A Gisborne mayoral candidate is standing by a controversial picture on social media which shows him standing in a hazmat suit with a swastika on the front.
Other posts from Brown included him saying he wanted to cut down 5G towers in January 2020, and writing expletives in October 2018 about people at the speedway letting off fireworks that scared his horses.
Brown's wife, Jen Brown, also features heavily in the posts that have been compiled.
She confirmed she was a member of Voices For Freedom, a group which has encouraged its followers to run for councils to push its agenda.
So we have an ' unofficial ' force of nz soldiers fighting in Ukraine under the genius description of ' unpaid leave ' mightive missed it but i dont remember that being debated in parliament .No wonder its not just a matter of picking up the phone to find out where the body of a dead soldier is !!!
listening to JA being interview on RNZ this morn ive never heard her sounding more evasive or slippery .In between the ducking an diving she sayes bla bla bla " and the war is against Russia " could've been my imagination but it sounded like there was a definite mote of glee in that sentence …..
Did you not know that the Military personnel are supposed to be prevented from engaging in undeclared wars? If the government has declared war on behalf of its US masters we are in for a real shitfest that even NATO wont risk!!
Clearly the government hasn't declared war on anyone. Go sit down and have a cup of tea or you're going to have an aneurysm over one AWOL soldier who wanted to see action.
So, Populuxe1, if the government hasn't declared war on anyone, then why are NZ defence force personnel allowed to go and fight in the Ukraine while they're "on leave"? Are they mercenaries?
Given they are both volunteers (not recruited) and not motivated by the desire for private monetary gain then no, they fail mercenary test conditions a) and c) of the Geneva convention.
Volunteering to fight fascism is not being a mercenary.
They are, in fact, heroes of freedom loving people everywhere.
Probably because he didn't tell them he was going to fight in Ukraine because they're not allowed to? Don't call it "the Ukraine" – it's a sovereign state.
I find it extraordinary you can't conceive that he asked for leave on some pretext or other, it was granted, he flew to Europe and made his way to Ukraine all on his own. It's not that difficult.
Had he survived and been found out it would have brought him before a Court Martial and he almost certainly would have been dishonourably discharged.
It has been reported there may be as many as 100 in Crimea not just one.
What are they doing in Crimea when the action is in Donbas? There's no on the ground fighting in Crimea.
There may be – then again, there may not be.
I would be very much surprised if that number was all active personnel – you might have to provide a source as it sounds like you're conflating ex-service people, civilian volunteers and, for all I know, NZ mercenaries based elsewhere.
Obviously the reference was to Ukraine, not Crimea but instead of politely pointing out the error, you had to turn it into yet another drama. Oh what a surprise.
You have proved you can do research, even if following a 'wrong line', so don't bother asking for links. The nub of the matter is and always was that the Military, for good reason, are required to follow different rules.
Fighting raccoons. How Russian patriots became mercenaries, contacted FSB officers and turned into bandits
[…]
The history of the appearance of the scandalous PMC is interesting in its own way. Its creator is considered the leader of the nationalist movement "Bright Russia" Igor Mangushev. During the escalation of the conflict in the Donbass, he, together with like-minded people, thought about how to give an official status to the actions of the Donbass militias.
In the spring of 2014, reports began to appear that Mangushev and other representatives of the "Light Russia" went to the Donbass on a humanitarian mission together with the Moscow Region branch of the People's Cathedral movement. It was headed by Roman Telenkevich, aka Vodyanoy – he had such a call sign in those years.
You could have said the same thing for the International Brigades in Spain, although these days such is middle class flatulence that makes up so much the modern left's intellectual community you would be unlikely to find any of the West's left wing journalists, novelists, activists and poets in the trenches of the Donbas fighting Putin's fascists.
They prefer these days to sit about on message boards and find excuses for their decadent cowardice in handwringing about the nature of Zelensky's government and seeing false equivalence everywhere.
So we have an ' unofficial ' force of nz soldiers fighting in Ukraine under the genius description of ' unpaid leave ' mightive missed it but i dont remember that being debated in parliament .
Um, no. Sounds like an individual wanted an adventure or felt deeply enough for the cause to volunteer. You know, like Orwell fighting in the Spanish Civil War. It happens. At worst he failed to resign from the NZDF, which, had he lived, would probably have earned him a court martial and dishonourable discharge.
Nah, it was clearly a nod and wink arrangement, a version of don't ask don't tell. Soldier asks for leave without pay to do something and army approves, while respecting the soldiers right to take a holiday without them prying in.
It would only become a political problem if it turned out an entire company of our guys were there. A dozen or so is is just caveat emptor for them.
You read far too many Robert Ludlum novels. He wasn't SAS and was fighting in an international brigade. Even if we were to get involved, which would be highly unlikely as our forces aren't really trained for slogging through Eastern European mud in the winter, we certainly wouldn't be sending ordinary soldiers.
I am intrigued at the number of people who seem to have a bizarre view that our government (a) is somehow able to and should be tracking NZ citizens that go abroad, perhaps particularly if they are on leave from the Defence Force, and (b) are somehow organising a group of people on leave from defence to go to the Ukraine to volunteer to fight. Re (a) any government tracking New Zealanders going overseas would be regarded as wasting money, and re (b) that is so unlikely as to be farcical. There was an implication in one news report that had the soldier returned he may have been disciplined for his actions
Just after midnight tonight, the Artemis I program is launched using the SLS (Space Launch System). I am old enough to remember the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo program. In the next 24 hours we will hopefully see his twin sister, Artemis, rise on the most powerful rocket ever built. Artemis will eventually carry 46 tonnes to trans-lunar injection – three tonnes more than the most powerful Saturn V rocket.
