable occasion de-bagged the bullying creep in front of the whole team.
To me the NZ government appears to be running out of money. Within the last 6 months I have experienced 3 GST refunds being withheld beyond the 20 day period, and when I contacted them the payments were released that day. Other large businesses I have contact with, with also large GST refunds $250k+ are experiencing the same. On making contact the refunds are released. No reasons given for the delay. If we are late there is an immediate penalty 10% then normal penalty rates. When the IRD are late a 2% p.a. interest applies.
Interesting Herodotus. Exact same whispers and non / delayed payments have been around last few months with EQC and other government organisations in Christchurch.
Smoke and fire ……..
Many of us here in Chch fully expect that if/when the final global financial meltdown hits soon all work and money expected for the rebuild here will stop dead.
Best head west …….. at least there is plenty food, water, shelter and wood. Imagine being in the middle of one of our cities when the shit hits the fan and the supermarkets last a single day. Wouldn’t wanna be a nearby farmer no…
Neo-Darwinian biologists and evolutionary psychologists have focused on the self, the, I, . I, is what passes genes on to the next generation, what engages in “reciprocal” altruism, the seemingly selfless behaviour that actually serves self-centred ends. The market is about the choosing, I, The economy is about the consuming , I, The Liberal Democratic (finger down throat) is about the voting, I. Yet, I, is lonely. I, is bad at relationships, in a world of , I’s, marriages do not last. Communities erode. Loyalty is devalued. Trust grows thin, John.
Einstein famously said, “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind”.
Islam, one of the three Abrahamic monotheistic faiths, spread faster and wider than any religious movement in the lifetime of it’s founder, endowing the world with imperishable masterpieces of philosophy, poetry, architecture and art, as well as a faith seemingly immune to secularisation or decay.
Don Brash, Bob Parker, (take your pick); “on the surface he’s profound, but deep down he’s superficial”.
To paraphrase Wittgenstein, ” The meaning of the system lies outside the system. Therefore, the meaning of the universe lies outside the universe”.
If we are free, then history is not a matter of eternal recurrences. As we can change ourselves,
(see learning Revolution) we can change the world. That is the religious basis of hope.
There are cultures that do not share monotheistic beliefs. They are ultimately, Tragic cultures, for whatever shape they give the powers that they name, these powers are fundamentally indifferent to human fate.
They may be natural forces, human institutions: the empire, the state, the political system or the economy.
They may be human collectivities: the tribe, the nation the race.
Yet, all end in tragedy, because none attaches ultimate significance to the individual as individual.
All end by sacrificing the individual, which is why, in the end, such cultures die.
There is only one thing capable of defeating tragedy, which is the belief in God, who in Love, sets his image on the human person, thus endowing each of us with non-negotiable, unconditional
Human Dignity. -from Jonathan Sacks
1 John 4: 16. God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God and God in (them).
Jokerman – a noble, and probably true statement at the end. I would like to believe it, but how many Government members do you think truly “live in God”? (No comment on God living in them).
Democracy and its values of social justice are not based on the Bible.
It is all based on Humanist philosophy.
I’m suspicious of your Einstein quote.
Here’s what he wrote in a letter auctioned recently at Bloomsbury, in a reply to a philosopher mate:
“The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this.”
“For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions. And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything ‘chosen’ about them.”
As for your unctuous bible quote:
“1 John 4: 16. God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God and God in (them).”
Love isn’t an argument. Love is a force – it can go in all directions. The Nazis loved their nation, look what they were willing to do to “protect the Fatherland”.
interesting. unctuous indeed. not a ‘follower’ of Plato or his neo-platonic derivatives; more a Pythagorean.
Sacks suggests the shortcomings following the transliteration of semitic script (written right to left) upon introduction to the Greeks ( evolving to “from left to right”), the introduction of vowels and the implications of both for the dominance of cerebral hemispheres in cultural transmission / development.
Further more,
Simon Baron-Cohen (cousin of Sacha, believe it, or not!)
–
Autism-3/4 are boys
Aspergers-males to females; 10-1
Autism-marked by features suggesting diminished right- hemisphere abilities;
-lack of ability to empathise
-low on social skills
-difficulties in making eye contact
-or stare too long
-often good at Mechanical (repetitive) tasks, mathematics or
-memorising lists
-foreign words
-can be obsessional
-do not understand irony, humour or ambiguity
-tend to treat people as objects
-have difficulty in developing a first-person perspective
-and a self-image
Baron-Cohens Theory? that autism is a condition of hyper-maleness!!!
Hans Asperger and Baron-Cohens theses; that female brain predominantly hard-wired for empathy, male brain for systemising.
-empathisers and systemisers have sharply different skills
– in particular, empathisers relate to people, systemisers to things
(see Carol Gilligan on gender and moral reasoning) or Pinker, “The Blank Slate” on vocational preferences)
Then, there is Jerome Bruner , “Actual Minds, Possible Worlds”, on the difference between two types of mental construction: argument and narrative; point Bruner makes, that narrative is central to human construction of meaning, meaning what makes human condition human.
(see logotherapy)
I could go on… but i gonna read the local paper (check out Bronfenbrenner)
There are cultures that do not share monotheistic beliefs. They are ultimately, Tragic cultures, for whatever shape they give the powers that they name, these powers are fundamentally indifferent to human fate.
They may be natural forces, human institutions: the empire, the state, the political system or the economy.
They may be human collectivities: the tribe, the nation the race.
Yet, all end in tragedy, because none attaches ultimate significance to the individual as individual.
All end by sacrificing the individual, which is why, in the end, such cultures die.
Evidence, links etc. please.
Remembering extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary evidence….
JS I don’t think these are “extraordinary” claims. They seem to me fairly commonplace in the literature. The claim of tragic beliefs made me think of the Greek gods who were fundamentally indifferent to what impact they had on man. The monotheistic God (Jehovah, Allah) has an intimate interest, he created man in his image (or is it the other other way around)????
All good fun, Jokerman might spend a little long with his nose in a volume of Jung methinks.
Could be that too but the number of people who seemingly vote for candidates because of the expressed religion of that candidates does seem to be very high.
Seems to me that in order to suck people, in the puppets have to reference religion or etc, all the while there are religous wars being waged around the globe, all stirred by the same crew who present the politicians we get to choose from at our elections, believing we live in a democracy.
IMO the idea seems to be to destroy religion, which is most likely how it was designed to be used, along with providing cover for other activities and worship. Darkness rules this world of ours, that is very clear to me, so preaching light, which is what “god” is supposed to be, all the while tearing religon apart, would be the work of people who are into something most people would find disturbing, and not comprehend.
To me “god” is everyone and everything, it is all around us, the universe is “god”, and all that is in it, and it seems to me that the great decption is in keeping human beings from realising the togetherness, we all share.What TPTB fear most, is people realising that we are all one, then turning to see who is behind the curtain!
Great work Jman, God always pleases the crowds whether he is called Jehovah, Allah or something simple like Marx. Or maybe Adam with his mates the “Invisible Hand” and the “Market” (an unholy trinity if ever there was one).
And man oh man can we do the cats and dogs thing when the “received words” and “wisdom” meet in the alley. Blood will run.
it appears that your memory is Excellent. ( i began with “blood will run in the streets” in a galaxy far, far away)
and, it may have been u that first replied, to me characterisation of the front bench; i was perpetually surprised that such characterisation was not illegal, yet then, one only has to think of that racist, bigotted, hypocritical, ATTENTION SEEKING dick Laws and the divisive, numb-skull invective that he spouts; Just freakin disgusting (disgust is a natural emotion, in case one is wondering, it leads us to Vomit up that which is unpalatable, unhealthy and harmful.
Thought this quite funny from google on a theme bailey used for his shows.
Bill Bailey | Tour Updates http://www.billbailey.co.uk/tour/
BILL BAILEY – QUALMPEDDLER – 2012 LIVE. Bill Bailey had Doubts about the modern world, but these have now grown into qualms. He will be channeling …
Billy Bragg has a great story that his sons favourite Bragg song is in fact unisex chip shop by bill bailey. They’ve even done it on stage together – it’s very funny.
I love German hokey tokey with I think the real kraftwerk.
Garth McVicar speaking on prison parole – it should be a privilege rather than a right. Actually that phrase should be applied to his speaking to the media. His opinion of no standing and kneejerk thought, is something that should be heard even more rarely than it now is. Why don’t the media follow up the regular talk back radio phone-ins and ask them for opinions? They have many and often strongly worded, so good soundbites, and much on the same level as McVicar.
nzherald article on benefit fraudster, Michelle Hawke, getting kicked out of NZs most expensive state house, there in Orakei. She’s been there for 12 years!!!
“Hawke’s lounge looks out onto the Sky Tower, Orakei Domain, Waiheke Island and towards Bastion Pt, where her relatives occupied the land in 1977.”
She’s got 90 days to bugger off! I’d give her 90 seconds, the lazy, thieving, good for nothing!
On second thoughts, actually I’d make her clean up the filthy mess she and her Whanau have made of a tax payer property that we provided her with for next to nothing. Would probably be the first time in her life she had to get off her lazy bum and work.
“Graffiti adorned fences and the section was covered in rubbish. ”
Wish I could get free housing, but I don’t because I actually work – in a job I dont particularly like with coworkers I don’t particularly like, but hey I turn up in time, presentable, not hung over or on drugs and get the work done.
I have to rent. But I don’t trash the place, I don’t leave rubbish strewn everywhere. I keep it clean and tidy. Isn’t that how a human being is suppose to behave? Even animals keep their nest/den tidy.
Bugger off Ms Hawke, NZ doesn’t need you.
Too bad we can’t push the useless good for nothing out to sea in a leaky dinghy.
“Isn’t that how a human being is suppose to behave”
R u asking bud ?, You sit there on your high horse lording your success over the peasants, and then you ask us if that’s the way you’re meant to behave.
” in a job I dont particularly like with coworkers I don’t particularly like, but hey I turn up in time, presentable”
Well this is surprising, you bitch about your job as well as wour workmates. But make sure you are “presentable” too them, opening your eyes yet Buddy?
“Prometheus is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use”
You created them buddy, you tell us why you made them that way.
Blowarse, I’m not talking about them, I’m talking about you.
Ok, sorry for making you angry KP.
(How’s ya hard drive ?)
I applaud you for getting on this board and speaking your mind.
There is a reason no one here validates your whinging, but every one of us actually reads it.
That should tell you something about accepting that other people will make their decisions for their own reasons, they play the cards they are dealt not the ones you were dealt.
If you can accept this simple fact then your heart will stop breaking (Stop Beating, and yes anger will do that), which makes your memory unravel for a few seconds.
The problem with this is you will forever repeat yourself without ever understanding yourself and how you get to those places, so I recommend you undertake Anger Management.
True enough babe, but I don’t want him running off and doing something stupid.
I’m trying to encourage him to open his mind to the world, if he runs away then I’ve failed.
Why do you feel obliged to defend a thieving, lazy, good for nothing?
Who is?
That said, yes the actions, if reported accurately, are atrocious but my thought would be to ask why were they atrocious? rather than to pass uninformed judgement as you did.
k p
What a blood and adrenalin boost you get from dissing the lower classes that you decide are below contempt! Self-indulgent tub-thumping – you’re a waste of space.
Try keeping up that sort of thing about the shonky financiers and business directors funnelling off money that directly belongs to NZ people, it’s not even taxes ‘wasted’ by the government. Let’s ensure fraud and mismanagement doesn’t eat away into our aggregate wealth so ensuring that we will always be a poor country.
And for goodness sake k-p don’t waste our time putting stuff on her that is fit only for a ran t on a talk back session. Yours isn’t political discussion.
k – p
You actually work. That apparently elevates you to a lofty prominence over the rest of us.
I think you are lucky. Lucky to have a job. And you sound like one of the ignorant part of working class who are right wingers and don’t support each other in necessary activity to achieve better conditions and wages for all. Blue collar, red necker perhaps. What do you do – are you a manager or skilled tradesman or barman or self-employed towtruck driver or what?
Interesting point about bad language that I referred to earlier in another thread. I mentioned potty mouth men and women. There was a very heartening item on Radionz this morning about a boxing and training outfit in Naenae.
Radionz on Nine to Noon – Billy Graham runs the Naenae Boxing Academy in Wellington. He has released a new book with Phil Gifford Making Champion Men : How one New Zealand man’s vision is changing boys’ lives, published by Hodder Moa.