Most powerful rocket ever built was actually the Russian N1 moon rocket, but blew up after a successful liftoff. So you're right if you say "most powerful (successful) rocket ever built ".
A rocket that blows up after launch is a major life fail, if you are a rocket. It begs the existential question all rockets must ask themselves in the quiet early morning dark sitting on the launch pad waiting – if a rocket blows up on launch, is it really a rocket?
Luxon on youth crime – empty bullshit, but dangerous too. Has the f*wit learned nothing from the Royal Commission into State Child Care?
It also signals the end of Bed-leg Sam: if Luxon welcomes him back into the cosy embrace of the Natz after being so outspoken on youth punishment, he'll look a right hypocrite!
I really don't think anyone cares about Sam Uffindel. They do, however care about thugs who punch elderly people in the face getting home detention, while the police spend money on diversity officers and putting rainbow lights on police stations. This government is weak on crime, and we're paying the price.
Uffindell otoh – well, some Kiwis care about how the Gnat's tried and true candidate selection process delivered an MP who admitted to assaulting a 13-year old, if not to other historical character defects.
Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man. – Aristotle/Loyola
Might some Gnat supporters care at least a little? [I know I would!]
Maybe, but certainly not those who consider Uffindell-style japes, hijinks and shenanigans par for the course.
No-one cares. National buried it by actually holding an enquiry (you know, like the one Labour won't hold), and then with Labour's mishandling of Mr Sharma. One day soon the media will report on the outcome of the enquiry, and all will be forgotten.
Letting an MP spend weeks dragging the party through a trial by media.
"Hold an inquiry into what? "
Accusations against Sharma of bullying. Accusations by Sharma he was bullied. Allegations about MP's being coached to bypass OIA obligations. There's no shortage of material. Mind you, Labour have form for trying to bury stuff.
"The person in question was a guest and it as dealt with by the courts."
Oh a 'guest' were they. This 'guest' was (depending upon what you mean) the victim or perpetrator of sexual assault. And it was only after Newsroom broke the story that the "party was shocked into action".
Meanwhile, Sharma, for all you claim he has nothing, is making headlines again today.
So what? Sharma is an attention seeker and is just raving, he still has not produced any evidence to back up his claims.
A guest as in invited and was not a Labour party member.
Some charges were dropped and downgraded.
"There had also been no suggestion, and no evidence, that the offender has any personal connection to the present Labour Party or any member of it, the judge added"
"At sentencing, Judge Collins also said: "I'm not convinced it was for a sexual gratification or any perverted motive.
While not an excuse, the judge added the man's actions were "born out of drunken stupidity"
No I am not LibertyBelle. Did you not read the post?
"There had also been no suggestion, and no evidence, that the offender has any personal connection to the present Labour Party or any member of it, the judge added"
Not allegations, just stating the fact that Sharma hasn't produced any evidence, I noticed you haven't come up with any. No one should condone Sharma bullying his staff.
"There had also been no suggestion, and no evidence, that the offender has any personal connection to the present Labour Party or any member of it, the judge added"
How does that relate to whether or not the party covered the allegations up? The article is fairly clear:
Asked and answered. Sharma has only asked for one thing, AFAIK. An independent inquiry into the employment issues he has raised. The horse has bolted now, but why didn't they just conduct that investigation? Unless they have something to hide.
Perhaps. But Labour have botched this up, and they have a renegade running amok with accusations. They could have cauterised this with an investigation into the employment issues, but for reasons best known only to themselves, they won't.
Which part of a three week delay don't you understand?
"… and it was up to the complainants whether they wanted to tell their parents etc, at the time they chose not to, but felt pressured by media, one of the complainants said it became a political football."
Still doesn't support your claim LibertyBelle. It is not seedy, at 16 years old, it was entirely up the complainants who they told or not, which is their legal right.
Still doesnt prove your point LibertyBelle and it was up to the complainants whether they wanted to tell their parents etc, at the time they chose not to, but felt pressured by media, one of the complainants said it became a political football.
They don't need NZ residency to "fuck off to…..Australia"
Australia is giving them immediate residency unconditionally – they neither need nor benefit from having NZ residency 'first' (and actually may be worse off – it's a lot more beneficial long term, if you're resident in Australia, to become an Australian citizen, rather than a NZ resident/citizen)
The justification for putting nurses in the second tier of immigration is looking more and more threadbare.
Perhaps it's time for Minister Wood to review the situation:
as I've said consistently along the way: the outcome is what matters. I'll be keeping a close eye on how the settings go, bearing in mind the whole system only really kicked in from yesterday.
"If we need to make adjustments as we move forward to get to the outcomes, then I'll certainly be open to doing that."
Australia is giving them immediate residency unconditionally –
Nurses without NZ PR seeking Aussie residency might have their applications considered quickly/rapidly, but "immediate residency unconditionally"? Fake news.
If you meet the criteria (recognized nursing qualification from an approved provider) my understanding is that it is 'unconditional'. You certainly don't have to have a job, or even a job offer, nor do you have to be working for 2 years to gain residency.