The speaker Billy Graham, demands self-discipline including in the choice of speech there, no swearing. He also has to speak to some parents both men and women about constant bad language. He’s written a book about what he does and the interview is a good listen too. We need to hear good news sometimes. And after hearing that, how would this type of enterprise fit into our present education process or into a charter school perhaps?
Talking about life experience and supporting our young people in NZ how did that army guy get drowned if he was wearing a zipped up lifejacket? And if all on the boat didn’t have them, why not? The Army has put recruits at risk before resulting in them dying for lack of proper resources. It should look after its precious resources, people, before sending them off to do the actual work in the killing fields.
It was interesting to hear one recently say that they were not in Afghanistan helping to construct and rebuild which has been the PR I’ve heard. Why can’t the Army be trained in these positive skills? They shouldn’t let their distressing muck-up over the farm bridge that collapsed and killed the beekeeper and cost the farmers their livelihood put them off. I am sure they could succeed and learn how to do it right for long term safety and enable them to do good in the world’s war or climate-torn needy areas.
You dislike “bad language”. I regard infantile expressions like “potty mouth” a greater debasement of the language than an f-bomb.
Not that I give a damn anyway.
As for the army stuff:
a) the most basic circumstances of the case haven’t come to light yet so speculation and finger pointing is a bit premature; and
b) the non-reconstruction army staff in AF would be the SAS “logistics” revenge contingent. The real reconstruction team actually do build schools and so on.
A well placed fekk as a stress on another word can be useful. A Shakespeare or Biblical quote goes well astray 90% of the time (but they are more satisfying to use).
“The speaker Billy Graham, demands self-discipline including in the choice of speech there, no swearing.”
Sure, but it makes sense in that context that he has rules that promote self-discipline – they’re learning a sport where self-discipline is crucial. I already have control over what I do or don’t say, so swearing isn’t about lack of discipline, it’s because I like the language.
If you didn’t already know it, the bloke knows nothing but has been putting the Party Line spin on Dotcom with impunity on the Panel this afternoon.
On a lighter note, The Panel was asked who had the best male singing voice outside Andy Williams.
The Penguin opined, “…well actually Andy Williams was a bit before my time, and I would have to choose between Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Elvis’s “Return to Sender” does it for me…”
A quick Wiki search shows Cash, Presley and Williams started performing together in 1956. “Return to Sender” was a hit in 1962. As was “Moon River.”
ha ha “David”- try ” i Hurt myself today..like I always do…”( Cash or NINE INCH NAILS)
no wonder the general public is so uninformed considering the people Paid to inform them
Speaking of which- “Close Up” about to go down the “entertainment” drain
apparently 80% of free to air veiwers prefer something light over something substantial according to ol’ pizza brain (oops, thats not very compassionate Jokerman you n0rty boy you)
Fluff, freakin InsulFluff is what they are apparently wanting.
Wow! John Key has just discovered that Radio New Zealand has news shows and whats more, he’s appearing on one right now. Apparently, the illegal spying is just a simple mistake, but it’s also “mind blowing”. And it’s all the legal teams fault and he didn’t need to know about it. What a sap.
A little item on queuing in USA – the way it is changing – on Radionz tonight. In some places they have coloured wristbands you pay for and wear which will give you priority at various locations. Good for queues in the hot sun where other people have to wait longer. The speaker commented on the increasing distance between the strata of society there. This is just another way of making life harder.
Then also there is a fastlane on a motorway in one of the states. This was provided by doing away with the previous car pool lane that had a two people minimum. Now the travel of a non-paying commuter has changed from about half hour to an hour and a half. I think this is what he said.
I can imagine that in public-private partnerships for roads than include tolls, this type of elitist approach to what is a democratic need for transport routes, might be one of the unexpected disadvantages that ordinary citizens have to bear.
In industrial Britain I understand that adults were rejected as cotton mill workers, with their children being employed instead, sometimes being the only workers in the household. They had to walk to the mill and I think were docked serious money if they were late. There weren’t too many watches around then either! Some I believe had to get up at 3 am to get organised for the long walk to work to make sure they were on time. There are so many ways that people can be ground down by harsh conditions. Preference for the better off is one way.
That said if you have to clear customs for fly a commercial jet, you are not “a player” anyway, so it would seem that taking money for such services is taking money from “the self important”
The plane will not leave early, so it makes the possibilites fewer.
I imagine that they are ushered quickly directly to the nearest duty free stores.
To be fair, there are occasions at Uk airports where I could see the reasons why people would want to pay to bypass the mess (because most London airports are horrid), but the reasons won’t be because they are time poor …
Me at the airport = uneconomically viable invisible person
Actually i choose not to fly anymore due to the HUMUNGOUS environmental footprint, which i guess makes me even more invisible (just as well given how uneconomically viable i am)
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
One of the strongest narratives about "our" spy agencies is that they are basically institutional traitors, working for foreign powers (or just themselves), without any control or oversight by the elected government. And today, we have yet another report from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security which explicitly confirms this. ...
“It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April to meet the Prime Minister’s ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
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Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
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RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
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The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
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If you want to know what is happening ask a taxi driver…..Max Keiser does in the funniest clip for a while. The man is on fire with justifiable rage against the kleptocrats, John Key needs to ride with this man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNxVTa54cF8&feature=player_detailpage
I LOVE MAX KEISER!
Bored
Great clip. Very rousing with a wonderful rant. Says it all.
Maybe there is a critical mass of informed angry people arising>
Maybe there is a critical mass of informed angry people arising.
Once the taxi drivers are on to it the establishment is in real trouble. Max Keiser is always good but that driver is the star of this clip!!!
ooh! now Nick Tillsley’s in trouble ( gotta have the mundane intermission in the high drama of national political intrigue)
Notice this ‘Give us our waterfront campaign’ getting column inches in grannyoid….who are these people?
Coincidental timing with POAL refusing OI requests, gov’t not interested in allowing citizens to see details on the assets they own etc etc
Also Crusher getting ‘tough’ on parole hearings with the mother of murdered girl woodman some years back in wellington being put out their by the media.
Divert, delay, distract, dogwhistle they’ve got it all going on.
And could the opposition ask a direct question on the last day of parliament please…..FFS enough material to light a bonfire and those clowns can’t even get a BBQ underway.
I don’t know, tc.
It’s simmering away, and Granny reports some hits from the opposition in the House yesterday:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10836791
Also not so sure tc. Just watched replay of question time and with ShonKey getting so frustrated he starts blaspheming (Colin Craig will be clutching his pearls with disgrace) seems to me they are having quiet a success at scraping off the Teflon.