Those are the elements where Australia and New Zealand differ.
It seems as though it is more difficult and time-consuming to gain PR in NZ, for nurses, than it is in Oz; and you certainly don't get in with lower qualifications (although Australia also has a pathway to residency through studying nursing programme).
Really, I think that the perception that there were significant numbers of immigrant nurses trying to gain NZ residency as a backdoor into Australia, is a chimera. It might have been true in the past – though I don't really think it's very likely – but certainly hasn't been true for the last few years.
This article talks about the unhappiness with the current delays in processing skilled migrant (nursing) visas in Oz – and what the govt is proposing to do about it.
So, Australia doesn’t have it exactly right yet, but is actively working on the elements which are hindering the process.
[Australian] Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres said on Friday that the government had “some work to do” to bring more skilled migrants into the country, while Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor said “we need to increase the permanent skilled migration pathway.”
Good clarification – "immediate residency unconditionally" didn't ring true.
Aotearoa, being Australia’s poorer, smaller sister, may have to do a bit more work with less. Number 8 wire only goes so far.
I was speaking in the context of the OP – who was commenting on NZ-trained immigrant nurses (who can't get residency without spending another 2 years here, away from their families) – leaving for Australia.
So the 'qualified' was implied, in my comment.
Really, the assumption that immigrant nurses will only use NZ as a backdoor to Australia doesn't seem to be based on anything apart from rather dated anecdata. Time for the Minister to bite the bullet, and actually review the settings.
Apologies if I my brief reply (@5.2.1.2.2) failed to make it clear that I was questioning the veracity of a specific assertion @5.2.1.2, to wit:
Australia is giving them [NZ-trained and qualified immigrant nurses?] immediate residency unconditionally –
The veracity of "immediate residency unconditionally" in that context seemed doubtful, and your reply @5.2.1.2.2.1 was a good clarification.
Note, for example, the apparent incongruity between "immediate residency unconditionally" (@5.2.1.2) and "current delays in processing skilled migrant (nursing) visas in Oz" (@5.2.1.2.2.1).
In the context of my comment on the original link – 'immediately' referred to 'once the visa is processed'. Contrasting the situation in Australia, where there is no requirement for a 2 year 'probation' period before residency is granted; while in NZ the nurse has to work for 2 years before residency is granted.
So when the nurse has their approved visa (a process which is technically identical so far as qualifications are concerned in both countries) – Australia has 'immediate residence unconditionally' while NZ has a 2 year delay, as well as requirements over where you have to work, and (possibly- I haven't checked recently) a requirement to have a job offer, before applying. NZ PR is not 'immediate' and not 'unconditional'.
Nurses have been pointing out that difference, highlighting that the Australian model is much more attractive for families – who can settle in 'immediately' rather than family members not being eligible for work or uni, etc, because of the lack of PR status of the parent (and, in NZ, apparently not even able to come, in some circumstances). As well as the natural uncertainty of whether the Government will change the rules on them part-way through the process.
Got it – "unconditional" if conditions for a successful visa application are met – thanks for the further clarifications to sort out semantics.
Nurses plan to leave NZ over residency rules: 'I can't wait any more' [29 August 2022] (also linked to by LB @5.2)
"The work-to-residence path requires two years' work in the role ahead of gaining residence which supports addressing the shortages, whereas a straight-to-residence pathway would not require any time in the role before a worker could potentially leave.
"A two-year period ensures a degree of commitment to the role and to New Zealand.
Imho, qualifying foreign nurses should be on NZ's ‘immediate residency' priority list, as per Gordon Campbell's recent column, but your "immediate residency unconditionally" framing didn't ring true to me – too hyperbolic even for NZ opposition pollies.
As you and I have noted already, it's not all sweetness and light on the NZ and/or Aus immigration fronts – plenty of tension(s) and competing interests. Funnily enough, on a recent visit to the A&E department at our local hospital, Dad was assessed initially by a nurse who had migrated very recently from Australia. She was excellent, but still getting used to using some of the ECG equipment, including plugging it in – apparently it's not standardised across all DHBs, let alone between NZ and Aus.
Aus is a great place to visit, and I wish all who would live there well.
KYIV, Ukraine — As renewed shelling intensified fears about a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia power plant, the Ukrainian authorities stepped up emergency drills on Saturday and rushed to hand out potassium iodide, a drug that can protect people from radiation-induced thyroid cancer, to tens of thousands of people living near the facility.
In a country still haunted by the memory of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, officials urged the public not to panic even as complex negotiations to allow for a team of scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit the Russian-controlled plant in southeastern Ukraine took on added urgency.
China has issued a thinly veiled attack on Russia’s brinkmanship over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, as fears of disaster escalate following a near-miss at the site.
A senior Chinese official told the UN on Friday that just one incident might cause a serious nuclear accident “with irreversible consequences for the ecosystem and public health of Ukraine and its neighbouring countries”.
Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative at the UN, pointedly called on all parties involved “to exercise maximum restraint strictly abide by international law and minimise the risk of accidents”, adding: ”We must not allow the tragedies of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents to be repeated.”
Nothing really, just paste the URL as is in the Text Editor on a separate line and it should work. Your first attempt was not (on) a separate line and your second attempt was an embedded link.
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It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? – W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Let’s explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last November’s 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Eden Denyer, bookseller at Unity Books Auckland.Weirdest question/request you’ve had on the shop floorA mother came in looking for anything we might have on Alaskan bison as that was her little boy’s ...
NZCTU Economist Craig Renney said new data released by Statistics New Zealand shows the need for Government to act now, with unemployment rising from 3.4% to 4.3%. ...
The outpouring of anger over Maiki Sherman’s hyperbolic presentation of this week’s ‘nightmare’ poll is itself an overreaction, argues Stewart Sowman-Lund. Politicians love nothing more than to pretend they don’t care about polls. This week, deputy prime minister Winston Peters said he didn’t give a “rat’s derriere” about a TVNZ ...
Asia Pacific Report Ngāti Kahungunu in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region has become the first indigenous Māori iwi (tribe) to sign a resolution calling for a “ceasefire in Palestine”, reports Te Ao Māori News. Reporter Te Aniwaniwa Paterson talked to Te Otāne Huata, who has been organising peace rallies ...
By Dale Luma in Port Moresby “We want grants and not concessional loans,” is the crisp message from Papua New Guinea businesses directly affected by the Black Wednesday looting four months ago. The businesses, which lost millions after the January 10 rioting and looting, say they need grants as part ...
Happy May Day. Join a union. Q: What’s worse than a staff break room where the only place to sit and have a cup of tea is on a teetering stack of old pornography magazines? A: Your boss replacing the magazine stacks with chairs that are “heartily encrusted with ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Former opposition leader Matthew Wale has been announced as the second prime ministerial candidate ahead of the election in Solomon Islands tomorrow. He will face off against former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele, who was announced by the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation ...
We get but one birthday a year – why not make it last as long as possible by scheduling as many meals with friends and family as you can? This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate at ...
A Koi Tū discussion paper released today proposes sweeping changes to New Zealand’s media industry. The principal’s key author, Gavin Ellis, explains how journalists have a key role to play in making others value their role in society. This is an abridged version of a piece first published on knightlyviews.com ...
The Government’s spending cuts are again targeting support for Māori with proposed reform of the agency charged with advising on Māori wellbeing and development. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Douglas, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., UNSW Sydney The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road littered with broken dreams. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industry’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosalind Dixon, Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW Sydney Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne stockfour/Shutterstock Preliminary bulk billing data released this week shows a 2.1% rise in bulk billing up to March. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University AnastasiaDudka/Shutterstock What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work? That’s how it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury The Conversation It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons – the second season of Alone Australia (although ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland A bright Eta Aquariid meteor photobombed this photo of comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN) in May 2020.Jonti Horner Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Current concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Earth’s atmosphere are unprecedented in human history. But CO₂ levels today, and those that might occur in coming decades, did occur millions of years ago. ...
Winston Peters has been keen to dismiss speculation on our involvement in Aukus but will give a speech tonight on the direction of our foreign policy, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Usmar, Lecturer in Critical Media Literacies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images With the coalition government’s ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get ...
Hospitals around the country are not allowed to make a single hiring decision without the approval of Te Whatu Ora's head office, including for cleaners and administration staff. ...
A new report on protecting journalism and democracy in New Zealand recommends a levy be charged on global platforms like Facebook and Google to fund media firms undertaking public interest reporting. It also calls for the reinstatement of a powerful Broadcasting Commission to distribute public funding for journalism and other ...
On International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement are celebrating the proud history of the labour movement during a tough time for working people. ...
From bills to beards, a walk through the former Green co-leader’s time in politics. After close to a decade in politics, James Shaw is preparing to bid farewell to parliament. Tonight will see the former minister deliver his valedictory address, certain to be a speech filled with Shaw’s trademark wit ...
Two months ago, MPs unanimously voted to give themselves a week off in Efeso Collins’ honour. On Tuesday, most were too busy to give even an hour of their time. The day Fa’anānā Efeso Collins died, parliament felt different. In a building that operates at a breakneck pace, everyone stopped ...
India’s election involves hundreds of millions of people and is a months-long affair. Here’s how voting works and what’s at stake.The biggest-ever election in world history started on April 19, with more than 10% of the world’s population eligible to vote. Elections in India, the world’s most populous country ...
After the Christchurch earthquake, the then-national civil defence boss compared his experience to “putting a team on the rugby field who have never ever played together before”. Now, eight years later – and following a damning inquiry into the emergency response of cyclones Gabrielle, Hale and the Auckland anniversary weekend floods – ...
“I had just come off the end of a major robbery case which I had been working on for six months when I got a call on the afternoon of September 1, 1992, that some remains had been found at a building site in Devonport, so I drove over with ...
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Yea. This couple sound totally reasonable. NOT! Indeed, good to know who they really are….
So we have an ' unofficial ' force of nz soldiers fighting in Ukraine under the genius description of ' unpaid leave ' mightive missed it but i dont remember that being debated in parliament .No wonder its not just a matter of picking up the phone to find out where the body of a dead soldier is !!!
listening to JA being interview on RNZ this morn ive never heard her sounding more evasive or slippery .In between the ducking an diving she sayes bla bla bla " and the war is against Russia " could've been my imagination but it sounded like there was a definite mote of glee in that sentence …..
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018856373/prime-minister-on-recovering-body-of-soldier-killed-in-ukraine
New Zealanders traditionally fight fascism wherever we find it.