Opposition? A few minor items from the Dotcom saga to begin with…police apparently lying under oath…’misstatements’ from PM & deputy…US influence in NZ…but will we see any pointed questions from Labour on all this?
None so blind, etc.
Labour, and the other opposition parties have had a great couple of days poking the borax at National in the house and in the media. If you haven’t noticed, that’s not their problem, RR, its yours.
‘But Labour, wah wah …’ is getting pretty tired, particularly when polling such as the latest Roy Morgan shows they are on track to lead the next Government.
Opposition have had a great couple of days and yet I still hear Mr Key get away with saying
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
“There is insufficient evidence”
and I don’t hear any objection. I don’t hear the question posed “….of what”
He is just allowed to go on his merry way confusing the issue and transmitting his spin.
Mr Key and other National members get to grandstand for minutes on end
Where is the objection to this?
It is obvious when he is about to do it.
Why do the opposition not cut him off with an objection?
This is now a public channel and I consistently see National getting unreasonable airtime for their half-baked notions and spin tactics. I am sorry that our opposition don’t appear to factor in the powerful effect of spin because it makes me furious every time this Government gets time to grandstand in the way they regularly do in parliament when there are sound rules in place to disallow this.
So far, only by default and not because they’ve become any more palatable.
Voice – And what will Labour do that is any different if they are at the wheel…
Other than provide a platform for you to use your pom poms, leading the cheering team!
Gimme a
N O T H I N G
There is insufficient evidence for your comment Muzza
40 years of NZ economic decline, regardless of government you mean!
Oh, you were being sarcastic…
@ Muzza,
no…I wasn’t being sarky…can see why you thought I was though and there was a little facetiousness involved in employing our Prime Spin Junkie’s favourite saying…
Thanks, your comment makes more sense now that you’ve mentioned the decline.
I am a tad averse to anyone mentioning all Governments are the same because this may be so for the middle section of NZers, but in the least economically endowed the different Governments make quite a bit of difference (or even a small difference means a lot when one doesn’t have much)…also a different atmosphere when we have smug contemptuous types in charge…also tend to hear …and therefore there is no point in voting after it…which admittedly is a serious condition…hearing voices and all….
BL – My original response was aimed at TRP…
Take your point though about those at the very bottom, and the differences that even a slower journey with the same co-ordinates could make for them.
If only the middle would stop to think that they too are in the firing line, just a little further along the schedule. If they understood this, then they would be not be pouring scorn on those less off, and they would certainly not be backing the corporate takeover we in NZ are laying witness to.
Cheers
I second that-thoroughly agree. If they would think about direction rather than here and now, or look at what has happened to America (as I understand it there are many who used to be comfortably off now sharing houses or without a house at all).
please take a moment to sign this to protect Marlborough Sounds … urgent today if you will, please …
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_Sounds_are_for_All_say_NO_to_nine_new_salmon_farms/?bpyhmab&v=18238
Have done that. Worthy cause yeshe.
Done. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
/signed
And…needing a distraction from the Kim Dotcom circus the government makes an announcement around welfare recipients. This one is a little weaker than usual. Guess what? MSD is now information sharing with the IRD. Not the best distraction. Perhaps half a million in fireworks would distract the media pack better than the few beneficiaries (and how many is that exactly? 1%? 20%? Perhaps half?) who exploit the system.
They have been doing this for a long time – it is not new.
The latest Roy Morgan poll is out.
National is down 3% to 43.5%, Labour up 2 to 33%. Greens are down slightly to 11.5%.
The trend is in the right direction.
The impression that National is on that long slippery slope to defeat is growing stronger …
The balance of power is still with the MP and NZF 🙁
And what kind of Labour will we have in Govt.
And why not the Greens?
I did a quick run through of the numbers yesterday and it ends up, assuming ACT, UF and the MP all retain their current electorate seats, with the Gov’t 58 vs Lab/Greens 55. Winston has 6 seats. So a L/G/NZF coalition would have a reasonable majority. However, if Labour cuts Nationals direct lead over them by a further 2 pts (ie down to a single figure gap), then Winston becomes less relevant and a minority Lab/Green Gov’t is just as likely an outcome.
This poll heaps real pressure on the Maori party, who need to be in Government to be effective. Mana get two seats, btw.
“So a L/G/NZF coalition would have a reasonable majority.”
Am I the only person who remembers Winston Peters categorically refusing to be part of any government that included the Greens. Is there any evidence that this has changed?
Even if NZF were willing, it’s pretty hard to see how that could work.
He did say that he wouldn’t work with the Greens, either in 2002 or 2005, but things have moved on since then. I imagine 3 years in the wilderness may have changed Winston’s stance a little and the Greens are not the same party either in terms of both policy and leadership. And I note Key has switched from ruling NZF out 4 years ago to realizing he won’t be PM without them, so its clearly a dynamic situation!
How do you see a L/G/NZF government working?
Awkwardly!
I think Shearer will have his work cut out keeping unity, but its worth remembering that’s the work he used to do in his earlier job. As long as he can stop them stepping on each other’s toes, then it’s got a chance of success. Giving WP his old Foreign Minister role should keep him happy (and out of the country for long periods). A couple of other NZFers will need associate roles, too. Defence? Revenue?
The Greens would be looking for senior roles, though not the Deputy PM’s job I think, because of the shared leadership system they have. It would cut across that to have one of the two leaders in a clearly senior role to the other. Environment, Education, Social Develeopment?
Labour will want total control over the checkbook and the affairs of state, of course.
And, as I suggested yesterday, I wouldn’t rule out the Maori Party making a pitch to be in the Shearer waka, too. That might give Shearer just enough votes to form a minority Government without Winston or at least play hard ball with him in the negotiations.
One other option that is almost viable on the Roy Morgan numbers is L/G/Mana. The most left wing Government since the Alliance fell apart!
TRP – Your assumption that Shearer will be the Leader bothers me, and I suspect, a good many others.
A bitter pill for you to swallow, Doc? As long as the numbers stay good, Shearer’s home and hosed, so best get used to it.
Sleepwalking to victory. I’m not entirely convinced about that as a Labour Party tactic.
What’s needed right now with this massive scandal involving Messrs Key and English and a perjuring policeman, is decisive, resolute leadership. We are seeing that from Mr Kim Dotcom, who is without a doubt the most impressive and lucid speaker involved in this scandal.