Got your rocks off baby?
Did you not know that the Military personnel are supposed to be prevented from engaging in undeclared wars? If the government has declared war on behalf of its US masters we are in for a real shitfest that even NATO wont risk!!
Clearly the government hasn't declared war on anyone. Go sit down and have a cup of tea or you're going to have an aneurysm over one AWOL soldier who wanted to see action.
So, Populuxe1, if the government hasn't declared war on anyone, then why are NZ defence force personnel allowed to go and fight in the Ukraine while they're "on leave"? Are they mercenaries?
Given they are both volunteers (not recruited) and not motivated by the desire for private monetary gain then no, they fail mercenary test conditions a) and c) of the Geneva convention.
Volunteering to fight fascism is not being a mercenary.
They are, in fact, heroes of freedom loving people everywhere.
Probably because he didn't tell them he was going to fight in Ukraine because they're not allowed to? Don't call it "the Ukraine" – it's a sovereign state.
I find it extraordinary you can't conceive that he asked for leave on some pretext or other, it was granted, he flew to Europe and made his way to Ukraine all on his own. It's not that difficult.
Had he survived and been found out it would have brought him before a Court Martial and he almost certainly would have been dishonourably discharged.
WTF – Talk about an exaggerating drama queen – you really take the cake.
Perhaps you also need to read before you insult. It has been reported there may be as many as 100 in Crimea not just one.
What are they doing in Crimea when the action is in Donbas? There's no on the ground fighting in Crimea.
There may be – then again, there may not be.
I would be very much surprised if that number was all active personnel – you might have to provide a source as it sounds like you're conflating ex-service people, civilian volunteers and, for all I know, NZ mercenaries based elsewhere.
Look who's talking.
Here's a Link – since you need spoon feeding:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473589/nzdf-contacting-nearly-100-soldiers-on-leave-without-pay
Obviously the reference was to Ukraine, not Crimea but instead of politely pointing out the error, you had to turn it into yet another drama. Oh what a surprise.
Um, being on leave without pay is actually a thing. It doesn't automatically mean they're fighting in Ukraine.
https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/other-types-of-leave/leave-without-pay/
You have proved you can do research, even if following a 'wrong line', so don't bother asking for links. The nub of the matter is and always was that the Military, for good reason, are required to follow different rules.
So basically you're full of it
Fascists, private military companies, organised crime, secret services and ultranationalists.
https://twitter.com/den_kazansky/status/1563753741697916928
Fighting raccoons. How Russian patriots became mercenaries, contacted FSB officers and turned into bandits
[…]
The history of the appearance of the scandalous PMC is interesting in its own way. Its creator is considered the leader of the nationalist movement "Bright Russia" Igor Mangushev. During the escalation of the conflict in the Donbass, he, together with like-minded people, thought about how to give an official status to the actions of the Donbass militias.
In the spring of 2014, reports began to appear that Mangushev and other representatives of the "Light Russia" went to the Donbass on a humanitarian mission together with the Moscow Region branch of the People's Cathedral movement. It was headed by Roman Telenkevich, aka Vodyanoy – he had such a call sign in those years.
https://lenta.ru/articles/2021/12/06/enot/
google translate
The magnified image of purported ideals:
where once we would have joined and fought with unity, now we give them training and weapons.
Those who actually fight are now deniable oddballs for diplomats to solve. No RSA plaque for them.
Ukraine is now the world's largest virtue signal.
You seem to be busting for WW3! There are very good reasons for no foreign "boots on the ground".
You could have said the same thing for the International Brigades in Spain, although these days such is middle class flatulence that makes up so much the modern left's intellectual community you would be unlikely to find any of the West's left wing journalists, novelists, activists and poets in the trenches of the Donbas fighting Putin's fascists.
They prefer these days to sit about on message boards and find excuses for their decadent cowardice in handwringing about the nature of Zelensky's government and seeing false equivalence everywhere.
How is this different from the SCW?
I guess the main difference is the Fascists have now got nukes.
I thought they relinquished their nukes when they became independent.
Cheerleading a colonialist war of imperial aggression to own the libs. Classy.
Um, no. Sounds like an individual wanted an adventure or felt deeply enough for the cause to volunteer. You know, like Orwell fighting in the Spanish Civil War. It happens. At worst he failed to resign from the NZDF, which, had he lived, would probably have earned him a court martial and dishonourable discharge.
Nah, it was clearly a nod and wink arrangement, a version of don't ask don't tell. Soldier asks for leave without pay to do something and army approves, while respecting the soldiers right to take a holiday without them prying in.
It would only become a political problem if it turned out an entire company of our guys were there. A dozen or so is is just caveat emptor for them.
You read far too many Robert Ludlum novels. He wasn't SAS and was fighting in an international brigade. Even if we were to get involved, which would be highly unlikely as our forces aren't really trained for slogging through Eastern European mud in the winter, we certainly wouldn't be sending ordinary soldiers.
I am intrigued at the number of people who seem to have a bizarre view that our government (a) is somehow able to and should be tracking NZ citizens that go abroad, perhaps particularly if they are on leave from the Defence Force, and (b) are somehow organising a group of people on leave from defence to go to the Ukraine to volunteer to fight. Re (a) any government tracking New Zealanders going overseas would be regarded as wasting money, and re (b) that is so unlikely as to be farcical. There was an implication in one news report that had the soldier returned he may have been disciplined for his actions
Just after midnight tonight, the Artemis I program is launched using the SLS (Space Launch System). I am old enough to remember the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo program. In the next 24 hours we will hopefully see his twin sister, Artemis, rise on the most powerful rocket ever built. Artemis will eventually carry 46 tonnes to trans-lunar injection – three tonnes more than the most powerful Saturn V rocket.
What a sight it is going to be.
Most powerful rocket ever built was actually the Russian N1 moon rocket, but blew up after a successful liftoff. So you're right if you say "most powerful (successful) rocket ever built ".
A rocket that blows up after launch is a major life fail, if you are a rocket. It begs the existential question all rockets must ask themselves in the quiet early morning dark sitting on the launch pad waiting – if a rocket blows up on launch, is it really a rocket?
Is a newborn baby a bipedal primate?
No. It is poo creation facility.
Luxon on youth crime – empty bullshit, but dangerous too. Has the f*wit learned nothing from the Royal Commission into State Child Care?
It also signals the end of Bed-leg Sam: if Luxon welcomes him back into the cosy embrace of the Natz after being so outspoken on youth punishment, he'll look a right hypocrite!
https://twitter.com/rugbyintel/status/1563730397976207360
Sam's nightclubbing behaviour is Mr & Mrs Uffindell's fault.
Nice on, Luxxy!
I've gotten old – took at least a minute for the 'nightclubbing' penny to drop.
I really don't think anyone cares about Sam Uffindel. They do, however care about thugs who punch elderly people in the face getting home detention, while the police spend money on diversity officers and putting rainbow lights on police stations. This government is weak on crime, and we're paying the price.
You're right – no one cares about Uffindel.
Uffindell otoh – well, some Kiwis care about how the Gnat's tried and true candidate selection process delivered an MP who admitted to assaulting a 13-year old, if not to other historical character defects.
Might some Gnat supporters care at least a little? [I know I would!]
Maybe, but certainly not those who consider Uffindell-style japes, hijinks and shenanigans par for the course.
Here's another pearl, just for you
No-one cares. National buried it by actually holding an enquiry (you know, like the one Labour won't hold), and then with Labour's mishandling of Mr Sharma. One day soon the media will report on the outcome of the enquiry, and all will be forgotten.
I care and you don't, which will come as a surprise to exactly no one
No, I really don't care. He's part of the nats horrible selection policy failures, and he's theirs to own.
Yes, you don't care – see @4.2.1.1.1. We (you & me) agree – you don't care.
Still, curious that one who really doesn't care would labour the point so
Yes, because contrary to your "No-one cares." assertion @4.2.1.1, I care.
Btw, that's your 3rd post to me on this – shows just how little you care
Oh, you cared enough to delete your comment – there's hope for you yet.
What mishandling? Hold an inquiry into what? Sharma bullying his staff is not in dispute. National are keeping the results of the inquiry private.
"What mishandling?"
Letting an MP spend weeks dragging the party through a trial by media.
"Hold an inquiry into what? "
Accusations against Sharma of bullying. Accusations by Sharma he was bullied. Allegations about MP's being coached to bypass OIA obligations. There's no shortage of material. Mind you, Labour have form for trying to bury stuff.
Well, so much for Sharma falsely claiming he has been silenced. Labour is not responsible for his atrocious behaviour.
Sharma bullying his staff is not in dispute, his allegations are unfounded and he has not produced any evidence to back up his claims.
Your link doesn't prove what you claim. The person in question was a guest and it as dealt with by the courts.
"The person in question was a guest and it as dealt with by the courts."
Oh a 'guest' were they. This 'guest' was (depending upon what you mean) the victim or perpetrator of sexual assault. And it was only after Newsroom broke the story that the "party was shocked into action".
Meanwhile, Sharma, for all you claim he has nothing, is making headlines again today.
So what? Sharma is an attention seeker and is just raving, he still has not produced any evidence to back up his claims.
A guest as in invited and was not a Labour party member.
Some charges were dropped and downgraded.
"There had also been no suggestion, and no evidence, that the offender has any personal connection to the present Labour Party or any member of it, the judge added"
"At sentencing, Judge Collins also said: "I'm not convinced it was for a sexual gratification or any perverted motive.
While not an excuse, the judge added the man's actions were "born out of drunken stupidity"
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/labour-party-summer-camp-case-high-court-dismisses-suppression-bid-as-young-man-fights-for-secrecy/SFSSNY5ZU7SUYWIJ62HLPO443Y/
"A guest as in invited and was not a Labour party member."
You are now justifying the behaviour. Congratulations. I'll take your allegations about Sharma with a grain of salt.
No I am not LibertyBelle. Did you not read the post?
"There had also been no suggestion, and no evidence, that the offender has any personal connection to the present Labour Party or any member of it, the judge added"
Not allegations, just stating the fact that Sharma hasn't produced any evidence, I noticed you haven't come up with any. No one should condone Sharma bullying his staff.
"There had also been no suggestion, and no evidence, that the offender has any personal connection to the present Labour Party or any member of it, the judge added"
How does that relate to whether or not the party covered the allegations up? The article is fairly clear:
Yesterday, when Newsroom broke the story about sexual harassment and assault taking place at a Labour Party youth camp, the party was shocked into action.
You are the one that had an issue with the fact that the person in question was a guest. The party didn't cover it up, the article is an opinion.