The official Leader of the Opposition, on the other hand, when interviewed on the radio yesterday, began by saying: “Ummmmm…”
Te Reo Putake
Does this mean in English ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings’?
Sorry, Prism, does what mean ‘out of the mouths’ etc?
it was Dylan, off Empire Burlesque (appropriate title)
TRP
I tried to get meaning of putake and looked up the Maori Dictionary on google and it seems the ‘source’ is one of its variants. I thought then that you might be referring to the pure source of reason and truth in the language, and what’s purer and less unsullied than what comes out of the mouths of babes.
Perhaps what you say about Shearer comes from this direct source to truth and wisdom?
Bit convoluted eh. I think it would be simpler to ask what does your pseudonym means?
I switched from ‘The Voice of Reason’ on Waitangi day. TVOR was confusing people, who didn’t get the joke, so I thought I’d celebrate the day by changing to the maori translation. I wasn’t alone, ‘one anonymous bloke’ became ‘kotahi tane huna’ at the same time. We’ve both been accused of being the blogging equivalent of bl00dy maaris by knuckle draggers since then!
I considered changing mine to the NZ sign equivalent too, until it occurred to me that people who sign don’t have a problem with reading 🙂
ps, prism, you’re not alone in trying to work out the meaning. Check out my stalker! 🙄
(it’s the maori language post, not the go at Micky S. Tellingly, Pete knew what the correct translation was when he wrote the post, but he pretended otherwise)
Jeeze, link warning please!
r0b has a post up about NZF/Nats here
http://thestandard.org.nz/key-peters-2014/
How does Mana get 2 seats?
My understanding of the MMP review is that if National does change the law, the changes will be in place for the 2014 election. One of the proposals is the abolishment of electorate coat-tailing. So unless you can show that Mana is going to win 2 electorate seats, I don’t think it’s wise to suggest they’ll get 2 seats.
If they win Hone’s electorate seat and gain 1.5% of the party vote, they will be allocated another seat, whcih will be an overhang, bringing the total number of MP’s to 121.
That’s the situation now, Lanth, under current law, and that’s what I based my comment on. Yes, it may change, but my analysis is based on currently known facts. I’ve also assumed that the MP, ACT and UF will retain their 5 seats for the same reason. That is also a future unknown, but its the current fact.
Polling was from 10-23rd September so covered the Banks donation scandal but none of the Dotcom spying scandal. Next Roy Morgan will be interesting, often the Govt suffers a dip only to recover in the next poll? But another poll that suggests a centre left coalition at the next election is good news.
Full effect is unlikely to be fully through until late October. I’ve observed on average about a 6 week delay between events and when they start hitting the Morgan polls.
One is reminded of the England Rugby team doing a lap of honour at Old Trafford after being beaten 25-8 by the All Blacks back in 1997.
A L/G government may be a possility, but it is only a mathematical one. The gap between Labour and National is still very large. Were there an election held today, National will still win comfortably, and even if L/G manged to cobble together a coalition, it would be undermined at every corner by the opposition, business and the like. Past (and present) Labor governments with precarious majorites in Australia are a glaring example.
If an election were held today, the published poll results would probably look different than what we have.
It’s rather a silly fiction to imagine that the poll results are what parliament would be like if the election had been held.
Correct, it is a game played by the media, because its a mornic distraction, brought into by simple people!
Waste of Time and Energy!
“One is reminded of the England Rugby team doing a lap of honour at Old Trafford after being beaten 25-8 by the All Blacks back in 1997.”
That actually embarrassed many of the England players and supporters. The ridiculous “losers’ lap of honour” sprang from the fertile mind of the egregious Clive Woodward.
Years later, he foisted the disgraced war criminal Alistair Campbell on the British and Irish Lions as a “manager” for their disastrous 2005 tour of New Zealand. Some of the Irish players in particular were incensed by this, and on one memorable occasion de-bagged the bullying creep in front of the whole team.
so when is len brwon going to fire the ports of auckland management and get some proper government servants in to do the job?
Never. He doesn’t have the authority to do that, thanks to Rodney Hide.
To me the NZ government appears to be running out of money. Within the last 6 months I have experienced 3 GST refunds being withheld beyond the 20 day period, and when I contacted them the payments were released that day. Other large businesses I have contact with, with also large GST refunds $250k+ are experiencing the same. On making contact the refunds are released. No reasons given for the delay. If we are late there is an immediate penalty 10% then normal penalty rates. When the IRD are late a 2% p.a. interest applies.
the House always wins mate.
Interesting Herodotus. Exact same whispers and non / delayed payments have been around last few months with EQC and other government organisations in Christchurch.
Smoke and fire ……..
Many of us here in Chch fully expect that if/when the final global financial meltdown hits soon all work and money expected for the rebuild here will stop dead.
Best head west …….. at least there is plenty food, water, shelter and wood. Imagine being in the middle of one of our cities when the shit hits the fan and the supermarkets last a single day. Wouldn’t wanna be a nearby farmer no…
VTO – I don’t reckon there is any intention of rebuilding, because if that were the intention there would be some proof of it by now!
Nah no fuss. That’s what you have your .223, your dogs, good neighbours all around looking out for you, and your extended family on the farm for.
Neo-Darwinian biologists and evolutionary psychologists have focused on the self, the, I, . I, is what passes genes on to the next generation, what engages in “reciprocal” altruism, the seemingly selfless behaviour that actually serves self-centred ends. The market is about the choosing, I, The economy is about the consuming , I, The Liberal Democratic (finger down throat) is about the voting, I. Yet, I, is lonely. I, is bad at relationships, in a world of , I’s, marriages do not last. Communities erode. Loyalty is devalued. Trust grows thin, John.
Einstein famously said, “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind”.
Islam, one of the three Abrahamic monotheistic faiths, spread faster and wider than any religious movement in the lifetime of it’s founder, endowing the world with imperishable masterpieces of philosophy, poetry, architecture and art, as well as a faith seemingly immune to secularisation or decay.
Don Brash, Bob Parker, (take your pick); “on the surface he’s profound, but deep down he’s superficial”.
To paraphrase Wittgenstein, ” The meaning of the system lies outside the system. Therefore, the meaning of the universe lies outside the universe”.