"Again, investigation into what?"
Asked and answered. Sharma has only asked for one thing, AFAIK. An independent inquiry into the employment issues he has raised. The horse has bolted now, but why didn't they just conduct that investigation? Unless they have something to hide.
Sharma, for all you claim he has nothing, is making headlines again today.
If he stole a toddler's candy he'd make bigger headlines. So?
As I'm sure you've noticed, the political journos aren't giving credence to his rants any more. Who can blame them?
Perhaps. But Labour have botched this up, and they have a renegade running amok with accusations. They could have cauterised this with an investigation into the employment issues, but for reasons best known only to themselves, they won't.
Again, investigation into what? Sharma bullying his staff is not in dispute. You have no evidence to back up your claim LibertyBelle.
Because National has no form for trying to bury something almost too horrible for words.
//
They both have form. You can engage in whataboutery, or own it.
So far you haven't proved Labour have form LibertyBelle.
Labour camp sexual assault: Who knew what, when? | The Spinoff
and
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/352384/labour-camp-misconduct-victim-reached-out-to-megan-woods
Again, that doesn't prove it that Labour have form.
"Still doesnt prove your point LibertyBelle"
Which part of a three week delay don't you understand?
"… and it was up to the complainants whether they wanted to tell their parents etc, at the time they chose not to, but felt pressured by media, one of the complainants said it became a political football."
That's actually quite seedy. It's not solely up to the complainants to tell the police. They were 16 FFS. "support was only made available to victims on Saturday, a three-week delay, possibly in recognition a story would be coming out." This is disgusting treatment, and politically motivated.
Still doesn't support your claim LibertyBelle. It is not seedy, at 16 years old, it was entirely up the complainants who they told or not, which is their legal right.
Labour decided to deal with accusations of misconduct by a non member sensitively and in a manner that protected victims.
National decided to protect and promote a member charged with crimes almost too horrible for words.
There is no comparison.
"Labour decided to deal with accusations of misconduct by a non member sensitively and in a manner that protected victims."
"However, Newsroom's editor Tim Murphy told Morning Report the affected teenagers didn't get much support until the day before the story was due to break. He said support was only made available to victims on Saturday, a three-week delay, possibly in recognition a story would be coming out. He said a senior cabinet MP was also told about the assault by one of the victims who was dissatisfied with the way it was handled. "It seems to have fallen into a big hole from the event to now," he said."
Still doesnt prove your point LibertyBelle and it was up to the complainants whether they wanted to tell their parents etc, at the time they chose not to, but felt pressured by media, one of the complainants said it became a political football.
Oh people care about uffindell.
But they know that rich privileged people really face justice so shrug their shoulders and think so it goes.
"So it goes."
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1969/05/17/dresden
rarely?
The state of Victoria will now pay the entire course costs for its nurses and midwives.
The Vic opposition immediately agrees with the pledge.
Any time Labour. Or National.
Little would rather pay $10k a pop to foreigners.
Plus undermine attempts by the local workforce to settle their seemingly eternal pay parity negotiations.
With advisors Little listens to who needs Tories?
And this:
"Frustrated New Zealand-trained migrant nurses are planning to leave the country because they cannot find an immediate path to residency, just as the government tries to entice foreigners to fill thousands of jobs in hospitals, aged care and clinics."
'immediate' path to PR…so they can fuck off to…..Australia.
And the ones that don't will go some way to preventing the system collapsing. Or we could just continue to deny there's a crisis.
They don't need NZ residency to "fuck off to…..Australia"
Australia is giving them immediate residency unconditionally – they neither need nor benefit from having NZ residency 'first' (and actually may be worse off – it's a lot more beneficial long term, if you're resident in Australia, to become an Australian citizen, rather than a NZ resident/citizen)
The justification for putting nurses in the second tier of immigration is looking more and more threadbare.
Perhaps it's time for Minister Wood to review the situation:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/470399/minister-open-to-immigration-changes-for-nurses-if-new-system-fails
Well said.
Nurses without NZ PR seeking Aussie residency might have their applications considered quickly/rapidly, but "immediate residency unconditionally"? Fake news.
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Accreditation/IQNM/Before-you-apply/Immigration-and-employment.aspx
If you meet the criteria (recognized nursing qualification from an approved provider) my understanding is that it is 'unconditional'. You certainly don't have to have a job, or even a job offer, nor do you have to be working for 2 years to gain residency.
Those are the elements where Australia and New Zealand differ.
It seems as though it is more difficult and time-consuming to gain PR in NZ, for nurses, than it is in Oz; and you certainly don't get in with lower qualifications (although Australia also has a pathway to residency through studying nursing programme).
Really, I think that the perception that there were significant numbers of immigrant nurses trying to gain NZ residency as a backdoor into Australia, is a chimera. It might have been true in the past – though I don't really think it's very likely – but certainly hasn't been true for the last few years.
This article talks about the unhappiness with the current delays in processing skilled migrant (nursing) visas in Oz – and what the govt is proposing to do about it.
So, Australia doesn’t have it exactly right yet, but is actively working on the elements which are hindering the process.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/visas-for-nurses-must-be-fast-tracked-to-fill-critical-shortages-20220824-p5bcbj.html
Good clarification – "immediate residency unconditionally" didn't ring true.
Aotearoa, being Australia’s poorer, smaller sister, may have to do a bit more work with less. Number 8 wire only goes so far.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_8_wire#In_language_and_culture
I was speaking in the context of the OP – who was commenting on NZ-trained immigrant nurses (who can't get residency without spending another 2 years here, away from their families) – leaving for Australia.
So the 'qualified' was implied, in my comment.
Really, the assumption that immigrant nurses will only use NZ as a backdoor to Australia doesn't seem to be based on anything apart from rather dated anecdata. Time for the Minister to bite the bullet, and actually review the settings.
Apologies if I my brief reply (@5.2.1.2.2) failed to make it clear that I was questioning the veracity of a specific assertion @5.2.1.2, to wit:
The veracity of "immediate residency unconditionally" in that context seemed doubtful, and your reply @5.2.1.2.2.1 was a good clarification.
Note, for example, the apparent incongruity between "immediate residency unconditionally" (@5.2.1.2) and "current delays in processing skilled migrant (nursing) visas in Oz" (@5.2.1.2.2.1).
Looks like we're down to debating the semantics.
In the context of my comment on the original link – 'immediately' referred to 'once the visa is processed'. Contrasting the situation in Australia, where there is no requirement for a 2 year 'probation' period before residency is granted; while in NZ the nurse has to work for 2 years before residency is granted.
So when the nurse has their approved visa (a process which is technically identical so far as qualifications are concerned in both countries) – Australia has 'immediate residence unconditionally' while NZ has a 2 year delay, as well as requirements over where you have to work, and (possibly- I haven't checked recently) a requirement to have a job offer, before applying. NZ PR is not 'immediate' and not 'unconditional'.
Nurses have been pointing out that difference, highlighting that the Australian model is much more attractive for families – who can settle in 'immediately' rather than family members not being eligible for work or uni, etc, because of the lack of PR status of the parent (and, in NZ, apparently not even able to come, in some circumstances). As well as the natural uncertainty of whether the Government will change the rules on them part-way through the process.
Got it – "unconditional" if conditions for a successful visa application are met – thanks for the further clarifications to sort out semantics.
Imho, qualifying foreign nurses should be on NZ's ‘immediate residency' priority list, as per Gordon Campbell's recent column, but your "immediate residency unconditionally" framing didn't ring true to me – too hyperbolic even for NZ opposition pollies.
As you and I have noted already, it's not all sweetness and light on the NZ and/or Aus immigration fronts – plenty of tension(s) and competing interests. Funnily enough, on a recent visit to the A&E department at our local hospital, Dad was assessed initially by a nurse who had migrated very recently from Australia. She was excellent, but still getting used to using some of the ECG equipment, including plugging it in – apparently it's not standardised across all DHBs, let alone between NZ and Aus.
Aus is a great place to visit, and I wish all who would live there well.
Pak N Save always used to be the cheapest supermarket to shop at, but it seems like Countdown Meadowbank is now the place to go.
Man walks out of Auckland supermarket with loaded trolley without paying – NZ Herald
Omicron vaccine weeks away:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/08/26/omicron-specific-boosters-could-be-available-by-labor-day-heres-who-should-get-one/?sh=7eb290654652
The forecast isn't too flash.
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1563883623673208833
KYIV, Ukraine — As renewed shelling intensified fears about a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia power plant, the Ukrainian authorities stepped up emergency drills on Saturday and rushed to hand out potassium iodide, a drug that can protect people from radiation-induced thyroid cancer, to tens of thousands of people living near the facility.
In a country still haunted by the memory of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, officials urged the public not to panic even as complex negotiations to allow for a team of scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit the Russian-controlled plant in southeastern Ukraine took on added urgency.
https://archive.ph/at5LW (nyt)
Must be serious for China to dip it's oar.
China has issued a thinly veiled attack on Russia’s brinkmanship over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, as fears of disaster escalate following a near-miss at the site.
A senior Chinese official told the UN on Friday that just one incident might cause a serious nuclear accident “with irreversible consequences for the ecosystem and public health of Ukraine and its neighbouring countries”.
Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative at the UN, pointedly called on all parties involved “to exercise maximum restraint strictly abide by international law and minimise the risk of accidents”, adding: ”We must not allow the tragedies of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents to be repeated.”
https://inews.co.uk/news/world/china-putin-russian-roulette-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-ukraine-disaster-near-miss-russia-1818988
Auckland is getting its walking & cycling bridge after all! What I’d call recycling of an old bridge.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-restores-vital-connection-across-manukau-harbour
Ngā Hau Māngere looks fantastic. Can't wait to try the fishing.
Some good photos https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2022/08/29/cycling-over-one-harbour/
I think I'll leave the fishing until the crowds subside
Nice pun 😉
Have friends who will be very excited to use this.
Top health boss backs action against alcohol harm https://twitter.com/_chloeswarbrick/status/1564083508175179776
Let's try that again..
https://twitter.com/_chloeswarbrick/status/1564083508175179776
FIFY
Ta. What was broken with the link?
Nothing really, just paste the URL as is in the Text Editor on a separate line and it should work. Your first attempt was not (on) a separate line and your second attempt was an embedded link.
Ah, I must have copied the auto-converted link. Phew
Of course he's serious.
/
https://twitter.com/RichardWellings/status/1563099789625270275
The invisible hand is right up Wellings's backside and making his lips move.