If we are free, then history is not a matter of eternal recurrences. As we can change ourselves,
(see learning Revolution) we can change the world. That is the religious basis of hope.
There are cultures that do not share monotheistic beliefs. They are ultimately, Tragic cultures, for whatever shape they give the powers that they name, these powers are fundamentally indifferent to human fate.
They may be natural forces, human institutions: the empire, the state, the political system or the economy.
They may be human collectivities: the tribe, the nation the race.
Yet, all end in tragedy, because none attaches ultimate significance to the individual as individual.
All end by sacrificing the individual, which is why, in the end, such cultures die.
There is only one thing capable of defeating tragedy, which is the belief in God, who in Love, sets his image on the human person, thus endowing each of us with non-negotiable, unconditional
Human Dignity. -from Jonathan Sacks
1 John 4: 16. God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God and God in (them).
🙂 🙂 🙂
Jokerman – a noble, and probably true statement at the end. I would like to believe it, but how many Government members do you think truly “live in God”? (No comment on God living in them).
Democracy and its values of social justice are not based on the Bible.
It is all based on Humanist philosophy.
I’m suspicious of your Einstein quote.
Here’s what he wrote in a letter auctioned recently at Bloomsbury, in a reply to a philosopher mate:
“The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this.”
“For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions. And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything ‘chosen’ about them.”
As for your unctuous bible quote:
“1 John 4: 16. God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God and God in (them).”
Love isn’t an argument. Love is a force – it can go in all directions. The Nazis loved their nation, look what they were willing to do to “protect the Fatherland”.
interesting. unctuous indeed. not a ‘follower’ of Plato or his neo-platonic derivatives; more a Pythagorean.
Sacks suggests the shortcomings following the transliteration of semitic script (written right to left) upon introduction to the Greeks ( evolving to “from left to right”), the introduction of vowels and the implications of both for the dominance of cerebral hemispheres in cultural transmission / development.
agape’
Further more,
Simon Baron-Cohen (cousin of Sacha, believe it, or not!)
–
Autism-3/4 are boys
Aspergers-males to females; 10-1
Autism-marked by features suggesting diminished right- hemisphere abilities;
-lack of ability to empathise
-low on social skills
-difficulties in making eye contact
-or stare too long
-often good at Mechanical (repetitive) tasks, mathematics or
-memorising lists
-foreign words
-can be obsessional
-do not understand irony, humour or ambiguity
-tend to treat people as objects
-have difficulty in developing a first-person perspective
-and a self-image
Baron-Cohens Theory? that autism is a condition of hyper-maleness!!!
Hans Asperger and Baron-Cohens theses; that female brain predominantly hard-wired for empathy, male brain for systemising.
-empathisers and systemisers have sharply different skills
– in particular, empathisers relate to people, systemisers to things
(see Carol Gilligan on gender and moral reasoning) or Pinker, “The Blank Slate” on vocational preferences)
Then, there is Jerome Bruner , “Actual Minds, Possible Worlds”, on the difference between two types of mental construction: argument and narrative; point Bruner makes, that narrative is central to human construction of meaning, meaning what makes human condition human.
(see logotherapy)
I could go on… but i gonna read the local paper (check out Bronfenbrenner)
Next? 🙂
Just for reference, Simon Baron-Cohen
There are cultures that do not share monotheistic beliefs. They are ultimately, Tragic cultures, for whatever shape they give the powers that they name, these powers are fundamentally indifferent to human fate.
They may be natural forces, human institutions: the empire, the state, the political system or the economy.
They may be human collectivities: the tribe, the nation the race.
Yet, all end in tragedy, because none attaches ultimate significance to the individual as individual.
All end by sacrificing the individual, which is why, in the end, such cultures die.
Evidence, links etc. please.
Remembering extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary evidence….
JS I don’t think these are “extraordinary” claims. They seem to me fairly commonplace in the literature. The claim of tragic beliefs made me think of the Greek gods who were fundamentally indifferent to what impact they had on man. The monotheistic God (Jehovah, Allah) has an intimate interest, he created man in his image (or is it the other other way around)????
All good fun, Jokerman might spend a little long with his nose in a volume of Jung methinks.
nope. not into archetypes and “shadows”; light and darkness, although, An answer to Job awaits,
🙂
From what I’m seeing the biggest threat to humankind and the rest of the world is a belief in god.
No – Thats just what the crew who are pulling the strings want you to think.
Could be that too but the number of people who seemingly vote for candidates because of the expressed religion of that candidates does seem to be very high.
Seems to me that in order to suck people, in the puppets have to reference religion or etc, all the while there are religous wars being waged around the globe, all stirred by the same crew who present the politicians we get to choose from at our elections, believing we live in a democracy.
IMO the idea seems to be to destroy religion, which is most likely how it was designed to be used, along with providing cover for other activities and worship. Darkness rules this world of ours, that is very clear to me, so preaching light, which is what “god” is supposed to be, all the while tearing religon apart, would be the work of people who are into something most people would find disturbing, and not comprehend.
To me “god” is everyone and everything, it is all around us, the universe is “god”, and all that is in it, and it seems to me that the great decption is in keeping human beings from realising the togetherness, we all share.What TPTB fear most, is people realising that we are all one, then turning to see who is behind the curtain!
Hey there big Guy. Still lovin’ your work.
(affect heuristic cycle very droll) 🙂
however, as Bob sang, “you are gonna have to serve somebody ” and His yoke is very light.
I hope that you are not wasting all that brain power and experience? although you have certainly sowed some seeds and resonated with moi
Yay! Robertson got his urgent debate
btw, the reports of education standards for primary schools across the board here in the bay are just freakin shocking!!!
are they Trying to raise mushrooms? keep children in the dark and feed them bullsh# t?
so sad 🙁
Great work Jman, God always pleases the crowds whether he is called Jehovah, Allah or something simple like Marx. Or maybe Adam with his mates the “Invisible Hand” and the “Market” (an unholy trinity if ever there was one).
And man oh man can we do the cats and dogs thing when the “received words” and “wisdom” meet in the alley. Blood will run.
u onto it; from memory, which comes and goes, u are making a difference in your neighbourhood
freakin edit let me down Mr B.
it appears that your memory is Excellent. ( i began with “blood will run in the streets” in a galaxy far, far away)
and, it may have been u that first replied, to me characterisation of the front bench; i was perpetually surprised that such characterisation was not illegal, yet then, one only has to think of that racist, bigotted, hypocritical, ATTENTION SEEKING dick Laws and the divisive, numb-skull invective that he spouts; Just freakin disgusting (disgust is a natural emotion, in case one is wondering, it leads us to Vomit up that which is unpalatable, unhealthy and harmful.
🙂
For fans of Bill Bailey – he’s on Radionz after the 10am news.
Bill Bailey is always reliable for a good ol’ crack up. There was a good interview with him on Radio Active a few weeks back too.
Thought this quite funny from google on a theme bailey used for his shows.
Bill Bailey | Tour Updates
http://www.billbailey.co.uk/tour/
BILL BAILEY – QUALMPEDDLER – 2012 LIVE. Bill Bailey had Doubts about the modern world, but these have now grown into qualms. He will be channeling …
Qualmpeddler – a man for our time.
Thanks Prism. Ha! Cluster qualm. Like it. And the broth of anxiety. BB conveys worldy apprehension and anxiety in such a charming way.
Billy Bragg has a great story that his sons favourite Bragg song is in fact unisex chip shop by bill bailey. They’ve even done it on stage together – it’s very funny.
I love German hokey tokey with I think the real kraftwerk.
Garth McVicar speaking on prison parole – it should be a privilege rather than a right. Actually that phrase should be applied to his speaking to the media. His opinion of no standing and kneejerk thought, is something that should be heard even more rarely than it now is. Why don’t the media follow up the regular talk back radio phone-ins and ask them for opinions? They have many and often strongly worded, so good soundbites, and much on the same level as McVicar.
McVicar succeeds because so many people enjoy the more “sensational” news, particularly when they are so punitively minded.
And the MSM feeds the habit like a dealer.
one awaits the ’vicar’s comment on this unsettling and revolting little account…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7734280/Teens-tell-of-police-ordeal
nzherald article on benefit fraudster, Michelle Hawke, getting kicked out of NZs most expensive state house, there in Orakei. She’s been there for 12 years!!!
“Hawke’s lounge looks out onto the Sky Tower, Orakei Domain, Waiheke Island and towards Bastion Pt, where her relatives occupied the land in 1977.”
She’s got 90 days to bugger off! I’d give her 90 seconds, the lazy, thieving, good for nothing!
On second thoughts, actually I’d make her clean up the filthy mess she and her Whanau have made of a tax payer property that we provided her with for next to nothing. Would probably be the first time in her life she had to get off her lazy bum and work.
“Graffiti adorned fences and the section was covered in rubbish. ”
Wish I could get free housing, but I don’t because I actually work – in a job I dont particularly like with coworkers I don’t particularly like, but hey I turn up in time, presentable, not hung over or on drugs and get the work done.
I have to rent. But I don’t trash the place, I don’t leave rubbish strewn everywhere. I keep it clean and tidy. Isn’t that how a human being is suppose to behave? Even animals keep their nest/den tidy.
Bugger off Ms Hawke, NZ doesn’t need you.
Too bad we can’t push the useless good for nothing out to sea in a leaky dinghy.
you didn’t answer my question here
“Isn’t that how a human being is suppose to behave”
R u asking bud ?, You sit there on your high horse lording your success over the peasants, and then you ask us if that’s the way you’re meant to behave.
” in a job I dont particularly like with coworkers I don’t particularly like, but hey I turn up in time, presentable”
Well this is surprising, you bitch about your job as well as wour workmates. But make sure you are “presentable” too them, opening your eyes yet Buddy?
“Yeah Naaah M8!”
“You sit there on your high horse lording your success over the peasants”
No I’m actually working class.
“you bitch about your job as well as wour workmates. But make sure you are “presentable” too them”
It’s not bitching its just the reality, most people are in a similar situation. But you just get on and do.
Why do you feel obliged to defend a thieving, lazy, good for nothing?
still not answering that question KP? if you can’t back up your claims, that’s cool, it doesn’t really surprise me
“Prometheus is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use”
You created them buddy, you tell us why you made them that way.
Blowarse, I’m not talking about them, I’m talking about you.
Ok, sorry for making you angry KP.
(How’s ya hard drive ?)
I applaud you for getting on this board and speaking your mind.
There is a reason no one here validates your whinging, but every one of us actually reads it.
That should tell you something about accepting that other people will make their decisions for their own reasons, they play the cards they are dealt not the ones you were dealt.
If you can accept this simple fact then your heart will stop breaking (Stop Beating, and yes anger will do that), which makes your memory unravel for a few seconds.
The problem with this is you will forever repeat yourself without ever understanding yourself and how you get to those places, so I recommend you undertake Anger Management.
And just for the record my IQ is 600+
“I applaud you for getting on this board and speaking your mind.”
Good god, why?
The only public service that results from KP’s deranged blathering is, as the saying goes, that it removes all doubt…
True enough babe, but I don’t want him running off and doing something stupid.
I’m trying to encourage him to open his mind to the world, if he runs away then I’ve failed.
lol
rocks and greasy slopes spring to mind…
Thanks for the encouragement 🙂
Amen Flockie! (love that man (woman?)
We’ll leave ya guessing I guess
Who is?
That said, yes the actions, if reported accurately, are atrocious but my thought would be to ask why were they atrocious? rather than to pass uninformed judgement as you did.
k p
What a blood and adrenalin boost you get from dissing the lower classes that you decide are below contempt! Self-indulgent tub-thumping – you’re a waste of space.
Try keeping up that sort of thing about the shonky financiers and business directors funnelling off money that directly belongs to NZ people, it’s not even taxes ‘wasted’ by the government. Let’s ensure fraud and mismanagement doesn’t eat away into our aggregate wealth so ensuring that we will always be a poor country.
And for goodness sake k-p don’t waste our time putting stuff on her that is fit only for a ran t on a talk back session. Yours isn’t political discussion.
k – p
You actually work. That apparently elevates you to a lofty prominence over the rest of us.
I think you are lucky. Lucky to have a job. And you sound like one of the ignorant part of working class who are right wingers and don’t support each other in necessary activity to achieve better conditions and wages for all. Blue collar, red necker perhaps. What do you do – are you a manager or skilled tradesman or barman or self-employed towtruck driver or what?
You should lead by example.
Interesting point about bad language that I referred to earlier in another thread. I mentioned potty mouth men and women. There was a very heartening item on Radionz this morning about a boxing and training outfit in Naenae.
Radionz on Nine to Noon – Billy Graham runs the Naenae Boxing Academy in Wellington. He has released a new book with Phil Gifford Making Champion Men : How one New Zealand man’s vision is changing boys’ lives, published by Hodder Moa.
The speaker Billy Graham, demands self-discipline including in the choice of speech there, no swearing. He also has to speak to some parents both men and women about constant bad language. He’s written a book about what he does and the interview is a good listen too. We need to hear good news sometimes. And after hearing that, how would this type of enterprise fit into our present education process or into a charter school perhaps?
Talking about life experience and supporting our young people in NZ how did that army guy get drowned if he was wearing a zipped up lifejacket? And if all on the boat didn’t have them, why not? The Army has put recruits at risk before resulting in them dying for lack of proper resources. It should look after its precious resources, people, before sending them off to do the actual work in the killing fields.
It was interesting to hear one recently say that they were not in Afghanistan helping to construct and rebuild which has been the PR I’ve heard. Why can’t the Army be trained in these positive skills? They shouldn’t let their distressing muck-up over the farm bridge that collapsed and killed the beekeeper and cost the farmers their livelihood put them off. I am sure they could succeed and learn how to do it right for long term safety and enable them to do good in the world’s war or climate-torn needy areas.
You dislike “bad language”. I regard infantile expressions like “potty mouth” a greater debasement of the language than an f-bomb.
Not that I give a damn anyway.
As for the army stuff:
a) the most basic circumstances of the case haven’t come to light yet so speculation and finger pointing is a bit premature; and
b) the non-reconstruction army staff in AF would be the SAS “logistics” revenge contingent. The real reconstruction team actually do build schools and so on.
language is behaviour; behaviour is way into, or out of, Values
A well placed fekk as a stress on another word can be useful. A Shakespeare or Biblical quote goes well astray 90% of the time (but they are more satisfying to use).
“The speaker Billy Graham, demands self-discipline including in the choice of speech there, no swearing.”
Sure, but it makes sense in that context that he has rules that promote self-discipline – they’re learning a sport where self-discipline is crucial. I already have control over what I do or don’t say, so swearing isn’t about lack of discipline, it’s because I like the language.
I’m with McFlock on the term ‘potty-mouth’.
Dear Gordon does the spade work again….
No wonder ShonKey looked so relieved to be kicking for touch via a short time frame enquiry into the “Dottie” affair.
http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/09/27/gordon-campbell-on-the-flawed-inquiry-into-the-dotcom-security-breaches/
PM eager…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10836884
The Penguin
If you didn’t already know it, the bloke knows nothing but has been putting the Party Line spin on Dotcom with impunity on the Panel this afternoon.
On a lighter note, The Panel was asked who had the best male singing voice outside Andy Williams.
The Penguin opined, “…well actually Andy Williams was a bit before my time, and I would have to choose between Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Elvis’s “Return to Sender” does it for me…”
A quick Wiki search shows Cash, Presley and Williams started performing together in 1956. “Return to Sender” was a hit in 1962. As was “Moon River.”
Nice one David …, flannel as ever.
Please someone do a photoshop of DF, with “Return to Sender” slapped across it.
ha ha “David”- try ” i Hurt myself today..like I always do…”( Cash or NINE INCH NAILS)
no wonder the general public is so uninformed considering the people Paid to inform them
Speaking of which- “Close Up” about to go down the “entertainment” drain
apparently 80% of free to air veiwers prefer something light over something substantial according to ol’ pizza brain (oops, thats not very compassionate Jokerman you n0rty boy you)
Fluff, freakin InsulFluff is what they are apparently wanting.
Now, go to bed you n0rty boy!
Wow! John Key has just discovered that Radio New Zealand has news shows and whats more, he’s appearing on one right now. Apparently, the illegal spying is just a simple mistake, but it’s also “mind blowing”. And it’s all the legal teams fault and he didn’t need to know about it. What a sap.
And check this out for a bit more sappy awesomeness:
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/close-up-big-dealers-john-key-1987
Principles of false flag attacks
Dedicated to travellerev
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UbAgq3u6lQ&feature=g-all-u
A little item on queuing in USA – the way it is changing – on Radionz tonight. In some places they have coloured wristbands you pay for and wear which will give you priority at various locations. Good for queues in the hot sun where other people have to wait longer. The speaker commented on the increasing distance between the strata of society there. This is just another way of making life harder.
Then also there is a fastlane on a motorway in one of the states. This was provided by doing away with the previous car pool lane that had a two people minimum. Now the travel of a non-paying commuter has changed from about half hour to an hour and a half. I think this is what he said.
I can imagine that in public-private partnerships for roads than include tolls, this type of elitist approach to what is a democratic need for transport routes, might be one of the unexpected disadvantages that ordinary citizens have to bear.
In industrial Britain I understand that adults were rejected as cotton mill workers, with their children being employed instead, sometimes being the only workers in the household. They had to walk to the mill and I think were docked serious money if they were late. There weren’t too many watches around then either! Some I believe had to get up at 3 am to get organised for the long walk to work to make sure they were on time. There are so many ways that people can be ground down by harsh conditions. Preference for the better off is one way.
Kaiser Report recently said that US airport immigration was going to introduce VIP processing queues for ‘economically important people’.
And apparently Heathrow airport already does it. 1800 quid and you get the red carpet treatment.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140228/Heathrow-Airport-queue-crisis-Rich-passengers-offered-secret-backdoor-service.html
Just shows what its really all about innit!
That said if you have to clear customs for fly a commercial jet, you are not “a player” anyway, so it would seem that taking money for such services is taking money from “the self important”
Too easy
muzza – These people would say they are poor too – time poor. Can’t afford the time to stand and wait in line with the ‘ordinary’ people.
The plane will not leave early, so it makes the possibilites fewer.
I imagine that they are ushered quickly directly to the nearest duty free stores.
To be fair, there are occasions at Uk airports where I could see the reasons why people would want to pay to bypass the mess (because most London airports are horrid), but the reasons won’t be because they are time poor …
No they enjoy the use of their money to buy better facilities and service I think, like belonging to the Koru Club here.
NZ already does it to an extent. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/apec/
Me at the airport = uneconomically viable invisible person
Actually i choose not to fly anymore due to the HUMUNGOUS environmental footprint, which i guess makes me even more invisible (just as well given how uneconomically viable i am)